Michael Stuart: Tampa Bay Lightning: Building a Third Pairing

That is a scary forward group.

Who do you have as the 13th forward since you seem certain they are going to send Kucherov down, I disagree with you there and think he stays with the big club but I would still like to know who you have as the 13th forward?

Who do you have as the 13th forward since you seem certain they are going to send Kucherov down, I disagree with you there and think he stays with the big club but I would still like to know who you have as the 13th forward?
- stammerman

I haven't totally made up my mind there yet.

I haven't totally made up my mind there yet.
- Michael_Stuart

Also they can keep 23 so that means another F or D will stay with the big club, I personally think it will be a Dman since they like to run 11-7 so an 8th Dman is huge but who do they have other then Sustr that can stay with the big club and contribute when called upon. Corrente? Cote? Witko? What about Nesterov? I agree send Sustr down and play but I don't like the options of the 8th Dman after him, the good Dman we have are too young and the Vets are shall I say AHL guys.

Also for me Kucherov plays on RW on your third line or possibly with Val on the second since you have Callahan on the top line. Panik is my bench guy who will still get into half the games and try to prove he belongs the talent is there but is the mind.

Also they can keep 23 so that means another F or D will stay with the big club, I personally think it will be a Dman since they like to run 11-7 so an 8th Dman is huge but who do they have other then Sustr that can stay with the big club and contribute when called upon. Corrente? Cote? Witko? What about Nesterov? I agree send Sustr down and play but I don't like the options of the 8th Dman after him, the good Dman we have are too young and the Vets are shall I say AHL guys.

Also for me Kucherov plays on RW on your third line or possibly with Val on the second since you have Callahan on the top line. Panik is my bench guy who will still get into half the games and try to prove he belongs the talent is there but is the mind.
- stammerman

I seriously doubt that they'll carry 8.

I seriously doubt that they'll carry 8.
- Michael_Stuart

If they don't carry 8 that means they will carry 14 Forwards. They can carry 23 players but only 20 can suit up. They play 11-7 so much I would think having an 8th D for practice reasons would be a good thing. Just my take on it. I'm sure they will carry the maximum 23 players. So based on that it leaves two spots left to fill.

HEY! That wasn't controversial at all!

Nice looking lineup guys,good to see success in Florida.great for the sport .

If they don't carry 8 that means they will carry 14 Forwards. They can carry 23 players but only 20 can suit up. They play 11-7 so much I would think having an 8th D for practice reasons would be a good thing. Just my take on it. I'm sure they will carry the maximum 23 players. So based on that it leaves two spots left to fill.
- stammerman

If you're carrying all eight defensemen, two are going to be sitting around an awful lot. For a guy like Sustr, that wouldn't be good. This season will be different than last year, in that there's a more defined top-four. The other guys are battling for two spots worth of ice time at the lower end.

HEY! That wasn't controversial at all!
- OzBolts

Had to keep you guessing. The obvious is never much of a surprise.

No disrespect but I think you're dreaming if you think kucherov doesn't make the team and is also replaces as a top 6er by panik.

If you're carrying all eight defensemen, two are going to be sitting around an awful lot. For a guy like Sustr, that wouldn't be good. This season will be different than last year, in that there's a more defined top-four. The other guys are battling for two spots worth of ice time at the lower end.
- Michael_Stuart

I totally agree with you that two will be sitting around around alot but Cooper likes 11-7 alignment. I am just going by the numbers. The Lightning can carry 23 guys but only play 20. The goalies Bish and Naby are 2 so that means there are 21 spots though only 18 can play in a given night.

You have 19 spots filled with Barberio as the 7th D-man leaving two open spots to carry on the team for a full 23 man roster. So basically who do you have filling out the last two spots on your 23 man roster?

For me like I said I have Kucherov being on my roster and Panik being my 13th, I am stuck trying to fill one more spot, that spot will most likely be a practice player so I would assume it won't be a young buck but an older type of player like Blunden, Samson, Corrente or Cote which makes it hard for me to decide. I know I am talking about the bench riders but they will still be there.

When expansion hits we are going to lose good players

When expansion hits we are going to lose good players
- todd1a

And we will lose not so good ones

I am impressed with the line-up, but I still don't see Brown on the fourth line.

With Aulie gone, will Gudas change his # to 3 he had in AHL? I hope not, I've got his #7 jersey!!

No disrespect but I think you're dreaming if you think kucherov doesn't make the team and is also replaces as a top 6er by panik.
- saeed015

Unless Connolly really stinks in camp and we waive him I doubt we keep kucherov in the nhl! Him and sustr are going to the ahl to get under the cap.

Unless Connolly really stinks in camp and we waive him I doubt we keep kucherov in the nhl! Him and sustr are going to the ahl to get under the cap.
- todd1a

We are under the cap with them once they LTIR Ohlund so it won't be for cap reasons if they are sent down, do they have to send them down until they can LTIR Ohlund I'm not sure of that. Sustr I can see being sent down since he is waiver exempt until he plays 12 games with the Bolts but I don't see anyone outplaying Kucherov for a top 9 forward spot and he will stick with the Bolts in my opinion.

I really don't get why a lot of people on here are saying Kucherov will be sent down. Is it because he is our only waiver exempt who is good enough to make the team? Panik and Connolly have not showed enough to me to jump Kucherov.

We are under the cap with them once they LTIR Ohlund so it won't be for cap reasons if they are sent down, do they have to send them down until they can LTIR Ohlund I'm not sure of that. Sustr I can see being sent down since he is waiver exempt until he plays 12 games with the Bolts but I don't see anyone outplaying Kucherov for a top 9 forward spot and he will stick with the Bolts in my opinion.

I really don't get why a lot of people on here are saying Kucherov will be sent down. Is it because he is our only waiver exempt who is good enough to make the team? Panik and Connolly have not showed enough to me to jump Kucherov.
- stammerman

I'm with you. Connolly and Panik have that Chris Gratton stink all over 'em "all the tools, but no toolbox".

We'll see... but again, totally with you, I think Kuchy is a star in the waiting.

Lot's of love from whoever hockeybuzz hot stove is ! I like being thought of as an under dog too, but its nice to get some recognition that this team deserves in some areas finally

Lot's of love from whoever hockeybuzz hot stove is ! I like being thought of as an under dog too, but its nice to get some recognition that this team deserves in some areas finally
- RileyB77

It's Todd Cordell.

Hockeybuzz writers show the Bolts some love and somehow we are arrogant "our team is going to win everything" fans. None of us have done that, I don't get where they are getting that from on the Hockey Stove posts.

Hockeybuzz writers show the Bolts some love and somehow we are arrogant "our team is going to win everything" fans. None of us have done that, I don't get where they are getting that from on the Hockey Stove posts.
- stammerman

Yeah... It hasn't happened.

Hockeybuzz writers show the Bolts some love and somehow we are arrogant "our team is going to win everything" fans. None of us have done that, I don't get where they are getting that from on the Hockey Stove posts.
- stammerman

It's the internet; a terrible, terrible place.