Quote:
Originally Posted by Wolven
I already posted about the state of the Lightning team last page... the Lightning have 17 players out of this year's roster under contract for next year. They have 2 RFAs to re-sign and Pouliot will probably want a raise.
The main thing to note about the Lightning is that they do not need help scoring as they are already 5th in the league for putting pucks in the net. What they need help with is preventing goals (26th in the league in GA).
Drouin would be a fantastic addition to every team in the league but I do not believe another offensive threat will help the Lightning fix their current problem. That was the entire basis of my idea of giving them a roster player that would upgrade their D immediately within their cap constraints.
At the start of next season they will have Salo (39), Ohlund (37), Brewer (34), Carle (29), Hedman (22), and Aulie (24) if they re-sign him. This group is getting very old and I think it is showing.
Swapping Salo and Wideman would immediately upgrade that group and if the Flames eat $8M of that contract I would say that is worth more than just a 1st round pick in compensation. I do not know how other people value draft picks but this salary trading system allows you to put an actual dollar value on a draft pick. Considering that, I probably wouldn't even throw in the third round pick anymore.
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Ok. The Bolts should trade the 3rd overall, a pick that is going to give its holder the most skilled forward in the draft, a guy who projects to be a franchise player, for help on defense, right now. Let's say I agree with this theory.
Too bad we don't have seasons 1-3 Dion Phaneuf anymore because that's the only asset on defense we've had in at least 10 years that would turn their head.