Ty Anderson: Lightning add James Wisniewski on tryout

surprised it took a team this long to be honest.

Yzerman playing poker again in Nesterov negotiations

Slater Koekkoek will be on bottom pair. Nesterov 7th d-man or popcorn duty

No risk good reward potential. We lose nothing by trying him out, if his knees see worthy we could easily sign him to a small number deal and go 11-7 to use him for the PP, he would be an upgrade on the Stamkos unit being RH who can pass and shoot, Stralman is great but a PP QB he is not. I don't see him getting a contract its been less then a year since the surgery and if he can't skate they won't keep him but again no risk in trying.

Slater Koekkoek will be on bottom pair. Nesterov 7th d-man or popcorn duty
- uf1910

Hedman-Stralman
Garrison-Sustr
Koekkoek-Coburn

I like Coburn with Koekkoek as Slater could learn a lot playing with him and Sustr was our most improved player last year imo and definitely fits well with Garrison in the 4 hole. Lot of people don't like Coburn but he is a steal for 3.7M as he can play all D positions both L and R. He is still only 31 its not like he is 35+

Nesterov will ride the pine if re-signed or Wis could ride the pine as well, both are similar in style and play. Actually a very smart move by Yzerman if Wis is healthy to earn a contract.

I guess there is a rumor that Yzerman has stealthly snuck into the Vesy negotiations from but its from a bleacher report columnist - I doubt it will happen but if it did man Y really is a jedi.

I hope Wiz does well. Guy was a good sport about managing to play all of 47 seconds last year.

I guess there is a rumor that Yzerman has stealthly snuck into the Vesy negotiations from but its from a bleacher report columnist - I doubt it will happen but if it did man Y really is a jedi.
- stammerman

I truthfully have not seen Stevie Y at the skates up here, but then again, he could be in full Bobby Valentine mode with a fake mustache and glasses.

Hedman-Stralman
Garrison-Sustr
Koekkoek-Coburn

I like Coburn with Koekkoek as Slater could learn a lot playing with him and Sustr was our most improved player last year imo and definitely fits well with Garrison in the 4 hole. Lot of people don't like Coburn but he is a steal for 3.7M as he can play all D positions both L and R. He is still only 31 its not like he is 35+

Nesterov will ride the pine if re-signed or Wis could ride the pine as well, both are similar in style and play. Actually a very smart move by Yzerman if Wis is healthy to earn a contract.
- stammerman

Trade Garrison

Hedman-Stralman
Koekkoek-Sustr
Coburn-Wiz
Nesterov

As an islander fan i like this move for the bolts. Could sign him for a 1 year 800k deal. Solid pick up

Wiz fighting Tootoo on one leg is a You tube video worth watching

He stepped on a stray stick and felt his knee give but still whooped his ass than fell to the ground in agony.

I loved Wiz a as a Hawk. Good shot from the point and always stood up for his teammates.

Hedman-Stralman
Garrison-Sustr
Koekkoek-Coburn

I like Coburn with Koekkoek as Slater could learn a lot playing with him and Sustr was our most improved player last year imo and definitely fits well with Garrison in the 4 hole. Lot of people don't like Coburn but he is a steal for 3.7M as he can play all D positions both L and R. He is still only 31 its not like he is 35+

Nesterov will ride the pine if re-signed or Wis could ride the pine as well, both are similar in style and play. Actually a very smart move by Yzerman if Wis is healthy to earn a contract.
- stammerman

Agreed

Trade Garrison

Hedman-Stralman
Koekkoek-Sustr
Coburn-Wiz
Nesterov
- Feds91Stammer

One more year with Garrison. Gives Slater a full year to grow into top 4 role.

One more year with Garrison. Gives Slater a full year to grow into top 4 role.
- uf1910

He's ready now. The sooner you trade Garrison the better the return and the sooner you have cap relief.

He's ready now. The sooner you trade Garrison the better the return and the sooner you have cap relief.
- Feds91Stammer

Agreed, Koekoek should definitely be able to hold down the top 4 role based on his playoff performance.

He's ready now. The sooner you trade Garrison the better the return and the sooner you have cap relief.
- Feds91Stammer

Meh...depth is more important for this team in this position IMO.

First Slater's health history is worrisome (although recent years non-issue)

Not sure how much better the return would be simply b/c of the expansion draft issue. It is the single reason more player movement/trades hasn't happened.

Furthermore going back to the depth issue, Sustr has hit a wall the last 2 years. You throw Slater out in a top 4 (20 min/gm) position and that wall he will hit. For Sustr, seemingly last year's wall was later than the previous year which you would expect with maturing young players, but given Slater's history coupled with the "expected" wall he will hit at some point playing top 4 in his 1st full NHL year (and no Garrison), we will have a gaping hole in our defense which could very easily cost us a cup this year.

Agreed, Koekoek should definitely be able to hold down the top 4 role based on his playoff performance.
- jvar17

Problem is he has to be able to do it at that level for upwards of 100 games. Hard sell based on his history and a few game sample size.

He's definitely ready for the NHL, he definitely has the talent for top 4. My worry is being able to hold that level of play on a cup contending team. If he is slotted into bottom pair but capable of moving up, then in case of an injury to a dman not named Stralman or Hedman we see little to no drop-off. If Slater is top 4 and Garrison is gone, that same d-man injury is almost as crippling as a Heds/Strals injury. Hawks feasted on our bottom pair 2 years ago (Sustr/Carle) and with no Garrison and a hypothetical injury on defense, our bottom pair this year would be even worse

Problem is he has to be able to do it at that level for upwards of 100 games. Hard sell based on his history and a few game sample size.

He's definitely ready for the NHL, he definitely has the talent for top 4. My worry is being able to hold that level of play on a cup contending team. If he is slotted into bottom pair but capable of moving up, then in case of an injury to a dman not named Stralman or Hedman we see little to no drop-off. If Slater is top 4 and Garrison is gone, that same d-man injury is almost as crippling as a Heds/Strals injury. Hawks feasted on our bottom pair 2 years ago (Sustr/Carle) and with no Garrison and a hypothetical injury on defense, our bottom pair this year would be even worse
- uf1910

Garrison is really only valuable if given PP time which he no longer gets. Koekkoek has shown he possesses NHL caliber skill. Also Sustr has made massive strides in his development. I used to hate the guy but he is a very competent NHL D man. Hedman, Stralman, Sustr, Koekkoek, Coburn, Wiz, and Nesterov is a very sold and pretty deep D core.

Garrison is really only valuable if given PP time which he no longer gets. Koekkoek has shown he possesses NHL caliber skill. Also Sustr has made massive strides in his development. I used to hate the guy but he is a very competent NHL D man. Hedman, Stralman, Sustr, Koekkoek, Coburn, Wiz, and Nesterov is a very sold and pretty deep D core.
- Feds91Stammer

Wiz is a non-factor until we know he is reasonably healthy
Nesterov is a dumpster fire unless he is 7th dman and allowed to play sheltered minutes with a good partner

No debating either of the bolded points. Again my issue is with depth b/c if any of our bottom 4 go down we may as well not ice a 3rd pair come playoff time. The Hawks absolutely abused the Carle/Sustr pair 2 years ago and without garrison this team is 1 injury away from the same fate.

Disagree on Garrison's value. He a solid vet presence who is the best partner for Sustr. You subtract Garrison and Sustr's level may drop off a bit (pure speculation of course). Fast forward to next year and a Sustr/Slater pair could be dynamite.

Tampa s to good he won't make the team

If James Wisniewski doesn't work out, maybe Brian Boyle can play D again. Check out video of him on the blue line in the Foxboro Summer League from Wednesday night.
www.thehockeyshow.net

Very good interview with Jon Cooper

http://www.espn.com/espnr...824&ex_cid=espnapi_public