Jeremy Laura: Wings officially out, things to look for, Grand Rapids and Truscott

Jeremy Laura: Wings officially out, things to look for, Grand Rapids and Truscott
- Jeremy Laura

It’s a little early to do this but I’m doing it any ways:
Say goodbye to Smith, Motte, Petry, Legesson, Lyon all with expiring contracts. That is five open spots.
Under achievers Berggren, Rasmussen and Gustafsson could end up as trade chips. Holl should be bought out or sent to GR. Tarasenko needs to go by whatever means are necessary! So that leaves 8-9 slots open.
Lombardi-Larkin-Raymond
DeBrincat-Kasper-Kane
Bunnting-Danielson-Mazur
Soderblom-Copp-McCarron
Compher
Byram/Gavrikov-Seider
Edvinsson-Sandin-Pellikka
Chiarot-Johansson
Tuomisto

Marzek-Talbot-Cossa

It’s a little early to do this but I’m doing it any ways:
Say goodbye to Smith, Motte, Petry, Legesson, Lyon all with expiring contracts. That is five open spots.
Under achievers Berggren, Rasmussen and Gustafsson could end up as trade chips. Holl should be bought out or sent to GR. Tarasenko needs to go by whatever means are necessary! So that leaves 8-9 slots open.
Lombardi-Larkin-Raymond
DeBrincat-Kasper-Kane
Bunnting-Danielson-Mazur
Soderblom-Copp-McCarron
Compher
Byram/Gavrikov-Seider
Edvinsson-Sandin-Pellikka
Chiarot-Johansson
Tuomisto

Marzek-Talbot-Cossa
- Goalie Dad

I think that’s pretty solid. I think Berggren could possibly be moved. They like Ras on the PK and defense, I’d rather see Copp waived or moved at this point. Definitely like the idea of Lombardi on the wing with Larkin and Raymond and leaving that 2nd line in tact. Thank you for the effort of putting all that together. Screen shot it and keep it for your own reference. You may be on to something with what you’re putting together. Good take and drop in

Isaac Howard

Hijacking the forum for my own therapy.

Where to begin....

While IH is well within his rights to exercise any leverage he has, lets not ignore the repercussions or consequences.

The spectrum. Perhaps IH truly wants to stay in College and continue to develop with a goal of winning a national championship. If the Lightning are on board with that and both parties have a plan for next spring..then this is a lot of noise over nothing.

However...I think there is a 5% chance of this occurring as evidenced by the official Lighting website ZERO mention of the Hobey Baker award accolades for their prospect.

Kudos to both sides for not slinging mud. However, from where I sit, IH has backed himself into a corner. He will likely be dealt at/near draft to a rebuilding team for draft capital and a bonafide prospect or 2.

Any honest assessment of the Lightning, their cap situation right now and their focus on getting home ice for playoffs, IH beleives his agenda should supercedes that of the team.

Did he really think he could leverage the Lightning and walk into that room with that being public knowledge, with a room full of stars who ALL cut their teeth in the AHL. Yes Kucherov, Point et al...even Cooper did 3 years there.

Go look at Coopers interview on Tampa Website post game. It could not have been scripted any better. Conner Geekie gets the call up. Shows up...scores...more importantly...is humble and full of gratitude.

Maybe IH does not want to be part of the organization and this was his play all along...that is his call. Maybe, he is looking for the path of least resistance to the NHL. Kind of counters the narrative about him being ultra competitive and wanting to win. Love them or hate them, the Lighting are the class organization of the NHL for over the past decade. their player development given their often poor draft position is unrivaled.

Lasty, the one point I did not read anywhere about IH, is the obvious risk of injury before signing his pro contract. Yes he will get some NIL college money, but that does not pay out past the season. Unless he uses most of it to buy a disability policy.

Anyhow, yes it is a little disappointing as a lightning fan to have this hiccup. But I have no doubt that brisbois is ready to deal him and the lighting will come up roses as they always do. I am hoping they trade him to Chicago for a first rounder and one of their front line defense prospects.

Isaac Howard

Hijacking the forum for my own therapy.

Where to begin....

While IH is well within his rights to exercise any leverage he has, lets not ignore the repercussions or consequences.

The spectrum. Perhaps IH truly wants to stay in College and continue to develop with a goal of winning a national championship. If the Lightning are on board with that and both parties have a plan for next spring..then this is a lot of noise over nothing.

However...I think there is a 5% chance of this occurring as evidenced by the official Lighting website ZERO mention of the Hobey Baker award accolades for their prospect.

Kudos to both sides for not slinging mud. However, from where I sit, IH has backed himself into a corner. He will likely be dealt at/near draft to a rebuilding team for draft capital and a bonafide prospect or 2.

Any honest assessment of the Lightning, their cap situation right now and their focus on getting home ice for playoffs, IH beleives his agenda should supercedes that of the team.

Did he really think he could leverage the Lightning and walk into that room with that being public knowledge, with a room full of stars who ALL cut their teeth in the AHL. Yes Kucherov, Point et al...even Cooper did 3 years there.

Go look at Coopers interview on Tampa Website post game. It could not have been scripted any better. Conner Geekie gets the call up. Shows up...scores...more importantly...is humble and full of gratitude.

Maybe IH does not want to be part of the organization and this was his play all along...that is his call. Maybe, he is looking for the path of least resistance to the NHL. Kind of counters the narrative about him being ultra competitive and wanting to win. Love them or hate them, the Lighting are the class organization of the NHL for over the past decade. their player development given their often poor draft position is unrivaled.

Lasty, the one point I did not read anywhere about IH, is the obvious risk of injury before signing his pro contract. Yes he will get some NIL college money, but that does not pay out past the season. Unless he uses most of it to buy a disability policy.

Anyhow, yes it is a little disappointing as a lightning fan to have this hiccup. But I have no doubt that brisbois is ready to deal him and the lighting will come up roses as they always do. I am hoping they trade him to Chicago for a first rounder and one of their front line defense prospects.
- TrueGrit

Here’s the pushback, no team is likely to trade for him without a guarantee. The lightning’s salary situation was the reason not to be able to bring him in (which isn’t uncommon for desireable prospects). I don’t think this was NIL driven as his group made it clear they wanted him to be able to burn off a year of the ELC. He may regret the decision, for sure. Many collegiate performers have. However, he holds the final card in the UFA decision. Even if his rights are traded, they expire after this season. Whatever happened, the hobey baker winner was soured on the organization. For Augustine, it was easy to find an NIL connection as he released a commercial for his new company on his instagram within a week of deciding not to leave. Howard is flexing what we’re seeing more and more of. Prospects deciding to go elsewhere and knowing when they have the leverage. That’s why I want Yzerman to at least reach out to his group and see where his thinking is at on all of it. At some point, Tampa will hit the place where those ELC deals fill in the gaps the same as any championship team. Hedman will eventually slow down, as will Vasilevsky and Kucherov. Brisbois walked into a situation with a winning team built (like Stan Bowman in Chicago). It’s all high stakes at this point. They have been on fire and in the Atlantic the state of Florida is the SCPO perennial (or has been for the past 5 years) with 3 cups between the 2 teams. It will all shake out, but don’t underestimate the ability Howard has to crush any deal they try to make simply by saying he won’t sign.

Here’s the pushback, no team is likely to trade for him without a guarantee. The lightning’s salary situation was the reason not to be able to bring him in (which isn’t uncommon for desireable prospects). I don’t think this was NIL driven as his group made it clear they wanted him to be able to burn off a year of the ELC. He may regret the decision, for sure. Many collegiate performers have. However, he holds the final card in the UFA decision. Even if his rights are traded, they expire after this season. Whatever happened, the hobey baker winner was soured on the organization. For Augustine, it was easy to find an NIL connection as he released a commercial for his new company on his instagram within a week of deciding not to leave. Howard is flexing what we’re seeing more and more of. Prospects deciding to go elsewhere and knowing when they have the leverage. That’s why I want Yzerman to at least reach out to his group and see where his thinking is at on all of it. At some point, Tampa will hit the place where those ELC deals fill in the gaps the same as any championship team. Hedman will eventually slow down, as will Vasilevsky and Kucherov. Brisbois walked into a situation with a winning team built (like Stan Bowman in Chicago). It’s all high stakes at this point. They have been on fire and in the Atlantic the state of Florida is the SCPO perennial (or has been for the past 5 years) with 3 cups between the 2 teams. It will all shake out, but don’t underestimate the ability Howard has to crush any deal they try to make simply by saying he won’t sign.
- Jeremy Laura

We definitely are at the place we need a few ELC deals. Geekie is one of them.

Like Gauthier, I think he fetches a return. As I do not think he would be foolish enough to totally snub the Lightning. The assumption is that if the player is focused on himself and his journey, he would be open about that. I doubt he would just be vindictive and petulant. That would not play well with potential acquiring teams.

But, you never know.

Cap is going up and the lighting are of the contending teams, in the best position for the next 3 years. Hedman definitely has lost a step. Getting a top 4 d man is big priority. They may be able to fit Provorov in this off season.

We definitely are at the place we need a few ELC deals. Geekie is one of them.

Like Gauthier, I think he fetches a return. As I do not think he would be foolish enough to totally snub the Lightning. The assumption is that if the player is focused on himself and his journey, he would be open about that. I doubt he would just be vindictive and petulant. That would not play well with potential acquiring teams.

But, you never know.

Cap is going up and the lighting are of the contending teams, in the best position for the next 3 years. Hedman definitely has lost a step. Getting a top 4 d man is big priority. They may be able to fit Provorov in this off season.
- TrueGrit

More than petulant, it’s a situation similar to what Carolina dealt with. They gave big returns to Colorado for a player that they hadn’t sold on staying with the Hurricanes. If, and it could be a big if, the player has a few teams in mind or wants to hit the open market and see what gets thrown at him that’s where he’ll go. GMs can’t get out of their own way. Someone will up the bidding process or for all we know already has. That goes to why there is a draft with no GMs willing to sit in the same room as each other if the rumors of the format are to be believed. Players are at the peak of understanding that they can make their own decision if they feel like it gives them more money, more minutes etc. what we saw with Nylander years ago showed a shift in power and the players are getting more and more leverage. The next CBA will be interesting. Keep a close eye on possible adjustments to those cap ‘guarantees’. There’s a reason they split it into a 3 year hike instead of 1. The Canadian $ at .70cents and less for the past several years has caused issues. But for sure, if a player wants a look at the cup, Tampa should be on their short list. If they just want to grab everything they can, it’s wide open.

More than petulant, it’s a situation similar to what Carolina dealt with. They gave big returns to Colorado for a player that they hadn’t sold on staying with the Hurricanes. If, and it could be a big if, the player has a few teams in mind or wants to hit the open market and see what gets thrown at him that’s where he’ll go. GMs can’t get out of their own way. Someone will up the bidding process or for all we know already has. That goes to why there is a draft with no GMs willing to sit in the same room as each other if the rumors of the format are to be believed. Players are at the peak of understanding that they can make their own decision if they feel like it gives them more money, more minutes etc. what we saw with Nylander years ago showed a shift in power and the players are getting more and more leverage. The next CBA will be interesting. Keep a close eye on possible adjustments to those cap ‘guarantees’. There’s a reason they split it into a 3 year hike instead of 1. The Canadian $ at .70cents and less for the past several years has caused issues. But for sure, if a player wants a look at the cup, Tampa should be on their short list. If they just want to grab everything they can, it’s wide open.
- Jeremy Laura

Thank you for sharing your forum. If the Wings were in the Metro, they would be a 3 seed there. Atlantic will be even better next year.

Thank you for sharing your forum. If the Wings were in the Metro, they would be a 3 seed there. Atlantic will be even better next year.
- TrueGrit

Honestly, I can’t thank you and everyone enough for stopping by. This has been a blast!

Honestly, I can’t thank you and everyone enough for stopping by. This has been a blast!
- Jeremy Laura

Plus I respect your take on things. So much of sports media is all corporate and narrative driven. Some topics are taboo and not allowed to be asked in all sports. It is obvious and 99.9% of all responses from players and coaches is scripted and cliche.

Not looking for controversy or gotcha moments, but it would be refreshing. like in the case of Dehaan in NYR. to hear some honesty.

I like your direct and tangent hockey topics and implications.

As an outside observer, Detroit looks very similar to Ottawa last year. As soon as they have consistent D and goalie(s), they should be in the playoffs.

Edvinsson looks like he's going to be a big problem for other teams for a long time.

Plus I respect your take on things. So much of sports media is all corporate and narrative driven. Some topics are taboo and not allowed to be asked in all sports. It is obvious and 99.9% of all responses from players and coaches is scripted and cliche.

Not looking for controversy or gotcha moments, but it would be refreshing. like in the case of Dehaan in NYR. to hear some honesty.

I like your direct and tangent hockey topics and implications.
- TrueGrit

You just made my day with that. Thank you so much for that

As an outside observer, Detroit looks very similar to Ottawa last year. As soon as they have consistent D and goalie(s), they should be in the playoffs.

Edvinsson looks like he's going to be a big problem for other teams for a long time.
- PogBoi

Thank you for dropping that. Edvinsson has moments that belie his age. Where a lot of Dmen want to just get rid of the puck, he’ll fake a pass out of the O zone, skate another 10 feet and find an open lane. His skating for a big guy like that is impressive. This was one pick I didn’t think Detroit would get (thought he’d be off the board) and was so excited when Yzerman had the young kid as a guest announce the pick. Love the drop in