Speculation: 2018 Off-Season: We fell short again... now what do we do?

[Todd1a]

Everything being so quiet either means that something is going to happen shortly or there really is absolutely nothing Yzerman is going to do. Long periods of radio silence has little to no in between for the Lightning. The only conclusion I can reasonably draw from no trades by draft day is that we are all but eliminated from free agency. That we are going to literally have the same exact team that couldn't win a championship minus maybe Sustr and Kunitz and the best we can hope for is a Syracuse call up. We've got $7 million in cap space and still to sign Erne, Koekkoek, Paquette and Miller. It's highly probable that Miller is gonna chew up well over half of that.

The more time I spend thinking about this the more convinced I am we are going to fall into our usual holding pattern of "stick with the core that falls dead every time we're deep in the playoffs" and I am NOT happy about that idea at all.

Cap is going up from 75 million we got 10 to 12 million in cap space. At mimuim cap will got to 78 million.

 

[Felonious Python]

 

[CupsOverCash]

Everything being so quiet either means that something is going to happen shortly or there really is absolutely nothing Yzerman is going to do. Long periods of radio silence has little to no in between for the Lightning. The only conclusion I can reasonably draw from no trades by draft day is that we are all but eliminated from free agency. That we are going to literally have the same exact team that couldn't win a championship minus maybe Sustr and Kunitz and the best we can hope for is a Syracuse call up. We've got $7 million in cap space and still to sign Erne, Koekkoek, Paquette and Miller. It's highly probable that Miller is gonna chew up well over half of that.

The more time I spend thinking about this the more convinced I am we are going to fall into our usual holding pattern of "stick with the core that falls dead every time we're deep in the playoffs" and I am NOT happy about that idea at all.

Now that I can actually edit and type this.

I think the draft is when we start to see things happen for us. Or at least close to it. If not, standing pat isn’t bad to do. We were close again and changing things can go either way. You don’t really know either way really. But I don’t really expect SY to do that. I think he will make some kind of move. We were pretty much dominated by Wash. Something lacks with the team that isn’t getting us past the later rounds. So wouldn’t surprise me to see SY make some kind of move even if minor. I don’t see us going with the same roster into the reg season next year. Something will change.

 

[Sky04]

Hmmmmm

Sing Tavares, trade Kuch? Tavares doesn’t cost assets, except money. Kuch saves Tampa money compared to Tavares, but only for one more year. Imagine the picks and cheap young talent Kuch would fetch.

Not all that crazy, but only if Stammer sings off on playing on the wing again or be a matchup nightmare as a 3rd line C.

Not likely, but actually.....feasible.

While we're on that we should trade Hedman and sign Carlsson, he'll be cheaper and imagine the cheap young talent Hedman could bring back.

 

[Bolt32]

While we're on that we should trade Hedman and sign Carlsson, he'll be cheaper and imagine the cheap young talent Hedman could bring back.

Don't forget Vasi while were at it. I'm sure he could bring back Lindgren from Montreal, and we may be able to bring back that French sensation Drouin that we stupidly gave up to them!

 

[DFC]

Wayne simmonds is apparently available. that could be an interesting add.

 

[CupsOverCash]

Wayne simmonds is apparently available. that could be an interesting add.

He brings nastiness and he can play. I would be all for it.

 

[DFC]

And he's on a one year deal. I know we like having assets locked up, but if we could get him for a guy like Miller, it wouldn't be the end of the world if we have to part ways with him (Simmonds) after next year, when we should have another prospect or two ready. Frees up yet more money we may choose to give to Kucherov and Point.

 

[Rschmitz]

Has Yzerman ever dealt for a player and let him walk the following year via free agency?

 

[DFC]

Has Yzerman ever dealt for a player and let him walk the following year via free agency?

No, but there've been times where he certainly should have, and I think he learned that lesson. Yzerman's let very few UFAs of value walk, regardless of how they were acquired.

We're in a unique spot with Miller. I don't think he was ever part of the Yzerplan, but just happened to fall into our laps. I'm obviously just speculating, but I think Yzerman's gonna try to turn him into something else. Either recoup picks, or go after a different piece of the puzzle.

 

[These Are The Days]

Trade Miller for Simmonds? Oh dear God yes please. With all due respect to Ryan Callahan after all that he has been through, I don't know if I can sit through another year watching him struggle so mightily to bring what Simmonds does to the table.

 

[These Are The Days]

No, but there've been times where he certainly should have, and I think he learned that lesson. Yzerman's let very few UFAs of value walk, regardless of how they were acquired.

We're in a unique spot with Miller. I don't think he was ever part of the Yzerplan, but just happened to fall into our laps. I'm obviously just speculating, but I think Yzerman's gonna try to turn him into something else. Either recoup picks, or go after a different piece of the puzzle.

Weren't there reports that Miller was not originally part of the deal and was later added to Yzerman's surprise

 

[Sky04]

Simmond's was plauged with injuries who knows how he'll recover with a less than stellar playoff track record, considering that's the only thing people are harping Miller on, trading for 1 year of Simmonds makes no sense, you might as well go for picks and prospects by trading Miller.

Miller is still a 25 year old RFA, Simmonds is about to turn 30 and be an UFA next season, that's poor return for Miller.

 

[DistantThunderRep]

Simmond's was plauged with injuries who knows how he'll recover with a less than stellar playoff track record, considering that's the only thing people are harping Miller on, trading for 1 year of Simmonds makes no sense, you might as well go for picks and prospects by trading Miller.

Miller is still a 25 year old RFA, Simmonds is about to turn 30 and be an UFA next season, that's poor return for Miller.

Diversity hire...

But although, I would like him.

Kessel is available... it would be ridiculous, but Phil the Thrill playing with Kuch...would be either magic or a disaster. But at 6.8 for 4 more years means we have to trade Killorn or Johnson back that way, I don't want to give them Johnson. They probably won't take Killorn.

Edit: Apparently Panarin is also available?

 

[Sky04]

I wanted Simmonds in the past when he had some term and good productions but a single year after this season? Not worth it, guys purely one-dimensional and brings a ton of PIMS.

 

[HoseEmDown]

Simmonds is a declining player. He's also a PP specialist and won't be getting the top PP time here like he has in the past. Killorn was more effective at ES than him last year. The price for him would be too high to make it worth it and we aren't sure how healthy he is. Rather just trade Miller for a 1st + or a RD which we need more than another winger.

 

[These Are The Days]

Simmond's was plauged with injuries who knows how he'll recover with a less than stellar playoff track record, considering that's the only thing people are harping Miller on, trading for 1 year of Simmonds makes no sense, you might as well go for picks and prospects by trading Miller.

Miller is still a 25 year old RFA, Simmonds is about to turn 30 and be an UFA next season, that's poor return for Miller.

Your points are more than fair enough but if we're gonna worry about injuries and how he'll recover then that's all it would've taken to say no to a year of Simon Gagne. I'm not worried about his track record because (to further your point on the injuries) didn't Simmonds come forward and say he had something like 2 or 3 separate injuries he was playing with? I'll take my chances on the sample size being a bit more skewed due to that. And the fact he's a 4 time 25+ goal scorer. At worst he's thus far a 0.5 PPG player in the postseason. Miller on the other hand came with about as many warnings as a blood thinner from the NYR fans and I think few if any of us were surprised when he pulled his usual playoff vanishing act. If anything, not having to deal with whatever extension we'd give Miller is a reward of its own and I would consider Simmonds (even for a year) to be good compensation. The Lightning rarely make bad investments but Simmonds for a year is far from the worst I can think of. If you wanted to say compensation in the form of picks and prospects is better I would have no argument. But the Lightning need something for "win now" while the window is still open. Unless we want to do something crazy and make a move for a guy like Panarin, I don't see what player who "might be available" is a better "win now" option.

 

[These Are The Days]

Simmonds is a declining player. He's also a PP specialist and won't be getting the top PP time here like he has in the past. Killorn was more effective at ES than him last year. The price for him would be too high to make it worth it and we aren't sure how healthy he is. Rather just trade Miller for a 1st + or a RD which we need more than another winger.

J.T Miller is a John Tortorella guy and the CBJ are getting a feel for the market in Panarin...... and there's a few PMD as free agents. Come on Hose.... listen to that devil on your shoulder as it makes bad "an" jokes as well.

 

[Steazy Doo]

Feels like Miller is older then 25.

 

[Sky04]

Miller has also increased his production every year he's been in the league the past 6 years and entering his prime, he has way more value then 1 year of Simmonds.

I doubt Yzerman gets rid of Miller right away, he brings too much versatility but if he did move him the best way to maximize his value is to sign him first.

 

[Rschmitz]

No, but there've been times where he certainly should have, and I think he learned that lesson. Yzerman's let very few UFAs of value walk, regardless of how they were acquired.

We're in a unique spot with Miller. I don't think he was ever part of the Yzerplan, but just happened to fall into our laps. I'm obviously just speculating, but I think Yzerman's gonna try to turn him into something else. Either recoup picks, or go after a different piece of the puzzle.

I'd be okay dealing Miller for picks, but we also have plenty of cap room. One of the first times in a while that it seems like the tea leaves are ripe to bring in a difference maker in the offseason.

 

[Stammertime91]

Karlsson, Panarin, Simmonds ,Tavares, Faulk, etc and many others could all possibly be moved this summer. Yikes.

Panarin is interesting but that would cost us too much.

 

[HoseEmDown]

Karlsson, Panarin, Simmonds ,Tavares, Faulk, etc and many others could all possibly be moved this summer. Yikes.

Panarin is interesting but that would cost us too much.

The only one I would want is Faulk. Karlsson would kill our prospect pool and futures to acquire, then we need to pay him 10+ and will be 29 when he signs that deal. Simmonds is declining but if came cheap I wouldn't mind but the reported ask is too high. Panarin will cost a ton to acquire and will want 9-10mil, rather use that on Kucherov. Tavares makes no sense with Stamkos and Point, sure he's better than both but Stamkos isn't going anywhere, unfortunately, and Point will need a raise soon.

I know the cap is going up but not enough to bring in a near 10mil player, Karlsson, Tavares or Panarin. We need to get Kucherov locked up first and make sure we keep room for Point, Vasilevskiy and Sergachev. We aren't going to get these guys by trading Killorn+, Johnson+ or Palat+. If that was the case I'd be all for it.

 

[Rschmitz]

I disagree. If Tavares wanted to come here, you sign him.

 

[DistantThunderRep]

Here is the real bet for everyone. Does anyone try to sign the Baby Giraffe?