I agree with everything here, minus the North American bit. I go with Drouin because he's the elite playmaker for Stamkos. That's it. Barkov would be great too. Nichushkin should be good, but risk scares me.
- Michael_Stuart

Sorry, it's just when you see so many European players dominate in their league and come over and accomplish so little...it makes you kinda hesitant as a fan.

I mean ever since I started watching the draft I always hear that one thing from analysts that drives me nuts: He dominated a mens league as an 18 year old! Literally hear that every single freaking draft.

Honestly, I think it's a load of crap. It might be a "pro" league but it's like the 3rd best league in Europe (talking bout Finland) and the playing style is way different(probably a lot softer) why the hell wouldn't he dominate?

I know I'm probably in the minority here but there are so many examples of players who did so well in a pro league in europe as teens and did nothing here in the NHL that I think it should be irrelevant when scouting a player.

Greatly appreciated!

In all seriousness, he is THE best scorer in the NHL. Getting Drouin in my opinion would make you guys a legitimate Cup threat every single year for the next ten years. Having that incredible possible trio of Stammer, Drouin and Hedman is just...not fair.
- FloridianDevil

I don't know how you even consider buying out Vinnie. Like you said, he's an excellent captain, a great locker room presence, and an all around good guy. He's also averaging around 0.82 PPG since he signed his new contract in 2009, which puts him right around the same PPG as other players with similar cap hits over the same timeframe (Gaborik, Parise, Nash, Heatley, Vanek).

Your offending contracts are the $4.5 million you pay for Purcell, a one-time 20+ goal scorer, and Malone...who has never cracked 30 goals and has only one 50 point season in his 10 years in the NHL. I'm not saying they're bad players, but they're definitely not worth the contracts they got. If you buy out both of those, when Sami Salo's contract ends after next season, you have another $13 million to work with.

Sorry, it's just when you see so many European players dominate in their league and come over and accomplish so little...it makes you kinda hesitant as a fan.

I mean ever since I started watching the draft I always hear that one thing from analysts that drives me nuts: He dominated a mens league as an 18 year old! Literally hear that every single freaking draft.

Honestly, I think it's a load of crap. It might be a "pro" league but it's like the 3rd best league in Europe (talking bout Finland) and the playing style is way different(probably a lot softer) why the hell wouldn't he dominate?

I know I'm probably in the minority here but there are so many examples of players who did so well in a pro league in europe as teens and did nothing here in the NHL that I think it should be irrelevant when scouting a player.
- Icegirl94

I have nothing against European players. I honestly think that Barkov could end up being the best all-around player in this year's draft. I love the guy. Every time I watch tapes of him I want him in a Lightning uniform.

I don't know how you even consider buying out Vinnie. Like you said, he's an excellent captain, a great locker room presence, and an all around good guy. He's also averaging around 0.82 PPG since he signed his new contract in 2009, which puts him right around the same PPG as other players with similar cap hits over the same timeframe (Gaborik, Parise, Nash, Heatley, Vanek).

Your offending contracts are the $4.5 million you pay for Purcell, a one-time 20+ goal scorer, and Malone...who has never cracked 30 goals and has only one 50 point season in his 10 years in the NHL. I'm not saying they're bad players, but they're definitely not worth the contracts they got. If you buy out both of those, when Sami Salo's contract ends after next season, you have another $13 million to work with.
- tkecanuck341

Vinny is a very productive player, and everything you've said there. He's not a $7.7MM player when Stamkos is making $7.5MM. Realistically, he's a $5-5.5MM player given his age, injury history, and production. I've loved the guy since the day he first put on a Lightning sweater. I hope he sticks around.

Malone's contract is an issue, but like Vinny he is a character guy and one hell of a locker-room presence. I don't expect him back next season. I don't have all that much of a problem with Purcell's contract.

I have nothing against European players. I honestly think that Barkov could end up being the best all-around player in this year's draft. I love the guy. Every time I watch tapes of him I want him in a Lightning uniform.
- Michael_Stuart

I have nothing against them either, I just hate how ppl put so much stock into their age+the league they play in. Plus as everyone else has mentioned here, the upside on Drouin and his playmaking is just too much to pass up.

Vinny is a very productive player, and everything you've said there. He's not a $7.7MM player when Stamkos is making $7.5MM. Realistically, he's a $5-5.5MM player given his age, injury history, and production. I've loved the guy since the day he first put on a Lightning sweater. I hope he sticks around.

Malone's contract is an issue, but like Vinny he is a character guy and one hell of a locker-room presence. I don't expect him back next season. I don't have all that much of a problem with Purcell's contract.
- Michael_Stuart

I think the only reason Stamkos is a $7.5mm player and not a $9.5mm player is due to the fact that he signed his contract as a RFA. If he wasn't just coming out of his entry-level contract he would have earned a Crosby/Malkin/Ovechkin-like payday.

I think if you look around the league at other players making similar money, VC4 isn't underperforming compared to any of them.

I have nothing against them either, I just hate how ppl put so much stock into their age+the league they play in. Plus as everyone else has mentioned here, the upside on Drouin and his playmaking is just too much to pass up.
- Icegirl94

You just can't pass on macinnon so he goes 1st regardless of who trades up. Tampa might swap with Florida to get Jones otherwise they'll pick Barkov 2nd and if that happens Florida takes Drouin and Jones falls to Nashville. Jones and Weber is all the defense they'd ever need.

You just can't pass on macinnon so he goes 1st regardless of who trades up. Tampa might swap with Florida to get Jones otherwise they'll pick Barkov 2nd and if that happens Florida takes Drouin and Jones falls to Nashville. Jones and Weber is all the defense they'd ever need.
- therealagent

lol tampa is not taking barkov. it will be one of drouin or jones. the wildcard will be nishushkin.

lol tampa is not taking barkov. it will be one of drouin or jones. the wildcard will be nishushkin.
- boltsfan48

I'd rather have Barkov over Drouin, and honestly, I'd take him over Jones.

Lecavalier will stay, Malone is gone. We will draft either Drouin or Jones (if available). Depending on who we draft is we're we need to fill the last hole.

I think they'll take Drouin over Nichushkin. To me, Barkov is the sleeper in the top-five. He's the guy who will surprise a lot of people in five to ten years. He will be an absolute stud.
- Michael_Stuart

Barkov will be the best player to come out of this draft
He's a power forward, who defensively is compared to Datsyuk, and offensively to a "long-lost Sedin Brother"
He's already 210 lbs, and will prob get bigger
And at only 17, produced in the Finish league pretty much the same stats as Granlund did last year- as a 20yr old!
This kid will be an absolutely dominating beast

Any chance you guys would trade out of #3 so we could take him?
#8 plus either Myers or Vanek?

I could see Yzerman taking Nichuskin
He won't be scared off bc of the Russian factor like some might... After all, He did win a few cups playing with a bunch of Russians

As IceGirl said, you can't sign a player you've bought out. The only option for the Lightning in this sort of situation would be to trade Lecavalier to a team that would buy him out. Then the Lightning could sign him to a lesser deal. A lot would need to happen for that to work.
- Michael_Stuart

Myers or Vanek, plus we buy out Vinny for ya...
And all we'd want is your #3 pick
Maybe?

Yes, I can imagine life without Vinny There is more upside to filling the holes with his contract gone. Of course they could do a trade of Vinny and then that team buys his contract out and then the Lightning could re-sign him! Maybe the best of both worlds.

Keeping Vinny might be an option. With a Malone buy out that puts you guys at almost 7mil in cap. Salo is off the books next years. Thatls another 3mil and change. To bad you couldnt buy out Ohlund. Id be buying him out before Malone. There is money to be made in other area's still. Brewer for two more years prolly wont hurt then frees up money when some kids gotta be resigned. Two more years and no more 1.1mil to Prospal buy out.

Keeping Vinny might be an option. With a Malone buy out that puts you guys at almost 7mil in cap. Salo is off the books next years. Thatls another 3mil and change. To bad you couldnt buy out Ohlund. Id be buying him out before Malone. There is money to be made in other area's still. Brewer for two more years prolly wont hurt then frees up money when some kids gotta be resigned. Two more years and no more 1.1mil to Prospal buy out.
- poisondhearts37

Salo's gone after this seaon. St. Louis and brewer the following (Marty will resign for less). A Malone buyout is ALL that's needed.

They should have traded him to Montreal when they had the chance!!!
- jimmc7722

Good thing one of the Tampa owners shot down that deal

It was something like Pleks, Subban, Higgins and picks for Lecavalier...

Saw another story that it was Price, Pleks and picks instead!

Bolts should draft whatever Center comes to them, Maybe trade down to 4/5 to grab Barkov/Monohan. Keep Vinny for this season for two reasons, 1: To help Mentor whatever C you draft. 2: To fill the void of a year of development for the C you draft. If you draft Barkov or Monohan they likely won't be ready for a second line C role immediately.

What about trading Vinny to Toronto? A team with a ton of cap space and the money to buy out if needed.
To TBay: Grabovski
To TO: Vinny, 2nd, prospect

What about trading Vinny to Toronto? A team with a ton of cap space and the money to buy out if needed.
To TBay: Grabovski
To TO: Vinny, 2nd, prospect
- BoBBeR56

STOP SHARING WITH YOUR MAYOR !!!!!!

What about trading Vinny to Toronto? A team with a ton of cap space and the money to buy out if needed.
To TBay: Grabovski
To TO: Vinny, 2nd, prospect
- BoBBeR56

barkov going 1st must be a joke...he has the slowest foot speed out of everyone in the draft lol and tampa bay has no time for anyone who can't keep up, we are extremely quick up front.the only time i even see him out there is on powerplay where you dont have to move quickly with agression up the ice into an attack or back check

sure hes a playmaker sure hes got great hands sure hes big...
drouin is a playmaker has great hands can score and is small but brings immense speed to the table

drouin fits the slot perfectly. far more than barkov ever would. last time i saw a huge slow player on tampa was kubina and i wanted to kick his ass every damn game...i want none of that!!

to be fair about vinny theres the business side and the hockey side...and sadly this league is 50% both so it could go either way

Do it. I was surprised to see how expensive this team is for how they placed in the standings. I love Vinny, but we have to realize he's on the decline and his cap hit isn't.

I agree it's pretty much a must. It sucks because he's been a great franchise player for you guys, but it's time to move on.

You've said it yourself, it's about having a more balanced team. You guys had BOTH the top 2 players in scoring in the NHL this year and came in 28th. Buy out Vinny, draft one of the top 3 forward prospects, try to acquire some solid D and/or power forwards. You guys have the potential to be a perennial cup contender in the near future.

I agree it's pretty much a must. It sucks because he's been a great franchise player for you guys, but it's time to move on.

You've said it yourself, it's about having a more balanced team. You guys had BOTH the top 2 players in scoring in the NHL this year and came in 28th. Buy out Vinny, draft one of the top 3 forward prospects, try to acquire some solid D and/or power forwards. You guys have the potential to be a perennial cup contender in the near future.
- MannySilvers

That's not the whole story. Our offense was top 5 with him, our problem was defense and goaltending. Goaltending is fixed (hopefully) and defense should be fixed. Malone is the most intelligent buyout opportunity.