Drouin, Stamkos, Kucherov, Palat, Johnson, Hedman, Bishop, Filppula, Callahan etc. Are all going to take up a lot of salary. I'd say they'll have to let go of at least 2, if not 3. You could argue Filppula, okay, but Callahan I think will stay for leadership purposes, and Stammer isn't going anywhere.I don't think Tampa is going to let him go though
Drouin, Stamkos, Kucherov, Palat, Johnson, Hedman, Bishop, Filppula, Callahan etc. Are all going to take up a lot of salary. I'd say they'll have to let go of at least 2, if not 3. You could argue Filppula, okay, but Callahan I think will stay for leadership purposes, and Stammer isn't going anywhere.
In 3 years this team will be cap-strapped if they do nothing, and you never know what may happen then. Just a thought.
I don't think you can say he's reached his ceiling yet unless he wins the Conn Smythe this year.
He plays smart enough now that I think he'll benefit from experience and maturation. Knowledge and confidence still have room to grow, he can be better.
A Briere type center. Not going to put up 95pts because of the change in league scoring, but very similar skill sets and motors.
The more I watch him the more I think his potential is a perennial top 5 scorer.
If Filppula is in the way of Johnson, he's gone. Full stop. Callahan is only fully protected against trades for the next three years, so if his cap hit is a liability he's gone, too. If Vasya is ready to take the next step in the next two years, Bishop is gone, as well. I'd guess if any of the other guys you listed has to go it will be Palat, and that's only because he doesn't appear to have elite potential at any one thing in particular (just really good at about everything).
Boy did Tampa hit the lotto on this undrafted kid.
BTW, how did they get him, did they sign him out of the WHL? Or did he attend their prospect camp and they liked him? How did it go down.
Does he have star potential? 1st line potential, or a really good 2nd liner potential?
This guy looks like Kyle Wellwood, and he plays like a more feistier Kyle Wellwood. Every time i look at him, i think, this is how good Kyle Wellwood would have been if he was more aggressive in his play.