Sam Hitchcock: BriseBois's Shrewd J.T. Miller Trade

Great article. I think Kilorn should be next. He doesn’t do much but take bad penalties. And I don’t know about Joesph. He needs to play like he did in the Worlds and forget about hitting anything and everything that move and also taking stupid penalties.

I like JT Miller as a player but I understand why he was traded. But on the right team playing in the top 6 he is a great complimentary player who will put up 50 points but get your star player another 15-20 points. On the Lightning for some reason he couldn't crack the top 6.

That said JBB fleeced Vancouver's JB. Julien put his extra B all up in Bennings face.

I can't believe they got a first round pick, If Vancouver struggles the next two years as they continue to rebuild that pick could be really high in 2021. On top of that they have another huge asset if it transfers to 2021 in order to navigate the Seattle expansion draft if needed.

We were fleeced. Congrats on a 1st round puck for nothing.👍😂

Vegas seems to be using the same strategy as Tampa

If the guys a good player sign him, you can always trade him if needed and get assets later

Benning is an idiot. Given everything in this article, and the league wide cap crunch, Miller should have been had for no more than a 2nd....

I also would have liked to trade Killorn instead but the Bolts have a honorable policy of not asking players to waive their NTC and I respect that. I believe Miller wasn't used properly. Idk why Cooper didn't like him but I would rather of seen him take Palat's spot on the 1st powerplay line and in the top 6 and DEFINITELY Killer's spot on the 3rd line. Miller made our 4th line dangerous. I think he'll do well when given the opportunity.

I like the trade though. Allows Erne, Volkov, Joseph more time in the top 9.

I also would have liked to trade Killorn instead but the Bolts have a honorable policy of not asking players to waive their NTC and I respect that. I believe Miller wasn't used properly. Idk why Cooper didn't like him but I would rather of seen him take Palat's spot on the 1st powerplay line and in the top 6 and DEFINITELY Killer's spot on the 3rd line. Miller made our 4th line dangerous. I think he'll do well when given the opportunity.

I like the trade though. Allows Erne, Volkov, Joseph more time in the top 9.
- LightningMcKing

I hate how he defaults to his favorite players in the majority of situations while burying others if he doesn't favor them (Drouin, Connelly, Miller). Never been a big fan of Cooper, but we're stuck with him for the foreseeable future. Just gotta hope that he improves as a coach and learns to make meaningful adjustments.

Cooper is overrated and awful.

Cooper is overrated and awful.
- GalacticStone

Yup

Wow. Get bounced in the first round and the faithful turn quickly

Good trade getting JTM while it remains to be seen how expensive it turns out to be.

It’s funny how some ppl predict doom so i’ll be more sensible. The Canucks got better now & not waiting 4-5yrs on a 1st to make the team. The contract is good & cost certainty 4/5.25m for a player in their prime. We don’t have cap problems & TBL still do. More cap problems on the horizon. The e-draft coming will bring another huge challenge. In the end TBL haven’t won anything yet & it’s not getting easier. Then again my Canucks were in a similar position for cup runs but far away from being close now.

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

Cap issues for your look see

Good trade getting JTM while it remains to be seen how expensive it turns out to be.

It’s funny how some ppl predict doom so i’ll be more sensible. The Canucks got better now & not waiting 4-5yrs on a 1st to make the team. The contract is good & cost certainty 4/5.25m for a player in their prime. We don’t have cap problems & TBL still do. More cap problems on the horizon. The e-draft coming will bring another huge challenge. In the end TBL haven’t won anything yet & it’s not getting easier. Then again my Canucks were in a similar position for cup runs but far away from being close now.

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

Cap issues for your look see
- Nighthawk

Yeah, I dont hate the trade for Vancouver as much as the general public does. Its not a fleece as I see it, but Benning is making a pretty gutsy bet. If you guys make the postseason within 2 years the trade is pretty fair, a mid-round first and 3rd for a signed Miller is pretty good. Vancouver is not a the hottest place for FAs to sign and Miller gives some security in terms of employment. 5.25 mil was probably an easy sell to Aqualini aswell.

But if that pick becomes a top10, the deal becomes really good for Tampa. I love my countryman EP but hopeing for another two years in the basement

Tampas cap situation looks good now for the upcoming year. Callahan and Miller are the only extractions at F and there are still money left over to fill some spots in the defense. Lots of young guys who should be ready to take a bigger responsibility and if not, wingers are the easiest hole to fill via trade.

Next summer the carousell starts over again. Killorn, Palat or Johnson has to go to give salary for Vasyleviski and Serg. But lets just take it a season at the time (with commonsense still in affect).

I hate to see JT go, but I think JBB got a good return in the deal. I know the Lightning have some serious salary cap issues over the next year or so and they have been hamstrung because of Steve Yzerman's biggest fault, giving out no trade and no movement clauses like they are candy. JT was the most versatile player on the Lightning and he will be missed. I never understood why JC had such a quick trigger with him but keeps standing by those players who rose through the ranks alongside him. Palat was terrible last year but Cooper kept him on the PP and first line when he was able to play. Hopefully Palat will come back healthy this upcoming season and get back to his old self because if he doesn't, Cooper will hurt the team by keeping him in the lineup.

Never liked JT Miller. Well, rather, never thought he fit in with this team.

Good move by JBB... puts all the risk on Vancouver and frees up some cap space. Nice.

Re: Cooper. I'm... egh... torn. There are times I love the way he coaches; the pace we often play at is outstanding. But he seems stubborn, is awful re: favouritism and is slow to adjust. See: getting BADLY outcoached by Torts.

That said... who else is out there that would improve the team?

Sadly, Quenville is with the Cats, now.

Wow. Get bounced in the first round and the faithful turn quickly
- Hardbalz

I've never been a fan of Cooper.

Good trade getting JTM while it remains to be seen how expensive it turns out to be.

It’s funny how some ppl predict doom so i’ll be more sensible. The Canucks got better now & not waiting 4-5yrs on a 1st to make the team. The contract is good & cost certainty 4/5.25m for a player in their prime. We don’t have cap problems & TBL still do. More cap problems on the horizon. The e-draft coming will bring another huge challenge. In the end TBL haven’t won anything yet & it’s not getting easier. Then again my Canucks were in a similar position for cup runs but far away from being close now.

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

Cap issues for your look see
- Nighthawk

I like JT Miller as a player and I think he will do well in Vancouver in a top six role. He is a good complimentary player who will make your studs point totals go up some but to me Vancouver should have never gave up a 1st round draft pick to Tampa knowing that Tampa was in a cap crunch. That is just bad by Benning and why I feel Brisebois in a way fleeced him.

The Canucks are better for sure, are they playoff caliber that is 50/50 so to me this is a gamble because if they don't make the playoffs next year this pick is unprotected and could turn into lottery pick in 2021.

Also if that pick goes to 2021 the Lightning have alot more ammo to use in dealing with the expansion draft to keep players or have Seattle take a contract they don't want anymore.

Never liked JT Miller. Well, rather, never thought he fit in with this team.

Good move by JBB... puts all the risk on Vancouver and frees up some cap space. Nice.

Re: Cooper. I'm... egh... torn. There are times I love the way he coaches; the pace we often play at is outstanding. But he seems stubborn, is awful re: favouritism and is slow to adjust. See: getting BADLY outcoached by Torts.

That said... who else is out there that would improve the team?

Sadly, Quenville is with the Cats, now.
- OzBolts

Torts took Cooper to school. I lay the blame at Cooper's feet for that sweep.

Torts took Cooper to school. I lay the blame at Cooper's feet for that sweep.
- GalacticStone

100%.

No adjustment game-to-game worth a damn, let alone IN-game.

That said, I'm not against giving Cooper a shot to grow. But anything less than a trip to the SCF is a pink slip, in my estimation.

With our ailing defense in the playoffs, how was Coburn a healthy scratch the first two games, unbelievable. Rutta over Coburn? Just ridiculous.

With our ailing defense in the playoffs, how was Coburn a healthy scratch the first two games, unbelievable. Rutta over Coburn? Just ridiculous.
- Sityak

I thought the same thing. I like Rutta as a #7, but... I like Coburn as a #5. How the hell was he sitting, unless he had an undisclosed injury?

Pairings are another issue I have with Cooper. Yes, McD and Cernak work well together... but, here's an idea... find a proper D-partner for Hedman, who can skate (no, not you Girardi) and leave it the hell alone.

.... AND ANOTHER THING... Stammer's linemates. Again, Consistency. Keep Gourde with him. They work well together. I know Palat has acquired a glassjaw over the last couple of seasons, but that would be fine. Keep it.

Crap... now I want him fired, again.

So, because it's summer and I doubt UFA period will be all that interesting... line combos.

Palat-Stamkos-Gourde
Johnson-Point-Kucherov
Killorn-Cirelli-Joseph
Katchouk-Paquette-Erne

Hedman-Sergachev
McDonagh-Cernak
Coburn-Foote
Rutta

Vasy
Domingue

I thought the same thing. I like Rutta as a #7, but... I like Coburn as a #5. How the hell was he sitting, unless he had an undisclosed injury?

Pairings are another issue I have with Cooper. Yes, McD and Cernak work well together... but, here's an idea... find a proper D-partner for Hedman, who can skate (no, not you Girardi) and leave it the hell alone.

.... AND ANOTHER THING... Stammer's linemates. Again, Consistency. Keep Gourde with him. They work well together. I know Palat has acquired a glassjaw over the last couple of seasons, but that would be fine. Keep it.

Crap... now I want him fired, again.

So, because it's summer and I doubt UFA period will be all that interesting... line combos.

Palat-Stamkos-Gourde
Johnson-Point-Kucherov
Killorn-Cirelli-Joseph
Katchouk-Paquette-Erne

Hedman-Sergachev
McDonagh-Cernak
Coburn-Foote
Rutta

Vasy
Domingue
- OzBolts

I'd like to see Cirelli have a larger role next season, whether that's at even strength or the powerplay. Would be interested to see a line combination like this:
Cirelli - Stamkos - Gourde
Palat - Point - Kucherov
Killorn - Johnson - Joseph

I'd like to see Cirelli have a larger role next season, whether that's at even strength or the powerplay. Would be interested to see a line combination like this:
Cirelli - Stamkos - Gourde
Palat - Point - Kucherov
Killorn - Johnson - Joseph
- jvar17

Agree about Cirelli. He's earned more ice-time and a shot at the Top-6.

Every time Cooper chained Girardi to Hedman, I wanted to slap the hell out of Cooper.

I liked Cooper at the very first, but now it's obvious he is on meth.

Agree about Cirelli. He's earned more ice-time and a shot at the Top-6.

Every time Cooper chained Girardi to Hedman, I wanted to slap the hell out of Cooper.

I liked Cooper at the very first, but now it's obvious he is on meth.
- GalacticStone

I'm so glad that I'll never have to see Girardi in a Lightning uniform again

I'm so glad that I'll never have to see Girardi in a Lightning uniform again
- jvar17

The only positive thing I can say about Girardi is that I liked his physicality. That's it. Everything else was awful.

Edit : and, the guy was fearless with blocking shots.

Wow, I can't believe I said two positive things about that pylon. LOL.

I'm so glad that I'll never have to see Girardi in a Lightning uniform again
- jvar17

YOU jinxed us!!!!