I'm thankful they didn't take Palat. Gourde gives Tampa more cap relief, and Palat is a favorite of mine.
- GalacticStone

Palat Iikely gets traded if JBB can't move Johnson.

Palat Iikely gets traded if JBB can't move Johnson.
- gergeswillems

Palat wants to be the guy.

Palat wants to be the guy.
- TurdFergeson

Malkin wants to be the Man. Malgin wants to be a man. Oilers are signing Hyman according to Friedman.

Palat Iikely gets traded if JBB can't move Johnson.
- gergeswillems

Malkin wants to be the Man. Malgin wants to be a man. Oilers are signing Hyman according to Friedman.
- gergeswillems

Chico is The Man.

- GalacticStone

Stevie Y is open for business. Just sayin'. 😉

Palat Iikely gets traded if JBB can't move Johnson.
- gergeswillems

You cool with the goalie trade today?

You cool with the goalie trade today?
- Aaron_85

Love it! 🙂

At first glance, the new Kraken roster looks underwhelming. And in conventional terms, it is underwhelming. The forward corps is weak and the goaltending is inexperienced and largely unproven. The defense is good, but not good enough to make up for the other shortcomings.

However, the Kraken are making it rain with cap space. Cap is the most valuable commodity in today's NHL. It's more valuable than picks or prospects. The Kraken have the most cap space of any team, by a large margin. Make no mistake, that cap space was the true goal - icing a roster while barely flirting with the cap floor. Now, other teams will come knocking looking for relief and Francis will be waiting with the lube in hand.

Also, echo what the other Lightning fan said above - don't get too high Gourde. He's a fine bottom-six guy and Tampa will miss him, but he's not top line material unless he starts producing at rates like he never has before. He's a quality add, but he's not going to light up the world unless he's surrounded by quality linemates.
- GalacticStone

My initial thoughts were that Francis didn't do enough with side deals. Rumours were it was a 1st and 3rd for protecting players and GMs just didn't cave.

Now his follow up is he needs to make some moves. Pitlick for a 4th is so meh.

Thing is, I do agree that this isn't a one and done situation. He can keep that cap space going into the draft/free agency and if he's smart the trade deadline and be a transfer station to pick up picks to retain salary in 3 way trades.

Love it! 🙂
- gergeswillems

Bingo doesn't think he's legit lol

Bingo doesn't think he's legit lol
- Aaron_85

That's only because he's no longer a Hurricane. Cheer for the laundry.

Stevie Y is open for business. Just sayin'. 😉
- gergeswillems

If Palat goes to Detroit, does he become The Man, The Dude, or The Guy?

My initial thoughts were that Francis didn't do enough with side deals. Rumours were it was a 1st and 3rd for protecting players and GMs just didn't cave.

Now his follow up is he needs to make some moves. Pitlick for a 4th is so meh.

Thing is, I do agree that this isn't a one and done situation. He can keep that cap space going into the draft/free agency and if he's smart the trade deadline and be a transfer station to pick up picks to retain salary in 3 way trades.
- Aaron_85

I think the asking price was too high in a flat-cap world.

Although, it would have been hilarious if Francis called Bergevin's bluff and selected Price. I guess Francis didn't want to saddle his new franchise with that albatross contract.

If Palat goes to Detroit, does he become The Man, The Dude, or The Guy?
- GalacticStone

All 3 likely. But I doubt he'd waive his NTC for Detroit. Johnson Iikely wouldn't either. It's unfortunate because we really do need a stopgap 2C until Veleno is ready. Yzerman wouldn't extort JBB as much as other GM's are trying to do. Mind you he won't be taken to the cleaners either.

At first glance, the new Kraken roster looks underwhelming. And in conventional terms, it is underwhelming. The forward corps is weak and the goaltending is inexperienced and largely unproven. The defense is good, but not good enough to make up for the other shortcomings.

However, the Kraken are making it rain with cap space. Cap is the most valuable commodity in today's NHL. It's more valuable than picks or prospects. The Kraken have the most cap space of any team, by a large margin. Make no mistake, that cap space was the true goal - icing a roster while barely flirting with the cap floor. Now, other teams will come knocking looking for relief and Francis will be waiting with the lube in hand.

Also, echo what the other Lightning fan said above - don't get too high Gourde. He's a fine bottom-six guy and Tampa will miss him, but he's not top line material unless he starts producing at rates like he never has before. He's a quality add, but he's not going to light up the world unless he's surrounded by quality linemates.
- GalacticStone

So they are going to overpay people and have a bunch of bad contracts in 2-3 years.

I think the asking price was too high in a flat-cap world.

Although, it would have been hilarious if Francis called Bergevin's bluff and selected Price. I guess Francis didn't want to saddle his new franchise with that albatross contract.
- GalacticStone

Price is the first 10 million dollar contract to get to the finals. I personally think they should have gone with him instead of Fleury. I suppose having more cap room was what they wanted.

However, if those goalies struggle (to be fair they are three good prospects) then it's going to come circle back to this pick.

Also, maybe Francis wanted to leave the big contract with Bergevin to deal with anyway.

All 3 likely. But I doubt he'd waive his NTC for Detroit. Johnson Iikely wouldn't either. It's unfortunate because we really do need a stopgap 2C until Veleno is ready. Yzerman wouldn't extort JBB as much as other GM's are trying to do. Mind you he won't be taken to the cleaners either.
- gergeswillems

Trust the Yzerplan. I bet a lot of players don't see Detroit has a basement team any more. They are trending in the right direction.

While it’s easy to look at Vegas and say a large part of their success was starting with all the cap space in the world but it appears Francis forgot how they got the core pieces of today’s team. Theodore and marchessault were bribes along with the branstrom/Suzuki picks that were center pieces in getting stone and paccioretty.

There’s still a lot of off-season left but if Francis stands pat he’ll be left going into the season with a bad team with very little in terms of assets.

While it’s easy to look at Vegas and say a large part of their success was starting with all the cap space in the world but it appears Francis forgot how they got the core pieces of today’s team. Theodore and marchessault were bribes along with the branstrom/Suzuki picks that were center pieces in getting stone and paccioretty.

There’s still a lot of off-season left but if Francis stands pat he’ll be left going into the season with a bad team with very little in terms of assets.
- RedC21

GM's were just smart enough this time not to pay a bribe to protect their 8th best forward, or their 4th best Dman

I don't think Francis got a lot of offers by demanding 1st round picks, and if I'm Seattle I'd rather have capspace than a bunch of 2nd round picks and albatross contracts

Trust the Yzerplan. I bet a lot of players don't see Detroit has a basement team any more. They are trending in the right direction.
- GalacticStone

So far this summer Yzerman has traded for a top 4 defenseman (Leddy) and a starting goalie (Ned) for a late 2nd, 3rd, Panik and UFA Bernier. 🤣

I despise the NHL for the way they have let Vegas and Seattle into the league vs. the old way of building from the ground up. It’s BS. I said what I said.
- F14fixer

Yes, it’s complete douche compared to what earlier expansion teams went thru BUT a new team has a better chance of success if they don’t suck for their first half dozen seasons. With expansion fees so high, the league would prefer a product that attracts more fans. Winning does that.

GM's were just smart enough this time not to pay a bribe to protect their 8th best forward, or their 4th best Dman

I don't think Francis got a lot of offers by demanding 1st round picks, and if I'm Seattle I'd rather have capspace than a bunch of 2nd round picks and albatross contracts
- TheGame316

Based on the reports that it was a 1st and a 3rd to not pick giordano who’s 38, not worth that in a trade and on a team that isn’t up against the cap I would guess the Francis priced himself out.

I absolutely believe a contending team like Tampa would have given a 1st to offload Johnson and many other teams would have done the same. While they haven’t been 1sts look what Arizona has done already with Ladd and ghost, I’m not saying take skinner or anything like that but if a guys only got two years left it’s not going to hurt a team with that amount of cap space already.

Price is the first 10 million dollar contract to get to the finals. I personally think they should have gone with him instead of Fleury. I suppose having more cap room was what they wanted.

However, if those goalies struggle (to be fair they are three good prospects) then it's going to come circle back to this pick.

Also, maybe Francis wanted to leave the big contract with Bergevin to deal with anyway.
- Aaron_85

Seattle won't be going to the Cup final in the next 5 years - especially if they are crippled cap-wise with a 10.5M goalie.

I really don't see the point of selecting Price, other than to sell more jerseys.

But gotta include fact that he may miss a chunk of the season and he is owed an $11M signing bonus. Will they sell enough Price sweaters to make up for that?

Seattle won't be going to the Cup final in the next 5 years - especially if they are crippled cap-wise with a 10.5M goalie.

I really don't see the point of selecting Price, other than to sell more jerseys.

But gotta include fact that he may miss a chunk of the season and he is owed an $11M signing bonus. Will they sell enough Price sweaters to make up for that?
- Nasty_Duck

You just spent $650 million.... I think Bruckheimer can swing another 11....

They have a pile of room. Like 20 million in room. I disagree that they would be crippled. Besides, if Price wanted to go win, Seattle retains a little and moves him for someone once he's better.

Vancouver traded the 9th overall for OEL. Would you have traded the 2nd overall or 2022 first for OEL?