Erik Erlendsson: Tampa Bay Lightning, Alex Killorn avoid arbitration Tampa Bay avoids arbitration case with Alex Killorn

wow i'm a bit surprised with the term i did not think that killorn was in there core plans

7 years 4.45M, does he have to be protected next year with this deal? If not then this deal should prevent him from being scooped by Vegas.

I feel another move is coming, I know they can go into the season with Callahan and his 5.8M cap on IR but something is going to give. I feel Filppula or Bishop will be on the move.

Going to be interesting to see Kucherov's number, I dont think Vlad's will be bad it was his first real year. As for Nesterov I feel we can lose him if needed as he really regressed.

wow i'm a bit surprised with the term i did not think that killorn was in there core plans
- todd1a

Based on comparables he would have got 5m at arbitration, increase the years to lessen the cap hit. I also doubt he has a no move clause so at any point this deal is nice enough cap hit wise he can be traded and still get back assets if needed down the road.

I think of everyone who people think are the core it is TyJo who is the one of the core who might be sacrificed if it comes to that.

Love the signing, Killorn is a great player who can move up and down the lineup with ease. He's also a big body which is always good to have

Love the signing, Killorn is a great player who can move up and down the lineup with ease. He's also a big body which is always good to have
- jvar17

I agree Killorn plays his part well. If they go Drouin-Stamkos-Killorn I think that is a good line then Palat-Johnson-Kucherov (with Vlad and Cally able to move up to top 6 if needed)

Based on comparables he would have got 5m at arbitration, increase the years to lessen the cap hit. I also doubt he has a no move clause so at any point this deal is nice enough cap hit wise he can be traded and still get back assets if needed down the road.

I think of everyone who people think are the core it is TyJo who is the one of the core who might be sacrificed if it comes to that.
- stammerman

Namestinkov is ready for the second line, making Johnson expendable, especially given the cap circumstances. He could probably fetch us some really good assets.

I agree Killorn plays his part well. If they go Drouin-Stamkos-Killorn I think that is a good line then Palat-Johnson-Kucherov (with Vlad and Cally able to move up to top 6 if needed)
- stammerman

Agreed. Does anyone know if Johnson is a UFA or RFA next year?

Agreed. Does anyone know if Johnson is a UFA or RFA next year?
- jvar17

Johnson, Drouin, Palat, Sustr, Koekkoek are all RFAs next year.

Yzerman just said in conference call in order to be cap compliant a move will have to be made, not a buyout so the RFA's I just listed above I don't see any of them moving. Going to be intesting to see how it all plays out. I still say Filppula is the asset they want to move they already have his replacement. Bishop could also move still. Followed by Boyle and Garrison in my opinion.

7 years 4.45M, does he have to be protected next year with this deal? If not then this deal should prevent him from being scooped by Vegas.

I feel another move is coming, I know they can go into the season with Callahan and his 5.8M cap on IR but something is going to give. I feel Filppula or Bishop will be on the move.

Going to be interesting to see Kucherov's number, I dont think Vlad's will be bad it was his first real year. As for Nesterov I feel we can lose him if needed as he really regressed.
- stammerman

Bishop I can see staying if they want the goaltending depth this year at least for the first few months to see if Vasilevskiy can handle the number one spot.

Filppula would be the guy to move if they can. His NMC can lead to a decent guy being exposed to expansion and obviously his cap hit is preventing everyone from being signed. It shouldn't be too difficult to find a team that could use a decent asset and has the extra protection slot at forward to make the deal. Maybe something like the Chicago cap dump:

Filppula, Namestnikov
For
2017 2nd round pick, one year cap dump

TB frees up salary for next year to re-sign their guys and protects a better player from expansion. Heavy price to pay but it is either that or sending Namestnikov away for a pick or younger cost controlled asset and risk losing a decent forward in expansion and of course having to do this again next year with another asset they cannot afford to re-sign.

Bishop I can see staying if they want the goaltending depth this year at least for the first few months to see if Vasilevskiy can handle the number one spot.

Filppula would be the guy to move if they can. His NMC can lead to a decent guy being exposed to expansion and obviously his cap hit is preventing everyone from being signed. It shouldn't be too difficult to find a team that could use a decent asset and has the extra protection slot at forward to make the deal. Maybe something like the Chicago cap dump:

Filppula, Namestnikov
For
2017 2nd round pick, one year cap dump

TB frees up salary for next year to re-sign their guys and protects a better player from expansion. Heavy price to pay but it is either that or sending Namestnikov away for a pick or younger cost controlled asset and risk losing a decent forward in expansion and of course having to do this again next year with another asset they cannot afford to re-sign.
- Steven_Dean

I agree in that I think they want to keep Bishop and go for the cup again which they can do with this team but if the right deal comes along they will trade him. I think they will have to give up an asset to trade Filppula but I don't think it will be Namestnikov as he is Filppula's cheaper more offensive oriented replacement. Maybe it would be an Adam Erne or Brayden Point type of prospect.

Stammerman's post

Bishop is the player most teams would be interested, especially if Bishop is willing to sign a new contract and not go UFA.

Agreed. Does anyone know if Johnson is a UFA or RFA next year?
- jvar17

RFA

I agree in that I think they want to keep Bishop and go for the cup again which they can do with this team but if the right deal comes along they will trade him. I think they will have to give up an asset to trade Filppula but I don't think it will be Namestnikov as he is Filppula's cheaper more offensive oriented replacement. Maybe it would be an Adam Erne or Brayden Point type of prospect.
- stammerman

I can see that, though because of the expansion slot I would want a lot more than just Point or Erne. It might cost you a high draft pick, maybe even a 1st, to dump that contract. You'll get something in return but it won't be a great piece. It is going to be hard to convince someone to take on that contract without accounting for the forward they are leaving exposed. Point or Erne likely replace the value of that forward so would a 2nd round pick be worth the $5M you are taking on for two seasons? It wouldn't be for me anyway.

Love the signing, Killorn is a great player who can move up and down the lineup with ease. He's also a big body which is always good to have
- jvar17

I thought anymore than 4 was high but you can live with 4.45 Does this mean we lose someone or is Kuch's camp asking too much and he might be the odd man out. If they're looking at Hedman money maybe he goes in a trade. A good signing for Kuch would be 6.75-7 maybe 7.25 if it's term but any more could be troublesome. 80-85% of the core will be covered and back but someone's going before the summers out.

Stammerman's post

Bishop is the player most teams would be interested, especially if Bishop is willing to sign a new contract and not go UFA.
- Leafsandbolts

That's the only chip Bishop has in the game, he gets to go UFA if he wants and can't be traded at the deadline if he doesn't want to go.

Bishop I can see staying if they want the goaltending depth this year at least for the first few months to see if Vasilevskiy can handle the number one spot.

Filppula would be the guy to move if they can. His NMC can lead to a decent guy being exposed to expansion and obviously his cap hit is preventing everyone from being signed. It shouldn't be too difficult to find a team that could use a decent asset and has the extra protection slot at forward to make the deal. Maybe something like the Chicago cap dump:

Filppula, Namestnikov
For
2017 2nd round pick, one year cap dump

TB frees up salary for next year to re-sign their guys and protects a better player from expansion. Heavy price to pay but it is either that or sending Namestnikov away for a pick or younger cost controlled asset and risk losing a decent forward in expansion and of course having to do this again next year with another asset they cannot afford to re-sign.
- Steven_Dean

Not sure Tampa would trade Namestnikov as he is probably Fil's replacement.

Not sure Tampa would trade Namestnikov as he is probably Fil's replacement.
- Let.It.Roll

I can understand that but then the cost is going to be like Point/Erne + a 1st for a one year contract worth like $2M and a mid round pick or so. Remember that Filppula forces teams to expose their 7th best forward with his NMC so you need to send back a piece that will replace him (Point or Erne) and then send a piece for taking on the $5M contract (remember that Savard went for a 2nd and he was half the term and had no money paid).

Based on comparables he would have got 5m at arbitration, increase the years to lessen the cap hit. I also doubt he has a no move clause so at any point this deal is nice enough cap hit wise he can be traded and still get back assets if needed down the road.

I think of everyone who people think are the core it is TyJo who is the one of the core who might be sacrificed if it comes to that.
- stammerman

What comparables?

I can understand that but then the cost is going to be like Point/Erne + a 1st for a one year contract worth like $2M and a mid round pick or so. Remember that Filppula forces teams to expose their 7th best forward with his NMC so you need to send back a piece that will replace him (Point or Erne) and then send a piece for taking on the $5M contract (remember that Savard went for a 2nd and he was half the term and had no money paid).
- Steven_Dean

It would be smarter to just buy him out next year.

It would be smarter to just buy him out next year.
- Cloud

Buyout filppula and trade garrison. Frees up like 8m in cap space.

Should be a good comparable for Kreider's negotiations with NYR

Also, I feel like Tyler Johnson is getting more nervous by the month as he sees other guys locked up long term. I think he or Palat is the cap casualty here when all said an done

Buyout filppula and trade garrison. Frees up like 8m in cap space.
- Feds91Stammer

Or buyout/trade Filp, trade Bishop which frees up plenty of cap space. Keep Garrison for the time being, our D isn't all that solid as is and with a young kid in net a guy like Garrison is good back there.

Basically after next year no Filp, Johnson, Bishop is about $13 in cap space. Should be able to handle signing who you need with that.

What comparables?
- djamon

Justin Abdelkader - 7 year 29.75M
Vincent Trocheck - 6 year 28.5M
Sean Couturier - 6 year 26M
Nazim Kadri - 6 year 27M
Victor Rask - 6 year 24M
Marion Gaborik - 7 year 34.125M at age 32
Scott Hartnell - 6 year 28.5M at age 31

If you let an arbitrator see the case it almost always goes to the player. They will see what he makes know the comparable to him and could easily say he can get up to 5M.

Its not a great deal but its not a bad deal. He is 26 very durable a .5ppg player who is clutch in the playoffs - I think he is getting extra years more because of his playoff performances but the value is in line with what to expect.

He only got a NTC so he can be moved if necessary and he is the type of player that would be wanted by other teams even in 4-5 years time if needed as he would only be 30-31.