five years at 5 mill isnt a bad contract when you are buying all those UFA years. I agree he is expendable but if you look at what other teams are paying for a 2C right now that is not a bad contract. I have other concerns regarding Johnson, his injury history and decline in production for example. But for someone who has played a 2C role and done a fairly decent job at it, a 5x5 contract is not bad.
- headyhedman77

For a sure thing 2C it would not be terrible but he isn't a sure 2C and he can be replaced. My concern is if you give that amount and length to Johnson after 2 seasons you have to pay Kucherov, Stralman and Point then you have one more season and you have to pay Vasey and if he ends up where people think he can go you're in for another large contract. We don't need Johnson for 5 years so I say trade him if possible and save some money. I don't see the cap going up all that much in the next few years either, Vegas is going to hurt profitability of the NHL overall I think with watering down the talent. The teams who are not making much money and drawing big crowds, your Arizonas, Carolinas, Colorado etc. are not going to be making a Stanley Cup push any time soon which means attendance stays low and revenues stay low.

For a sure thing 2C it would not be terrible but he isn't a sure 2C and he can be replaced. My concern is if you give that amount and length to Johnson after 2 seasons you have to pay Kucherov, Stralman and Point then you have one more season and you have to pay Vasey and if he ends up where people think he can go you're in for another large contract. We don't need Johnson for 5 years so I say trade him if possible and save some money. I don't see the cap going up all that much in the next few years either, Vegas is going to hurt profitability of the NHL overall I think with watering down the talent. The teams who are not making much money and drawing big crowds, your Arizonas, Carolinas, Colorado etc. are not going to be making a Stanley Cup push any time soon which means attendance stays low and revenues stay low.
- Kucherovski

Im not sure how to post a hero chart to this thread, but if you look at Johnson Compared to the Average 2C youll see that Johnson is above average in Goals and First Assists per 60 min. Sounds like a pretty servicable 2C in my book. [/img]

Im not sure how to post a hero chart to this thread, but if you look at Johnson Compared to the Average 2C youll see that Johnson is above average in Goals and First Assists per 60 min. Sounds like a pretty servicable 2C in my book.
- headyhedman77[/img]

Johnson is a good 2C and will be signed. Good posts.

Just want to know how much lightning land values foote

Would jvr be enough?

If not what else, maybe marincin to fill in the left side defensive depth, what would take, honestly?
- BrainSap

JVR is a solid soft player with one last year on his contract then will want $6M x 6 years. Leafs like many teams need help on defence. Foote is not going to step into the NHL next year so don't think that solves Toronto's issues. No thanks for Marincin.

If Johnson gets more money than Palat Yzerman needs a vacation. I don't think Johnson is a priority at all, I think Palat is more important to the team. If I'm Yzerman I don't give Johnson more than $4m per year for any amount of time, he is easily replaced in this organization.
- Kucherovski

Johnson will get more money than Killorn but less term. Palat and Johnson both provide more to the team than Killorn.

Hope Palat and Johnson don't get to arbitration before signing since it won't help future relationships.

I am happy that you are not Yzerman.

Stay away from Shattenkirk. He's good but overrated if he gets the kind of money he is likely to get on the market. You can't blame the guy or his agent for wanting top dollar. If he wants Hedman money (or more), I tell Shatty to take a hike. He's not worth that much to us.

A lot of back and forth on Johnson. If we get the Johnson that was on fire for one season with the Triplets, then he is worth keeping and re-signing at 5x5, give or take. But, he's not that durable, and it is more likely than not that he will end up missing a chunk of games during any given season. I really think, as others have said, that Palat should be a much higher priority for us than Johnson.

At this point, I don't think we much more to address other than the need for another 2nd pairing D-man. I pray we never see Sustr in a Bolts uniform again.

Stay away from Shattenkirk. He's good but overrated if he gets the kind of money he is likely to get on the market. You can't blame the guy or his agent for wanting top dollar. If he wants Hedman money (or more), I tell Shatty to take a hike. He's not worth that much to us.

A lot of back and forth on Johnson. If we get the Johnson that was on fire for one season with the Triplets, then he is worth keeping and re-signing at 5x5, give or take. But, he's not that durable, and it is more likely than not that he will end up missing a chunk of games during any given season. I really think, as others have said, that Palat should be a much higher priority for us than Johnson.

At this point, I don't think we much more to address other than the need for another 2nd pairing D-man. I pray we never see Sustr in a Bolts uniform again.
- GalacticStone

This is most important thing to address this off season (okay maybe im being a little dramatic). If i have to sit there and watch him get skated by 1000 more times this year i will be very upset.

Nice article, John.

Tampa is in great shape this summer. They do need to add some players but they have a great core and cash. The core is smaller than previous season but we have to hope that the team that played from the TDL to end of season is the one that will show up in October.

I don't think we should be going after the top defensemen UFAs. We have Hedman and Stralman as our top dmen. We can add a second tier dman and continue to play the kids. Lets see what happens on July 1st, no big Tampa surprise signings but a shrewd one. There might be a trade too for a 4-6 dman too. Whoever Tampa gets needs to able to skate to keep up with this team.

As for forwards, we will also dabble into the UFA pool and make a solid if not headline material acquisition. Just need to watch term so I hope SY waits a week before signing anyone.

Hope our goaltending performs as needed and that Stamkos has fully recovered. This is going to be an interesting season.

Matt Cane has a model to project AAV

For Johnson he has: $5,632,978

For Palat he has: $5,967,571

He had $5,796,106 for Oshie who got $5,750,000

As you can see from the charts Johnson is an above average scoring 2C and Palat is a 1L. Don't expect these guys to be taking "hometown" discounts.

Im not sure how to post a hero chart to this thread, but if you look at Johnson Compared to the Average 2C youll see that Johnson is above average in Goals and First Assists per 60 min. Sounds like a pretty servicable 2C in my book.
- headyhedman77[/img]

I looked at that chart and it also says he is better than 1st line centers in goals and assists. I would have to see who they are putting in the grouping of first and second line centers but come on with that data. You have Sid and McDavid as 1st line centers, their stats alone should push the average above Johnson so something is up with that data.

Stay away from Shattenkirk. He's good but overrated if he gets the kind of money he is likely to get on the market. You can't blame the guy or his agent for wanting top dollar. If he wants Hedman money (or more), I tell Shatty to take a hike. He's not worth that much to us.

A lot of back and forth on Johnson. If we get the Johnson that was on fire for one season with the Triplets, then he is worth keeping and re-signing at 5x5, give or take. But, he's not that durable, and it is more likely than not that he will end up missing a chunk of games during any given season. I really think, as others have said, that Palat should be a much higher priority for us than Johnson.

At this point, I don't think we much more to address other than the need for another 2nd pairing D-man. I pray we never see Sustr in a Bolts uniform again.
- GalacticStone

You have the advantage of watching Sustr live with your season tickets vs my game packs but he is a fine candidate for #7 dman. He still is a RFA and if he goes to arbitration and wins then you can set him free. Better to bundle in a trade but the past couple of weeks has not been about players of Sustr's ilk.

Is one of your other avatar's on a competitor site, Extragalactic?

Matt Cane has a model to project AAV

For Johnson he has: $5,632,978

For Palat he has: $5,967,571

He had $5,796,106 for Oshie who got $5,750,000

As you can see from the charts Johnson is an above average scoring 2C and Palat is a 1L. Don't expect these guys to be taking "hometown" discounts.
- Feds91Stammer

I was waiting for you to post these chart, you read my mind!

Matt Cane has a model to project AAV

For Johnson he has: $5,632,978

For Palat he has: $5,967,571

He had $5,796,106 for Oshie who got $5,750,000

As you can see from the charts Johnson is an above average scoring 2C and Palat is a 1L. Don't expect these guys to be taking "hometown" discounts.
- Feds91Stammer

Good info. Wonder why Matt Cane doesn't round his numbers? Sure looks very specific.

What did you think of Tampa's drafting? I don't believe they picked best available in the first two rounds. Who knows after that since I don't know any of the players. Ok I never heard of most of the 2nd rounders either especially our pick.

Good info. Wonder why Matt Cane doesn't round his numbers? Sure looks very specific.

What did you think of Tampa's drafting? I don't believe they picked best available in the first two rounds. Who knows after that since I don't know any of the players. Ok I never heard of most of the 2nd rounders either especially our pick.
- Leafsandbolts

Tampa could have done much worse (see DET). Foote was a relatively safe pick. Would have rather seen them take my initial DET target Liljegren instead.

Sustr Signed to 1 yr 1.95 mill deal FWIW

I looked at that chart and it also says he is better than 1st line centers in goals and assists. I would have to see who they are putting in the grouping of first and second line centers but come on with that data. You have Sid and McDavid as 1st line centers, their stats alone should push the average above Johnson so something is up with that data.
- Kucherovski

I believe the average 1st line center archetype is based on the top 30 centers in ice time.

Stay away from Shattenkirk. He's good but overrated if he gets the kind of money he is likely to get on the market. You can't blame the guy or his agent for wanting top dollar. If he wants Hedman money (or more), I tell Shatty to take a hike. He's not worth that much to us.

A lot of back and forth on Johnson. If we get the Johnson that was on fire for one season with the Triplets, then he is worth keeping and re-signing at 5x5, give or take. But, he's not that durable, and it is more likely than not that he will end up missing a chunk of games during any given season. I really think, as others have said, that Palat should be a much higher priority for us than Johnson.

At this point, I don't think we much more to address other than the need for another 2nd pairing D-man. I pray we never see Sustr in a Bolts uniform again.
- GalacticStone

You need to pray harder. Sustr just resigned for 1 year.

Tampa could have done much worse (see DET). Foote was a relatively safe pick. Would have rather seen them take my initial DET target Liljegren instead.
- Feds91Stammer

Surprised Liljegren fell to the Leafs. Always wonder when 16 GM pass on a guy beyond the mono story.

I am happy about Foote. Would like to see him play in the WJC this Christmas time. Wonder if he plays for USA or Canada?

You need to pray harder. Sustr just resigned for 1 year.
- LightningMcKing

I am now praying for a trade...

Sustr Signed to 1 yr 1.95 mill deal FWIW
- headyhedman77

Given it is so difficult to trade for dmen, an okay show us contract.

I believe the average 1st line center archetype is based on the top 30 centers in ice time.
- Feds91Stammer

Could be but I still don't see how Johnson would be, statistically according that chart, better than them. In that group includes Scheifele, Sid, McDavid, Getzlaf, Malkin, Draisaitl. Every center in the top 30 of time on ice, besides Paul Stastny, had more points than Johnson so something is off with that chart. I looked at the stats on average time on ice per game by centers, Johnson is in that top 30 but he is the second lowest scorer so for the graph to say he is better than 1C in goals and assists seems off to me.

Could be but I still don't see how Johnson would be, statistically according that chart, better than them. In that group includes Scheifele, Sid, McDavid, Getzlaf, Malkin, Draisaitl. Every center in the top 30 of time on ice, besides Paul Stastny, had more points than Johnson so something is off with that chart. I looked at the stats on average time on ice per game by centers, Johnson is in that top 30 but he is the second lowest scorer so for the graph to say he is better than 1C in goals and assists seems off to me.
- Kucherovski

Its not points its goals and PRIMARY assists. Dont know if that is what makes the difference here but its important to remember that the chart doesnt value secondary assists.

Its not points its goals and PRIMARY assists. Dont know if that is what makes the difference here but its important to remember that the chart doesnt value secondary assists.
- headyhedman77

Ok still how does it make sense? Johnson had 19 goals. The majority of the top 30 as far as time on ice per game had more goals than Johnson. Now I get they are saying 5 on 5 goals so I didn't break it down that far but even if ALL of the 19 goals Johnson scored were 5 on 5 my guess is he would not be higher considering there were 4 centers with more than 30 goals and then a bunch of them in the mid 20s. I just don't trust the chart since I can't see the data they are comparing Johnson to. Nobody in their right mind in the NHL would say Tyler Johnson is equal to, or better than, a lot of 1C's.

Methot would be a nice second pairing with Dotchin

Ok still how does it make sense? Johnson had 19 goals. The majority of the top 30 as far as time on ice per game had more goals than Johnson. Now I get they are saying 5 on 5 goals so I didn't break it down that far but even if ALL of the 19 goals Johnson scored were 5 on 5 my guess is he would not be higher considering there were 4 centers with more than 30 goals and then a bunch of them in the mid 20s. I just don't trust the chart since I can't see the data they are comparing Johnson to. Nobody in their right mind in the NHL would say Tyler Johnson is equal to, or better than, a lot of 1C's.
- Kucherovski

its 2015-2017 not just last season