VM1138

Final game at the Joe is against the Devils? That sucks.

Lucic is already on the decline, isn't he? I remember reading some stuff from Boston when he left that he wasn't very good. I think this is another case of us wanting the 5-year-ago version of a player.

That's the first I've heard that we have to trade the contract before the first. Are you sure about that?

You would imagine they'd have to give up quite a bit. Like...a lot. Any interest in Hossa? He's been on the block for a while now.

I don't like tanking like some of you do, I think it's bad form, bad faith and just bad all around. But if that's what they're asking for to trade Datsyuk's contract we should hang on to it. Try and move some of the other chaff to free up space (Howard, Ericsson, etc.). I don't want to tank for the first pick but there's no sense in losing our good prospects to move a contract that is mutually beneficial to both teams. If I were Holland I'd warn them that such demands would seriously compromise their reputation among the old boy's club. But anyway, in that case it's best just to unload the chaff with no future just so we're in a better position next year to play the market. Ericsson, for example, will only get worse. This is the time to trade him, even if we get hardly anything in return. And it's likely we wouldn't get much in return but it's better than sitting with his full contract for four years and having him take a roster spot.

Howard is going to be very hard to move without us being the losers in the deal.

We can't fix all or problems in one off season since we have so many. I agree we need a top defender or two, but if we can improve the forward group then that's what we need to do and fix the defense when we can.

Nothing big will happen until Stamkos is settled. Let's hope he doesn't take all summer.

I have no doubt it will be an issue for some players, but that's their problem. These guys get into trouble anywhere.

Maybe teams were going hard after Yandle. We aren't privy to the back room conversations GMs have. I can only imagine Florida really needed him and some other teams were getting close. Maybe they felt four extra days could seal the deal. Though I agree in general, trading for rights seems like a waste.

Can we at least agree they're all very close? We can rank them however but I'd consider them all on the same plane, except Seguin and Benn. Haven't seen them play to know if they're legit or just having a hot year like a Heatley or something.

Even if we include all players I still don't see how those guys are better than Stamkos. Lidstrom was light years beyond anyone else so it was obvious he was the best. Currently we have very good defensemen in the league but no one who is generational like we do at forward.

LeBron is better than Crosby. /thread To be fair to nyqvistisrhefuture, I get what you're trying to say. I didn't clarify in my post that Stamkos is one of the best forwards, so for the sake of argument I won't attack your post for that. However, he really is one of the best. He's really only overshadowed by Crosby and Ovechkin, because those are the only two players the NHL cares about promoting.

So Florida gives up two (probably) worthless picks and a cap hit if they sign Yandle? Wow. I know he's not as good as some people think but at that price he'd still be a major improvement on most of our defenders. Of course it'd all depend on the cap hit. I have some interest in Hartnell, but I don't know enough about him to say I definitely want him. What could we give up to get Hartnell and Columbus' third? Anything?

Hopefully this sets a nice price for Howard. They basically got two second round draft picks for Andersen, Howard's career numbers aren't as good but he's played way more games, so his veteran status should help. What would the roster equivalent of two second round picks be? A good third liner?

I'm not a fan of paying $1000 for a decent computer but I'd do it if I needed a great computer. People act like Stamkos isn't one of the top few players in the world.

If Yzerman offers 8 years he'd make almost the same amount of money as our expected offer. So money won't be the deciding factor.

We could really use Franzen, it's a shame what happened to him.

So basically the only way Stamkos leaves Tampa is if he wants to go. Which doesn't sound like the case at all. Whelp, there goes my excitement for the offseason. Hopefully we can still make some moves to improve in different areas but overall it might be another year of coasting along.

I'd like to see a ring of statues grace the new arena. It'd be a way of honoring the greats without necessarily retiring numbers.

We only need to trade Datsyuk's contract if we land Stamkos. I'd hardly rip on Holland for eating the cap hit for a year if he knows we absolutely cannot land Stamkos. That's the only big transformative move to be made, otherwise it's all incremental UFA improvements which won't cost much.

I don't see what's so hard to understand about the stats and ice time issue. Tatar did more with less. That's pretty much the end of the story. I still think they're very similar in terms of ceiling. Good complementary players, especially if paired with a dynamic big body.

I just hope they don't try to put him higher on the lineup sheet than he's shown he's capable of. I'd rather have a highly effective third liner than a no impact second liner. But I think this was a good signing.

Right, but we do need to clear off some chaff. If we lose a Pulkinnen, oh well. That's just a roster spot for another college signing or UFA. It's not about quantity it's about quality.

Holland isn't going to give up valuable assets for no reason. If we lose someone it's because there were no trade partners otherwise. Our junk isn't worth as much as we like to think.