I don't think we can afford to lose Sergachev if he continues to play like this. He's taken a huge step forward this season.
The real question is if he’ll even be on the team after this season. Even if we manage to trade Killorn without taking any salary back, fitting both Cirelli and Sergachev under the cap is going to be next to impossible unless the cap rises significantly more than expected.
Cernak should never really be discussed on equal terms with Sergachev and Cirelli in terms of importance.
Which I am not implying that it is
what you are doing.
I am referencing to last year’s comments about having to make a potential decision between Cernak and Sergachev.
Regardless of their individual level of play last year, they have never truly been close in term of asset value and potential to this franchise.
Sergachev is the 2nd most valuable asset on the team on defense.
(He was also the 2nd most valuable asset on defense in the organisation last year too).
Stamkos
Kucherov
Point
Cirelli
Hedman
Sergachev
Vasilevskiy
Those 7 players in order of positions are the 7 most valuable assets of the Tampa Bay Lightning and should ne treated as such.
Roster building and cap management should reflect this reality.
Losing Sergachev should not be an option to consider and almost anything that can be done without after the other 6 cornerstones should be done to prevent that from happening.
The only option worth discussing in moving/losing Sergachev would be the addition of a more valuable asset than him to the team.
There is no way in hell that we lose Sergachev. Absolutely no chance.
Talented Dmen like him is what you pray for to get with your high end 1st round pick every single year. Getting a Dman that is an offensive threat, can (now) play physical too and is starting to play in all situations... not even Chiarelli would let him go.
Him and Cirelli are key pieces for the future of our franchise and JBB will do whatever he needs to do to keep them in Tampa. Trade Killorn? Do if it's needed to keep Sergy and Cirelli, do it. No questions asked. Ask Coburn to waive his NTC clause for his final year? ("Listen bud, if you stay here you won't get any playtime because our top-6 is set. I Can trade you here and you'll play your 15 mins a night") Do it.
Even though, after JBB's statements in a recent interview, where he praised Killorn not only for his on ice effort but also for being one of the guys that stepped it up in the locker room in term of leadership, I think the madman will try to do whatever he can in order to resign Cirelli, Sergy, Cernak AND keep Killer.
Ask Johnson to waive his NTC? Do it.
Give Cirelli or Sergy a shorter 2 years bridge, in order to have a lower cap hit, so that they'll be up to re-sign when both Palat and Johnson's NTC will become a M-NTC? Do it.
Whatever it needs to be done, do it.
As Max McBolt said, just keep the "Stamkos, Kuch, Point, Cirelli, Heddy, Sergy, Vasy" list intact. Funny enough, if you add Cernak and Cal Foote to the list you'll have what our "Seattle Expansion draft protected list" will look like IMO.
It seems like something that will be impossible, but if someone can work something out of this situation is our front office.