I agree with this but I think for the Lightning it is a matter of how much. Do we pay Hedman over $8m per year (Subban) or $7m (Doughty)? I don't want to keep Hedman for that kind of coin, he plays soft. He is huge and can skate but he hardly puts his body on anyone plus he has had multiple concussions in his NHL career so far. Kucherov I think is fantastic, I think the Johnson contract is going to hurt the Kucherov negotiations, he sees Johnson getting $3m per year and will want at least double that.
- Kucherovski

You're nuts. Hedman is worth every penny of $7-$8M. Physicality is only a small piece of overall defensive acumen.

Gotta step up and pay the big $$ to the star players. GM already getting the reputation of pissing off players (St Louis, Drouin, Stamkos). Not gonna make it any easier to bring in new FA or try and get discounted prices on contracts.
- Gerk

St. Louis is just a female dog because he wasn't good enough to make the olympic team. Drouin situation is more on the coach than Stevie Y. I haven't seen anything regarding Stamkos being upset with Yzerman.. where is that info coming from? Dude just wants his money.

I disagree. Small market team that needs to spread money out to compete year in and year out which is what Vinik wants. Hedman is not worth $9m per year especially when you have DeAngelo and Koekkoek in the system. Is Hedman worth more than Doughty at $7m per year?
- Kucherovski

The salary cap is the "market" dictator. Size of the market is more or less immaterial unless we are talking teams that don't/can't spend to the cap, which the Bolts are not one of those teams

St. Louis is just a female dog because he wasn't good enough to make the olympic team. Drouin situation is more on the coach than Stevie Y. I haven't seen anything regarding Stamkos being upset with Yzerman.. where is that info coming from? Dude just wants his money.
- j.boyd919

Stamkos just got a low ball offer like a week ago. Sounded like he was expecting something early in the season.

I don't even understand what that means to be honest. Do I logic, yes you need 4 lines to win in the NHL. Are the teams working under the same cap, yes they are but again you need depth. The bad teams have bad depth, not in their organization but on the 3rd and 4th lines. Seems pretty logical to me. Can't give Stamkos $10m per year for 8 years then throw $9m per year for 8 years at Hedman and expect to win year in and year out, seems like good logic to me.
- Kucherovski

You offset high salary players with young and "cheap" salaries. It is all a give and take. Either way you don't let players like Hedman walk b/c he can't be replaced. His on-ice play more than covers what he will count against cap

Stamkos just got a low ball offer like a week ago. Sounded like he was expecting something early in the season.
- Gerk

It really wasn't a huge lowball offer, it had equal value to a 10 million dollar contract in LA, TOR, or NY and Tampa is the only team to be able to offer the 8th year. Everyone knows you start negotations with a low offer, they counter with a high offer, and then work towards a middle number.

Stamkos just got a low ball offer like a week ago. Sounded like he was expecting something early in the season.
- Gerk

Word on the street is he will only accept a trade to St. Louis and only if Tarasenko is who he gets traded for.

I think that Hedman is better than Josi, Suter, Weber, and Pietrangelo.

His Points per 60 minutes of icetime is 5th behind Karlsson, Klingberg, Giordano, and Yandle at 1.35.

His on ice Corsi for is 4th behind Jamie McBane, HHampus Lindholm, and Drew Doughty at 15.28

His Corsi relative is 3rd behind Karlsson and Ekblad at 16.3.

He leads the Lightning in assists.

2nd on the bolts with a 56.4 CF% with players over 30 games.

3rd on the team with a +9, 3rd on the team with 28 points.

As much as the offense ends with Stammer and Kuch, it begins in the defensive zone with Heddy. I think losing Hedman over Stamkos would be more detrimental to the Lightning than losing Stamkos over Hedman. (But I do think they should do whatever they have to do to keep both of them.)
- j.boyd919

Agree with everything here

As many as you want for the bold

Word on the street is he will only accept a trade to St. Louis and only if Tarasenko is who he gets traded for.
- Feds91Stammer

Must really want to make sure he gets to keep his number.

Gotta step up and pay the big $$ to the star players. GM already getting the reputation of pissing off players (St Louis, Drouin, Stamkos). Not gonna make it any easier to bring in new FA or try and get discounted prices on contracts.
- Gerk

St. Louis had nothing to do with Lightning, Drouins issue is Cooper and how is Stamkos pissed off?

It really wasn't a huge lowball offer, it had equal value to a 10 million dollar contract in LA, TOR, or NY and Tampa is the only team to be able to offer the 8th year. Everyone knows you start negotations with a low offer, they counter with a high offer, and then work towards a middle number.
- j.boyd919

I guess he's the guy that walks into a car dealership and pays sticker price eh?

Agree with everything here

As many as you want for the bold
- uf1910

You're nuts. Hedman is worth every penny of $7-$8M. Physicality is only a small piece of overall defensive acumen.
- uf1910

Is he worth about double that of Stalman? I like the game Stralman plays, he skates well, shoots well and makes a great first pass so why would Hedman get double what Stralman gets? Hedman will get his pay day, I only question how much of a pay day he should get for the long term health of the franchise.

Is he worth about double that of Stalman? I like the game Stralman plays, he skates well, shoots well and makes a great first pass so why would Hedman get double what Stralman gets? Hedman will get his pay day, I only question how much of a pay day he should get for the long term health of the franchise.
- Kucherovski

Stralman was an absolute steal! There's no way you could sign someone like Stralman for that low EVER again!

Is he worth about double that of Stalman? I like the game Stralman plays, he skates well, shoots well and makes a great first pass so why would Hedman get double what Stralman gets? Hedman will get his pay day, I only question how much of a pay day he should get for the long term health of the franchise.
- Kucherovski

#deleteyouraccount

Is he worth about double that of Stalman? I like the game Stralman plays, he skates well, shoots well and makes a great first pass so why would Hedman get double what Stralman gets? Hedman will get his pay day, I only question how much of a pay day he should get for the long term health of the franchise.
- Kucherovski

Yes he is.

Yes he is.
- j.boyd919

Fair enough opinion, agree to disagree.

#deleteyouraccount
- Feds91Stammer

Solid reasoning and facts. Always great to write with no spaces, so hip and cool.

Solid reasoning and facts. Always great to write with no spaces, so hip and cool.
- Kucherovski

You understand the game at maybe an elementary level. There's no need to explain things that you won't understand.

You understand the game at maybe an elementary level. There's no need to explain things that you won't understand.
- Feds91Stammer

Yeah you're right, good call. Go pull Stralman advanced stats like you did Hedman and see that Hedman is that much better.

Yeah you're right, good call. Go pull Stralman advanced stats like you did Hedman and see that Hedman is that much better.
- Kucherovski

Don't you dare give that bastard credit for my research, you bum.

Don't you dare give that bastard credit for my research, you bum.
- j.boyd919

Hahah well crap I was lazy and didn't look, that's on me.

Yeah you're right, good call. Go pull Stralman advanced stats like you did Hedman and see that Hedman is that much better.
- Kucherovski

How much do you honestly think stralman gets on the open market right now?

How much do you honestly think stralman gets on the open market right now?
- Feds91Stammer

More than he makes now but not double. Hedman is doing fine but is he having a season like last year? He has had one outstanding season and then here we are, to say he automatically gets double what Stralman makes I don't agree with.

More than he makes now but not double. Hedman is doing fine but is he having a season like last year? He has had one outstanding season and then here we are, to say he automatically gets double what Stralman makes I don't agree with.
- Kucherovski

Why should Hedman sign a deal based off what stralman is making?