Filppula played with Stamkos and Drouin. Johnson has to play center in my opinion. Hes not as effective as a winger.
- TBolts4

Agreed.

I think a Drouin-Stamkos-Callahan line could be epic. It has all of the pieces, assuming Drouin lives up to expectations. Drouin can make the plays, Stamkos finishes them, and Callahan works the boards and creates traffic. Hands - Sniper - Grinder.

Agree about Johnson on center. Keep him there. If anything, move Filppula on to wing alongside Drouin-Stamkos. Filppula isn't physical like Callahan, but we works along the boards really well.

I would use Stralman to eat as many Hedman minutes as possible. Look at Stralman as mini-Hedman. Bump everyone else one notch. Shelter Carle a bit more and have a Stralman - 2a/2b approach to the top pairing. Stralman, Garrison, Carle, Brewer, Gudas, Sustr. Barberio if you run with 7 D.

Like Mike said, if you gotta send someone down, send Kucherov - no waivers.

Bishop and Nabokov have been a strong tandem. None of our losses can be pinned on goaltending. That is an alien feeling for this long-time Tampa fan.

I think a Drouin-Stamkos-Callahan line could be epic. It has all of the pieces, assuming Drouin lives up to expectations. Drouin can make the plays, Stamkos finishes them, and Callahan works the boards and creates traffic. Hands - Sniper - Grinder.

Agree about Johnson on center. Keep him there. If anything, move Filppula on to wing alongside Drouin-Stamkos. Filppula isn't physical like Callahan, but we works along the boards really well.

I would use Stralman to eat as many Hedman minutes as possible. Look at Stralman as mini-Hedman. Bump everyone else one notch. Shelter Carle a bit more and have a Stralman - 2a/2b approach to the top pairing. Stralman, Garrison, Carle, Brewer, Gudas, Sustr. Barberio if you run with 7 D.

Like Mike said, if you gotta send someone down, send Kucherov - no waivers.
- GalacticStone

I like most everything you say but if you send someone down you send Vlad Namestnikov, he is struggling more then Kucherov as the season goes on and then they can have Stamkos-Filppula-Johnson down the middle which is pretty strong.

I think a Drouin-Stamkos-Callahan line could be epic. It has all of the pieces, assuming Drouin lives up to expectations. Drouin can make the plays, Stamkos finishes them, and Callahan works the boards and creates traffic. Hands - Sniper - Grinder.

Agree about Johnson on center. Keep him there. If anything, move Filppula on to wing alongside Drouin-Stamkos. Filppula isn't physical like Callahan, but we works along the boards really well.

I would use Stralman to eat as many Hedman minutes as possible. Look at Stralman as mini-Hedman. Bump everyone else one notch. Shelter Carle a bit more and have a Stralman - 2a/2b approach to the top pairing. Stralman, Garrison, Carle, Brewer, Gudas, Sustr. Barberio if you run with 7 D.

Like Mike said, if you gotta send someone down, send Kucherov - no waivers.
- GalacticStone

I said Namestnikov.


Otherwise I agree with your post.

I like Kucherov, but isn't he waiver-exempt? If so, he gets the short straw when it comes to musical roster spots with the big club.

Stralman looks solid. I like what I see, a lot. I was reserving judgement until a larger sample size, but he looks very consistent in every game. Positionally-sound, very mobile, defensively-aware, offensive potential, good passer, just generally all around solid defenseman. People were pegging him as a 3-4 guy, but I think he is good 1-2, and probably our best shot at a #1 until Hedman comes back. New York tried to play down the importance of losing him, but I think he shines better here in an expanded role.

Sustr is surprising me. He looks like a gangly-dufus type of Cory Cross guy, but he is very smart with reading the play and he skates very well for such a rangy body type. Nothing flashy or imposing, just really good with his reach and ability to read - like a Brian Boyle on defense.

I miss Gudas. I have a white candle with a black beard painted on it. I am burning it for him. May he heal quickly and return with great vengeance and furious anger.

Drouin is the real deal. Give him 20 games to get adjusted to the pace and physicality. I think 15+ goals and 30+ assists is very easy to achieve, especially if he plays in an expanded role. The hands, good god man, the hands. You can see it already. I just hope he can run with the big dogs - real men with hockey faces, like Morrow.

I think Stammer might be extra-streaky this year. He never goes too long without goals, so he is due to break out with a multiple goal game again and to build a long point streak.

Palat finally redeemed himself. Connolly looks good.

Keep giving Morrow all the Ensure he can drink, it's helping a little.

How long is Callahan expected to be out? Any word on that?

I like Kucherov, but isn't he waiver-exempt? If so, he gets the short straw when it comes to musical roster spots with the big club.
- GalacticStone

Why keep Vlad over Kucherov? We have enough centers and not enough LW. Vlad is waiver-exempt as well and to be honest is starting to regress a little. Kucherov was in the NHL all season last year and showed pretty well but got tired toward the end. I would rather him stay and Vlad go down based on positional need and more NHL experience.

Bishop and Nabokov have been a strong tandem. None of our losses can be pinned on goaltending. That is an alien feeling for this long-time Tampa fan.
- GalacticStone

yes wow when was the last time the lightning had two goalies they could count on ?

Why keep Vlad over Kucherov? We have enough centers and not enough LW. Vlad is waiver-exempt as well and to be honest is starting to regress a little. Kucherov was in the NHL all season last year and showed pretty well but got tired toward the end. I would rather him stay and Vlad go down based on positional need and more NHL experience.
- stammerman

yes but look at it this way johnson and palat really did not get going last year till the 2nd half of the season. so I think we have to give vladdy 30 games at least.

yes but look at it this way johnson and palat really did not get going last year till the 2nd half of the season. so I think we have to give vladdy 30 games at least.
- todd1a

I understand that as well but if someone has to go down who is waiver exempt it should be Vlad. That is all I am saying, he is the logical choice to go down since we have enough C and not enough LW. Kucherov has proven he is NHL capable and plays LW where we need players.

Killorn and gudas are practicing this morning

Killorn and gudas are practicing this morning
- RileyB77

Killorn and gudas are practicing this morning
- RileyB77

Witko was sent back to Cuse which tells me Gudas will be back soon and quite possibly Friday. If he was going to be out through tomorrow and Saturday games I would think they would have waited to send Witko back as insurance in case a d-man went down Friday

I didn't realize Namestnikov was also waiver exempt. If that is the case, then the line between Namestnikov and Kucherov becomes much finer. Tough call there, flip a coin. Both show flashes, but we need to see more scoring from both.

So, who exactly is waiver exempt on our roster?

I didn't realize Namestnikov was also waiver exempt. If that is the case, then the line between Namestnikov and Kucherov becomes much finer. Tough call there, flip a coin. Both show flashes, but we need to see more scoring from both.

So, who exactly is waiver exempt on our roster?
- GalacticStone

From the opening day roster... only Namestnikov and Kucherov of the forwards.

Andrej Sustr on the defense until he plays 12 games with the Bolts (he has played 6 games this year so 6 to go) with Hedman out he will surely stay with the big club.

From the opening day roster... only Namestnikov and Kucherov of the forwards.

Andrej Sustr on the defense until he plays 12 games with the Bolts (he has played 6 games this year so 6 to go) with Hedman out he will surely stay with the big club.
- stammerman

In that case, then yes, send Namestnikov down over Kucherov, if necessary.

I hear the BEARD is coming to Winnipeg. Woe to Winnipeg.

In that case, then yes, send Namestnikov down over Kucherov, if necessary.

I hear the BEARD is coming to Winnipeg. Woe to Winnipeg.
- GalacticStone

Fear. The. Beard.

There is no chin beneath Gudas' beard, just another cross-check.

I think a Drouin-Stamkos-Callahan line could be epic. It has all of the pieces, assuming Drouin lives up to expectations. Drouin can make the plays, Stamkos finishes them, and Callahan works the boards and creates traffic. Hands - Sniper - Grinder.

Agree about Johnson on center. Keep him there. If anything, move Filppula on to wing alongside Drouin-Stamkos. Filppula isn't physical like Callahan, but we works along the boards really well.

I would use Stralman to eat as many Hedman minutes as possible. Look at Stralman as mini-Hedman. Bump everyone else one notch. Shelter Carle a bit more and have a Stralman - 2a/2b approach to the top pairing. Stralman, Garrison, Carle, Brewer, Gudas, Sustr. Barberio if you run with 7 D.

Like Mike said, if you gotta send someone down, send Kucherov - no waivers.
- GalacticStone

Filppula is the best faceoff guy outside of Boyle on the team and the strong 2 way play he provides at center wouldn't have the same impact on the wing. Johnson probably ends up centering the 3rd line when Vlad gets sent down.

Filppula is the best faceoff guy outside of Boyle on the team and the strong 2 way play he provides at center wouldn't have the same impact on the wing. Johnson probably ends up centering the 3rd line when Vlad gets sent down.
- Feds91Stammer

True that. Filppula is one of the best two-way players we have. Solid pivot. And his ability to work along the boards is underrated. That Detroit system is really hammered into him and he came in playing a Western conference style of hockey. We need more of that in some regards. Got another Filppula we can have? How about Nyquist? We'll give you Morrow, Blunden, and a 3rd for him.

True that. Filppula is one of the best two-way players we have. Solid pivot. And his ability to work along the boards is underrated. That Detroit system is really hammered into him and he came in playing a Western conference style of hockey. We need more of that in some regards. Got another Filppula we can have? How about Nyquist? We'll give you Morrow, Blunden, and a 3rd for him.
- GalacticStone

Datsyuk and Fil worked together at practice everyday for years. Fil is basically Datsyuk lite. I wish both of them would shoot more. But you cannot have Goose unless you wanna send Connolly + +

Datsyuk and Fil worked together at practice everyday for years. Fil is basically Datsyuk lite. I wish both of them would shoot more. But you cannot have Goose unless you wanna send Connolly + +
- Feds91Stammer

Done, no take backs!

Done, no take backs!
- Artyukhin76

Haha what is your ++?

Haha what is your ++?
- Feds91Stammer

Future considerations and a conditional pick.