Anthony Mantha will return to AHL action Friday

http://nhl.com/tmr/commen...lvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Capgeek says both are under contract through the 19-20 season. Is Vinny's contract actually shorter?
- hereticpride

You're looking at Lecavalier's contract with TB that was bought out.

thought the Doctor was grabbing your jewels
- vejim

Well, as long as he buys me a drink first....

I wouldn't. Richards is better, but VLs contact may be moveable after this season.
- PhillySportsGuy

I say a tiny little prayer every few days, hoping this is so

I'd add Couturier to that list. I think he's going to break out offensively very soon.
- MJL

Not trying to be a Debbie downer on him cause I do think he's a heckuva hockey player and crucial part of the team, but I've been hearing that about him for a while now. At what point do we finally resign ourselves to the fact that He's a third line shutdown guy?

Not trying to be a Debbie downer on him cause I do think he's a heckuva hockey player and crucial part of the team, but I've been hearing that about him for a while now. At what point do we finally resign ourselves to the fact that He's a third line shutdown guy?
- JoeRussomanno

I'm willing to give him a little more time, he's only 21 and finally playing with 2 skilled wingers. A ceiling of 20+ goals and 50+ points is not out of the question, IMO

Not trying to be a Debbie downer on him cause I do think he's a heckuva hockey player and crucial part of the team, but I've been hearing that about him for a while now. At what point do we finally resign ourselves to the fact that He's a third line shutdown guy?
- JoeRussomanno

when he's 25?

No.

Vinny's deal is shorter, and after the next bonus payout on July 1st might be moveable. Richards has 5 years left after this year, at $5.75mm
- Jsaquella

Just curious but how much will Lecavalier's deal be worth after the bonus is paid to him?

would u guys swap vinny strait up for mike Richards?
- mydoglicks

I'll be controversial and say yes

Not trying to be a Debbie downer on him cause I do think he's a heckuva hockey player and crucial part of the team, but I've been hearing that about him for a while now. At what point do we finally resign ourselves to the fact that He's a third line shutdown guy?
- JoeRussomanno

When he gets to the age that most players have their rookie seasons. Couturier is still very young and has not been counted on to be a scorer. If he isn't scoring by 25 then I will start to worry. For now, I will have realistic expectations.

Not trying to be a Debbie downer on him cause I do think he's a heckuva hockey player and crucial part of the team, but I've been hearing that about him for a while now. At what point do we finally resign ourselves to the fact that He's a third line shutdown guy?
- JoeRussomanno

In all honesty it wouldn't matter to me if his career average per season were 10 goals a season. I think you'd be hard pressed to find a better young shutdown center in the league. Ryan Kesler, Jordan Staal, Mike Richards are all older and in decline.

Not trying to be a Debbie downer on him cause I do think he's a heckuva hockey player and crucial part of the team, but I've been hearing that about him for a while now. At what point do we finally resign ourselves to the fact that He's a third line shutdown guy?
- JoeRussomanno

At ES last year, Couturier put up 2nd line center numbers. This year he is on pace to score 23 goals and 17 assists. He played a lot of the season to this point with Umberger and Matt Read. Both have struggled early offensively. Read has shown signs recently of breaking out of his slump. And with the way Schenn has been playing, and that line showing chemistry. I expect Couturier's scoring pace to increase. So with that said, and the fact that Couturier has already put up 2nd line center numbers at ES, why would we resign ourselves to that fact? Especially with the way he's deployed?

When he gets to the age that most players have their rookie seasons. Couturier is still very young and has not been counted on to be a scorer. If he isn't scoring by 25 then I will start to worry. For now, I will have realistic expectations.
- MBFlyerfan

It might help if some of the Couturier Naysayers (not directed at you, MB) would go back and look at the career arcs of various players who turned into guys who could be counted on for 20-30 goals from year to year.

I wouldn't. Richards is better, but VLs contact may be moveable after this season.
- PhillySportsGuy

I'm having a hard to saying or believing Mike Richards is better then Vincent Lecavalier. At this point they're both two different players. You don't want Lecavalier anywhere near the defensive zone. Richards cannot score to save his life.

Just curious but how much will Lecavalier's deal be worth after the bonus is paid to him?
- SuperSchennBros

After the 2m signing bonus is paid, his is deal is worth 8.5M for the last 3 seasons. Which would be a 5M salary savings for a team that trades for him.

I don't think anyone is dumb enough to take on Mike Richards' contract. He still has some use but the contract length and cap hit is what hurts.

Kings might be able to move him but I think it will require eating a good portion of the money. Kind of similar to the Vinny situation in that regard.
- hereticpride

I'm perfectly happy with Lecavalier's deal over Mike Richards' deal and dare I say Matt Clarkson's? For all the noise made to move Lecavalier last summer, did anyone notice Clarkson's body of work?

After the 2m signing bonus is paid, his is deal is worth 8.5M for the last 3 seasons. Which would be a 5M salary savings for a team that trades for him.
- MJL

For Lecavalier's 20 goals a season, that's nothing.

I'm having a hard to saying or believing Mike Richards is better then Vincent Lecavalier. At this point they're both two different players. You don't want Lecavalier anywhere near the defensive zone. Richards cannot score to save his life.
- SuperSchennBros

Apples to oranges really. Richards would fit better on this team(as a LW) but Vinny is undoubtably the more productive player.

I'm perfectly happy with Lecavalier's deal over Mike Richards' deal and dare I say Matt Clarkson's? For all the noise made to move Lecavalier last summer, did anyone notice Clarkson's body of work?
- SuperSchennBros

I'm assuming you mean David Clarkson. And yes, woof.

Apples to oranges really. Richards would fit better on this team(as a LW) but Vinny is undoubtably the more productive player.
- hereticpride

The only time I've ever seen Richards play LW in his career was in the 2010 Olympics.

I'm assuming you mean David Clarkson. And yes, woof.
- hereticpride

David Clarkson, yes. Sometimes I confuse him with the kid we had with the phantoms.

I'll take Vincent Lecavalier's deal over both Mike Richards and David Clarkson's deal all day, while considering ourselves lucky.

I'm having a hard to saying or believing Mike Richards is better then Vincent Lecavalier. At this point they're both two different players. You don't want Lecavalier anywhere near the defensive zone. Richards cannot score to save his life.
- SuperSchennBros

Funny, because Richards has outscored Vinny the past two seasons & first part of this one 80 points to 74 points.

Contract wise, Lecavalier is miles better than Richards

Funny, because Richards has outscored Vinny the past two seasons & first part of this one 80 points to 74 points.

Contract wise, Lecavalier is miles better than Richards
- Jsaquella

Funny how Lecavalier missing 29 games in that time period is omitted.

Funny, because Richards has outscored Vinny the past two seasons & first part of this one 80 points to 74 points.

Contract wise, Lecavalier is miles better than Richards
- Jsaquella

Is that over the same amount of games played?

edit: Leight

Funny, because Richards has outscored Vinny the past two seasons & first part of this one 80 points to 74 points.

Contract wise, Lecavalier is miles better than Richards
- Jsaquella

In how many games played by each player? When Richards scored against Philly, that was his first of the season.

I need the whole story. For example I believe Ovechkin to be the better pure goal scorer then Stamkos when Ovechkin cares enough to show up. It wasn't long ago you pointed out that during the half season that Stamkos had 29 goals to Ovechkin's 32 in a lot less shots in the same amount of games. The only thing that matters is results and the drive to get those shots. For all I know Stamkos could have much more shooting attempts while being shutdown by the opposing team.

In this case, Lecavalier hasn't been a healthy player.