Michael Stuart: Bolts Spending on Salo will Pay Dividends

I voted no. Salo will not be around long enough or able to do what he was when developing Edler. I love Salo and was very upset to see him walk away on July 1.... as soon as i saw the 7.5 million reason he did, I was completely over it. Canuck fans had him pegged to make 1.5 tops this year. Incredible overpayment

I voted no. Salo will not be around long enough or able to do what he was when developing Edler. I love Salo and was very upset to see him walk away on July 1.... as soon as i saw the 7.5 million reason he did, I was completely over it. Canuck fans had him pegged to make 1.5 tops this year. Incredible overpayment
- malcohol

Not disagreeing that it's an over-payment optically, but I think Yzerman brought him in with a mentorship role in mind. $3.75M per year is expensive, but it isn't so ridiculous that it makes me cringe (especially with a team that has room to wiggle). I'm glad we landed him and I look forward to seeing him play. I've been a huge fan of his since his days in Ottawa - when he was traded to Vancouver I was thrilled and now I'm happy again that he's with my favorite team.

Michael Stuart: Bolts Spending on Salo will Pay Dividends
- Michael_Stuart

I'm getting tired of these comparisons :

Player A helped player B1 to become player C, therefore, player A will help player B2 to become just like C.

It just doesn't work that way.

I'm really looking forward to another year of Hedman's development having Salo can't really hurt even if it is for 7.5

Salo could have some positive impacts on Hedman's game; very smart player, and very positionally sound, not to mention the shot.

It was a bit of an overpayment, but it's only a two year contract, so it shouldn't cause TB any issues.

One thing I will say is, if Yzerman/Boucher expect Salo to log second pairing minutes, his body will break down; also, whoever his partner is will have to take the brunt of the physical play, and it could take it's toll on that player's health over the season, as well. We've seen it with Edler the last two seasons.

If Salo is used correctly—sparingly at ES, and as a big shot on the PP—TB will get the most out of him and he should be a great addition.

Also, he's a great guy and should have nothing but a positive effect in the locker room.

Salo could have some positive impacts on Hedman's game; very smart player, and very positionally sound, not to mention the shot.

It was a bit of an overpayment, but it's only a two year contract, so it shouldn't cause TB any issues.

One thing I will say is, if Yzerman/Boucher expect Salo to log second pairing minutes, his body will break down; also, whoever his partner is will have to take the brunt of the physical play, and it could take it's toll on that player's health over the season, as well. We've seen it with Edler the last two seasons.

If Salo is used correctly—sparingly at ES, and as a big shot on the PP—TB will get the most out of him and he should be a great addition.

Also, he's a great guy and should have nothing but a positive effect in the locker room.
- Fosco

From what I've heard, I don't think he'll be expected to be a 20 minute per game guy. I agree with all your points.

I'm getting tired of these comparisons :

Player A helped player B1 to become player C, therefore, player A will help player B2 to become just like C.

It just doesn't work that way.
- hon_hon_hon

Never said "just like" - simply pointing out that having a positive, veteran influence alongside him should help Hedman develop, just as it did Edler. They aren't the same player; nobody said that. Edler is a far more offensively aware than Hedman but Hedman is perhaps more of a calm player. Both traits Salo has in his game.

Salo could have some positive impacts on Hedman's game; very smart player, and very positionally sound, not to mention the shot.

It was a bit of an overpayment, but it's only a two year contract, so it shouldn't cause TB any issues.

One thing I will say is, if Yzerman/Boucher expect Salo to log second pairing minutes, his body will break down; also, whoever his partner is will have to take the brunt of the physical play, and it could take it's toll on that player's health over the season, as well. We've seen it with Edler the last two seasons.

If Salo is used correctly—sparingly at ES, and as a big shot on the PP—TB will get the most out of him and he should be a great addition.

Also, he's a great guy and should have nothing but a positive effect in the locker room.
- Fosco

Good post, this is spot on. Salo will definitely be missed, and IMO he was always unappreciated by the fan base as a whole for what he did in all his years here. That being said, he wasn't going to be brought back for more than a 1.5, maybe 2.0 mil cap hit and in a 5/6 d-man role where he'd sit out a game in back to back situations. The Canucks also needed a more physical d-man that could also block a good amount of shots to make life easier for Edler and Garrison should definitely be an upgrade in durability, size, physicality and shot blocking and also has a big shot like Salo's.

St.Louis, Stamkos and Salo will be a nice PP unit! St.Louis feeding those two for one timers will give goalies nightmares.

Good post, this is spot on. Salo will definitely be missed, and IMO he was always unappreciated by the fan base as a whole for what he did in all his years here. That being said, he wasn't going to be brought back for more than a 1.5, maybe 2.0 mil cap hit and in a 5/6 d-man role where he'd sit out a game in back to back situations. The Canucks also needed a more physical d-man that could also block a good amount of shots to make life easier for Edler and Garrison should definitely be an upgrade in durability, size, physicality and shot blocking and also has a big shot like Salo's.

St.Louis, Stamkos and Salo will be a nice PP unit! St.Louis feeding those two for one timers will give goalies nightmares.
- Nucker101

I think this is a fantastic post. At the market-price, it was time for Salo to move on from Vancouver. The Canucks signed Garrison and tried to get younger this summer. Salo just isn't needed up there anymore, I suppose. That doesn't mean that he can't be effective somewhere else. I'm already loving the look of the Bolts' PP unit; there's just so many options.

A stat that blew me away (and icant find it now of course) is the winning percentage for Vancouver with Salo in and out of the line up. The stat itself is interesting for coversqtion and drawing light conclusions. In this case, if I recall correctly, when in the line up, Canucks won over 70% ofte time. Out of the line up was a significant dip in win % for the Canucks.

Although I don't expect him to have as great an impact in the next two years you don't forget th things you did even if your body can't do them. Great deal for Salo and a good one for te Lightening.

A stat that blew me away (and icant find it now of course) is the winning percentage for Vancouver with Salo in and out of the line up. The stat itself is interesting for coversqtion and drawing light conclusions. In this case, if I recall correctly, when in the line up, Canucks won over 70% ofte time. Out of the line up was a significant dip in win % for the Canucks.

Although I don't expect him to have as great an impact in the next two years you don't forget th things you did even if your body can't do them. Great deal for Salo and a good one for te Lightening.
- mungozen

Yeah it's a very interesting stat. I remember the Vancouver media bringing it up a couple years back and it was really quite amazing. There's something about Salo that just seems to calm everyone down on the back-end. Hopefully he can bring that to Tampa; I wouldn't expect anything less.

Yeah it's a very interesting stat. I remember the Vancouver media bringing it up a couple years back and it was really quite amazing. There's something about Salo that just seems to calm everyone down on the back-end. Hopefully he can bring that to Tampa; I wouldn't expect anything less.
- Michael_Stuart

True. That could be the best thing he could bring to TB's D corps, and hopefully pass on to Hedman.

Not up on the subject, but is Ohlund done or what's happening with him?

Not up on the subject, but is Ohlund done or what's happening with him?
- LeftCoaster

I wouldn't expect to see him any time soon. In fact, personally, I don't expect to see him in the NHL again. Right now, it's more about rehabbing so that he can live a normal life post-hockey than it is getting back to the NHL. Would be nice to see him back, but I'm not holding my breath.

Yzerman is doing a great job bringing in quality guys onto his team.

He's got some great prospects and young stars on his team (or soon to be) and he's surrounding them with quality vets. Obviously playing with Lidstrom in Detroit will shape the way he builds his defence in TB. That's why he targets personalities like Salo and Ohlund.

He's handing out these contracts (Salo and Ohlund) knowing that these guys won't play out their contracts. Either through injury or retirement. Cap hit doesn't seem to be that big of an issue so why not.

I'm sure Stevie's got a lot to learn about managing a team but so far things look pretty good. I just hope TB fans are willing to support the slow and steady approach to building a winner.

I wouldn't expect to see him any time soon. In fact, personally, I don't expect to see him in the NHL again. Right now, it's more about rehabbing so that he can live a normal life post-hockey than it is getting back to the NHL. Would be nice to see him back, but I'm not holding my breath.
- Michael_Stuart

Thanks Michael for posting so many articles on Tampa players.

I am going to disagree with you on Sami Salo. I unfortunately expect our Canuck fans have a better line on Salo and his value. As for Salo mentoring Hedman, I think most Bolt fans thought that would happen with Mattias Ohlund (a Swede not a Finn).

I unfortunately think Sami is too old at 38 (lol) and that this signing will not really help. That said, Sami was +7 which very few Lightning players had last year. Would like to see Ohlund return since he is only 36. Right now I would just be happy if the lockout was over. I also would like to see Hedman play with a shorter stick. Likely will not see any of these wishes come true.

Thanks again for the articles to read.

Thanks Michael for posting so many articles on Tampa players.

I am going to disagree with you on Sami Salo. I unfortunately expect our Canuck fans have a better line on Salo and his value. As for Salo mentoring Hedman, I think most Bolt fans thought that would happen with Mattias Ohlund (a Swede not a Finn).

I unfortunately think Sami is too old at 38 (lol) and that this signing will not really help. That said, Sami was +7 which very few Lightning players had last year. Would like to see Ohlund return since he is only 36. Right now I would just be happy if the lockout was over. I also would like to see Hedman play with a shorter stick. Likely will not see any of these wishes come true.

Thanks again for the articles to read.
- Leafsandbolts

Happy to post! Please send in topics for future blogs during the lockout - sometimes it's tough to come up with ideas with no games being played.

As someone who follows the Vancouver Canucks closely, I'm pretty tapped in to what Salo can bring to the team. Is the dollar value a little high? Yeah, maybe, but at the end of the day, this is a very low-risk signing. We have the cap space to play with.