2015/2016 Trade Speculation and Rumors

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Monahan For Mayor

If I'm Stamkos I'm heading to the Predators. They would instantly become contenders for the entire contract.

Maybe, but then he has to live in Nashville, so...

Originally Posted by Royle9

Better hope they dont face JG and the Flames in the stanley cup finals

Considering both teams are in the Western Conference, that's not possible.

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by codynw

Maybe, but then he has to live in Nashville, so...

I don't get it. Is that supposed to be a bad thing? I keep hearing living in Nashville is part of what entices players to go there in the first place.

[Flash Walken]

What is Tampa looking for in a trade scenario for Stamkos?

Are they looking for picks? Wingers?

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by nik-

I'll just check his NHL stats which were pretty much the same as our two other crap goalies. Just with way less opportunity.

Bob is paid to win games using any combination of the players he has, not nurse players into being full time NHLers. It's on Ortio to steal the job and make Bob's decision, no decision at all because it is so obvious. When he talks about the importance of being a pro and preparing properly he is basically saying Ortio does not do those things by benching him.

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Probably because he isn't doing so hot in the AHL.

3.47 GAA .877sv%

Yeah, he is making Bob look smart and all of us that wanted Ortio to play are looking dumb. I don't spend all day with these guys, so how they work out, practice etc. are all mysteries to me. I should know by now how dumb it is to second guess the coach. He's won the respect of people that know way more about the game than I ever will.

Originally Posted by Poe969

I think Ortio must have done something to pi$$ off the coaches. If you come off as lazy and then you don't preform, you won't last long on the team. I think if he wants a fair shot, he'll have to work even harder to get just a chance.

Maybe not pi$$ off but I would say they are disappointed. The plan was probably to have Ortio bridge until Gillies or MacD could steal the job away. Then trade Ortio, who would be a legit NHL starter by then. It probably won't happen that way. If Ortio blooms it might be Craig Anderson style late.

Originally Posted by Fischy13

Some Mike Straw guy reporting this:

Told the #Sabres have reached out to CAL about David Jones and AZ about Boedker. Nothing close/being negotiated, but feelers have been sent

Can't really see BT moving a RW when it's a organization weakness, especially with Frolik getting injured as well... Maybe as he's a UFA..

This would be a good move, BUF is super deep in assets. They gave up Myers and Stafford for Kane. Who knows what kind of bad deal they could do to favour the Flames.

Originally Posted by Harry Lime

Two weeks ago, the speculation on both sides (TO and Cal) was that a Bernier/Grabner for Hiller/Raymond swap was fair. Next year they would be paying Raymond, next year we would be paying Bernier. Still the best scenario for all involved. Bernier has played himself into less value, and Raymond has played himself into more. I think TO wouldn't hesitate.

I like this trade, it slightly favour the Flames. Bernier has way more upside.

[Monahan For Mayor]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

I don't get it. Is that supposed to be a bad thing? I keep hearing living in Nashville is part of what entices players to go there in the first place.

I've hear Nashville is one of the best cities to live in North America. Not to mention they absolutely love their hockey team. If I was a pro I would most definitely sign there if I had the opportunity.

[sa226]

First off, chances of Stamkos coming here are so slim I'm not sure why I'm even bothering to discuss it.

But

IF it were a possibility, one of our future big 3 (Monahan, Gaudreau, Bennett) would have to go at some point. With the cap you just can't carry that amount of salary in the forward ranks. If you do, other areas are going to suffer. It sounds borderline insane to suggest this given the names involved, but I would rather stick to developing our own guys. That cap ceiling will be getting awfully close in a very short period of time, and paying a premium for a UFA who will demand it seems silly.

But thats just my opinion.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

I don't get it. Is that supposed to be a bad thing? I keep hearing living in Nashville is part of what entices players to go there in the first place.

What players go to Nashville as free agents? I can't think of any significant ones. And no, re-signing their own players doesn't count.

[AC]

Originally Posted by codynw

What players go to Nashville as free agents? I can't think of any significant ones. And no, re-signing their own players doesn't count.

Yeah they don't seem to attract many UFAs outside of reclamation projects.

This year they signed:
Cody Hodgson and Barret Jackman.
While losing the following UFAs to other teams:
Franson, Santorelli, Cullen, and Stalberg.

In 2014 they signed:
Derek Roy, Mike Ribeiro, Anton Volchenkov, and Olli Jokinen.
While losing:
Del Zotto, Eaves, and Dubnyk.

[burnitdown]

Originally Posted by codynw

What players go to Nashville as free agents? I can't think of any significant ones. And no, re-signing their own players doesn't count.

There really aren't that many significant free agents each year. Maybe 2-3? By that logic, you could argue that almost all NHL cities aren't desirable since they're not attracting the significant free agents.

And I'm not sure why re-signing their own players shouldn't count? Those players have the most exposure to the city. All their top players (minus Suter) have signed long-term deals. I'm sure if they hated living there, they would have bolted when they had the chance.

[The Yen Man]

I think UFAs who don't choose Nasvhille do so more so because the team itself is a budget team and not so much because the city is a crap place to live. They're more questioning whether the team can be a perennial contender.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by burnitdown

And I'm not sure why re-signing their own players shouldn't count? Those players have the most exposure to the city. All their top players (minus Suter) have signed long-term deals. I'm sure if they hated living there, they would have bolted when they had the chance.

Their captain and best player signed an offer sheet. If Nashville didn't match he'd be gone.

And re-signing UFAs I guess counts. But RFAs don't really have a ton of choice.

[GioforPM]

I've heard Nashville is a highlight for players on a road trip, but that means little about whether they'd live there.

[Vulcan]

I think Nashville's main problem in attracting UFA's would be their internal cap limit.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

I really can't fathom why the Bolts would want to just let Stamkos walk. Has he really fallen that far from his previous position as a bonafide franchise player? There are so few players who can score the way he can, and has done so in the past. He's young, and has many, many prime years left.

I thought the cap was supposed to let teams hang on to the good players they draft and develop?

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

I really can't fathom why the Bolts would want to just let Stamkos walk. Has he really fallen that far from his previous position as a bonafide franchise player? There are so few players who can score the way he can, and has done so in the past. He's young, and has many, many prime years left.

I thought the cap was supposed to let teams hang on to the good players they draft and develop?

The Lightning are right up against the cap.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

The Lightning are right up against the cap.

Yeah...no I get that, but half of the league has less than $2 million in cap space. IMO, you make room for someone like Stamkos and move some lesser pieces to do so.

Right off the bat, you have Ben Bishop making 5.95 million and two capable goalies waiting to move up the depth chart in the organization (Vasilevsky, Gudlevskis). They're still paying 1.6 million of Gagner's salary (retained) that comes off the books next year. That's about 6.6 million you could save next year alone assuming you give Gudlevskis a modest raise to about 900K.

Ohlund's contract finally comes off the books, but he was LTIR, so it only affected their ability to make moves in the off-season. Braydon Coburn's 4.5 million comes off the books this year, and I doubt they'll look to re-sign him.

Their issues stem from having a glut of RFAs that are all performing well. Namestnikov, Kucherov, Killorn, Brown, Paquette, all due for a raise...some more significant than others. Are any of those names more desirable than Stamkos though? No, not IMO.

So I guess it comes down to whether you want to try to win without a superstar, but several lesser star players, or do you try to keep your big name assets and fill in the gaps like the Blackhawks have done? I think the Hawks method makes much more sense to me since you can always keep drafting and developing the lesser star players, but those big name stars only come around after having horrendous seasons.

[codynw]

Stamkos has been pretty "meh" for about 2.5 seasons now. Can you really give $10M+ to a guy who's only on pace for about 60 points?

Is Tampa better with Stamkos at $10M or with extra cap space to keep the rest of their really deep roster together?

[Badgers Nose]

Man if BT can pull off a Hamilton type deal and get Stamkos signed that would be epic. He'd be a potential 50 goal scorer on this team IMO.

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by codynw

Stamkos has been pretty "meh" for about 2.5 seasons now. Can you really give $10M+ to a guy who's only on pace for about 60 points?

Is Tampa better with Stamkos at $10M or with extra cap space to keep the rest of their really deep roster together?

43 goals last year is meh?

The injury season doesn't count, and he still has time to turn this season around. When he gets hot he scores in bulk.

Since 9/10 he has pretty consistently been a .5 goals per game player.

He's kinda like a young Iginla, without the raging bull power forward traits (not really needed in today's NHL).

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

43 goals last year is meh?

The injury season doesn't count, and he still has time to turn this season around. When he gets hot he scores in bulk.

Since 9/10 he has pretty consistently been a .5 goals per game player.

He's kinda like a young Iginla, without the raging bull power forward traits (not really needed in today's NHL).

Despite his goal totals last year, he wasn't actually that good. Go read what Lightning fans think about Stamkos and his pending free agency. They watch him play 82+ games per year and (depending on cap hit, obviously) many don't want him back. They think the cap space will be better spent elsewhere.