Michael Stuart: Lightning Protect Extra Defenseman at Cost of Quality Forwards

If Ronnie Franchise won't cut a deal with JBB, just remember his old buddy Stevie Y is just a phone call away!

If Ronnie Franchise won't cut a deal with JBB, just remember his old buddy Stevie Y is just a phone call away! 😉
- gergeswillems

I respectfully disagree with your assessment Michael.

I don't think the proper way to look at is McDonagh vs Gorde, although that is a natural way to look at it. I believe the proper way to look at it is can JBB find a suitable replacement for Gorde, Palat, Killer or other forwards left unprotected, vs that of replacing McDonagh.

I love those 3 forwards, but McDongh is there 2nd best Dmqn, and probably their best defensive Dman who does alot of the heavy lifting for the team in that regard. He is way too valuable to lose IMO.

If th hey lose Gorde say, I think TJ can offer up alot of replacement value there. Of course, I would rather see TJ go, but replacing him is easier (not easy, easier) that McDonagh.

My 2 cents anyway.

Our team has soooooo many great players a good one will be gone. I mean losing Gorde, the entire third line, which was the second line in the playoffs, is horrible but losing Mcdonagh would also suck. It’s one player, move on. Don’t sweat it.

Our team has soooooo many great players a good one will be gone. I mean losing Gorde, the entire third line, which was the second line in the playoffs, is horrible but losing Mcdonagh would also suck. It’s one player, move on. Don’t sweat it.
- Justbecause

Tampa will still be a Cup contender next season.

Palat/Point/Kucherov
Killorn/Cirelli/Stamkos
Barre-Boulet/Colton/Joseph
Katchouk/Stephens/Maroon
Raddysh

Hedman/Rutta
McDonagh/Cernak
Sergachev/Foote
Schenn

Vasilevskiy/UFA

Yea TB will be fine. I expect that TB and FLA will be 1&2 in the division next season with Leafs, Habs, and Bruins battling for Wildcard

"LTIR Magic" - Is that what we call cap circumvention/injury collusion nowadays?

"There likely isn’t enough depth either on the NHL roster or in the system to make up for that kind of devastating change"

You mean, Icing a cap compliant roster would equate to devastating change that the rest of the roster can't make up for?

80 million dollar caps can be tough. Welcome to the club that 30 other teams are already in

Will miss Gourde but understand the reasons Brisebois made this tough decision. With Hedman's knee surgery, perhaps Brisebois want a little more insurance on the backend.

Yan is also 29 and earning $5.2M as a 3rd line center for next 4 seasons. Some $5M+ contracts need to be moved out.

Picking Gourde over Johnson should be an easy decision for Seattle.

Interesting, Nashville, Tampa and Toronto were the only? teams to go with the 4 - 4 - 1 protection list format.

I think the Lightning had to go this route.

They will still contend with their top 4 D core pretty much intact next few years with Vasy in Net. McDonagh was the best D on the ice this playoff run and was great last year as well. Everyone is worried about his age but I would say he has only gotten better and faster now that he doesn't have to be the number 1 and his injuries have healed.

We all knew that Coleman and Goodrow will be gone (I read an athletic article that said 4.5Mx5yrs is what Goodrow is looking at getting from the Rangers and that is crazy)

I still wonder if the Lightning have made a deal with Seattle to take Johnson. Maybe Foote or Joseph and Johnson to Seattle. If Seattle takes Gourde, Palat or Killorn then JBB only needs to move one more player. Who knows though maybe Seattle takes Foote or Colton then the Lightning still have heavy lifting to do.

But no matter what the Bolts have to move 10M and the team will look different next year but the core will still be there and will be able to compete to make the playoffs and then anything can happen in the playoffs.

There's so many pieces that played crucial parts in this team it's going to be hard to see anyone go. I really hope Gourde stays, he puts more effort out there than anyone.

I can sooner see Seattle taking a deal to select Johnson and flip him than take Gourde.....Though really I could see Palat as perhaps the best option, but I'm possibly biased.

Hi Mike, how are you. Do you write again for the Sens blog. Seem like a long time, I have not see a blog. I appreciate your blog so I was worried. Thank you

^
Agreed. We deserve a blog more than once every month 🤣

Wait till something happens like Parise signing for the league minimum, that should make the other teams happy.

I expect Francis is going to take Joseph or Foote in the draft. After that they might work a retained salary deal or prospect sweetened deal to take someone like Johnson off your hands.

^
Agreed. We deserve a blog more than once every month 🤣
- optimus-reim

I get no blogger at all when i click the Sens logo at the top of the webpage

"LTIR Magic" - Is that what we call cap circumvention/injury
- TheGame316

It's called keep crying about it you butthurt loser.

I loved what Goodrow brought to the Lightning but 6years at 3.6M for a 3rd / 4th line grinder. I am glad the Lightning did not have the cap space to even think about paying that.

Which leads me to Coleman... he must be looking at north of 6M on his next deal and while he is much better then Goodrow in my opinion that again is a high number in a flat cap. If the Lightning try to re-sign him they will have to move a ton of money.

The third line is gone as we know it, I hope we made a deal to save Yanni and can put Ross the Boss and Joesph on a line with him and I think they would be a good tandem.

Seems to be a consensus among all the talking heads / experts is that Yanni Gourde will be the Seattle Kraken's pick from the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Guess we will have to wait and see if a side deal was made to protect Gourde.

What's funniest to me is not to long ago a ton of people Lightning fans included thought his contract was horrible and he was a horrible player as he went thru his slump.

I expect Francis is going to take Joseph or Foote in the draft. After that they might work a retained salary deal or prospect sweetened deal to take someone like Johnson off your hands.
- MacPatty

I expect BPO and that would be Gourde