I'm still staying tuned for the resolution to the "100% definite Max Pacioretty trade" you teased a few days ago.

Gotta love how years and years later, the Eklund train just keeps rolling along! And more credit to him: he realized how much demand there was for rumors, and he just feeds that demand- considering the conversations it generates, enough people don't care that he makes it all up, and he continues to make money. Gotta hand it to you, Eklund!

Has Tampa Bay found the cheat codes for the NHL salary cap?

Guys, I think he’s going to sign the deal.

Makes sense.

Stevie Y is going all in. There are ways to do this,

The trade itself could be:

To OTT: Taylor Raddysh, Cal Foote, 1st
To Buff: Tyler Johnson, Ryan Callahan, Slater Koekkoek (I believe they have the cap space for this? Pretty sure they have 13m left)
To TB: Erik Karlsson, Buff 7th round draft pick in 2056 (or before).

A huge payment to make it happen re: trading futures? Yep. Insanely yuge. But... frig...

Hedman
Karlsson
McDonagh
Sergachev

Your top 4 for the next half decade+ on a team with loads of scoring depth and a very good young goalie... dayum...
- OzBolts

If Tampa wins the cup they won’t have their 2019 first, NYR will. Would have to be 2020 1st. I could see Ottawa asking for Point though.

I doubt this trade happens, but if it does, Yzerman won't need to involve a third team.

This year is not the issue for Tampa, next year is:

Karlsson is getting 11m per. Kucherov is getting at least 10m.

Karlsson @ 11
Kucherov @ 10
Stammer @ 8.5
Hedman @ 7.8
McDonagh @ 4.7
Palat @ 5.3
JT Miller @ 5.2
Johnson @ 5
Killorn @ 4.5

That's an astounding 62m on only 9 guys.

Paquette would have to go now, and Stevie would basically be screwed for resigning Point and Vasi the year after.

Minimum 2 more would also have to go to make a Karlsson deal work if he's not just doing it for this year. Note I've already assumed Cally is gone to make this happen.

As long as the deal does not include Brayden Point or Andrei Vasilevskiy then I am ok with the trade. Yzerman is going all in on winning a cup.

This is going to be real interesting. I would hate to lose Sergachev. How about this

Yanni Gourde or Tyler Johnson
Slater Koekkoek
Cal Foote
Taylor Raddysh
Erik Cernak or Dominic Masin
2020 1st Round pick

That gives Ottawa two NHL players now - Gourde is a 65 point player or Johnson a proven top 6 center, Koekkoek just need a shot to play full minutes. The Bolts top prospect not on the NHL team in Foote, a potential high end winger in Raddysh, and for those that don't know the Bolts prospects either Cernak/Masin who are basically NHL ready right now playing is Syracuse plus a 1st round pick. That is a lot to give up.

If he wants Sergachev then just Serg and 1 other piece.

😂😂😂

As long as the deal does not include Brayden Point or Andrei Vasilevskiy then I am ok with the trade. Yzerman is going all in on winning a cup.

This is going to be real interesting. I would hate to lose Sergachev. How about this

Yanni Gourde or Tyler Johnson
Slater Koekkoek
Cal Foote
Taylor Raddysh
Erik Cernak or Dominic Masin
2020 1st Round pick

That gives Ottawa two NHL players now - Gourde is a 65 point player or Johnson a proven top 6 center, Koekkoek just need a shot to play full minutes. The Bolts top prospect not on the NHL team in Foote, a potential high end winger in Raddysh, and for those that don't know the Bolts prospects either Cernak/Masin who are basically NHL ready right now playing is Syracuse plus a 1st round pick. That is a lot to give up.

If he wants Sergachev then just Serg and 1 other piece.
- stammerman

Rangers supposedly involved because they have TBs 1st if they win the cup and Ottawa needs that first rder because Colorado has theirs obviously. TB has to get that pick back from NYR.. so NYR have to get something pretty decent

I was thinking of a 3 way trade

Ottawa gets: Sergachev, TBs first and the Rangers 2nd, both 2019 and maybe another prospect or player, like Nieves or Vesey

TB gets Karlsson

NYR get Cirelli and Killorn (more for cap dump purposes but the Rangers really could use Killorn as glue guy leader type).

I want Cirelli in the NYR!!

As long as the deal does not include Brayden Point or Andrei Vasilevskiy then I am ok with the trade. Yzerman is going all in on winning a cup.

This is going to be real interesting. I would hate to lose Sergachev. How about this

Yanni Gourde or Tyler Johnson
Slater Koekkoek
Cal Foote
Taylor Raddysh
Erik Cernak or Dominic Masin
2020 1st Round pick

That gives Ottawa two NHL players now - Gourde is a 65 point player or Johnson a proven top 6 center, Koekkoek just need a shot to play full minutes. The Bolts top prospect not on the NHL team in Foote, a potential high end winger in Raddysh, and for those that don't know the Bolts prospects either Cernak/Masin who are basically NHL ready right now playing is Syracuse plus a 1st round pick. That is a lot to give up.

If he wants Sergachev then just Serg and 1 other piece.
- stammerman

you do realize your talking bout one of the best dman certainly one of the best offensive dmen in game. Ottawa dont want yo take salary back Fans always Crack me up with the crap they try and trade for a star player they want. tell you what I'll trade you Jasper Fast and 4the round pick for Kucherov .

Rangers supposedly involved because they have TBs 1st if they win the cup and Ottawa needs that first rder because Colorado has theirs obviously. TB has to get that pick back from NYR.. so NYR have to get something pretty decent

I was thinking of a 3 way trade

Ottawa gets: Sergachev, TBs first and the Rangers 2nd, both 2019 and maybe another prospect or player, like Nieves or Vesey

TB gets Karlsson

NYR get Cirelli and Killorn (more for cap dump purposes but the Rangers really could use Killorn as glue guy leader type).

I want Cirelli in the NYR!!
- Slimtj100

Screw that Id tell Stevie Y to go Frank himself haven't we helped them out enough with recent deals

Screw that Id tell Stevie Y to go Frank himself haven't we helped them out enough with recent deals
- dman78

Cirelli is a very good player, not sure what you mean. Were giving up next to nothing

This Eklund rumor is like

http://www.dailymail.co.u...ng-help-hit-bullseye.html ...except this guy actually hits the bullseye.

Cirelli is a very good player, not sure what you mean. Were giving up next to nothing
- Slimtj100

Lol next to nothing? You named Sergachev, a 1st round, Vasilevskiy
, Cirelli and Killorn.

You sir, are on crack.

Edit: got a few names mixed up, Vesey not Vasilevskiy. Maybe I'm on the one on crack

Cirelli is a very good player, not sure what you mean. Were giving up next to nothing
- Slimtj100

To be completely honest Frank Tampa as well trying to become Warriors of NHL

This year is not the issue for Tampa, next year is:

Karlsson is getting 11m per. Kucherov is getting at least 10m.

Karlsson @ 11
Kucherov @ 10
Stammer @ 8.5
Hedman @ 7.8
McDonagh @ 4.7
Palat @ 5.3
JT Miller @ 5.2
Johnson @ 5
Killorn @ 4.5

Great breakdown. To me, the theory that they would unload Callahan makes sense, and of course we know Miller, Palat, and McDonagh are staying because the recently got extended. Stamkos and Hedman won’t be moved.

That's an astounding 62m on only 9 guys.

Paquette would have to go now, and Stevie would basically be screwed for resigning Point and Vasi the year after.

Minimum 2 more would also have to go to make a Karlsson deal work if he's not just doing it for this year. Note I've already assumed Cally is gone to make this happen.
- mcleafs

Great breakdown. Kucherov makes 4.7 now and will be looking for 8-10 a year after next season. I think he will be moved in favor of the younger forwards and a stellar D core.

What kind of hat do you use to pull teams names out of?
- viperxt

Whatever he reads on Twitter.

Lol next to nothing? You named Sergachev, a 1st round, Vasilevskiy
, Cirelli and Killorn.

You sir, are on crack.

Edit: got a few names mixed up, Vesey not Vasilevskiy. Maybe I'm on the one on crack
- LeafGuy89

I think it’s not as outlandish as most people’s trades. What helps TB is the Rangers could use one of the cap dumps, like Killorn. Maybe even Johnson. But I’d personally rather have Killorn. But the rangers must get something to help these two teams out, Cirelli imo does that. Ranges also need a ready made prospect ready to be a top 9 guy because they don’t have much of those right now. Cirelli fits that bill imo. Does TB wanna trade him tho is the question

To be completely honest Frank Tampa as well trying to become Warriors of NHL
- dman78

I can’t worry about that lol. Rangers won’t be contending til that team is old and slow anyways

No way this happens

you do realize your talking bout one of the best dman certainly one of the best offensive dmen in game. Ottawa dont want yo take salary back Fans always Crack me up with the crap they try and trade for a star player they want. tell you what I'll trade you Jasper Fast and 4the round pick for Kucherov .
- dman78

Sergachev can be a 15 year top 2 Dmen in the league if he continues to progress so if they want him for Karlsson then it should be just him, 1 roster player say Gourde and a draft pick. If they want more prospects in the deal then Sergachev is not in the deal. That's all im saying. I personally think Ottawa is in a bad spot here.

The Dallas rumor was their 1 prospect, roster player and draft pick but Dallas won't give that kid up (not even going to try to spell it). So I am saying the same thing if they want Sergachev.

What if Karlsson told Ottawa I will only sign long term in Tampa? Not saying he did but that would have an impact on what Ottawa would get in return to any of the three VGK, DAL, TBL. Will be interesting to see how it all plays out.

Great breakdown. Kucherov makes 4.7 now and will be looking for 8-10 a year after next season. I think he will be moved in favor of the younger forwards and a stellar D core.
- agame99

If the Bolts get Karlsson and then next year Kucherov wants a fortune then that will be interesting but I sure as poop think Yzerman would move Kucherov if he couldn't get him at the right cap hit. But I'm not worrying about next year, I am worrying about this year and if Karlsson is on the team it can't hurt their chances at the cup.

Sergachev can be a 15 year top 2 Dmen in the league if he continues to progress so if they want him for Karlsson then it should be just him, 1 roster player say Gourde and a draft pick. If they want more prospects in the deal then Sergachev is not in the deal. That's all im saying. I personally think Ottawa is in a bad spot here.

The Dallas rumor was their 1 prospect, roster player and draft pick but Dallas won't give that kid up (not even going to try to spell it). So I am saying the same thing if they want Sergachev.

What if Karlsson told Ottawa I will only sign long term in Tampa? Not saying he did but that would have an impact on what Ottawa would get in return to any of the three VGK, DAL, TBL. Will be interesting to see how it all plays out.
- stammerman

At this point I would take Sergachev straight up and call it a win.

This year is not the issue for Tampa, next year is:

Karlsson is getting 11m per. Kucherov is getting at least 10m.

Karlsson @ 11
Kucherov @ 10
Stammer @ 8.5
Hedman @ 7.8
McDonagh @ 4.7
Palat @ 5.3
JT Miller @ 5.2
Johnson @ 5
Killorn @ 4.5

That's an astounding 62m on only 9 guys.

Paquette would have to go now, and Stevie would basically be screwed for resigning Point and Vasi the year after.

Minimum 2 more would also have to go to make a Karlsson deal work if he's not just doing it for this year. Note I've already assumed Cally is gone to make this happen.
- mcleafs

I don't think that Karlsson & Kucherov need that much in a tax free state.

I think Karlsson won't be more than 10 or 10.5. Kurcherov may want 11 if he has another 100 point season

Eklund you pull this outta your ass or what I'm sure crapporetty will be traded to I here to the Marlies you pull so much crap otta your ass and on weber he's retiring too old to slow useless like your information idiot