John Gove: Tampa Bay Done for the Offseason

I'm pretty happy with the off-season moves with a couple of exceptions.

Of course, if we compare to Washington's offseason, our's looks like the best offseason in the history of the sport.

I'm not big on re-signing Sustr.

I'm not big on the Girardi signing.

I'm cautious about the Kunitz signing.

Otherwise, I like our roster if it stays healthy. I am curious to see how Callahan will do this season. I think this might be Callahan's sink or swim season. If he bounces back and provides some value, his albatross contract won't look so terrible - it will still stink, but not quite as bad. I like what he brings when he's healthy.

Now, who do we put on left wing to ride shotgun with Stamkos and Kucherov? I would say Palat, but I suspect Cooper will try to keep Palat and Johnson together. Can Point play left wing? Killorn? Kunitz?

Interesting that all the Tampa re-signings the past 2 years have been for reasonable amounts but longer terms.

Overall SY has stick handled his way through the cap mess of the past 2 years. Likely not as strong a team as last summer's roster but good enough to win their division.

Callahan (as discussed by Galactic) is still likely the next to go imo even if he has a bounce back season since the team will need his salary room to pay Kucherov. A good season by Callahan might make it possible to move him to a team like Buffalo (He is a good Rochester NY lad) or any willing team even if some salary needs to be retained.

Thanks John for all the timely posts. Great to have you writing about the Lightning.

Expect the Lightning will be quiet until rookie camp and then things will get interesting again.

Enjoy the off season!

I'm pretty happy with the off-season moves with a couple of exceptions.

Of course, if we compare to Washington's offseason, our's looks like the best offseason in the history of the sport.

I'm not big on re-signing Sustr.

I'm not big on the Girardi signing.

I'm cautious about the Kunitz signing.

Otherwise, I like our roster if it stays healthy. I am curious to see how Callahan will do this season. I think this might be Callahan's sink or swim season. If he bounces back and provides some value, his albatross contract won't look so terrible - it will still stink, but not quite as bad. I like what he brings when he's healthy.

Now, who do we put on left wing to ride shotgun with Stamkos and Kucherov? I would say Palat, but I suspect Cooper will try to keep Palat and Johnson together. Can Point play left wing? Killorn? Kunitz?
- GalacticStone

Expect they will put Kunitz with Stamkos and Kucherov to start but then Cooper will play musical lines unless they are successful right off the bat.

I fully expect Tampa to have a bounce back season and enter the contender conversation again

Expect they will put Kunitz with Stamkos and Kucherov to start but then Cooper will play musical lines unless they are successful right off the bat.
- Leafsandbolts

They need to start with Namestnikov-Stamkos-Kucherov that line was great until 91 got injured last year. Go back to that at first to see if the magic is still there then adjust if necessary.

I fully expect Tampa to have a bounce back season and enter the contender conversation again
- rangerdanger94

So do most Lightning fans!

I fully expect Tampa to have a bounce back season and enter the contender conversation again
- rangerdanger94

Even with girardi 😳😳🤔🤔?

They need to start with Namestnikov-Stamkos-Kucherov that line was great until 91 got injured last year. Go back to that at first to see if the magic is still there then adjust if necessary.
- stammerman

What cooper wants his triplets together?

What cooper wants his triplets together?
- todd1a

Well last year showed he didn't want that anymore. His number 1 line thru 17 games and Stamkos injury was 90-91-86. Will be interesting to see what camp starts.

Jvr and marinchin for foote and suster


Jvr
Stamkos-Johnson-kucherov
Hedman

Best powerplay in the nhl

Jvr and marinchin for foote and suster


Jvr
Stamkos-Johnson-kucherov
Hedman

Best powerplay in the nhl
- BrainSap

How about we keep Foote and give you Sustr for free?

people are bummed we didn't do more but if it wasn't for injuries our team would have been just as dominate last year...

projected lineup


kunitz stamkos kucherov
killorn johnson palat
point namestnikov gourde
brown paquette callahan

hedman dotchin
stralman girardi
coburn koekkoek
sustr

i have a feeling sergachev gets sent back. and we pick up a 2nd rounder in the process. unless he blows everyone away at camp then he slots in and sustr gets buried in the minors.

that is easily an atlantic winning team.

people are bummed we didn't do more but if it wasn't for injuries our team would have been just as dominate last year...

projected lineup


kunitz stamkos kucherov
killorn johnson palat
point namestnikov gourde
brown paquette callahan

hedman dotchin
stralman girardi
coburn koekkoek
sustr

i have a feeling sergachev gets sent back. and we pick up a 2nd rounder in the process. unless he blows everyone away at camp then he slots in and sustr gets buried in the minors.

that is easily an atlantic winning team.
- boltsfan48

Pretty solid. I would make a couple of tweaks.

Girardi is not capable of handling 2nd pairing minutes and assignments - unless he proves otherwise. I'd rather Koekkoek on the second pairing. He'll make rookie mistakes, but at least he's not a pylon and can move the puck. I'd put Girardi on the 3rd pairing and use him mostly for PK.

Callahan must be the most expensive 4th liner in the world. I think I would bump him up to the 3rd line - assuming he stays healthy.

I'm on the fence about Kunitz. Not sure he belongs on the top line. I think I'd want someone with a little more foot speed who can keep up with Stammer and Kuch.

people are bummed we didn't do more but if it wasn't for injuries our team would have been just as dominate last year...

projected lineup


kunitz stamkos kucherov
killorn johnson palat
point namestnikov gourde
brown paquette callahan

hedman dotchin
stralman girardi
coburn koekkoek
sustr

i have a feeling sergachev gets sent back. and we pick up a 2nd rounder in the process. unless he blows everyone away at camp then he slots in and sustr gets buried in the minors.

that is easily an atlantic winning team.
- boltsfan48

Girardi and Stralman won't be paired together as both are RHD

people are bummed we didn't do more but if it wasn't for injuries our team would have been just as dominate last year...

projected lineup


kunitz stamkos kucherov
killorn johnson palat
point namestnikov gourde
brown paquette callahan

hedman dotchin
stralman girardi
coburn koekkoek
sustr

i have a feeling sergachev gets sent back. and we pick up a 2nd rounder in the process. unless he blows everyone away at camp then he slots in and sustr gets buried in the minors.

that is easily an atlantic winning team.
- boltsfan48

You don't care about what position each guy plays eh?

Namestnikov - Stamkos - Kucherov
Palat - Johnson - Killorn
Kunitz - Point - Callahan
Erne - Gourde - Paquette

Hedman - Stralman
Sergachev - Coburn
Koekkoek - Girardi

Namestnikov - Stamkos - Kucherov
Palat - Johnson - Killorn
Kunitz - Point - Callahan
Erne - Gourde - Paquette

Hedman - Stralman
Sergachev - Coburn
Koekkoek - Girardi
- Feds91Stammer

I like the top 6 but I think Gourde would be better on the 3rd line wing even though he is a C then move Paquette to 4th line C and Callahan 4th line RW.

Your D pairings look good but what about Dotchin

Namestnikov - Stamkos - Kucherov
Palat - Johnson - Killorn
Kunitz - Point - Callahan
Erne - Gourde - Paquette

Hedman - Stralman
Sergachev - Coburn
Koekkoek - Girardi
- Feds91Stammer

Wow Callahan and Kunitz on a line together would be so fun to watch

http://nypost.com/2017/07...eal-that-will-get-tricky/

The Lightning are now the team that players and agents use as leverage against their current team in negotiations. It's either that or real smoke that Tavares would come to Tampa. I don't agree with the jackass Brooks though in that the Bolts would give up both Palat and Johnson. You don't give up 2 top 6 forwards for 1 in return as you then create a big hole to fill.

http://nypost.com/2017/07...eal-that-will-get-tricky/

The Lightning are now the team that players and agents use as leverage against their current team in negotiations. It's either that or real smoke that Tavares would come to Tampa. I don't agree with the jackass Brooks though in that the Bolts would give up both Palat and Johnson. You don't give up 2 top 6 forwards for 1 in return as you then create a big hole to fill.
- stammerman

If the cost is Palat and Johnson, they can keep Tavares. Tavares is a stud, but we really don't need him.

Besides, how the heck would we pay him? Even after Yzerman's cap wizardry, we won't have enough salary available to pay after we give Kucherov his massive raise when his bridge contract is over.

Kucherov > Tavares.

If the cost is Palat and Johnson, they can keep Tavares. Tavares is a stud, but we really don't need him.

Besides, how the heck would we pay him? Even after Yzerman's cap wizardry, we won't have enough salary available to pay after we give Kucherov his massive raise when his bridge contract is over.

Kucherov > Tavares.
- GalacticStone

Hypothetically they trade Johnson, 2018 1st and one of our good F prospects for Tavares at the trade deadline. They could sign Tavares at a discount like Elliotte Friedman said so say for 8.5M next year taking a discount llike Stamkos and the following team I did on capfriendly fits under the 75M cap next year.

Vlad(3M)-Tavares(8.5)-Stamkos(8.5)
Palat(5.3)-Point(.686)-Kucherov(4.76)
Killorn(4.45)-Gourde(1)-Callahan(5.8)
Erne(1)-Cirelli(.728)-M.Joseph(.728)
Conacher(.65)-Dumont(.65)-

Hedman(7.85)-Dotchin(.813)
Sergachev(.894)-Stralman(4.5)
Koekkoek(.8)-Coburn(3.7)
Girardi(3)

Vasy(3.5)
Budaj(1.025)

Total cap hit - 73.75 of 75M and the cap will probably go to 77M.

Now how it works past next year I did not take that into account so I have no idea how it could work long term. But I assume you can trade or buyout Callahan to pay for Kucherov's next deal and go from there.

Hypothetically they trade Johnson, 2018 1st and one of our good F prospects for Tavares at the trade deadline. They could sign Tavares at a discount like Elliotte Friedman said so say for 8.5M next year taking a discount llike Stamkos and the following team I did on capfriendly fits under the 75M cap next year.

Vlad(3M)-Tavares(8.5)-Stamkos(8.5)
Palat(5.3)-Point(.686)-Kucherov(4.76)
Killorn(4.45)-Gourde(1)-Callahan(5.8)
Erne(1)-Cirelli(.728)-M.Joseph(.728)
Conacher(.65)-Dumont(.65)-

Hedman(7.85)-Dotchin(.813)
Sergachev(.894)-Stralman(4.5)
Koekkoek(.8)-Coburn(3.7)
Girardi(3)

Vasy(3.5)
Budaj(1.025)

Total cap hit - 73.75 of 75M and the cap will probably go to 77M.

Now how it works past next year I did not take that into account so I have no idea how it could work long term. But I assume you can trade or buyout Callahan to pay for Kucherov's next deal and go from there.
- stammerman

It is enticing to think of having Stamkos and Tavares playing together....

Maybe we can trade them Girardi, Sustr, Callahan, a 1st, a bag of pucks, and a six pack of Molson for Tavares. LOL.

It is enticing to think of having Stamkos and Tavares playing together....

Maybe we can trade them Girardi, Sustr, Callahan, a 1st, a bag of pucks, and a six pack of Molson for Tavares. LOL.
- GalacticStone

Yeah its wishing thinking but it is plausible to do for at least next year as I showed.

The Isles GM is Garth Snow so Yzerman can just stare him down - offer the Molson for Tavares and Garth would probably take it and say thank you after the deal transpired.

Yeah its wishing thinking but it is plausible to do for at least next year as I showed.

The Isles GM is Garth Snow so Yzerman can just stare him down - offer the Molson for Tavares and Garth would probably take it and say thank you after the deal transpired.
- stammerman

If Tavares doesn't sign by TDL, Snow will be freaking. Snow might trade Tavares but it is not a slam dunk that he will sign a contract there if he is interested in another location or free agency. I propose we wait until next June and get Tavares for free. No need to trade for Tavares unless it is too good an offer to refuse.