Ty Anderson: Lightning ink Nikita Nesterov to one-year deal

Expect Kucherov will not sign for less than $6.5M. Going to be interesting to see how this plays out.

I think they need and should trade condra that would free up1.25 which provides them enough to pay kucherov 6.5 per year

I agree. Condra should be expendable, but why not shop Filp? Plenty of teams would be interested in him for sure.

I agree. Condra should be expendable, but why not shop Filp? Plenty of teams would be interested in him for sure.
- TheConsiglierre

Drouin and Johnson I would imagine will get in the $5M range next year, so you're looking at about a $4 to $5M bump in your cap. Moving Filpula is probably your best option, but you'll clearly have to move more if you hope to keep Palat.

I agree. Condra should be expendable, but why not shop Filp? Plenty of teams would be interested in him for sure.
- TheConsiglierre

I struggle to see much of a market for Fil, as much as I'd like for him to be the guy moved.

The Coburn re-signing looks like a real head-scratcher at this point, IMO. Nothing he can do out there that I wouldn't trust 29 to do.

Drouin and Johnson I would imagine will get in the $5M range next year, so you're looking at about a $4 to $5M bump in your cap. Moving Filpula is probably your best option, but you'll clearly have to move more if you hope to keep Palat.
- Rinosaur

No way we resign TJ before Palat. Palat may not be a flashy player but he's a workhorse. That said, TJ may be the odd man out next year

No way we resign TJ before Palat. Palat may not be a flashy player but he's a workhorse. That said, TJ may be the odd man out next year
- ctcork

I fail to see that. Losing TJ will be detrimental to your future success. Filppula is not what he was, but someone you could probably move to a capfloor team after this season.

Who do you have after TJ and Filppula to man your 2nd line?

I happen to think Palat is awesome. I just think TJ is far too important to your depth down the middle.

I fail to see that. Losing TJ will be detrimental to your future success. Filppula is not what he was, but someone you could probably move to a capfloor team after this season.

Who do you have after TJ and Filppula to man your 2nd line?

I happen to think Palat is awesome. I just think TJ is far too important to your depth down the middle.
- Rinosaur

Namestinkov, he's ready for an increased offensive role on the team, he just hasn't been given the chance due to the forward depth in front of him. Try to move Filpull/Garrison, keep Bishop for the playoff run and lose him to expansion, and trade Johnson at the end of the season.

The top two lines would consist of Stamkos, Kucherov, Drouin, Palat, Killorn, and Namestinkov, which would still be very good. And if Namestinkov isn't cut out for the 2nd line(I think he'd be fine), there's Brayden Point, who's game is similar to TJ's, and could take the spot in a couple of years.

So basically, Johnson is much more expendable than say, Kucherov, Drouin, or Palat, given the current state of the team.

Namestinkov, he's ready for an increased offensive role on the team, he just hasn't been given the chance due to the forward depth in front of him. Try to move Filpull/Garrison, keep Bishop for the playoff run and lose him to expansion, and trade Johnson at the end of the season.

The top two lines would consist of Stamkos, Kucherov, Drouin, Palat, Killorn, and Namestinkov, which would still be very good. And if Namestinkov isn't cut out for the 2nd line(I think he'd be fine), there's Brayden Point, who's game is similar to TJ's, and could take the spot in a couple of years.

So basically, Johnson is much more expendable than say, Kucherov, Drouin, or Palat, given the current state of the team.
- jvar17

Well Kucherov should be priority #1, for sure. Namestnikov is definitely a good player, but 2nd line good? That's definitely a question mark.

Having Stamkos and Johnson as your 1 & 2 is better than most teams in the league.

Well Kucherov should be priority #1, for sure. Namestnikov is definitely a good player, but 2nd line good? That's definitely a question mark.

Having Stamkos and Johnson as your 1 & 2 is better than most teams in the league.
- Rinosaur

I would make the case that Namestnikov was actually at his best last year when he was logging top-six minutes and playing center.

I struggle to see much of a market for Fil, as much as I'd like for him to be the guy moved.

The Coburn re-signing looks like a real head-scratcher at this point, IMO. Nothing he can do out there that I wouldn't trust 29 to do.
- Michael_Stuart

Hated this Coburn deal from the start. I know they probably didn't foresee that Koekkoek acceleration, but that tied up a lot of cake to some older dudes. Ugly.

I would make the case that Namestnikov was actually at his best last year when he was logging top-six minutes and playing center.
- tyanderson

Didn't he play LW when playing in the top-six?

Didn't he play LW when playing in the top-six?
- Rinosaur

They had a stretch where he was playing center while Stamkos was shifted to the wing. It was often mixed-and-match depending on the center they were going against, but Namestnikov could likely hang in the top six given TB's skill on wings.

Namestinkov, he's ready for an increased offensive role on the team, he just hasn't been given the chance due to the forward depth in front of him. Try to move Filpull/Garrison, keep Bishop for the playoff run and lose him to expansion, and trade Johnson at the end of the season.

The top two lines would consist of Stamkos, Kucherov, Drouin, Palat, Killorn, and Namestinkov, which would still be very good. And if Namestinkov isn't cut out for the 2nd line(I think he'd be fine), there's Brayden Point, who's game is similar to TJ's, and could take the spot in a couple of years.

So basically, Johnson is much more expendable than say, Kucherov, Drouin, or Palat, given the current state of the team.
- jvar17

Vegas aren't going to take Bishop as he is UFA at the end of the season. Pretty sure they will take Johnson.

Vegas aren't going to take Bishop as he is UFA at the end of the season. Pretty sure they will take Johnson.
- Aussiepenguin

Who also is a free agent at the end of the season? Good insight.

Who also is a free agent at the end of the season? Good insight.
- Cloud

Yes let me just take this foot out of my mouth!

TBay are in great danger of Kucherov, Johnson or Drouin being offer sheeted

They had a stretch where he was playing center while Stamkos was shifted to the wing. It was often mixed-and-match depending on the center they were going against, but Namestnikov could likely hang in the top six given TB's skill on wings.
- tyanderson

100%. Tend to think that if he continues to develop and shows enough this year that TJ might be expendable.

I struggle to see much of a market for Fil, as much as I'd like for him to be the guy moved.

The Coburn re-signing looks like a real head-scratcher at this point, IMO. Nothing he can do out there that I wouldn't trust 29 to do.

Good to see ya back Stu! Missed the buzz eh?

I agree, I had no idea why they resigned Coburn, especially at that price. Especially with talented guys like Nesterov and Koekkoek, and Sustr taking a big step in his progression. Coburn at 3.7 is ugly. It's not.. Yzerman can bang out some awesome deals (Killorn, Stamkos, Hedman, Stralman, Vasy) but then I look at the Cally, Coburn, and at the time Filp's wasn't bad, but his usage IMO is not ideal for him as a player, so it looks bad now.

Personally I think Johnson is the guy to sell high on. "Playoff performer (and really, he's just good vs. Detroit in the playoffs). Sell high on the 70 point season, and insert the smooth skating, silky handed Namestnikov on the 2nd line. Dude is talented and plays so much better with high end talent on his wings. Just looks more confident. Look back to the Pens game where he scored that hat trick.. dude was buzzing everywhere. Johnson is a solid hockey player, but someone's gotta go, and I think he will net the best return.

Palat is WAY to important to this team to get rid of. He's essentially Marian Hossa 2.0.

Expect Johnson will have an excellent bounce back year so he might bring back a better return. Tampa is going to have start being more like Chicago when it comes to managing its roster and cap. Get ready for a revolving door approach.

What is the consensus on Stamkos play at the WCOH? He seems to be working hard but not accomplishing a lot imo.

Hated this Coburn deal from the start. I know they probably didn't foresee that Koekkoek acceleration, but that tied up a lot of cake to some older dudes. Ugly.
- tyanderson

I don't hate the Coburn deal, he can play either side or any situation. His $3.7m puts him as the 90th highest paid D man in the NHL, below guys like Josh Gorges, Marco Scandella, Oscar Klefbom, Dmitry Kulikov (guys who are useless). I see Johnson as trade bait during the year and it would not surprise me if they are still shopping Bishop even though the teams looking for Bishop may be limited. Filp is an ideal trade but his cap hit really makes it hard to move him to clear cap space, most teams who take him on will want the Lightning to take on an equally poor cap hit.

I do NOT want to see Kucherov go but someone has to go in this cap world. Johnson I don't think has much value with other teams as he does on this team and Bishop as a UFA has to scare some teams away. If Kuch goes I would love Yzerman to call up Winnipeg and see what it would take to get Trouba. Trouba is an RFA so we could lock him up for a fairly reasonable deal I would think, $4m-$5m per.

Hated this Coburn deal from the start. I know they probably didn't foresee that Koekkoek acceleration, but that tied up a lot of cake to some older dudes. Ugly.
- tyanderson

I almost think when they signed coburn they thought stamkos was not staying any way so maybe they thought they had the funds then

TBay are in great danger of Kucherov, Johnson or Drouin being offer sheeted
- Champ

I think yzerman would trade there rights before that happens

Should've locked up TJ and Palat long term rather than 3 year deals