Player Discussion: Mikhail Sergachev

[The Macho King]

I think we would regret moving on from Stralman. His is the type of game that is going to age well, and he'll always be an asset. No reason to move on from him until he shows signs that he can't handle it anymore.

 

[Rschmitz]

I think we would regret moving on from Stralman. His is the type of game that is going to age well, and he'll always be an asset. No reason to move on from him until he shows signs that he can't handle it anymore.

We have to get the money to pay Kucherov from somewhere, not many other places to get it.

 

[The Macho King]

We have to get the money to pay Kucherov from somewhere, not many other places to get it.

Buying out Callahan.

Kucherov's contract isn't going to kill the team. As of right now we have 31m in cap space in his contract year. Obviously a lot of that will get eaten up, but outside of him, Point, and Stralman there aren't a lot of "core" guys to re-sign in the meantime. Our top six is locked up long-term outside of him and Namestnikov (who likely won't be too pricey). Buying out Callahan gives us about 2.6m the season that goes into effect. Most of our "worrisome" contracts go out either that season or the year after. I doubt we bring back Coburn and his 4.5m, or Girardi and his 3 - we'll have prospects that can replace them by that point, or cheap vets.

 

[CupsOverCash]

Stralman, Coburn, and Girardi all come off the books when Kuch is due for his contract. That's more than 10 mil to go towards Kuch. Also Callahan comes off the next season. Point and Sergachev will need new deals then too. We will see some of our young D come in by then if we can't get Stralman back for cheap and short term.

 

[JoVel]

Stralman, Coburn, and Girardi all come off the books when Kuch is due for his contract. That's more than 10 mil to go towards Kuch. Also Callahan comes off the next season. Point and Sergachev will need new deals then too. We will see some of our young D come in by then if we can't get Stralman back for cheap and short term.

Also Callahan's contract wouldn't be impossible to move when there's only one year left. Give a pick or two and someone will gladly take it.

 

[HoseEmDown]

Stralman will be 33 at the start of his next contract, he won't be making more than he already is, he even may take less for an additional year. I thought 2 x 4.5 would be good for him as that takes him to 35 but I wouldn't mind doing 3 x 4. That 500k, with the 6.7 of Coburn and Girardi gives us 7.2 and Kucherov is not getting all that but most and Point the rest. Sergachev will be on his ELC Callahans last year which will help and Cernak, Masin or someone else young should be too or really cheap at least.

 

[Werewolf]

Vladdy ($4.5 RFA) - Stamkos ($8.5) - Kucherov ($8.5 RFA) = $21.5
Palat ($5.3) - Johnson ($5) - Callahan ($5.8) = $16.1
Killorn ($4.5) - Point ($3) - Volkov ($1 ELC) = $8.5
Stephens ($1 ELC) - Cirelli ($1 ELC) - Joseph ($1 ELC) = $3
Erne ($1.5) = $1.5

TOTAL: $50.6
No Kunitz, No Condra, No Dumont, No Paquette, No Brown

Hedman ($7.9) - Foote ($1 ELC) = $8.9
Sergachev ($1 ELC) - Stralman ($4.5) = $5.5
Koekkoek ($2 RFA) - Dotchin ($2 RFA) = $4
Masin ($1.5 RFA) - Cernak ($1 ELC) = $2.5

TOTAL = $20.9
No Sustr, No Coburn, No Girardi, No $2 from Carle Buyout

Vasi $3.5 (RFA)
Ingram $1 (ELC)

TOTAL = $4.5

At the time of Kucherov's signing our total CAP needed would be around: $76 (and this is rounding up all the ELCs to $1M and carrying a full 23 man roster). We can still buy out Callahan. We'd still have Howden, Lipanov, Katchouk, Hajek, Sosunov, Raddysh, Spencer, Yan, etc in the pipeline and two years of draft picks. I'd say from a CAP perspective we have little to worry about 2 years from today ... we'd maybe have an even better team to be honest. We could even have a cheap Thomas as the #7 and still have Masin and Cernak in the AHL which would save us another $1M to the CAP.

 

[Sky04]

Yeah his IQ is pretty impressive.

So I want to note something - you said he can look lacksadasical with the puck during a forecheck - and I agree (although I thought he made a really nice play tonight with Hagelin bearing down on him where he stepped out and made sure to get the puck far enough out of reach - so I think he's learning) - but I think part of that is a poise thing. Stralman has a similar "lazy" look when dealing with a forecheck.

I also love his description of his assist to Stralman. Was rushing the puck, tried to beat (was it Cole?) to the outside - saw it wasn't there and didn't try something that wasn't going to work - peeled back and kept his head up looking for the open man. Pitt's coverage on that goal notwithstanding, that's the statement of a man that's learning to adapt to the NHL.

Good point, I guess it's another one of those weaknesses you take as it direct relates to a players strength, similar to Kucherov being too fancy. Stralman and Sergachev almost never seem to panic and are always calm, that may work against them occasionally but if it helps them be a stabilizing factor 95% of the time it's worth it.

 

[The Macho King]

Vladdy ($4.5 RFA) - Stamkos ($8.5) - Kucherov ($8.5 RFA) = $21.5
Palat ($5.3) - Johnson ($5) - Callahan ($5.8) = $16.1
Killorn ($4.5) - Point ($3) - Volkov ($1 ELC) = $8.5
Stephens ($1 ELC) - Cirelli ($1 ELC) - Joseph ($1 ELC) = $3
Erne ($1.5) = $1.5

TOTAL: $50.6
No Kunitz, No Condra, No Dumont, No Paquette, No Brown

Hedman ($7.9) - Foote ($1 ELC) = $8.9
Sergachev ($1 ELC) - Stralman ($4.5) = $5.5
Koekkoek ($2 RFA) - Dotchin ($2 RFA) = $4
Masin ($1.5 RFA) - Cernak ($1 ELC) = $2.5

TOTAL = $20.9
No Sustr, No Coburn, No Girardi, No $2 from Carle Buyout

Vasi $3.5 (RFA)
Ingram $1 (ELC)

TOTAL = $4.5

At the time of Kucherov's signing our total CAP needed would be around: $76 (and this is rounding up all the ELCs to $1M and carrying a full 23 man roster). We can still buy out Callahan. We'd still have Howden, Lipanov, Katchouk, Hajek, Sosunov, Raddysh, Spencer, Yan, etc in the pipeline and two years of draft picks. I'd say from a CAP perspective we have little to worry about 2 years from today ... we'd maybe have an even better team to be honest. We could even have a cheap Thomas as the #7 and still have Masin and Cernak in the AHL which would save us another $1M to the CAP.

I could quibble over individual numbers (Point at 3, KK at 2 [or on the roster at all likely]) and Masin getting 1.5 with zero NHL time, but the long and short of it is as long as we don't spend too much we should have no problem re-signing Kucherov and keeping the core together.

 

[Boltswin]

What I am liking from him is even though you see mistakes he makes here and there, you can also see that he learns from his mistakes quickly. He doesn't make many mistakes twice from what I have seen, aside from pinching at dangerous times and leading to rushes the other way. All of our D are guilty of that at times. The negative aspects of his game are being outweighed by the positive so far. I hope he stays up.

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

Im assuming he is sticking hey? Pumped to see him make such an impact already. I just dont see anyway in hell he is sent back now. The kid has been unbelievable and im sure they let him know to go condo shopping now

 

[DFC]

We're gonna need to give Stralman a raise in order to keep him, I think. If he continues to play at his current level, teams are going to line up for him, a legit top-4 RHD, as a UFA. I think we'll get him to stay, but it'll probably cost us a little over 5.

We have money coming off the books for Kuch, or we might have to move a contract out. As much as I hate to say it, Tyler Johnson looks like the most expendable, although he's gonna have to produce a little more to make a team willing to take on his contract.

 

[HoseEmDown]

We're gonna need to give Stralman a raise in order to keep him, I think. If he continues to play at his current level, teams are going to line up for him, a legit top-4 RHD, as a UFA. I think we'll get him to stay, but it'll probably cost us a little over 5.

We have money coming off the books for Kuch, or we might have to move a contract out. As much as I hate to say it, Tyler Johnson looks like the most expendable, although he's gonna have to produce a little more to make a team willing to take on his contract.

There's 47 defenseman with a 5mil or more caphit, of that 47 just 6 are over 33 which is the age Stralman will be when his next contract is due. Giordano who is a #1, Boychuk who signed at 31 on a desperate team NYI, Keith who is a #1 and was signed 7 years prior, Orpik who was a UFA signed at 34, Bouwmeester who was a #2 and signed at 31, Greene who is a #1 and was signed right before he turned 33. So it's hard to gauge where he fits since a few of those are better and the ones who aren't where signed when they were younger. If he wants 5 then it can't be for more than 2 years, if he wants 3 years he takes the same or less. We have seen him after an injury and it wasn't great, getting older he's going to slow and we can't risk a lot of cap on someone that old when we have pieces in the pipe, Foote and Cernak. He would be a great mentor but in 2-3 years I don't think he'll still be a 2 more a 4 going toward a bottom pair, PK specialist.

 

[VoluntaryDom]

serGOATchev

 

[DFC]

There's 47 defenseman with a 5mil or more caphit, of that 47 just 6 are over 33 which is the age Stralman will be when his next contract is due. Giordano who is a #1, Boychuk who signed at 31 on a desperate team NYI, Keith who is a #1 and was signed 7 years prior, Orpik who was a UFA signed at 34, Bouwmeester who was a #2 and signed at 31, Greene who is a #1 and was signed right before he turned 33. So it's hard to gauge where he fits since a few of those are better and the ones who aren't where signed when they were younger. If he wants 5 then it can't be for more than 2 years, if he wants 3 years he takes the same or less. We have seen him after an injury and it wasn't great, getting older he's going to slow and we can't risk a lot of cap on someone that old when we have pieces in the pipe, Foote and Cernak. He would be a great mentor but in 2-3 years I don't think he'll still be a 2 more a 4 going toward a bottom pair, PK specialist.

Whatever his age, Stralman is playing at a level that generally wins players contracts, so he's probably going to be the seventh guy on that list. I do agree that we'll want him to take fewer years, and he might settle for more term, fewer dollars.

We'll see where he's at when his contract is up, but it appears he's returning to form after what might have been a shaky recovery from the broken leg.

 

[waterboy65]

Stralman has a bunch of young kids and from stories he has told about his stays in other cities, I think he values stability very much. So I think he is going to give TB a big time home team discount. As long as our offer is competitive, I think he stays here.

 

[The Macho King]

Fire Cooper.

 

[VoluntaryDom]

I know I know too early but 17-18 Sergachev is seriously giving me shades of 16-17 Werenski.

 

[Bolt32]

He reminds me a lot of Hedman when Hedman was his age. Raw as hell, has the Talent. Take a away a bit on passing ability but add it on the shooting and you got Sergachev. Were doing him right though, instead of throwing him to the wolves like we did with Header, we are pairing him with our best Defensive defenseman and easing him into it. So far it is working out fantastically.

 

[waterboy65]

I just don't see the young Hedman comparisons with Sergachev. Hedman was really raw and while he would make great rushes with the puck up ice, he really had no clue what playing defense was all about. Sergachev is head and shoulders above in defensive responsibility and while he is adjusting to the speed of the game, I see a kid who is much more aware of what needs to be done. In Hedman's defense, his first few years were with some not so good Bolt defensive teams.

I really can see a Norris Trophy in Sergachev's career if he continues to work hard and is fortunate in avoiding injuries. I am still scratching my head that Montreal actually traded this kid.

 

[These Are The Days]

We would be absolutely insane not to retain Stralman once this contract is up. Something like a 3 year $15 million deal makes sense because it's hard to imagine Stralman not having at least 2 more good years left in him of top pairing ability should the situation arise for it for brief stretches. And it's hard to imagine he will not try to cash in one last time. Once he falls off big deal, he'd only have a year left and he'd still be a capable defender. Stralman's fall off is what Sergachev is for. Just imagine what he's going to be like in 2 years. Unless father time claims Stralman SO BADLY we should keep him around even above Coburn to fill out the rest of the defense. And in 3 years other prospects like Cernak and Koekkoek will be ready for full time duty in the middle or bottom pairings while some kid named Foote makes his rookie debut.

Having 2 more good years of Stralman in 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 is going to be a hell of an insurance policy if our prospect pipline does not pan out.

 

[The Macho King]

Man some of you all need to pump the brakes a bit on the expectations for Sergachev.

 

[Bolt32]

Man some of you all need to pump the brakes a bit on the expectations for Sergachev.

I'm not expecting him to be a Hedman, I think he has number 1 potential. Do I see him as a Franchise Defenseman like Heder......Eh.......I want to give it more time. The kid is loaded with potential. I was just mentioning the similarities I'm noticing from what I remember about Hedman.

 

[DFC]

He shoots the puck like a guy who could put up 15 without much trouble.

 

[Felonious Python]