You have a crystal ball?
- Scoob

It isn't obvious by now?

It isn't obvious by now?
- YuenglingJagr

Well, your backwards facing observation skills are top notch.

Well, your backwards facing observation skills are top notch.
- Scoob

Yeah it was a huge leap of faith to guess that Kucherov was going to be good after scoring 30 goals as a 22 year old

I was the only one who believed. FWIW I doubt Tampa actually wanted to bridge him, they just chose to after they couldnt fit a long term deal under the cap 3 years ago. At least that is what my crystal ball is saying

8 x $9.5m for Kucherov.
- Feanor

Hopefully that means they're out on Karlsson now.

Yeah it was a huge leap of faith to guess that Kucherov was going to be good after scoring 30 goals as a 22 year old

I was the only one who believed. FWIW I doubt Tampa actually wanted to bridge him, they just chose to after they couldnt fit a long term deal under the cap 3 years ago. At least that is what my crystal ball is saying
- YuenglingJagr

You weren't the only one. He should've been offer-sheeted the year he signed that bridge deal, and I said just that

Are we getting Callahan + Foote now so they can sign Karlsson as well?

Yzerman gives out trade protection like candy.

https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/lightning

You weren't the only one. He should've been offer-sheeted the year he signed that bridge deal, and I said just that
- AllInForFlyers

You have one too!?!?

R.I.P. Ilkka Scora Goala, just thinking of him on his birthday.

Hopefully that means they're out on Karlsson now.
- hereticpride

They don't have to be, because they got Hedman on such a sweet deal

They just have to decide how bad they want him. Because then you have to decide how much you want to attach to Ryan Callahan to move him, in addition to what they have to give up to get Karlsson

The key was Hedman not getting 10-plus -- he signed when not many guys were even getting 9

But it's pretty well-established that you can have two people making around 10-plus, another guy making around 8-9, two more guys making 7-8. Just have to be the right guys, with most of them at the right ages

They don't have to be, because they got Hedman on such a sweet deal

They just have to decide how bad they want him. Because then you have to decide how much you want to attach to Ryan Callahan to move him, in addition to what they have to give up to get Karlsson

The key was Hedman not getting 10-plus -- he signed when not many guys were even getting 9

But it's pretty well-established that you can have two people making around 10-plus, another guy making around 8-9, two more guys making 7-8. Just have to be the right guys, with most of them at the right ages
- AllInForFlyers

Ugh, sounds like another Hextall Special coming up.

They don't have to be, because they got Hedman on such a sweet deal

They just have to decide how bad they want him. Because then you have to decide how much you want to attach to Ryan Callahan to move him, in addition to what they have to give up to get Karlsson

The key was Hedman not getting 10-plus -- he signed when not many guys were even getting 9

But it's pretty well-established that you can have two people making around 10-plus, another guy making around 8-9, two more guys making 7-8. Just have to be the right guys, with most of them at the right ages
- AllInForFlyers

Tampa is already a top team in the East and in the League. They have a pretty nice win-now window with their top talent, depth and young contributing players. If they need to rid Cally, I wouldn’t put it past them to attach their 1st (if needed) bc if they add another key piece (especially a guy like EK) they are picking upper 20s if not last.

Are we getting Callahan + Foote now so they can sign Karlsson as well?

Yzerman gives out trade protection like candy.

https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/lightning
- Feanor

'Cause they are taking less in AAV than they probably should, at least for their high-end players

It's certainly a strategy with some merit, but when I see guys like Callahan and Coburn and Killorn being able to block trades, it makes me glad Hextall doesn't give out trade protection.

Ugh, sounds like another Hextall Special coming up.
- hereticpride

It'd be tough to swallow, but it depends on the attached piece. I probably wouldn't do it because I think Callahan can't help a good team, but if they get Karlsson, somebody will take Callahan-plus

Tampa is already a top team in the East and in the League. They have a pretty nice win-now window with their top talent, depth and young contributing players. If they need to rid Cally, I wouldn’t put it past them to attach their 1st (if needed) bc if they add another key piece (especially a guy like EK) they are picking upper 20s if not last.
- arichardson22

If you are old-school, you'd do it -- late first-rounders aren't anything to lose sleep over. If you were really losing sleep over it, you could probably turn around in a season or two, if you haven't won it all, and flip Palat for an extra first, easy as pie

For reference: Tomas Tatar got a first at the deadline, and he's not nearly the player a guy like Palat has been

As always, it's how teams valuate these picks in the 20s. I don't want to say that I don't value them. I am saying that I wouldn't let a 20-plus pick stop me from getting a top-three defenseman or top-six forward

First of all an apple by any other name is still an apple. Whether its first or secondary. Second, I am participating in the 50k bike ride for the Charity Classic this Sunday. For those who can't participate I urge you to help Bill with donations. For the work he puts on this format its well worth a donation to help a great charity.

Tampa is already a top team in the East and in the League. They have a pretty nice win-now window with their top talent, depth and young contributing players. If they need to rid Cally, I wouldn’t put it past them to attach their 1st (if needed) bc if they add another key piece (especially a guy like EK) they are picking upper 20s if not last.
- arichardson22

They’d be crazy not to do this. The prospect of having Karlsson and Hedman together would be too much to pass up and as stated they can make it all work

If you are old-school, you'd do it -- late first-rounders aren't anything to lose sleep over. If you were really losing sleep over it, you could probably turn around in a season or two, if you haven't won it all, and flip Palat for an extra first, easy as pie

For reference: Tomas Tatar got a first at the deadline, and he's not nearly the player a guy like Palat has been

As always, it's how teams valuate these picks in the 20s. I don't want to say that I don't value them. I am saying that I wouldn't let a 20-plus pick stop me from getting a top-three defenseman or top-six forward
- AllInForFlyers

I agree but I’m sure any team is asking for one of their top prospects. Tampa is willing to do all this supposedly Ottawa has cold feet

First of all an apple by any other name is still an apple. Whether its first or secondary. Second, I am participating in the 50k bike ride for the Charity Classic this Sunday. For those who can't participate I urge you to help Bill with donations. For the work he puts on this format its well worth a donation to help a great charity.
- cousjoe

8 x $9.5m for Kucherov.
- Feanor

wait, thought he was part of the Karlsson deal???

First of all an apple by any other name is still an apple. Whether its first or secondary. Second, I am participating in the 50k bike ride for the Charity Classic this Sunday. For those who can't participate I urge you to help Bill with donations. For the work he puts on this format its well worth a donation to help a great charity.
- cousjoe

I really wanted to ride this year but the timing didn't work out. Hopefully can join next year

It'd be tough to swallow, but it depends on the attached piece. I probably wouldn't do it because I think Callahan can't help a good team, but if they get Karlsson, somebody will take Callahan-plus
- AllInForFlyers

Can Callahan actually play anymore? 5.8M AAV is a lot of escarole for someone who can't play anymore and probably isn't better at this stage of his career than, say, Matt Read.

This piece coming with Callahan has to be pretty enticing.

Alternatively, maybe if they took Lehtera back the other way? That'd save TB about 1.1M.

I'm not advocating any of this fwiw. I'm just bored.

They’d be crazy not to do this. The prospect of having Karlsson and Hedman together would be too much to pass up and as stated they can make it all work
- Just5

Yup. It also helps that Tampa has been pretty damn good in drafting late in 1st as well as past the 1st round. Raddysh, Point, Howden, Foote (sorta, just a solid D prospect), then the more likes of depth guys that are already on the team like Cirelli, Erne, Pacquette, and Dotchin. If I’m Stevie Y, I trust my scouts and say screw that 1st lol

Hopefully that means they're out on Karlsson now.
- hereticpride

Yeah but highly doubt Flyers are still kicking tires. I could be wrong however.

Yeah but highly doubt Flyers are still kicking tires. I could be wrong however.
- Pelle31Forever

Oh I don't think we're in at all. I'm just glad that at least for now Tampa isn't getting him.