Michael Stuart: Lightning Draft Preview

yes, been waiting on this all night! w00t

earlier it was obvious we only needed 1 thing : seth jones on defense and if he wasn't available a winger for stamkos.

Now, all 3 options of barkov, drouin, and jones make complete sense with marty in retirement mode in a few years, with our D suckin out, and now lecavalier is done.

jesus christ we got 3 damn holes to fill so either one is fine by me but i still selected jones, because i have such faith in our tampacuse fella's

I've pegged the Lightning taking Barkov to form that dynamic 1-2 punch with Stamkos, but Drouin is another possibility if Jones is gone. Here's my mock draft http://johanneshockey.weebly.com/

yes, been waiting on this all night! w00t

earlier it was obvious we only needed 1 thing : seth jones on defense and if he wasn't available a winger for stamkos.

Now, all 3 options of barkov, drouin, and jones make complete sense with marty in retirement mode in a few years, with our D suckin out, and now lecavalier is done.

jesus christ we got 3 damn holes to fill so either one is fine by me but i still selected jones, because i have such faith in our tampacuse fella's
- RileyB77

I won't be unhappy with anyone on my list. As I always say, trust in Yzerman. He'll do what's right for the team. Barkov wows me each time I watch his tape though. I really, really like him.

I've pegged the Lightning taking Barkov to form that dynamic 1-2 punch with Stamkos, but Drouin is another possibility if Jones is gone. Here's my mock draft http://johanneshockey.weebly.com/
- Johannes19

makes complete sense, drouin barkov and jones all make sense for us. of course mackinnon would too but assuming he's taken for a fact 1st or 2nd ..

I've pegged the Lightning taking Barkov to form that dynamic 1-2 punch with Stamkos, but Drouin is another possibility if Jones is gone. Here's my mock draft http://johanneshockey.weebly.com/
- Johannes19

We'll see if you're proven right. Worth noting that the only player the Lightning met with yesterday (I think it was yesterday) was Drouin. What does that mean? I'm not sure.

We'll see if you're proven right. Worth noting that the only player the Lightning met with yesterday (I think it was yesterday) was Drouin. What does that mean? I'm not sure.
- Michael_Stuart

hell yeah!

Hey Michael, completely off topic here, but was just wondering if you thought we would re-sign Labrie?

We'll see if you're proven right. Worth noting that the only player the Lightning met with yesterday (I think it was yesterday) was Drouin. What does that mean? I'm not sure.
- Michael_Stuart

I was leaning Drouin before the Lecavalier buyout, but I settled on Barkov in the end. Hard to pick with such talent on the board

I was leaning Drouin before the Lecavalier buyout, but I settled on Barkov in the end. Hard to pick with such talent on the board
- Johannes19

im thinking barkov, because theres really no urgency to forfill a winger for when marty leaves thats still years away, but we have a major gaping hole at 2C right now and barkov is gong to be an amazing player. also on defense we have very talented prospects coming up so maybe yzerman lets them grow and develope and in 3+ years we have a solid D-core, or maybe he still signs someone from UFA ..although options r extremely limited

Hey Michael, completely off topic here, but was just wondering if you thought we would re-sign Labrie?
- omatty44

I figured we would.

I figured we would.
- Michael_Stuart

Figured as in past tense? Not thinking so now?

im thinking barkov, because theres really no urgency to forfill a winger for when marty leaves thats still years away, but we have a major gaping hole at 2C right now and barkov is gong to be an amazing player. also on defense we have very talented prospects coming up so maybe yzerman lets them grow and develope and in 3+ years we have a solid D-core, or maybe he still signs someone from UFA ..although options r extremely limited
- RileyB77

Lightning have some solid forward prospects but they don't have a centre in the system even near Barkov. Johnson might look good at wing too and there's also Connolly among others. Tampa's looking good for the future

Lightning have some solid forward prospects but they don't have a centre in the system even near Barkov. Johnson might look good at wing too and there's also Connolly among others. Tampa's looking good for the future
- Johannes19

id have to agree, except i feel johnson is a perfect 3rd line center, and in time can be a 2nd liner no problem but thats far away from now. yes tampa will have 3 solid scoring lines the way i see it, our rookie line i feel will be pretty scarey at times (if we have one)

Lightning have some solid forward prospects but they don't have a centre in the system even near Barkov. Johnson might look good at wing too and there's also Connolly among others. Tampa's looking good for the future
- Johannes19

what do you think of malone for hemskey straight up?

what do you think of malone for hemskey straight up?
- RileyB77

I could see Johnson playing top 6 eventually, he has the upside to get there. I'd strongly consider that deal. Oilers dealing from a postion of strength, won't miss Hemsky with Malone as the second line LW and both Yak/Ebs playing RW in the top 6. Also Edmonton needs a power forward like Malone. TB needs the immediate help from Hemsky who would slide into the top 6 also. Both players are high risk injury and salary wise, but I'd give Tampa the edge in that deal just because Hemsky's cotract expires after 13/14 while Malone's has another year. Interesting deal though

Figured as in past tense? Not thinking so now?
- omatty44

I still think he'll be back, but that's speculation with a hint of bias in there. I really like the guy.

I still think he'll be back, but that's speculation with a hint of bias in there. I really like the guy.
- Michael_Stuart

Awesome, I really hope he comes back. Really appreciate all your blogs. I can't believe you're gonna miss our draft pick after all the work you've put in! On the Seguin stuff, I don't want him. Not if it cost us our 3rd pick. He's almost had identical production as Teddy Purcell, and he would cost us 6 million dollars in cap space. I realize he's younger than Teddy and has more upside, but I believe whoever we take with the 3rd pick will be just as good, and cost a LOT less. As far as the draft pick, I really like Drouin, but i hope we take Jones if he's available and buy out Carle next year. We have the offense, we need defense. I'd be fine with Barkov or Nichushkin as well. Just really hope we don't trade the pick away.

Awesome, I really hope he comes back. Really appreciate all your blogs. I can't believe you're gonna miss our draft pick after all the work you've put in! On the Seguin stuff, I don't want him. Not if it cost us our 3rd pick. He's almost had identical production as Teddy Purcell, and he would cost us 6 million dollars in cap space. I realize he's younger than Teddy and has more upside, but I believe whoever we take with the 3rd pick will be just as good, and cost a LOT less. As far as the draft pick, I really like Drouin, but i hope we take Jones if he's available and buy out Carle next year. We have the offense, we need defense. I'd be fine with Barkov or Nichushkin as well. Just really hope we don't trade the pick away.
- omatty44

Also, picking with the 3rd allows them to groom whichever prosect they pick from the beginning of his career, instead of having to acclimate Seguin to the different culture. Even if they pick the Canadian Drouin or Fin Barkov, they will still be "home grown" in the system.

Any one of them is fine with me, would want Jones then Barkov as 1 and 2. PLEASE DON'T trade it away for Seguin. Yzerman said the only way to get the 3rd pick would be extreme overpayment. Seguin is just a good hockey trade not an overpayment. Do you think it's possible for the Preds or Canes to want to move up and overpay and we still end up with a top 5 plus some extra's?

i feel yzerman will pass on drouin. hes a smaller guy and we have lots of smaller fowards in the system. if jones is available you have to take him. there arent/havnt been many defensive prospects with a skill set such as jones. if florida takes jones i believe stevie y will take barkov. yzerman may end up taking barkov over jones anyway. the hole at center is much bigger than d with carle, hedman, salo, gudas, aulie and brewer all under contract already

with vinny gone, who is the next captain?

i feel yzerman will pass on drouin. hes a smaller guy and we have lots of smaller fowards in the system. if jones is available you have to take him. there arent/havnt been many defensive prospects with a skill set such as jones. if florida takes jones i believe stevie y will take barkov.
- zatara39

Trade down a spot or two and still grab Nichushkin? Too much talent here to ignore the kid as an option...

(frank)ing boo-ya, I'm outta the sin bin. Bring on the draft!

(frank)ing boo-ya, I'm outta the sin bin. Bring on the draft!
- Artyukhin76

Welcome back. We've missed you.