I could see BM inquiring about him. Like you said, the only risk factor is his health. Would he be ready to play next season?

Butler for Malone and your 2nd. Or perhaps newly acquired Shane O'Brien.

I have a bad feeling the Sabres go after him, good player just hurt alot.

Butler for Malone and your 2nd. Or perhaps newly acquired Shane O'Brien.
- TandA4Flames

That's a big favor taking that cap hit off of Tampa & Butler is a functional dman. I would want the 2013 2nd & the 2014 2nd with Malone for Butler.

Malone for Horcoff. Make it happen.
- Maxbone

the idea is to get rid of the contract. it's not to add a higher cap hit with a worse player.

Malone sucks

That's a big favor taking that cap hit off of Tampa & Butler is a functional dman. I would want the 2013 2nd & the 2014 2nd with Malone for Butler.
- Kevin R

I'd rather keep him. A $4.5MM cap hit isn't all that much to deal with now that Lecavalier's gone.

Tough one for the Bolts, I'd say he's a buyout candidate with no takers.

Malone for Hemskey straight up and I will be so happy... Hemskey is a Monster ..

Tough one for the Bolts, I'd say he's a buyout candidate with no takers.
- LeftCoaster

Yzerman already said he is not using another buyout this year and will see where we stand next year. If you get rid of Malone there is now 2 holes to fill on our top 6, not a good situation. Yes he's injured a lot and we have a crop of kids coming up but they are still unproven at the elite level. How do we not know we might just have a really good minor league hockey team? If they do trade him I'm sure Mr. Yzerman has a plan for a solid top 6 vet.

Yzerman already said he is not using another buyout this year and will see where we stand next year. If you get rid of Malone there is now 2 holes to fill on our top 6, not a good situation. Yes he's injured a lot and we have a crop of kids coming up but they are still unproven at the elite level. How do we not know we might just have a really good minor league hockey team? If they do trade him I'm sure Mr. Yzerman has a plan for a solid top 6 vet.
- Oomroy

Although it is a small sample we have seen flashes of greatness from our Syracuse callups. I know this means very little but for sure spreads optimism. They are ready. They're not 18 year old rookies they're 21-23 and ready to make the jump.

I would take him if they add the 2nd rounder and just buy him out right after.

You get a 2nd rounder which is #33 overall and the leafs can then send LA this year's 2nd fir the Bernier deal.

I saw a mock draft where Colorado takes MacKinnon, Florida picks Drouin, and Lightning go for Barkov. If Jones is available at #3, can the Lightning really pass on him? I uderstand Yzerman sees Barkov as the future 2C, but can the Lightning REALLY pass on Jones? What would it take for the Lightning to trade with Colorado and get MacKinnon? I'dd love a 1-2 of Stamkos/Mac for the next 10 years!

I saw a mock draft where Colorado takes MacKinnon, Florida picks Drouin, and Lightning go for Barkov. If Jones is available at #3, can the Lightning really pass on him? I uderstand Yzerman sees Barkov as the future 2C, but can the Lightning REALLY pass on Jones? What would it take for the Lightning to trade with Colorado and get MacKinnon? I'dd love a 1-2 of Stamkos/Mac for the next 10 years!
- TBolts4

Too much its not worth it when we have #3 in such a deep draft. Our guy could just as easily be as good as or better. They never played in the same continent sonwe wouldn't know

Too much its not worth it when we have #3 in such a deep draft. Our guy could just as easily be as good as or better. They never played in the same continent sonwe wouldn't know
- RileyB77

MacKinnon could be another Stamkos...Heard Colorado really liked Barkov... I dont think it would be enough but maybe Malone and 3rd for 1st? Its just a dream. I'll do with Barkov. Or Jones. Or Drouin.

MacKinnon could be another Stamkos...Heard Colorado really liked Barkov... I dont think it would be enough but maybe Malone and 3rd for 1st? Its just a dream. I'll do with Barkov. Or Jones. Or Drouin.
- TBolts4

The thing is it wouldn't be Malone and our 3rd it would be like Herman and our 3rd or Connolly and Johnson or vasilevakiy too much to lose. Also if we went to first I'd hope to god we took jones

The thing is it wouldn't be Malone and our 3rd it would be like Herman and our 3rd or Connolly and Johnson or vasilevakiy too much to lose. Also if we went to first I'd hope to god we took jones
- RileyB77

So if Jones falls to 3 you take him? Then who do you go after for your 2C? I don't know if that would be possible but what about drafting Drouin, then going after Ribeiro in the open market? I'dd rather go after Scuderi if he's available, but Vinny's buyout left a big hole at 2C...

So if Jones falls to 3 you take him? Then who do you go after for your 2C? I don't know if that would be possible but what about drafting Drouin, then going after Ribeiro in the open market? I'dd rather go after Scuderi if he's available, but Vinny's buyout left a big hole at 2C...
- TBolts4

Is take jones at 3 and since vinny is gone and we have money to sign someone else is just take a guy off the FA list or draft Barkov and get a defenseman from FA or just wait for ours to develope those are basically our two options now

Is take jones at 3 and since vinny is gone and we have money to sign someone else is just take a guy off the FA list or draft Barkov and get a defenseman from FA or just wait for ours to develope those are basically our two options now
- RileyB77

Purcell - Stamkos - St Louis
Drouin - Ribeiro - Connolly
Killorn - Johnson - Palat
Tyrell - THompson - Crombeen

Hedman - Salo
Carle - Gudas
Brewer - Aulie

Trade Malone for picks or depth... If you give Reibeiro 20mil for 3 years, he might take it... or it might take more... I think Barberio could make top 6 dman this year as well... And Sustr too.. Brewer will be traded at trade deadline.

Purcell - Stamkos - St Louis
Drouin - Ribeiro - Connolly
Killorn - Johnson - Palat
Tyrell - THompson - Crombeen

Hedman - Salo
Carle - Gudas
Brewer - Aulie

Trade Malone for picks or depth... If you give Reibeiro 20mil for 3 years, he might take it... or it might take more... I think Barberio could make top 6 dman this year as well... And Sustr too.. Brewer will be traded at trade deadline.
- TBolts4

Way too much money to throw at Ribeiro in my opinion.

Rather sign Roy, Weiss, or even Bozak for less.

Way too much money to throw at Ribeiro in my opinion.

Rather sign Roy, Weiss, or even Bozak for less.
- norbs

Bozak want more than 5mil a year so I say a big fat NO to that. Roy sucks and Weiss? No thanks. Ribeiro will probably actually get way more than that. And by trading Malone, we would have like 12 million in cap space. We can afford Ribeiro. And he would be a great 2C. Hell, most team will take him as a 1C

Well you'd have to bank on him bucking the injury trend if you're a contender. Like I said in the blog, if I'm running a young team or a cap floor team I wouldn't have any problem looking at Malone.
- Michael_Stuart

Not sure there are many cap-floor teams this year. Only 5 teams, Ottawa, Phoenix, New Jersey, Winnipeg and NY Islanders are currently under $44M salary floor right now and they all need to sign quite a few players. Reaching the salary floor should be relatively easy for all of these teams. The real questions should be, do you want Malone on your team and what would he cost?

Malone is a solid player when healthy but has been disappointing imo during his time in Tampa due to injuries. If his price is really low, why trade a healthy Malone after the buy-out of Lecavalier? Tampa doesn't need the cap space and they likely could use all the veteran experience on what will likely be one of the youngest teams in the NHL next season.

Way too much money to throw at Ribeiro in my opinion.

Rather sign Roy, Weiss, or even Bozak for less.
- norbs

Bozak is a good 2nd or 3rd line player but is asking for too much money. I hope Yzerman will be very careful with his UFA spending.

Way too much money to throw at Ribeiro in my opinion.

Rather sign Roy, Weiss, or even Bozak for less.
- norbs

Bozak is a good 2nd or 3rd line player but is asking for too much money. I hope Yzerman will be very careful with his UFA spending.

Bozak is a good 2nd or 3rd line player but is asking for too much money. I hope Yzerman will be very careful with his UFA spending.
- Leafsandbolts

In all honesty I think Malone is being shopped but will not be "given" away either. SY will draft Barkov and sign a veteran depth player. Wish he could do more, but i dont think he will.