Michael Stuart: The Big Decision
- Michael_Stuart

As rumoured, if the Lightning/Leafs make a deal for Lecavalier is he eligible to re-sign with Tampa? Is the restriction only that you can't re-sign with the team that bought you out?

As rumoured, if the Lightning/Leafs make a deal for Lecavalier is he eligible to re-sign with Tampa? Is the restriction only that you can't re-sign with the team that bought you out?
- Deeps27

Correct

you guys are crazy. you are completely forgetting about nishushkin who the bolts are way more high on than barkov. either way i think tyler johnson is our future number 2 center behind stamkos. also remember we have kucherov as well. i think the bolts take drouin to play with stammer cuz marty wont be around forever. i wouldnt be against signing briere at all actually. but for 3 mill or less. they will keep vinny till next season. i think they buy out malone or brewer this season. or they take jones if hes there forsure. and what are you guys crazy? the avs will clearly take mackinnon over barkov. they are both centers but mackinnon is a franchise player. barkov has comparisons to a staal brother. nishushkin is an ovechkin/malkin combo. i think if jones is gone they will take nish over drouin but it will be tight. they might even trade down a pick to nsh to take nish
- boltsfan48

For clarification purposes, Kucherov is a RW, not a center.

Correct
- Atomic Wedgie

except then you run the risk of the whole circumventing the cap scenario. If you trade a player to be bought out and then resign him it could be looked upon as a way to circumvent the new compliance buyout rules and the team could be penalized.

Not sure if that would happen or not but something to consider.

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
- jdfitz77

And at 17 years old Barkov comes with a slow skating scouting report.

except then you run the risk of the whole circumventing the cap scenario. If you trade a player to be bought out and then resign him it could be looked upon as a way to circumvent the new compliance buyout rules and the team could be penalized.

Not sure if that would happen or not but something to consider.
- Joel_Eh

Bettman will do what the Leafs tell him to do, and like it.

To be honest, if the Leafs were to trade for Vinny for the purpose of buying him out, I'm guessing they would play him for a year at centre and then buy him out in the summer of 2014.

These are very big "ifs" - so TB fans can relax.

And at 17 years old Barkov comes with a slow skating scouting report.
- uf1910

exactly. where does slowness come into play with our roster with stamkos st louis johnson palat killorn panik

Correct
- Atomic Wedgie

Seems like a no brainer for TB assuming they have an asset or two that would interest Mr. Nonis...that is the kind of creative cap management teams like TB should be taking advantage of...big ticket to buy out for a small market.

Myers or Vanek, plus we buy out Vinny for ya...
And all we'd want is your #3 pick
Maybe?
- jdfitz77

Didn't the Sabres GM already quash any chance/hope of them moving up in the draft?

Seems like a no brainer for TB assuming they have an asset or two that would interest Mr. Nonis...that is the kind of creative cap management teams like TB should be taking advantage of...big ticket to buy out for a small market.
- Deeps27

We'll be fine but thanks for your concern, such a selfless and caring fan base leafs fans are

exactly. where does slowness come into play with our roster with stamkos st louis johnson palat killorn panik
- RileyB77

It doesn't? Yzerman wants speed and his drafting history backs that up. Barkov will not be our pick.

We'll be fine but thanks for your concern, such a selfless and caring fan base leafs fans are
- Icegirl94

We're good like that ;-) Based on the blog, you guys want to keep Vinny, but 7.7 cap hit hamstrings your ability to do much considering the other big contracts...this is where the league is going...all leagues do it with bigger markets being able to take advantage of their ability to spend. I'd be happy for the Leafs to acquire Lecavalier...always been a fan...just time to face the inevitablity of the cap going down. Not meant to be an insult or anything - just a way to have your cake and eat it too...

Seems like a no brainer for TB assuming they have an asset or two that would interest Mr. Nonis...that is the kind of creative cap management teams like TB should be taking advantage of...big ticket to buy out for a small market.
- Deeps27

Let me guess, you will take Vinny for the #3 pick right?

This isn't happening regardless of the return. The buyout, while steep in dollars, is paid out over 14 YEARS. If buyout is the route they go with Vinny, we will be the ones doing the buyout. Vinik is worth almost $1B and just put $45M in arena improvements using his own $. There are teams with financial issues, the Bolts are not part of that group.

It doesn't? Yzerman wants speed and his drafting history backs that up. Barkov will not be our pick.
- uf1910

right. so what is this bs of barkov going 1st overall he is clearly not even top 3 best players available

We're good like that ;-) Based on the blog, you guys want to keep Vinny, but 7.7 cap hit hamstrings your ability to do much considering the other big contracts...this is where the league is going...all leagues do it with bigger markets being able to take advantage of their ability to spend. I'd be happy for the Leafs to acquire Lecavalier...always been a fan...just time to face the inevitablity of the cap going down. Not meant to be an insult or anything - just a way to have your cake and eat it too...
- Deeps27

How do you spell (cap) relief? Ryan Malone!

How do you spell (cap) relief? Ryan Malone!
- Artyukhin76

right. so what is this bs of barkov going 1st overall he is clearly not even top 3 best players available
- RileyB77

That is a damn good question. There must be some good poop being passed around. Puff puff give everybody

- uf1910

My ideal scenario (if Jones isn't available) is draft Drouin and flip Ryan Malone for Jeff Shultz.

My ideal scenario (if Jones isn't available) is draft Drouin and flip Ryan Malone for Jeff Shultz.
- Artyukhin76

Malone is gone no matter how. Sorry Bugsy but your days in Tampa have come to an end. However I'd be shocked if we can deal him. Briere had a similar contract with lower salary than cap hit so I'm not sure with the decreasing cap there is a market. Maybe we can flip him for a late round pick but that's about all we can get IMO

Drouin is my pick if Jones is gone. I'm scared of Nichuskin. For all of his size he plays soft. Maybe Antropov with a little more creativity in his game.

Malone is gone no matter how. Sorry Bugsy but your days in Tampa have come to an end. However I'd be shocked if we can deal him. Briere had a similar contract with lower salary than cap hit so I'm not sure with the decreasing cap there is a market. Maybe we can flip him for a late round pick but that's about all we can get IMO

Drouin is my pick if Jones is gone. I'm scared of Nichuskin. For all of his size he plays soft. Maybe Antropov with a little more creativity in his game.
- uf1910

Jones if available if not drouin. Buy out Malone and sign a family on defense...or trade for defense. It's been our plan all along folks

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.
- tkecanuck341

It's the term.

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.
- TheJerseyDevil1

Yup.

My ideal scenario (if Jones isn't available) is draft Drouin and flip Ryan Malone for Jeff Shultz.
- Artyukhin76

Jeff Schultz sucks, but we can't take Malone unless more salary goes out or you cover some of his salary.

right. so what is this bs of barkov going 1st overall he is clearly not even top 3 best players available
- RileyB77

Barkov is going to be a top-6 forward in the NHL. Jones might reach his potential. I am not a fan of Drouin.

MacKinnon, Barkov, Jones, Lindholm, Droiun...is my order.

Malone should bring the short-term relief necessary. I still worry about Lecavalier's contract in 5 years. Will he be a $7.7MM player at that point?