Michael Stuart: Examining the Ryan Malone Trade Rumors

If Tbay could get an experienced netminder for the season (if it happens) I could see them being cup contenders. Talented top 6, gritty bottom 6, solid d core with experience and depth. They have good goalie prospects but not enough experience to contend

If Tbay could get an experienced netminder for the season (if it happens) I could see them being cup contenders. Talented top 6, gritty bottom 6, solid d core with experience and depth. They have good goalie prospects but not enough experience to contend
- Ihatebrianburke

Agreed. I mean, I think with Lindback we should make the top-8, but I don't view us as contenders. The reason I'm fairly confident that we'll make the top-8 is that a Lindback/Garon tandem can't be worse than a Roloson/Garon tandem and we were right in the thick of the race up until the last month of the season. Playoffs? Yes. Cup contender? No.

Out of curiosity what exactly are the rumours?
Personally I would love to have a guy like Malone on our left wing since we are thin in that position.

I'd say keep Malone. A big strong power forward like that goes a long way in the playoffs. Lindback should be alright. Don't know if he can handle starting duties all year. Garon is a bum. Valisevski will be amazing when he gets to the show. I'd see if there's a decent veteran starter out there that can be had for a cheap enough price. Perhaps Timmy Thomas will have changed his tune about playing this year. If he were to just shut his mouth and play hockey he's one of the league's best. I don't know if Boston would want him back now that they're paying Rask big bucks. He would instantly turn this team into a cup contender.

I'd say keep Malone. A big strong power forward like that goes a long way in the playoffs. Lindback should be alright. Don't know if he can handle starting duties all year. Garon is a bum. Valisevski will be amazing when he gets to the show. I'd see if there's a decent veteran starter out there that can be had for a cheap enough price. Perhaps Timmy Thomas will have changed his tune about playing this year. If he were to just shut his mouth and play hockey he's one of the league's best. I don't know if Boston would want him back now that they're paying Rask big bucks. He would instantly turn this team into a cup contender.
- Ihatebrianburke

Has Florida finally tallied all of their votes? If it came out red then maybe Tea Party Tim will suit up for the Bolts.

I would love to see Malone as a Pen again, but...

I'm not sure his durability would make the contract worth it. That said, you know what you're getting from Malone. Effort and grit.

Loved Malone when he was here. The big question is can he stay healthy?

Has Florida finally tallied all of their votes? If it came out red then maybe Tea Party Tim will suit up for the Bolts.
- BlueBallz

Florida went to the Dems. No hanging chads this year.

Is he still rumored to the Pens? I would gladly accept him back. You cand have Paul Martin if you'd like.

I hate to see Luongo go from Vancouver, but it is in my belief that if TB brought him in as a world class goaltender they would be cup favorites in my books this year. It would be tough to choose the salary dump that would come back our way as Vinny is the salary to match but losing a heart and soul guy like that would hurt your team.

It would be hard to trade Bugsy at this point simply b/c he is one of the few physical wingers on this team. In addition to that size and physicality, his leadership is so important for this team and it's future, especially when you consider the young guys on the cusp of joining the Bolts. It would be hard to get enough return to justify the loss of not only his play on the ice but also in the locker room.

It is also important to remember that even though his cap hit is a little high, he actually isn't making those dollars through the end of the deal so the Bolts see some savings that way.

Ryan Malone is the kind of player I feel you have to be willing to trade 'for the right price'. That said, if I'm Yzerman I'm in no rush to trade the guy. He should plug into that first line just fine.

What is 'the right price'? Well, I guess it's any trade that clearly improves the team.

I hate to see Luongo go from Vancouver, but it is in my belief that if TB brought him in as a world class goaltender they would be cup favorites in my books this year. It would be tough to choose the salary dump that would come back our way as Vinny is the salary to match but losing a heart and soul guy like that would hurt your team.
- jzinthecut

1) Why would they bring in a goalie with that much time and money remaining on his deal when they have 2 world class goalie prospects like Lindback and Valisevski?
2) Not a chance in hell are the Canucks getting a player like Lecavlier in return for Loungo. Take Komisarek from the Leafs and be happy with it because the rest of the league has no interest and Burke knows he's got you guys bent over a barrel.

1) Why would they bring in a goalie with that much time and money remaining on his deal when they have 2 world class goalie prospects like Lindback and Valisevski?
2) Not a chance in hell are the Canucks getting a player like Lecavlier in return for Loungo. Take Komisarek from the Leafs and be happy with it because the rest of the league has no interest and Burke knows he's got you guys bent over a barrel.
- Ihatebrianburke

I definitely can't see the Bolts taking Luongo after getting Lindback, especially for a player like Vinny. The idea the Canucks can get any substantial return in a Luongo trade continues to be hilarious to me.

I definitely can't see the Bolts taking Luongo after getting Lindback, especially for a player like Vinny. The idea the Canucks can get any substantial return in a Luongo trade continues to be hilarious to me.
- BulliesPhan87

Same here
-worst contract in the league
-asked to get traded
-lost the starting job to Schneider
-skills starting to decline
-no trade clause
-Cory Schneider getting big bucks
Every GM in the league knows all this and nobody is going to give up significant assets for the guy. If he goes anywhere it's gonna be Toronto and Burke isn't even gonna spit on it when he rapes them. I personally hope they get stuck with the contract as punishment for signing such a stupid deal in the first place.

Same here
-worst contract in the league
-asked to get traded
-lost the starting job to Schneider
-skills starting to decline
-no trade clause
-Cory Schneider getting big bucks
Every GM in the league knows all this and nobody is going to give up significant assets for the guy. If he goes anywhere it's gonna be Toronto and Burke isn't even gonna spit on it when he rapes them. I personally hope they get stuck with the contract as punishment for signing such a stupid deal in the first place.
- Ihatebrianburke

His contract is a big commitment, but I don't think he's a terrible goalie. I just don't see a team that's willing to take that risk also being willing to give back significant assets for him, not when his stock is so low. There's just no leverage for the Canucks to get anything out of it, except cap space.

1) Why would they bring in a goalie with that much time and money remaining on his deal when they have 2 world class goalie prospects like Lindback and Valisevski?
2) Not a chance in hell are the Canucks getting a player like Lecavlier in return for Loungo. Take Komisarek from the Leafs and be happy with it because the rest of the league has no interest and Burke knows he's got you guys bent over a barrel.
- Ihatebrianburke

Lindback is hardly a world class goalie prospect...

Lindback is hardly a world class goalie prospect...
- Dgrdnr

You have to be a pretty highly regarded prospect to be traded for 2 2nd rounders, a 3rd rounder, and a minor league player.

Michael Stuart: Examining the Ryan Malone Trade Rumors
- Michael_Stuart

Pretty simple really; because Tampa has Vinny's horrendous contract they need to look where else to shed payroll. As nice a guy Malone is, he's expendable. Even nice guys are.

Michael,

Great write up.

I know for a fact the Lightning offered Lombardi to the Kings before the start of last season for a 2nd round pick and the Kings turned them down. I went ballistic as I'm a huge Malone fan. Obviously Lombardi and Co. made the right choice, but I also heard (but couldn't confirm) that Malone was once again offered in a package but the Kings turned Yzerman down again... or simply, Malone invoked his NTC.

Same here
-worst contract in the league
-asked to get traded
-lost the starting job to Schneider
-skills starting to decline
-no trade clause
-Cory Schneider getting big bucks
Every GM in the league knows all this and nobody is going to give up significant assets for the guy. If he goes anywhere it's gonna be Toronto and Burke isn't even gonna spit on it when he rapes them. I personally hope they get stuck with the contract as punishment for signing such a stupid deal in the first place.
- Ihatebrianburke

Malone has a cap friendly deal this year and we need some size up front. Who is going to get ugly with Nathon Horton and Milan Lucic when we play Boston 4 times? Stamkos?, Purcell?, get serious. There are lots of teams out there that still have size we need to counter. Malone gives you a big body to take pressure off the other two. The only issue I have with Malone is his durability. Better have a plan B when he needs four games to heal(ie, Beniot or others). Out potent yet "Little Guys" are not going to fill the shoes of Malone going into the boards with Chara. You can't succeed with a top line of 6ft and under against teams who are big upfront. Malone gives you too many positives to trade him. I think he fits long term due to his "old time hockey" sense, size and grit. He's the guy you ask to do the things you don't talk about in press conferences up front to help Stamkos, St Louis, Purcell, even V4 who is just not very physical every night. Malone brings everything he's got every night so he's my favorite blue collar, lunch box toten', steel working kinda guy that makes everyone better being around him and they, in turn, make him a 20 goal scorer as well. Too many positives with only durability and foot speed as negatives to trade.

Michael,

Great write up.

I know for a fact the Lightning offered Lombardi to the Kings before the start of last season for a 2nd round pick and the Kings turned them down. I went ballistic as I'm a huge Malone fan. Obviously Lombardi and Co. made the right choice, but I also heard (but couldn't confirm) that Malone was once again offered in a package but the Kings turned Yzerman down again... or simply, Malone invoked his NTC.
- matthew barry

Thanks, Matt! Appreciate it.
Very interesting stuff. I often thought he would be a good fit with the Kings.

I would take him on the Leafs in a heartbeat.

Him on the 2nd line with Grabo and JVR would be sweet.

One problem I have with him, is he's often injured now.