They will be paying him for EVER. thank the league for nixing the trade. I think it would of helped both teams if they would of allowed it.
- Babalu88

Hell no...Habs would of gotten raped once again...the trade was something along the lines of Plekanec, Subban, Higgins and a 1st...

Barkov would be a suitable replacement no?
- SpoiledByOil

This is my opinion but there are 3 better players in this draft. When you pick that high in the draft you should ALWAYS take the best player available.

Is he suitable, sure he plays center and now we have a huge hole at the #2 center spot. Is he who I want? Absolutely not

Drouin is still my pick hands down

This is my opinion but there are 3 better players in this draft. When you pick that high in the draft you should ALWAYS take the best player available.

Is he suitable, sure he plays center and now we have a huge hole at the #2 center spot. Is he who I want? Absolutely not

Drouin is still my pick hands down
- uf1910

Three better players in the draft? Maybe. There are many who believe that Barkov is the underrated gem in this draft class though. I would have loved to see his draft ranking if he played junior in Canada.

not having to trade Stamkos cause you can't afford the cap hit is a pretty good result...

just saying.
- Big_Lightnin

What? Stammer just signed his deal. Do you know where the cap is going to be when his current deal expires? No, and neither do I. But based on trends it will be up, and up significantly.

Any chance Richards fills your #2 center spot if NYR buys him out?

Any chance Richards fills your #2 center spot if NYR buys him out?
- Jaciems

Wouldn't surprise me. Floated this out a while ago. I don't expect NYR to buy out Richards with AV there now. Give him one more chance before re-assessing next year.

Three better players in the draft? Maybe. There are many who believe that Barkov is the underrated gem in this draft class though. I would have loved to see his draft ranking if he played junior in Canada.
- Michael_Stuart

Well count me in the others who don't. He's good player, a good all around player that much is certain. But as we've discussed I don't like nor do I want "slow". Maybe he is Joe Thornton (I don't see the same offensive creativity in his game.) But there's also a chance he's another Gaustad also.

Well count me in the others who don't. He's good player, a good all around player that much is certain. But as we've discussed I don't like nor do I want "slow". Maybe he is Joe Thornton (I don't see the same offensive creativity in his game.) But there's also a chance he's another Gaustad also.
- uf1910

The skating criticism with him is the exact same one that came with Tavares. Players can improve skating. Players can't improve natural talent or offensive instincts.

There's a chance that Drouin's skillset doesn't translate to the NHL level, too. Nothing is a sure thing, but if I have a hole at center and an opportunity to take a big center with skill, I'm taking it.

What? Stammer just signed his deal. Do you know where the cap is going to be when his current deal expires? No, and neither do I. But based on trends it will be up, and up significantly.
- uf1910

wow. Would it have helped if I typed a little slower?

I know where the cap is next year, and Stammer has a $7.5M cap hit, Vinnie's was $7.7M.

Tampa was OVER the Cap for next season with only 18 players signed (and 3 or 4 of those players really shouldn't be in the NHL...)

Stamkos is the ONLY player on Tampa's roster they could trade and demand no salary would come back in return, and even that would be difficult.

Obviously they would not trade Stamkos, so they had no choice but to buy out Vinnie.

The skating criticism with him is the exact same one that came with Tavares. Players can improve skating. Players can't improve natural talent or offensive instincts.

There's a chance that Drouin's skillset doesn't translate to the NHL level, too. Nothing is a sure thing, but if I have a hole at center and an opportunity to take a big center with skill, I'm taking it.
- Michael_Stuart

Tavares offensive instincts were considered elite and special his draft year. Those skills obviously have translated to the NHL in spite of his "slow" skating. Nowhere have I seen Barkov be considered special offensively. He is well respected for his 2 way game but overall his offensive abilities and instincts are nowhere near the same level. Again, he could be a Joe Thronton as a bigger but slower center. Or he could be Gaustad who is really good in the back half but not so much in the front half.

No matter what we do, when it comes to drafting I won't question Yzerman and Murray.

wow. Would it have helped if I typed a little slower?

I know where the cap is next year, and Stammer has a $7.5M cap hit, Vinnie's was $7.7M.

Tampa was OVER the Cap for next season with only 18 players signed (and 3 or 4 of those players really shouldn't be in the NHL...)

Stamkos is the ONLY player on Tampa's roster they could trade and demand no salary would come back in return, and even that would be difficult.

Obviously they would not trade Stamkos, so they had no choice but to buy out Vinnie.
- Big_Lightnin

To be fair, the team wasn't over the cap. It had just over $2MM in cap space for next year + Ohlund's LTIR relief.

wow. Would it have helped if I typed a little slower?

I know where the cap is next year, and Stammer has a $7.5M cap hit, Vinnie's was $7.7M.

Tampa was OVER the Cap for next season with only 18 players signed (and 3 or 4 of those players really shouldn't be in the NHL...)

Stamkos is the ONLY player on Tampa's roster they could trade and demand no salary would come back in return, and even that would be difficult.

Obviously they would not trade Stamkos, so they had no choice but to buy out Vinnie.
- Big_Lightnin

No we weren't over the cap first off, so that's where we weren't on the same page.

Second, Malone is soon to be gone and we get Ohlund's cap hit back since he's on LTIR so if flexibility was the desire we had it there. We have a lot more flexibility now without Vinny's contract but now we also have a HUGE hole to fill at the #2 center spot.

If Barkov's drafted by us, I'm getting his jersey prior to game one.

Well this shocks me, I didn't think they'd actually do it. Wish him the best though!!

Well this shocks me, I didn't think they'd actually do it. Wish him the best though!!
- LeftCoaster

He's on his way to you guys

couldn't cancel my tickets fast enough today, this is so stupid, sign bums like brewer, carle and salo being paid big money and then wave goodbye one of the classiest guys in hockey.

F*CK YOU steve and until you're fired, I will only go to games when vinny comes to town.
Without vinny this team would of no longer been in tampa let alone won a cup in 2004, called loyalty and no longer will I give them my money.
- vinnybolt4life

Well, to be fair, Salo wasn't a bum. Carle and Brewer both have deals that will expire. The term on Vinny's deal was the big concern. It was manageable now, but in five years it would have been bad.

I understand the shock that comes with this decision. I think it's hard for anyone who watched him play over all these years.

Vincent Lecavalier's Audio Statement:
https://soundcloud.com/tb...cent-lecavalier-statement

Well, to be fair, Salo wasn't a bum. Carle and Brewer both have deals that will expire. The term on Vinny's deal was the big concern. It was manageable now, but in five years it would have been bad.

I understand the shock that comes with this decision. I think it's hard for anyone who watched him play over all these years.
- Michael_Stuart

brewer 2 more years and carle 5, please, you don't throw away an absolute class act and bring in bums and tell me were moving forward, carle sucked the first time around and he is sucking the second time around but let's pay him like a number one defender, steve blows plain and simple, Malone should have been first out the door.

First off, let me just say hats off to Stevie Y for making this decision. He is going to better his TEAM, and such decisions are necessary. As a cats fan, I obviously think the Lightning can well, you know.. but this move will help their franchise and I am happy for them.

This all being said, and please let me dream, hear me out:

Vinny is 33 years old. He easily has 5-7 seasons left in him. He is going to be overwhelmed with things over the next few weeks like signing with a new team, moving, maybe selling his home, new schools for his kids... things can be hectic.

Florida needs a #1 center. We do not need him for 5 years, maybe 2. This lets Nick Bjugstad develop the proper way to become our #1 center. We can pay him $4 million a season, and he wouldn't have to sell his home. He can get things situated much easier, and there is a luxury apartment complex right next to the BB&T Center where many players live during the season. It's a quick drive/flight to Tampa.. I just think it would be a great fit. Obviously he can sign somewhere else once things are easier, and he would have the time to make a decision that helps himself and his family.

This would be amazing for Huberdeau, who looked up to Vinny. I know this is a pipe dream but damn... if there's EVER a dream I want to come to fruition..

brewer 2 more years and carle 5, please, you don't throw away an absolute class act and bring in bums and tell me were moving forward, carle sucked the first time around and he is sucking the second time around but let's pay him like a number one defender, steve blows plain and simple, Malone should have been first out the door.
- vinnybolt4life

I doubt Malone will be back, but we'll see. Everything's been thrown out of whack now. Do you believe that Lecavalier's contract was a good thing for the franchise? This is a business. The last thing you want is to have a $7.7MM cap hit on the books five years from now for a player who probably isn't producing nearly as much as he used to.

Well, to be fair, Salo wasn't a bum. Carle and Brewer both have deals that will expire. The term on Vinny's deal was the big concern. It was manageable now, but in five years it would have been bad.

I understand the shock that comes with this decision. I think it's hard for anyone who watched him play over all these years.
- Michael_Stuart

Well if he signs with Florida, you can see him a ton of times!

First off, let me just say hats off to Stevie Y for making this decision. He is going to better his TEAM, and such decisions are necessary. As a cats fan, I obviously think the Lightning can well, you know.. but this move will help their franchise and I am happy for them.

This all being said, and please let me dream, hear me out:

Vinny is 33 years old. He easily has 5-7 seasons left in him. He is going to be overwhelmed with things over the next few weeks like signing with a new team, moving, maybe selling his home, new schools for his kids... things can be hectic.

Florida needs a #1 center. We do not need him for 5 years, maybe 2. This lets Nick Bjugstad develop the proper way to become our #1 center. We can pay him $4 million a season, and he wouldn't have to sell his home. He can get things situated much easier, and there is a luxury apartment complex right next to the BB&T Center where many players live during the season. It's a quick drive/flight to Tampa.. I just think it would be a great fit. Obviously he can sign somewhere else once things are easier, and he would have the time to make a decision that helps himself and his family.

This would be amazing for Huberdeau, who looked up to Vinny. I know this is a pipe dream but damn... if there's EVER a dream I want to come to fruition..
- Panthers88

This is very intriguing, and I've heard similar things from a few people. Still, he says he wants a contract that will take him to retirement. I'll be interested to see what he's offered from teams around the league.

I doubt Malone will be back, but we'll see. Everything's been thrown out of whack now. Do you believe that Lecavalier's contract was a good thing for the franchise? This is a business. The last thing you want is to have a $7.7MM cap hit on the books five years from now for a player who probably isn't producing nearly as much as he used to.
- Michael_Stuart

keep him one more year and have a plan, does this make the team better today, next year? please tell me the plan; love to see what the big plan is?

I'm done, f*ck the lightning.

keep him one more year and have a plan, does this make the team better today, next year? please tell me the plan; love to see what the big plan is?
- vinnybolt4life

Well I don't know what the big plan is, but clearly one faction of it was to create cap flexibility. From a business perspective, this was the right move.