Michael Stuart: Grading the Defensemen

Any thoughts on the Lightning and possible Amnesty buyouts this summer or next?

Also do you think Lightning is considering trading down at the draft?

Any thoughts on the Lightning and possible Amnesty buyouts this summer or next?

Also do you think Lightning is considering trading down at the draft?
- Meeqsb

Ryan Malone and Eric Brewer are the two names that pop up with regards to the buyouts. I wouldn't expect Yzerman to use both this off-season. My personal feeling is that Brewer will be kept around, while Malone will be shown the door.

I don't see Yzerman trading down at the draft, no. Of course, I'll never say never. If some team offered the Lightning a studly young D-man or something, it could happen. I just don't think it will.

Ryan Malone and Eric Brewer are the two names that pop up with regards to the buyouts. I wouldn't expect Yzerman to use both this off-season. My personal feeling is that Brewer will be kept around, while Malone will be shown the door.

I don't see Yzerman trading down at the draft, no. Of course, I'll never say never. If some team offered the Lightning a studly young D-man or something, it could happen. I just don't think it will.
- Michael_Stuart

So no buyout for Vinny and his HUGE contract?

So no buyout for Vinny and his HUGE contract?
- Meeqsb

No buyout for Vinny. He's still productive, and the team doesn't have anyone ready to take over as 2C. Add to that his community involvement and history here, and it becomes hard to let him go just like that. If they are going to buy him out (that's a big if), it will be next summer. They need him this coming year.

Ryan Malone and Eric Brewer are the two names that pop up with regards to the buyouts. I wouldn't expect Yzerman to use both this off-season. My personal feeling is that Brewer will be kept around, while Malone will be shown the door.

I don't see Yzerman trading down at the draft, no. Of course, I'll never say never. If some team offered the Lightning a studly young D-man or something, it could happen. I just don't think it will.
- Michael_Stuart

I hope we don't keep Brewer, he's a sure fire goal per game mistake for the opposition.

I hope we don't keep Brewer, he's a sure fire goal per game mistake for the opposition.
- Artyukhin76

I'd like to see him under Cooper's system in a real season; there seems to be more accountability on the defensive side of the puck now.

I'd like to see him under Cooper's system in a real season; there seems to be more accountability on the defensive side of the puck now.
- Michael_Stuart

I'd like to see him begging for change under I-275.

Michael, what would it take to get Bolts #1 this year, how about Vanek and a defensive prospect, or Vanek and our 2nd 1st rounder (around 16 I think)

Michael, what would it take to get Bolts #1 this year, how about Vanek and a defensive prospect, or Vanek and our 2nd 1st rounder (around 16 I think)
- IonSabres

As a 3rd party observer, I would say that Vanek is a quality player with a few good years of hockey left in him. But, at only 1 year left on his contract already making 7.1M I don't see TBay taking him and a ho-hum level prospect in the first round over either Drouin or Mackinnon on an entry level contract for the next 3 years. Leaves them a lot more cap room to upgrade defense if they so choose.

Vanek may give them a lot more firepower immediately than a youngster like Drouin or Mackinnon, but goal scoring was hardly their weak point this year. I think they'd be better suited keeping that pick or if they did trade it, to make it a part of a deal to land a big time established defender.

I'm super excited for this coming season. I pretty much agree with the entire article and am super disappointed that Lee didn't work out. On top of showing potential, he was always a very personable guy with the fans. I think Keith Aulie will continue to get better and more physical. I know everyone raves about Gudas but I LOVE LOVE LOVE his game and can't wait to see him for an entire NHL season.

As happy as I was to see this season start, I'm really looking forward to next season being "normal" again. I really think in a normal season, with regular practices, regular rest, etc that this team could have been so much better this year. Five short months to go... ugh.

As a 3rd party observer, I would say that Vanek is a quality player with a few good years of hockey left in him. But, at only 1 year left on his contract already making 7.1M I don't see TBay taking him and a ho-hum level prospect in the first round over either Drouin or Mackinnon on an entry level contract for the next 3 years. Leaves them a lot more cap room to upgrade defense if they so choose.

Vanek may give them a lot more firepower immediately than a youngster like Drouin or Mackinnon, but goal scoring was hardly their weak point this year. I think they'd be better suited keeping that pick or if they did trade it, to make it a part of a deal to land a big time established defender.
- BlueBallz

I couldn't agree more. With everything this team has at the NHL level + the guys at Syracuse who are knocking at the door, Vanek just doesn't make sense. I really don't expect anything but Drouin or McKinnon to happen with that pick unless it somehow magically got us a top 4 defenseman.

So no buyout for Vinny and his HUGE contract?
- Meeqsb

Not much of a point. Finding a 2nd line center for anything less than $5m at this point on the open market is pretty tough. That, and you don't know what you're getting- did the FA have a career year? Will he adjust? etc etc.

The extra, say, 2.7m cap hit for Vinny isn't really all that rough. I've said it before, Vinny is overpaid for what he is, but he is still a solid player- and the Bolts know what they're getting with him: secondary scoring, a great PP guy, physical, gritty, plays the game the right way and a heck of a leader on and off the ice.

If the Bolts want to buy him out, they can just wait a few years and do it when his contract starts dipping (massively) in pay. Malone might fetch a mid-late draft pick and Brewer ... I'm not sure. I feel like he is owed another season to redeem himself, but boy oh boy... that was a ROUGH season.


As for the blog, great job as always, Michael. Can't disagree with a single assessment you've made towards our D.

As for next year (time to start a baseless rumour), what about a trade of our 3rd overall, Malone and, say, Panik/Palat/Barbeiro for Keith Yandle? I know PHX has some great young D-men coming up- could the 'Yotes be convinced to give up a guy like Yandle. He seems to be exactly what would drag the Bolts D from mediocre to very good.

Not much of a point. Finding a 2nd line center for anything less than $5m at this point on the open market is pretty tough. That, and you don't know what you're getting- did the FA have a career year? Will he adjust? etc etc.

The extra, say, 2.7m cap hit for Vinny isn't really all that rough. I've said it before, Vinny is overpaid for what he is, but he is still a solid player- and the Bolts know what they're getting with him: secondary scoring, a great PP guy, physical, gritty, plays the game the right way and a heck of a leader on and off the ice.

If the Bolts want to buy him out, they can just wait a few years and do it when his contract starts dipping (massively) in pay. Malone might fetch a mid-late draft pick and Brewer ... I'm not sure. I feel like he is owed another season to redeem himself, but boy oh boy... that was a ROUGH season.


As for the blog, great job as always, Michael. Can't disagree with a single assessment you've made towards our D.

As for next year (time to start a baseless rumour), what about a trade of our 3rd overall, Malone and, say, Panik/Palat/Barbeiro for Keith Yandle? I know PHX has some great young D-men coming up- could the 'Yotes be convinced to give up a guy like Yandle. He seems to be exactly what would drag the Bolts D from mediocre to very good.
- OzBolts

If we make that deal I'd buy season tickets.... To the Panthers!

A+ for Radko

Gotta feel bad for Lee. Taken 9th overall by my Sens and had a lot of expectations put on him. He was supposed to be our big time puck moving guy who was sound defensively. Once his offensive game went extinct he tried real hard to be a shutdown type, but just didn't have the ability to do it. Terrible pick looking back. He wasn't even rated in the top 10 in North America, let alone the world by the scouting. He had the heart to play, but sometimes you just don't have what it takes.

Not much of a point. Finding a 2nd line center for anything less than $5m at this point on the open market is pretty tough. That, and you don't know what you're getting- did the FA have a career year? Will he adjust? etc etc.

The extra, say, 2.7m cap hit for Vinny isn't really all that rough. I've said it before, Vinny is overpaid for what he is, but he is still a solid player- and the Bolts know what they're getting with him: secondary scoring, a great PP guy, physical, gritty, plays the game the right way and a heck of a leader on and off the ice.

If the Bolts want to buy him out, they can just wait a few years and do it when his contract starts dipping (massively) in pay. Malone might fetch a mid-late draft pick and Brewer ... I'm not sure. I feel like he is owed another season to redeem himself, but boy oh boy... that was a ROUGH season.


As for the blog, great job as always, Michael. Can't disagree with a single assessment you've made towards our D.

As for next year (time to start a baseless rumour), what about a trade of our 3rd overall, Malone and, say, Panik/Palat/Barbeiro for Keith Yandle? I know PHX has some great young D-men coming up- could the 'Yotes be convinced to give up a guy like Yandle. He seems to be exactly what would drag the Bolts D from mediocre to very good.
- OzBolts

No.

Michael, what would it take to get Bolts #1 this year, how about Vanek and a defensive prospect, or Vanek and our 2nd 1st rounder (around 16 I think)
- IonSabres

I can't imagine anything but a package that starts with Tyler Myers. My feeling is that Yzerman is fairly high on this pick.

I'm super excited for this coming season. I pretty much agree with the entire article and am super disappointed that Lee didn't work out. On top of showing potential, he was always a very personable guy with the fans. I think Keith Aulie will continue to get better and more physical. I know everyone raves about Gudas but I LOVE LOVE LOVE his game and can't wait to see him for an entire NHL season.

As happy as I was to see this season start, I'm really looking forward to next season being "normal" again. I really think in a normal season, with regular practices, regular rest, etc that this team could have been so much better this year. Five short months to go... ugh.
- jaybertx

Thanks for reading, and thanks for signing up! Look forward to chatting with you.

Not much of a point. Finding a 2nd line center for anything less than $5m at this point on the open market is pretty tough. That, and you don't know what you're getting- did the FA have a career year? Will he adjust? etc etc.

The extra, say, 2.7m cap hit for Vinny isn't really all that rough. I've said it before, Vinny is overpaid for what he is, but he is still a solid player- and the Bolts know what they're getting with him: secondary scoring, a great PP guy, physical, gritty, plays the game the right way and a heck of a leader on and off the ice.

If the Bolts want to buy him out, they can just wait a few years and do it when his contract starts dipping (massively) in pay. Malone might fetch a mid-late draft pick and Brewer ... I'm not sure. I feel like he is owed another season to redeem himself, but boy oh boy... that was a ROUGH season.


As for the blog, great job as always, Michael. Can't disagree with a single assessment you've made towards our D.

As for next year (time to start a baseless rumour), what about a trade of our 3rd overall, Malone and, say, Panik/Palat/Barbeiro for Keith Yandle? I know PHX has some great young D-men coming up- could the 'Yotes be convinced to give up a guy like Yandle. He seems to be exactly what would drag the Bolts D from mediocre to very good.
- OzBolts

Yandle is rumored to be available. I'm not sure what it would take to get him, but Phoenix would be stupid not to take that deal. They need an offensive star, and the third overall pick will be one. I don't know that Yzerman makes that deal though.

Gotta feel bad for Lee. Taken 9th overall by my Sens and had a lot of expectations put on him. He was supposed to be our big time puck moving guy who was sound defensively. Once his offensive game went extinct he tried real hard to be a shutdown type, but just didn't have the ability to do it. Terrible pick looking back. He wasn't even rated in the top 10 in North America, let alone the world by the scouting. He had the heart to play, but sometimes you just don't have what it takes.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Absolutely. It's a real shame that things didn't work out for him here.

Yandle is rumored to be available. I'm not sure what it would take to get him, but Phoenix would be stupid not to take that deal. They need an offensive star, and the third overall pick will be one. I don't know that Yzerman makes that deal though.
- Michael_Stuart

Not sure. Draft a great young player, but if the Yotes are still in Phoenix at the end of the entry level contract, it'd be hard to resign him due to money issues and whatnot.

We're mostly trying to live on one year vets that either succeed (Whitney) or fail (Sullivan).

Yandle is rumored to be available. I'm not sure what it would take to get him, but Phoenix would be stupid not to take that deal. They need an offensive star, and the third overall pick will be one. I don't know that Yzerman makes that deal though.
- Michael_Stuart

No doubt.

No.
- jugkope

What would, in your opinion as a 'Yotes fan, be a fair return for Yandle (minus Stamkos or Hedman)?

If we make that deal I'd buy season tickets.... To the Panthers!
- Artyukhin76

Why?

Malone is on his way out this season or next, offense is not a problem (remember how many young guns we still have that haven't even seen the NHL ice yet) and Palat or Panik are among them, just with a cup of coffee with the big club.

Offensive players are no issue for us. Namestnikov, Connolly, Killorn etc... or Stamkos, Purcell already at the NHL level. If we're in tough for a 2nd line winger at any point, that's not a bad thing to have to go the FA or trade route for.

Our problem is on the blueline. Barbeiro looks to be a decent find, but needs a lot more seasoning before he'll be able to crack the top 4. Outside of Hedman and Carle, the drop-off for top-4 blueliners on this squad (or potential in the minors) is pretty limited for the next few years.

I like Carle, but we don't need another free agent spend-o-rama like him. And that being said, I don't like seeing Carle getting too many minutes - he can play them, but his quality of play dips past 18mins/game.

Gudas will never be a marquee top-pairing guy. But that's fine- let him play his game and he'll reward us by being a solid bottom pairing guy for now, maybe a mid-pairing guy in a couple of years.