You know who else stunk?

Season Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1997-98 Saint John Flames AHL 25 15 11 26 20 20 5 15 20 16
1997-98 Cleveland Lumberjacks IHL 56 16 34 50 24 -- -- -- -- --
1998-99 Calgary Flames NHL 13 1 1 2 10 -- -- -- -- --
1998-99 Saint John Flames AHL 53 28 34 62 30 7 4 4 8 2
1999-00 Calgary Flames NHL 56 3 15 18 22 -- -- -- -- --
1999-00 Saint John Flames AHL 17 15 11 26 14 -- -- -- -- --

This 25/26 yo.
- mykokes

Hahaha...Conacher = Marty. Marty never took off to play in the Swiss league with the rest of the players no NHL team wants.

Hahaha...Conacher = Marty. Marty never took off to play in the Swiss league with the rest of the players no NHL team wants.
- Kucherovski

The Flames exposed him in the 2000 NHL Expansion Draft, but after he went unselected, the team bought out his contract and made him an unrestricted free agent. Tampa took a flyer, and look what happened.

And I'm not saying he = Marty. Though there was a time many here hoped he would turn into Marty his first go around. Nothing wrong with giving a guy another shot, especially when the first time around he got you Bishop.

Much ado about little if you are against this deal. He's a bottom liner on minimum salary who at the very least will clear waivers and help out Cuse immensely. If not Cuse to me this is merely a Marchy replacement. Has absolutely no bearing on re-upping Kuch or the others

The Flames exposed him in the 2000 NHL Expansion Draft, but after he went unselected, the team bought out his contract and made him an unrestricted free agent. Tampa took a flyer, and look what happened.

And I'm not saying he = Marty. Though there was a time many here hoped he would turn into Marty his first go around. Nothing wrong with giving a guy another shot, especially when the first time around he got you Bishop.
- mykokes

I would argue that the main "reason" many were against the trade for Bishop was that many unfairly were comparing Conacher to Marty.

I would argue that the main "reason" many were against the trade for Bishop was that many unfairly were comparing Conacher to Marty.
- uf1910

I was always more of a TJ fan than Conacher. But I still believe that on the right team, in this case Tampa, Conacher can be an effective 40 point player.

I was always more of a TJ fan than Conacher. But I still believe that on the right team, in this case Tampa, Conacher can be an effective 40 point player.
- mykokes

For Conacher to get 40 points he has to be top 6, he better not be top 6 next year otherwise that's trouble. Let's say we lose Killorn or Namestnikov, the lines would be:

Drouin/Stamkos/Cally(when healthy)
Johnson/Palat/Kucherov
Brown/Filpula/Killorn(when Cally comes back or 1st line and Cally here)
Paquette/Boyle/Condra or Conacher

Conacher is not getting 40 points on that line. Conacher I don't think plays 1st line instead of Killorn or Cally.

I was always more of a TJ fan than Conacher. But I still believe that on the right team, in this case Tampa, Conacher can be an effective 40 point player.
- mykokes

CC has alot of heart but that is where the Marty (or TJ) comparisons begin and end. He doesn't have the top end speed of Marty, doesn't have the vision, nor the strength to hold up against bigger NHL players. Unfortunately I just don't see any defining trait to help him survive much less thrive on the NHL level. I would expect he ends up in Cuse but no way do I see him hitting 40 pts given he will almost definitely be on the 4th line if in Tampa at all

CC has alot of heart but that is where the Marty (or TJ) comparisons begin and end. He doesn't have the top end speed of Marty, doesn't have the vision, nor the strength to hold up against bigger NHL players. Unfortunately I just don't see any defining trait to help him survive much less thrive on the NHL level. I would expect he ends up in Cuse but no way do I see him hitting 40 pts given he will almost definitely be on the 4th line if in Tampa at all
- uf1910

It's weird how the wheel turns, year's ago the Tampa blogger was always pumping Conacher's tires a hell of a lot more than TJ's. Back then I thought he gave Conacher way too much credit, now, its like I'm the only one who believes the promise he showed back then might still be there.

They aren't ready? So Conacher will be a better NHL player next year vs any of our future players? Conacher stinks, who knows how good of an NHL player our good AHL players will be but I'm having a hard time believing they are worse than Conacher. The one way deal to me seems like Killorn, Kucherov or Namestnikov won't be back.
- Kucherovski

You don't understand how development works do you. Those guys need ice time to develop. I'd rather they get regular shifts in the AHL to develop their skills and work on their game than sit in the preas box in the NHL. That's what guys like Conacher are for. They come in fill in holes while your high potential guys work on their game so you don't waste years of development. Guys like Conacher allow guys like Point Peca and Erne to reach their ceilings and not bust because they're rushed.

It's weird how the wheel turns, year's ago the Tampa blogger was always pumping Conacher's tires a hell of a lot more than TJ's. Back then I thought he gave Conacher way too much credit, now, its like I'm the only one who believes the promise he showed back then might still be there.
- mykokes

This. And im pretty certain that SY would not do this deal if that 500k can make Kuch walk.

For Conacher to get 40 points he has to be top 6, he better not be top 6 next year otherwise that's trouble. Let's say we lose Killorn or Namestnikov, the lines would be:

Drouin/Stamkos/Cally(when healthy)
Johnson/Palat/Kucherov
Brown/Filpula/Killorn(when Cally comes back or 1st line and Cally here)
Paquette/Boyle/Condra or Conacher

Conacher is not getting 40 points on that line. Conacher I don't think plays 1st line instead of Killorn or Cally.
- Kucherovski

Cally is out until the beginning of December so throw your lines out, for 575k to fill in with a system and coach he knows is cheap. The only way we lose any RFA is no contract by Dec 1 or an arbitration award they the Bolts can choose to walk away from. Kuch will get done just how much Killorn and Vladdy get will be decided in the next two weeks or so. Cory is a cheap addition for the short term, if like you say we promote Erne he will earn close to 900k while up and if more than 9 games burn a year of his ELC. Much cheaper alternative.

You don't understand how development works do you. Those guys need ice time to develop. I'd rather they get regular shifts in the AHL to develop their skills and work on their game than sit in the preas box in the NHL. That's what guys like Conacher are for. They come in fill in holes while your high potential guys work on their game so you don't waste years of development. Guys like Conacher allow guys like Point Peca and Erne to reach their ceilings and not bust because they're rushed.
- jbs32

Yes I do understand development but there is also something to be said about playing NHL speed against NHL size. Not everyone "develops" in the AHL. Look at Drasaitl from Edmonton, he was in AHL "developing" and then came up and played far better. Erne is our 3rd line, maybe 2nd line power forward of the future. How do we know how he fares against NHL competition when he is in the AHL. A guy like Conacher shouldn't be getting NHL shifts before our young guns of the future in my opinion. Conacher brings nothing to the team. Yes he was cheap, I get that but I just don't see a spot or need for him, especially when you don't have everyone signed yet. Sign guys who could make a difference first.

Yes I do understand development but there is also something to be said about playing NHL speed against NHL size. Not everyone "develops" in the AHL. Look at Drasaitl from Edmonton, he was in AHL "developing" and then came up and played far better. Erne is our 3rd line, maybe 2nd line power forward of the future. How do we know how he fares against NHL competition when he is in the AHL. A guy like Conacher shouldn't be getting NHL shifts before our young guns of the future in my opinion. Conacher brings nothing to the team. Yes he was cheap, I get that but I just don't see a spot or need for him, especially when you don't have everyone signed yet. Sign guys who could make a difference first.
- Kucherovski

How are you so certain of this? CC is a former AHL player of the year and a PPG producer in Swiss. Its a minimum contract, a depth signing that is a known commodity by the lightning. Maybe he finds his grove again, maybe not. If he doesnt, Erne can still be called up. He can still be sent down.

Have you really seen him play that much that you have a better view of him as a player then the whole TBL organization has? They saw something in him when they signed him as a FA five years ago, and they probably see it now too.

How are you so certain of this? CC is a former AHL player of the year and a PPG producer in Swiss. Its a minimum contract, a depth signing that is a known commodity by the lightning. Maybe he finds his grove again, maybe not. If he doesnt, Erne can still be called up. He can still be sent down.

Have you really seen him play that much that you have a better view of him as a player then the whole TBL organization has? They saw something in him when they signed him as a FA five years ago, and they probably see it now too.
- Cloud

Forget talking with him he's always right and only his point of view is valid. He's only worried about Kuch getting signed so spending any money is a threat to him, the fact that saying this means Yzerman doesn't understand the team by signing him is lost on him. Trust Yzerman I think he's done a better job managing the signings and cap than Kucherovski thinks so it would be easier banging your head against the wall, he's absolutely sure the Cory has no value to the team just like he brings no value to the boards

I was one of those dummies who thought the Sens won the trade. Glad it worked out the way it did. Hate Ottawa

Forget talking with him he's always right and only his point of view is valid. He's only worried about Kuch getting signed so spending any money is a threat to him, the fact that saying this means Yzerman doesn't understand the team by signing him is lost on him. Trust Yzerman I think he's done a better job managing the signings and cap than Kucherovski thinks so it would be easier banging your head against the wall, he's absolutely sure the Cory has no value to the team just like he brings no value to the boards
- tpd11

First Yzerman doesn't go scouting all the players, he has a team for that. So every other NHL team saw nothing in Conacher which led him to go to Swiss league and now all the sudden he is going to be an impact player? I'm saying there is no point in signing Conacher in my opinion. We will see next year who was right. I seem to remember being right about Johnson last summer when everyone was going nuts because I said he will not have a good year.

I think Yzerman has done an amazing job so far but $575,000 for a guy we do not need, throw that to Kuchorov. Let's say Yzerman was offering Kucherov $6m per, make that $6.5m per. I can't do a better job than Yzerman, never said that or thought that but zero point in this signing in my mind.

How are you so certain of this? CC is a former AHL player of the year and a PPG producer in Swiss. Its a minimum contract, a depth signing that is a known commodity by the lightning. Maybe he finds his grove again, maybe not. If he doesnt, Erne can still be called up. He can still be sent down.

Have you really seen him play that much that you have a better view of him as a player then the whole TBL organization has? They saw something in him when they signed him as a FA five years ago, and they probably see it now too.
- Cloud

No I have not but I'm going on the fact he has played 140 NHL games in the past what, 4-5 years and once his prior NHL contract was up nobody wanted him so he went to the Swiss league. So not only do I not see anything in him no other team in the NHL does.

No I have not but I'm going on the fact he has played 140 NHL games in the past what, 4-5 years and once his prior NHL contract was up nobody wanted him so he went to the Swiss league. So not only do I not see anything in him no other team in the NHL does.
- Kucherovski

You're right of course you're always right. It will be easy I'll just ignore you in the future. Truly amazing.

You're right of course you're always right. It will be easy I'll just ignore you in the future. Truly amazing.
- tpd11

At least you make compelling arguments as to why this was a good signing, thanks for doing that.

First Yzerman doesn't go scouting all the players, he has a team for that. So every other NHL team saw nothing in Conacher which led him to go to Swiss league and now all the sudden he is going to be an impact player? I'm saying there is no point in signing Conacher in my opinion. We will see next year who was right. I seem to remember being right about Johnson last summer when everyone was going nuts because I said he will not have a good year.

I think Yzerman has done an amazing job so far but $575,000 for a guy we do not need, throw that to Kuchorov. Let's say Yzerman was offering Kucherov $6m per, make that $6.5m per. I can't do a better job than Yzerman, never said that or thought that but zero point in this signing in my mind.
- Kucherovski

This is my last responsen to you bc every time you write something idiotic. Are we gonna "throw" 500k extra for kuchs caphit over the next 6-8 years instead of seeing what CC can do this year?

First Yzerman doesn't go scouting all the players, he has a team for that. So every other NHL team saw nothing in Conacher which led him to go to Swiss league and now all the sudden he is going to be an impact player? I'm saying there is no point in signing Conacher in my opinion. We will see next year who was right. I seem to remember being right about Johnson last summer when everyone was going nuts because I said he will not have a good year.

I think Yzerman has done an amazing job so far but $575,000 for a guy we do not need, throw that to Kuchorov. Let's say Yzerman was offering Kucherov $6m per, make that $6.5m per. I can't do a better job than Yzerman, never said that or thought that but zero point in this signing in my mind.
- Kucherovski

With Callahan out maybe the first two months of the season this helps our depth and conacher had his best year in pro hockey under Jon cooper! So let's wait and see what happens.

This is my last responsen to you bc every time you write something idiotic. Are we gonna "throw" 500k extra for kuchs caphit over the next 6-8 years instead of seeing what CC can do this year?
- Cloud

Yes we should give Kucherov and extra $500k over the next 6-8 years if that is what will help get it done compared to Conacher for one year. Is Conacher the missing piece, is he the guy who is going to bring the Cup? There is zero point in signing Conacher, none. Again just my opinion and I think most of you feel it was a fine signing. I'm still stuck on the fact we have three guys who can help us not signed and we go sign Conacher.

Yes we should give Kucherov and extra $500k over the next 6-8 years if that is what will help get it done compared to Conacher for one year. Is Conacher the missing piece, is he the guy who is going to bring the Cup? There is zero point in signing Conacher, none. Again just my opinion and I think most of you feel it was a fine signing. I'm still stuck on the fact we have three guys who can help us not signed and we go sign Conacher.
- Kucherovski

The point is you do not want to alter the development of an Adam Erne by bringing him up for him to play 10 min per game. He should be a top 6 forward in the future hopefully, and still needs a lot of work on his all around game. By signing Conacher, you have a guy who can handle playing 10-12 minutes per game (and sit in the press box), at an extremely low cost, while Callahan sits until at least December. You would have rather have Erne (who would have a higher cap hit as well) play 10 minutes a game for the first 3 months while not being able to properly work to improve, instead of playing top line minutes in syracuse and owning his game? Kucherov will get his money, dont worry, he's not going anywhere. And your premise of Coancher taking Kuch's money is flawed anyways as Erne would take more cap space being in tampa than Conacher, hence taking more from 86.

The point is you do not want to alter the development of an Adam Erne by bringing him up for him to play 10 min per game. He should be a top 6 forward in the future hopefully, and still needs a lot of work on his all around game. By signing Conacher, you have a guy who can handle playing 10-12 minutes per game (and sit in the press box), at an extremely low cost, while Callahan sits until at least December. You would have rather have Erne (who would have a higher cap hit as well) play 10 minutes a game for the first 3 months while not being able to properly work to improve, instead of playing top line minutes in syracuse and owning his game? Kucherov will get his money, dont worry, he's not going anywhere. And your premise of Coancher taking Kuch's money is flawed anyways as Erne would take more cap space being in tampa than Conacher, hence taking more from 86.
- TBolts4

I don't think any of us can say how Erne would develop in the NHL vs the AHL, some guys are better NHL players compared to AHL and some guys light the AHL up, look up Keith Aucoin, but do nothing in the NHL. I hope Kucherov gets signed as well as the other two RFA's. It's not so much the money as $575k isn't going to break the bank it's I, personally, don't see a need, fit, anything for Conacher. He was here and he wasn't very good, he wasn't very good on any other NHL team and he was fine in a Swiss League that has all other old NHL players nobody wants to take a chance on. Will Conacher lose us games, no but he also won't win us games so what is the point!? I may be wrong but I would much rather Erne get called up to see what he can do in the show. Erne was drafted fairly high and we have other deals potentially coming up soon in Johnson and Palat, I would think we need to know who can play at the NHL level very soon. If Erne can play, do we look to move Johnson for another asset or prospect?

I don't think any of us can say how Erne would develop in the NHL vs the AHL, some guys are better NHL players compared to AHL and some guys light the AHL up, look up Keith Aucoin, but do nothing in the NHL. I hope Kucherov gets signed as well as the other two RFA's. It's not so much the money as $575k isn't going to break the bank it's I, personally, don't see a need, fit, anything for Conacher. He was here and he wasn't very good, he wasn't very good on any other NHL team and he was fine in a Swiss League that has all other old NHL players nobody wants to take a chance on. Will Conacher lose us games, no but he also won't win us games so what is the point!? I may be wrong but I would much rather Erne get called up to see what he can do in the show. Erne was drafted fairly high and we have other deals potentially coming up soon in Johnson and Palat, I would think we need to know who can play at the NHL level very soon. If Erne can play, do we look to move Johnson for another asset or prospect?
- Kucherovski

Erne should learn how to play in the AHL first. 29 points in 59 gp doesn't strike me as a guy that's NHL ready dude.