To be honest I think that might be very close value, give or take a bit either way. That said, given our win now state, if we're trading Edler I'd prefer a straight 1 for 1 trade for a bonafide top 6 winger like Pacioretty. Bobby Ryan was my hopeful but that opportunity came and went.
- AlexF

Not. Worth. It.

Not a very good offer, truthfully.
- TheLeafsInsider

Stop over rating your players, then.

EDIT_ sorry, I take that back, I forgot the whole Clarkson thing... one good season. Huh....

god dammit , anyone watch "inside the lightning:bolts summer bash" ?? and can anyone show me a link ive been looking everywhere (frank)

To be honest I think that might be very close value, give or take a bit either way. That said, given our win now state, if we're trading Edler I'd prefer a straight 1 for 1 trade for a bonafide top 6 winger like Pacioretty. Bobby Ryan was my hopeful but that opportunity came and went.
- AlexF

your kidding right thats a over payment do you know how good connolly and panik will be ? those guys are both future top 6 wingers! plus a 2nd round pick! Some other fans have now clue just how good the lightning have depth in wingers! Palat, Connolly and panik are all ready for the NHL and we have so many more coming! Not to even include we just drafted Drouin!

your kidding right thats a over payment do you know how good connolly and panik will be ? those guys are both future top 6 wingers! plus a 2nd round pick! Some other fans have now clue just how good the lightning have depth in wingers! Palat, Connolly and panik are all ready for the NHL and we have so many more coming! Not to even include we just drafted Drouin!
- todd1a

There are local rinks full of guys who had potential now running kids camps.

Tampa does need to improve that horrific defense.

Tampa does need to improve that horrific defense.
- RogerRoeper

our defense is just fine on paper

we need a new system, and with our new head coach he brings a new system, jon cooper is THE man

4.5 out of 5 stars in NHL 13 video game, i am aware that is an extremely horrible example of our d on paper but it got me thinking that theres no way our defense should be 4.5/5 stars ...but playerwise it is with hedman, salo, carle, now gudas, brewer i mean barberio too, it could be a 4.5/5 star defense with the right system

Tampa does need to improve that horrific defense.
- RogerRoeper

Hedman, Salo, Carle, and Gudas is a solid top 4 on almost any NHL team.

What needs to be improved is the horrific play of the defense.

Hedman, Salo, Carle, and Gudas is a solid top 4 on almost any NHL team.

What needs to be improved is the horrific play of the defense.
- uf1910

Yes, No, Yes, No.

I would just stand pat why over pay to trade for franson and overpay him for 4 million plus a year ? problem is we don't need a #3 or #4 defenseman we need a #2 or #1 defenseman hint Alex Edler! if I over payed in a trade then overpay for Alex Edler!

Yes, No, Yes, No.
- Michael_Stuart

Salo isn't a solid top 4? Ummmm

Only "knock" against Gudas is experience. But his ceiling still remains 3/4 d-man so I stand by my statement. I would rather see Gudas play top 4 minutes and make some young player mistakes then see Brewer get pylon'd multiple times per game

I would just stand pat why over pay to trade for franson and overpay him for 4 million plus a year ? problem is we don't need a #3 or #4 defenseman we need a #2 or #1 defenseman hint Alex Edler! if I over payed in a trade then overpay for Alex Edler! M
- todd1a

TBT article today says Yzerman leaving the last two roster spots are open to allow 2 players to come up from Syracuse. Good article except he always screws up the cap numbers.

Yzerman could have looked to free agency to fill these depth positions but said that would send the wrong message to Syracuse's players: "Some of them have played two full years in the minors and done very well. I have to give them an opportunity to take a step forward right now."

what a great guy

Salo isn't a solid top 4? Ummmm

Only "knock" against Gudas is experience. But his ceiling still remains 3/4 d-man so I stand by my statement. I would rather see Gudas play top 4 minutes and make some young player mistakes then see Brewer get pylon'd multiple times per game
- uf1910

On most NHL teams, Salo would be a bottom pairing/PP specialist guy. Teams would do that to keep him healthy. We didn't have that luxury. He performed extremely well, but we didn't use him the way most teams would.

Most teams also wouldn't throw a raw prospect into a top-4 role. Gudas only started playing top-4 minutes in the last few games of the season. I'm not saying he won't get there, but I think it's a bit of a stretch to call him a top-4 guy on most NHL teams.

On most NHL teams, Salo would be a bottom pairing/PP specialist guy. Teams would do that to keep him healthy. We didn't have that luxury. He performed extremely well, but we didn't use him the way most teams would.

Most teams also wouldn't throw a raw prospect into a top-4 role. Gudas only started playing top-4 minutes in the last few games of the season. I'm not saying he won't get there, but I think it's a bit of a stretch to call him a top-4 guy on most NHL teams.
- Michael_Stuart

Agree to disagree on Salo. He was only bottom pairing in his days with Nucks b/c of their depth. Health "issues" aside he is a solid top 4 d-man and I would think with his play last year (and when healthy his days with Van) you would agree with that statement

So maybe it is a stretch to call Gudas solid on most teams, but again that is only b/c of a lack of experience. Bolts best days are ahead of them and Gudas will be a big part of that. Getting him top 4 experience now only helps those days later.

Agree to disagree on Salo. He was only bottom pairing in his days with Nucks b/c of their depth. Health "issues" aside he is a solid top 4 d-man and I would think with his play last year (and when healthy his days with Van) you would agree with that statement

So maybe it is a stretch to call Gudas solid on most teams, but again that is only b/c of a lack of experience. Bolts best days are ahead of them and Gudas will be a big part of that. Getting him top 4 experience now only helps those days later.
- uf1910

Salo was top 4, when healthy our best defenseman. I hated seeing him go, but he signed a hug contract so can't blame him.

Agree to disagree on Salo. He was only bottom pairing in his days with Nucks b/c of their depth. Health "issues" aside he is a solid top 4 d-man and I would think with his play last year (and when healthy his days with Van) you would agree with that statement

So maybe it is a stretch to call Gudas solid on most teams, but again that is only b/c of a lack of experience. Bolts best days are ahead of them and Gudas will be a big part of that. Getting him top 4 experience now only helps those days later.
- uf1910

Absolutely, but when analyzing a player you can't just ignore a big facet of his resume. If I'm a coach, I'm playing Salo in limited minutes (not 20+ like Boucher did) and using him as a PP specialist/mentor. You have to protect that asset knowing that he's likely to get injured. Salo's a personal favorite of mine. I've liked him since his days in Ottawa. That said, his best days are behind him.

Salo was top 4, when healthy our best defenseman. I hated seeing him go, but he signed a hug contract so can't blame him.
- Scooby_Doo

I would have to agree with this Salo was the best lightning defenseman last year even better then all the money we paid Matt Carle. On are team with are defenseman he is still a top 4 guy!

I would have to agree with this Salo was the best lightning defenseman last year even better then all the money we paid Matt Carle. On are team with are defenseman he is still a top 4 guy!
- todd1a

You cant honestly tell me that Hedman wasn't our best defenseman last year, and for many years to come.

You cant honestly tell me that Hedman wasn't our best defenseman last year, and for many years to come.
- BoltsFan4Life

I'd say he was, but Michael thinks he stinks.

I'd say he was, but Michael thinks he stinks.
- Artyukhin76

Michael thinks he has the potential to be a top pairing defenseman in this league for a long time. He was good last season. Don't put words in my mouth.

Michael thinks he has the potential to be a top pairing defenseman in this league for a long time. He was good last season. Don't put words in my mouth.
- Michael_Stuart

Would I put words in your mouth ? I know what you think of him I was just trying to see if you're still paying attention.

Latest news and notes:
1. We lost out on Retu Suri because the Swiss league didn't sign the transfer agreement.
2. We have signed Kristers Gudlevskis to a ELC because Helenuis and Desjardins have to pass through waviers.
3. Yzerman has stated that the remainder of the roster spots will be filled by Syracuse players.
So.... Can I be a blogger now?

Latest news and notes:
1. We lost out on Retu Suri because the Swiss league didn't sign the transfer agreement.
2. We have signed Kristers Gudlevskis to a ELC because Helenuis and Desjardins have to pass through waviers.
3. Yzerman has stated that the remainder of the roster spots will be filled by Syracuse players.
So.... Can I be a blogger now?
- Artyukhin76

Holy (frank) arty as if e didn't read all that (frank)ing poop on the Internet already man

Tell us something we don't (frank)ing know then u can be a blogger Jesus Christ


Honeymoon suite z

Latest news and notes:
1. We lost out on Retu Suri because the Swiss league didn't sign the transfer agreement.
2. We have signed Kristers Gudlevskis to a ELC because Helenuis and Desjardins have to pass through waviers.
3. Yzerman has stated that the remainder of the roster spots will be filled by Syracuse players.
So.... Can I be a blogger now?
- Artyukhin76

I've got a news and notes blog drafted for tomorrow afternoon + I'll be opening the mailbag again. The slow days of summer are brutal. I can't bring myself to blog about nothing. I need a real topic.