Quote:
Originally Posted by GullFoss
I don't really think the taxes and weather is the huge advantage everyone makes it out to be. It's an advantage, yes. But...look at their roster and tell me how many guys ended up there because of taxes and weather? Or stayed there for the same reason.
Tkachuk more than anything saw a team that was going to be competitive for a long time to come. Bennett cost a 2nd round pick. Reinhart cost a 1st round pick. Verhage came as a UFA at a contract amount of $1m per year, Forsling even less. Ekblad, Lundell and Barkov were drafted; two of them were franchise players.
At best, one player - Tkachuk - chose Florida in part because of taxes and sunshine.
Otherwise the team hit a couple home run draft picks and made some amazing UFA signings and trades. Whether by luck or by skill, they found diamonds in the rough, the same way Vegas did. And they made some very astute trades for young, talented players that needed a change in scenery.
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Verhaeghe had already played in Tampa Bay. He could have liked the Florida lifestyle and preferred to stay.