[Signing] Lightning sign Kucherov (3 yrs, $4.766 mil AAV)

[sureLoss]

Stephen Whyno @SWhyno
now
#TBLightning sign Nikita Kucherov to 3-year deal with a cap hit of $4.7666 million.

[skudr248]

Wow, good deal!

[sureLoss]

Bridge deal to fit Tampa's current salary structure. Will be getting a big pay day in 3 years

[dammage79]

Thats a bridge deal. Good one too.

[Finger Cookin]

Yzerman is quite a tightrope walker.

[icecube]

Better deal for Tampa, but both sides win. They should be among cup faves for next few years and Kucherov will make huge cash when his contract is up.

[sureLoss]

The remaining unsigned RFAs:

Trouba
Ristolainen
Lindholm
Rakell

[Monahan For Mayor]

Good deal.
Tampa has a gaping window right now. Kuch will get his 8+ in 3 years.

[polak]

I think Yzerman is the best GM in the league.

[EldrickOnIce]

So would we have been happy(ier) with this kind of bridge for Gaudreau?

[icecube]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

So would we have been happy(ier) with this kind of bridge for Gaudreau?

Nope. Disappointed. But the situations are different. Tampa is in win now mode and will be pressed against the cap for the next while.

[Geeoff]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

So would we have been happy(ier) with this kind of bridge for Gaudreau?

Our situation is different than Tampa's. Tampa is looking to win now and they have Tyler Johnson and Ben Bishop as big UFAs. I like having Monahan and Gaudreau locked up long term.

[The Hendog]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

So would we have been happy(ier) with this kind of bridge for Gaudreau?

Think the difference is Tampa's winning the cup window and Calgary's

Tampa's window is now and within those 3 years which makes this deal very attractive for the team

Calgary's window is further out so securing Johnny for longer helps to hopefully ensure the teams winning window opens well Johnny is still around

So for Calgary's situation definitely prefer the 6 year term vs. the 3 year term based on the current state of the team especially compared to a team like Tampa who has had some recent success

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Monahan For Mayor

Good deal.
Tampa has a gaping window right now. Kuch will get his 8+ in 3 years.

That sounds unpleasant

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

The remaining unsigned RFAs:

Trouba
Ristolainen
Lindholm
Rakell

Man, the Ducks have some work to do.

That would suck to be a fan of that team and not have those two to start the season.

As a Flames fan, I'm good with it.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Yeah this just works. Tampa has to be the EC cup favourite right now, or at least second behind Washington. That's the one scenario when a bridge deal makes sense.

[automaton 3]

Good deal for Tampa imo.

[cofias]

Generally dislike bridge deals, but this one makes a ton of sense. Those types of deals can be great when you have a very clear cup window and want to maximize it. If the player won't fit your cap structure after the 3 years, there is a potential for a trade as well. There seems to be little reason to doubt that Yzerman is already one of the best GMs in the game.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

I think the top 5 GMs right now (in no particular order) are:

Bowman
Yzerman
Poile
Treliving
Lombardi (just for sheer evilness)

This is just another feather in the cap of Yzerman managing like a boss.

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by polak

I think Yzerman is the best GM in the league.

He's probably one of the more intimidating ones. I imagine at contract times he just slides a contract across the table and stares at the player, unblinking, until they sign it.