With the Olympic break now upon us, the trade deadline is less than a month away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We begin our look around the league with teams that have clear plans at the extremes of the standings, this time with the Lightning.
An aging core with extensive injury issues usually isn’t a recipe for success. No one’s told that to the Lightning, who’ve been one of the most consistent clubs in the league after starting the year on a 1-4-2 skid. They’ve lost nearly 70 man-games just from star players like Andrei Vasilevskiy, Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Anthony Cirelli, and Victor Hedman, but still rank top-five in both goals for and goals against while allowing the seventh-fewest shots per game in the league. In a wide-open Eastern Conference, they have as good a chance as anyone to make their fourth Stanley Cup Final appearance in seven years.
Record
37-14-4, 1st in the Atlantic (99.92% playoff probability)
Deadline Status
Buyer
Deadline Cap Space
$3.84MM on deadline day, 0/3 retention slots used, 47/50 contracts used, per PuckPedia.
Upcoming Draft Picks
2026: TBL 2nd, TBL 3rd, SEA 5th, TBL 5th, TBL 6th, TBL 7th
2027: TBL 2nd, TBL 3rd, TBL 4th, TBL 6th, TBL 7th
Trade Chips
Unlike in years past, the Bolts’ arsenal of draft picks isn’t completely drained. They don’t have their firsts for the next two years, but they do still have one in 2028. With the Artemi Panarin trade potentially setting a precedent for a buyer’s market, that may not matter too much if the Bolts follow their usual M.O. of opting for depth over flash at the deadline. The firsts they’re missing, though, went to acquiring players who are still contributing this season – Oliver Bjorkstrand and Yanni Gourde.
General manager Julien BriseBois was seemingly interested in landing a big fish this time around in Panarin, though. However, with Tampa’s player acquisition approach usually centering around a hyper-specific approach, it’s unrealistic to expect that eagerness to apply to just anyone.
High-value, middle-six forwards with term will remain attractive. In doing so, they’ll need to put forth a package in which the most attractive asset is worth more than a mid-to-late second-round pick. If they were in anything close to legitimate talks to acquire Panarin, even as a rental, they had to at least breach the subject of flipping their new top prospect. Tampa acquired center Sam O’Reilly from the Oilers last summer in a swap of late first-round picks last offseason. The 32nd overall pick in the 2024 draft, O’Reilly is in his final junior season in the OHL and was recently traded by the London Knights to the Kitchener Rangers. He hasn’t shown overwhelming offensive development since his draft year, but he was always touted as a safe, two-way third-line agitator with good vision.
If, for example, Tampa were to pursue a reunion with Flames winger Blake Coleman, they’d likely need to leverage O’Reilly to get him. The retooling Flames are under no imminent pressure to move him, since his deal runs through next season at a $4.9MM cap hit, and their ask from Tampa would likely be higher anyway, since Calgary would need to retain money on Coleman if they’re not taking a roster player back. They gave up a first-round pick to get him from the Devils back in 2020 and, while they don’t have a close one to spare this time around, O’Reilly could hold similar value.
Any trade the Bolts make is unlikely to involve a roster player of any consequence going the other way. They’ve been hanging on by a thread due to injuries for most of the campaign anyway and, while some expert coaching from Jon Cooper has kept their underlying numbers on the up-and-up throughout, making any meaningful subtraction from their depth – unless they’re bringing in multiple pieces like last year’s Bjorkstrand/Gourde pickup from Seattle – is antithetical to the Bolts’ usual preferences. One name they could have more comfortably leveraged, center Jack Finley, was just claimed off waivers by the Blues.
Behind O’Reilly, Tampa’s prospect pool was regarded as one of the weakest in the league entering the season. Years of contention will do that. That notion has been somewhat salvaged by an incredible breakout from 2025 fourth-rounder Benjamin Rautianen, though. In his native Finland, the 20-year-old center has exploded for 17 goals and 61 points in 46 games with Tappara, leading the Liiga in scoring. Expecting the Bolts to be willing to lose both O’Reilly and Rautianen in one trade deadline might simply be too much risk for a team without much else in the pipeline, though.
Team Needs
Third-Line Piece: It just so happens that Tampa’s preferred deadline target continues to make too much sense this time around. A down year for Point and injuries to him and Cirelli make their depth chart look thin down the middle at the moment, but at full strength, that’s not a concern. Finding someone to bump a more offensively limited name like Gage Goncalves out of a top-nine role on the wing, though, would be a legitimately helpful addition to an offense that already ranks fourth in the league at the Olympic break. Coleman makes sense, as could pending UFA Michael Bunting out of Nashville.
Right-Shot Depth On Defense: Tampa doesn’t need a needle-mover on the blue line. Darren Raddysh‘s breakout this season has ensured that. Still, he and Erik Černák are the only two righties in the system capable of playing NHL minutes in the postseason on a regular basis. Maxwell Crozier is a fine depth option, but expecting him to step into the top four in case Černák or Raddysh gets hurt – or dealing with some chemistry issues by icing so many lefties – isn’t a great thought. An experienced rental 3RD option for a mid-round pick, like Connor Murphy or a reunion with Luke Schenn, might be a shrewd move.
Image courtesy of Perry Nelson-Imagn Images.
The Lighting could use scoring depth and grit. See Blake Coleman.
They need someone who can win faceoffs, has size….see Michael McCarron.
It is funny how according to the experts, they lighting have one of the weakest prospect pools, but have managed to rely upon its depth, especially on the blue line, to play better without Hedman, McDonough and Cernak for most of the season.
The only thing that has stopped the Lightning this decade is the wear and tear of their long playoff runs.
So your theory is that the Lightning got eliminated in the first round in 2025 because they had long playoff runs in 20,21, and 22?
Unlike Florida in this era of escalating salary cap. The lightning not only had long runs 2020 thru 2022. They also had 3 other runs to the cup final and 2 conference finals 2015 thru 2020.
To my point. They lost many players to cap when cap went flat for 4 years.
Either way. They are fine now and will remain very competitive moving forward
Based on reports, GM Julien BriseBois seems intrigued on grabbing a big name that benefits the team now and into the future. They’ve been linked to Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou, both with term. Worth noting, BriseBois is also working with St. Louis GM Doug Armstrong on Canada’s Olympic team, so one can assume there has been talks on potential possibilities down the road.
Depth players though tend to be Tampa’s MO during the trade deadline. Players like Blake Coleman, Michael Bunting and Michael McCarron would be the typical exemplary targets. All three have been linked to Tampa but there are some sticking points with all three players.
Tampa has reportedly been dangling out players like top prospect Sam O’Reilly, Gage Goncalves, and Emil Lilliberg as potential trade candidates in any type of deal(s).
Benjamin Rautianen though I don’t see Tampa moving as he’s an offensive dynamo according to scouting reports and truly a hidden gem prospect nabbed in the draft. O’Reilly is the candidate to be moved if something is going to happen.
I wonder what impact there will be to the cap for Finley vacating his lease…..I mean defaulting on the imaginary house he bought with 2 other teammates?
I think St. Louis sent back a 24 year old local gamer to Tampa to take his spot with James and Dastous…for future considerations….
You’re still harping on that?…Get over it, already.
Tampa needs 3rd line scoring badly.
They could use some help, but if they get healthy and everyone slots down, they should be fine.
I’m baffled by the thought of the Bolts needing a D Man. And even more baffled by the Bolts bringing back Schenn? He was awful the first time he was here and is worse now! No thank you!
Also why would they need him. They have too many good D Men now. Moser, Raddy, McD, Heddy, Cernak, D’Astous, Crozier, Lilleberg (coming back soon), and Carlisle. With also Maxim ready in Syracuse. After switching from a F to D he’s turned into a good D Man. He made a few appearances this year with the Bolts and brings that quick puck carrying D Man they don’t have. JBB needs to move a D Man, not trade for one. This D was actually better when slower McD and Heddy were injured. Heddy has a full NTC but McD has a minimum NTC this year before his extension kicks in with a full NTC. JBB is great but that 3 year McD extension for an older slower Player was a bad move. I like McD but trade him to a D needy Playoff Team for prospect/s or pick/s then move those and other prospects/picks for Coleman or a player you want. I wouldn’t move O’Reilly, Rautianen, or Geekie. Bolts don’t need a top player. Just a strong face off man. JBB will use the Bjorkstrand money coming off at year’s end and a little money off the rise in the Cap to resign Raddy who will probably command $5-6 M a year, with the year he’s having. That Moser/Raddy pairing is one of the best in the NHL. Need to keep it together.
More than anything the Bolts need a good face off man. Maybe you trade for Toews and a younger player in Lambert in those 2 player deals JBB loves. Moving McD solves their D logjam, and opens up $6 M in cap space this year when moving him to bring back a good player we need making money.
While I agree with certain things you say, there are other things I disagree with completely.
1.) Getting rid of Ryan McDonagh is highly misguided and arguably a stupid move. McDonagh/Cernak is one of the best shutdown lines in the NHL. McDonagh’s leadership and immense playoff experience is highly valuable for a team and anyone that says otherwise is gravely mistaken. Unfortunately, McDonagh got a freak puck hit to the foot which sidelined him but typically McDonagh is quite durable. Also, when Tampa didn’t have McDonagh when he was with Nashville, it showed how much they missed him. Also, Andrei Vasilevskiy playing at an elite level has covered up the flaws in the defensive games of the younger defensemen as guys like Hedman, McDonagh, Cernak etc help take the pressure off of Vasy.
2.) If Tampa moves a D-man it will be either Declan Carlilie or Emil Lilliberg according to reports. The odds are for Carlilie to be moved who’s a UFA and Tampa could use him as a trade chip for another player or for some draft capital.
3.) They should consider moving Sam O’Reilly especially if it can help get them a prime player like a Robert Thomas or a Jordan Kyrou (both of which Tampa has reportedly shown interest in). Also, Tampa has another high end prospect in Ethan Czata as moving O’Reilly won’t have much impact.
4.) There is no guarantee Tampa moves on from Oliver Bjorkstrand who’s starting to find his rhythm as he has produced 27 points so far. If Tampa can get him for around $3 to $4 million (lower 4s) then he could end up staying.
5.) Darren Raddysh isn’t worth $5 to $6 million especially to a player who’s never scratched over a million dollar deal prior. He’s around $3 to maybe $4 million (which may be stretching it). Yes, he’s having a breakout year but I don’t expect his high numbers to continue like this afterwards. I think on average he will be a 30 point guy but he’s not consistently going to be a 50 to 60 point player.
6.) Yes, they need another face-off guy but Jonathan Toews isn’t the answer by any means. Going after someone like a Michael McCarron from Nashville or a Cody Glass from New Jersey would bring more value then Toews who should retire.
Where to begin….
1. You can offer Raddysh 3 mm all you want. Someone will pay him. There is probably room in the middle for lower salary and more term. This puts Tampa in a bind, because Kucherov will go insane if they let him walk too.
2. I don’t know if you get rid of McDonough. The reality is you can not. He and Cernak need to be split up. As evidenced during playoff hockey or fast opponents, they lack the ability to win foot races and tranistion puck. its not personal…its father time. Pair them up with someone younger who can skate, and there is value. Crozier/Carlyle and McDonough….Dastous and Cernak.
3. You do not move Carlyle. Cernak based on play should be odd man out. However, he is a right shot. Lileberg likely guy to go, sadly.
4. Oliver is a good guy, but he is gone whether trade or as UFA. Glad he is contributing of late, but has not matched overall expectations.
5. Not sure how you get Kyrou and/or Thomas.
6. O’Reilly goes nowhere, see comments below. He is the second coming of Anthony Cirelli.
Good points. Agree with almost everything. They won’t let Raddy walk. With Bjorkstrand’s $5.5 M coming off next year and the Cap going up, there will be at least $8-9 M to resign Raddy. It should only take $5 or $6 M tops. I think he wants to stay and as long as we match his best offer he gets the no State Tax help in Florida that most teams can’t offer. The only other teams that have that luxury are the Panthers, Vegas, Nashville. Panthers and Vegas are in worse Team Salary than us and up against the Cap. I don’t think a Nashville team in a semi rebuild is the best spot for him. So I think he stays. He is priority #1 in Free Agency for us.
You made a good point on Cernak being one of our Right handed D Men. But you can’t move him anyway for the next three years as he has a full NTC those years. Same for Heddy. And McD’s new extension is full NTC for three years. Can’t have those three older slow D Men for the next three years. McD is the only one that can be moved now as this year’s contract he has a minimum 10 or 12 Team NTC. That’s why I say trade him now while you can. When he has value. Because two years from now when he skates like a sloth and fragile like glass he will have zero trade value. He’ll also be eating up $4+ M a year being a 6/7 D Man. Heddy will be just as slow and fragile but he has that full NTC for the rest of his deal. But we’re stuck with Heddy’s Full NTC. Those two players could doom our D from 2027-2030 and eat up a lot of Cap. That’s why McD must be moved.
Respectfully disagree with you and think many of your points are stupid. I’m a Bolts fan and have a 10 game plan and watch every game.
1. This isn’t McD of last Season. This team was struggling defensively and 10-8 this year when he when he was playing before injury. They were giving up too many SOG per game when he and Hedman were playing. This Season was turned around with the young D Men who played great and lowered the team’s SOG when McD and Hedman were out. Not sure if you know this but as you age you get slower. McD gives up the Blue Line so easily to most attackers because he doesn’t have the speed to stay with them. He’s good at blocking shots and in the corners but he and Cernak have trouble clearing the puck out of the Zone. Cernak played great when paired with D’Astous. Do you realize how great and quick puck moving this D has been without slower Bolts McD and Heddy. Their record without them speaks VOLUMES. Any Bolts fan will tell you that.
2. I’d move Lilliberg as he hasn’t been part of the young D that has turned our Season around. Carlisle has been one of those young D Men who’s turned this season around. You don’t fix what isn’t broken. If McD has the great value you say he does he’s the one to move. This team has plenty of Playoff experience without him. Hate to burst your bubble but Raddy is way more valuable and better than McD at this stage of their careers. I’ll speak more about that in point 5.
3. This Team’s Prospect pool is thin. O’Reilly is the two way player Coop and JBB love and this team is built on. He fits what Cooper’s system relies on. You have to be a two way player to be a Bolt. Just because we have Czata, a Prospect pool needs more than one or two players to balance out a Team with Vets. Most of our Team is built with our home grown prospects. O’Reilly, Czata, Rautianen, or Geekie shouldn’t be moved and need to be the next group of young players coming up to replace Vets as they get older. I prefer bringing up a Pelletier (a talented former 1st Round Pick) who’s 4th in the AHL in scoring (20G 26A and a +18 in Syracuse) than trading for another Offensive Player. He deserves it as does Geekie who’s been a good line mate with him (13G 28 A and a +13).
4. Bjorkstrand has been a disappointment and most Bolts reporters and fans are frustrated with him. He’s been moved up and down on almost every line to get him going and he hasn’t performed as he should. His 27 points are OK but his -6 on a Team with only two players with a negative +/- speak volumes. He and Nick Paul are the only two. That’s very Bad! You don’t bring back guys who haven’t performed for you.
5. First off Raddy has the hardest shot for an NHL D Man. Reminds me of Stamkos hammer, even though they play different positions. Some players take a few years and/or the right pairing or opportunity to show their full potential. Raddy is showing that. When Hedman went down he got that opportunity to play with Moser and they are one of the best D Pairings in the NHL. Moser played with Hedman since he has been here. It didn’t really help Moser. Moser now has a +39 and Raddy a +17. They stop opponents at the Blue Line and move the puck out of the zone and up the ice with ease and fluently. Love watching this D pairing. Think you’re disrespecting a guy who is finally showing his potential. 17 goals from a D Man with a monster shot and good passing skills isn’t a fluke. He’s twice as valuable as your beloved McD. This first unit PP struggled with Heddy running it. It’s so much better with Raddy running it. You’re basing Raddy’s upcoming contract on his past years and not on this year. He will be a top 3 D Man Free Agent and get paid. You say you don’t expect him to keep playing like this but fully expect McD to play like he did last year. 29 year old D Men in their prime play better and 37 year old D Men decline. Just life and facts. McD’s 3 year extension will age like milk in our Tampa Sun. Aging and almost 40 makes you slower and more injury prone. His long term injury and average play this year proves that. Raddy will get $5+ M a year and hopefully it’s here. In 2027 if McD is still here and Raddy leaves as a Free Agent it will be a major mistake and downfall for this team. Quote me on that. You seem to love very older players. Should we bring Marty back for his Playoff experience. lol
6. This team has one major downfall. Faceoffs! When Point and Cirelli come back our Offense will be fine Offensively. We are more than fine on D and in Goal. A good face off man like Toews (#3 in NHL in face off win %) would be a good get for this team. We don’t need to bring in a big money star while trading away prospects and draft picks we really don’t have and cant afford. Glass is an above average face off guy at a 48 win %. McCarron is good at 54.5% but he offers nothing else. Toews has the #3 NHL face off win % at 61% and offers decent third line offense. And the Playoff experience you love. Winnepeg will just be looking to unload the contract and won’t expect much back. I’ll take Toews over McCarron. I only got critical with you because you got critical with me. At the end of the day JBB will do what he thinks is best whether we like it or not. So let’s wait to see what he does.
Wow…arrogance and being rude is your thing. Okay, I can match that. So let’s begin.
1.) You stated: “I’m a Bolts fan and have a 10 game plan and watch every game.”
What is this supposed to prove? LOL! This doesn’t mean sh!t. I’m also Bolts fan and watch every game including preseason and etc. That doesn’t make you some elite know it all and what not. Cut that crap, it doesn’t give you any more validation or extra credibility.
2.) First off, Ryan McDonagh isn’t going anywhere. JBB wouldn’t have extended him if they didn’t want him back or see him as a valid piece moving forward. Based on JBB’s interview you’re 100% wrong. Also, starting next season, he has a NMC for his entire new contract so him being moved is about as likely as dinosaurs resurrecting. Secondly, your entire theory is flawed and misguided on many levels. You’re using McD’s numbers of this season which is laughable and poorly ill-advised as McD played primarily only in October this season before the freak foot injury. If you didn’t know, Tampa was horrible in October as a team overall and there is a laundry list of how that affects a team defensively. I’m not going to get into all that as I could be here for quite awhile. In addition, the defense got way better when Andrei Vasilevskiy got back to his elite level of play. Vasilevskiy covers a lot of flaws in Tampa’s defense as every analyst will tell you that.
2.) Declan Carlile will probably be the one moved if not at the trade deadline, he’ll hit free agency this summer. The only way he stays is if Darren Raddysh isn’t brought back this summer. Actually, Carlile metrics are not great by any means his RELXGF% is -6.7; REL CF% is -6.2, etc. But then again, Emil Lilliberg isn’t much better either RELXGF% is -7.6; REL CF% is -1.9, etc. Ironically, the guy you want to get rid of so bad (thankfully you’re not the GM) in McD has better metrics than both of them this season as his RELXGF% is +7.7; REL CF% is -2.1, etc. I could go deeper into the metrics and McD is even better. Furthermore, you really underestimate playoff experience which speaks volumes as you can never have too many guys with playoff experience as you can ask any GM that but I’ll digress. Worst of all, you want to get rid of a guy who has better value which is counterintuitive especially if you want to compete for a Stanley Cup.
3.) You talk about the prospect pool, Yes, Sam O’Reilly fits the mold of what Tampa likes but here’s the reality check, he’s not going to help Tampa anytime soon. If JBB can flip him for a high end player in a package deal for say Jordan Kyrou or Robert Thomas for examples that can help now and further into the future in keeping their playoff window open, you can bet your a$$ they’ll move him out ASAP. Yes, Tampa’s best talents typically come from home grown prospects but Tampa has proven they don’t need 1st round caliber players to make a player highly effective nor potentially a top end player. Actually, none of Tampa’s best offensive players are 1st round caliber picks. Tampa’s about winning now, end of story.
4.) Oliver Bjorkstrand hasn’t lived up to what Tampa has been hoping for though he had been finding his groove just prior to the Olympic break. Will they bring him back? It’s 50/50 pending how he performs finishing the season and playoffs. We’ll see where that goes. But however, based on your “theory” we should get rid of Nick Paul as well just because of the +/- differential which has many variables to it and isn’t all on the player. JBB has even talked about this.
5.) First off, you don’t need to explain to me about Darren Raddysh and his history and so forth. Your arrogance is obnoxious. I’m not going to get into your whole rambling in subject #5 as your theory’s explanations in a number of ways is highly superficial, if not flawed or wrong but I’ll just talk about Raddysh’s situation. JBB isn’t going to overpay for Raddysh nor is he going to just throw mounds of money towards him. JBB is currently evaluating Raddysh’s value and worth (he’s even stated it himself). What you are forgetting is Tampa made Raddysh who he is now. Raddysh is having a great season but 1 great season doesn’t mean overpay or overreacting which Tampa isn’t going to do. You would as you come across rather surface level with things. JBB will make an offer that he feels is worthy to Raddysh as he will either accept it or hit the market. Tampa has shown they’re not afraid of moving on from players if it doesn’t fit their financial agenda whether you like it or not.
6.) Yes, faceoffs are a problem but we don’t need a 37 year old Jonathan Toews. Unless Tampa goes for a top-six center who specializes in faceoffs than more than likely they want a faceoff guy who’s a bottom six player who also has size and physicality which is what you want in the playoffs. Hence, for a Michael McCarron who Tampa has a reported interest in unlike Toews. Also, when you get into the metrics between the 2 players there isn’t a massive substantial difference by any means. If not McCarron, they could go after Aatu Räty from Vancouver or possibly a Vincent Trocheck (who Tampa has also shown interest in). Both them would be of more value than Toews would. Might as well bring back Luke Glendening if we’re bringing back players well past their primes and are more reserve players at this point. I mean Glendening has a better +/- differential than Toews does (as do the other 3 names). I only got critical with you because you actually got arrogant and condescending with me which I didn’t appreciate. At the end of the day, JBB and Tampa will do what they feel is best but based on our views, may seem more in line to their agenda. Good day.
First off don’t come on here and try to 💩 on me. Not cool. You also need to look in the mirror. Your entire post is arrogant and rude. If you notice I said “I respectfully disagree”. I used stupid because you called some of my Comments stupid. So you can F Off. You are an arrogant know it all that thinks they know more than everyone else and can’t respect others opinions. You should probably stay in your Parent’s basement playing video games, eating Cheetos, and beating off to Trans Porn. Running your mouth doesn’t work for a 💩 like you.
1. I mentioned my game plan and watching every game to say that I’m not some average fan or someone who isn’t a Bolts fan. Read my post again. I never said that I know more than anyone. You said that about me, not me. Actually you bragged about watching every game and even Preseason. You are the definition of a hypocrite! I try to be nice but I don’t appreciate your attitude. I don’t care for this but FYI I live in Tampa and 6’3, work out 5 days a week, train in Kenpo, and played hockey. I’ve been in fights in and off the Ice and if you want to meet up and talk 💩 let me know the place and time. Love to straighten things out with you. F’n big mouth. Not being an online tough guy. I will actually meet you.
You have 2 2.’s so I’ll make this 2A. You think everything JBB says in interviews and press conferences is the exact truth. Lol. He’ll never say exactly what he’s thinking to the Press. Wake up. I didn’t say McD was going anywhere. Once again you’re saying things I never said. I said he should be moved now because he has some value and it’s the last year before his full team NTC kicks in. I know he has a full NTC in his new 3 year extension and will be impossible to move. That was the point I was making but you ignored that. You don’t read or comprehend what I and other people say. You have selective listening skills. Or none. You just love to hear and read what you think. All you hear is the BS you spew. They were 10-8 with McD when he played through October. The Bolts record and SOG against drastically improved when he was out. Vasi was good but it was a better D that turned this Team around. And without McD and his slow sluggish play and giving up the Blue Line to every attacker. You must’ve forgot the extra year extension that JBB gave D’Astous because of his strong play. Speaking of analysts, the Chief did broadcasts in the Section where my seats are. I had many a conversation with him off air and still email with him to this day. So I know what at least one analyst thinks. He and I have many similar views. I actually get some good insight and knowledge from him.
2. Carlile isn’t being moved. He has little value. He’s a 6th/7th D Man that will bring back nothing of significance. You say the only way he stays is if Raddy isn’t brought back. When you are a UFA we don’t retain his rights, lol. If he was an RFA we do. Do you understand the difference? If Raddy leaves you think Carlile says oh I have to help out the Bolts because they’re losing Raddy. lol. No he will sign wherever he will get the best offer. We could lose both Raddy and Carlile. What a dope you are.
3. This is the funniest comment of all. LMFAO. I’m still laughing. Do you know there is a hard Salary Cap in the NHL. Don’t you know you can’t go over the Salary Cap? Both Kyrou and Thomas are making $10.5 M this year and an AAV of $8+ M through 30/31. How are the Bolts fitting either player under the Cap when we have no room. LMFAO. This isn’t Fantasy Hockey. Also neither Player is worth that money which is why both of their teams will move them. They would also be the highest paid Player on the Team. We also have to resign Kuch in a couple of years. They’ll need the Cap Space for that. Your stupidity is too F’n funny!
4. Bjorkstrand won’t be brought back at all. You don’t resign underperforming players who will require a $4-$5 M contract when you have 4 players ready to take his spot next year (Pelletier, Geekie, Duke, or Chafee). As I said there is a hard Salary Cap. You have to balance out inexpensive younger talented Players with your higher paid stars and Vets. You need to do some research on the Salary Cap. You seem to ignore it or not understand how it works. Also lying again and putting words in my mouth. I never said to get rid of Nick Paul. I just said that he and Bjorkstrand had the two worst +/- on the Team. If you were a reporter I’d be suing you for all your misquotes. Lying about what I said doesn’t make your argument more credible.
5. Once again you talk like you are JBB or his AGM when you’re just some blowhard fan. You don’t know how much he’ll pay to resign Raddy or what his thinking is. I don’t know either, I just state facts and opinions. Fact is Raddy has been one of the best two way D Men this year. Also the Moser/Raddy Pairing is by far the best on this Team and a top pairing in the League. Moser has showed how good he can be not playing in Heddy’s shadow and his contract extension JBB gave him showed that. The Bolts didn’t make Raddy. He got pulled out of being the 6th D Man on a bad 3 D pairing and took his talents to the 1st Pairing and the #1 PP Unit. And the #1 PP unit has been better with Raddy than Heddy. This isn’t a fluke. He’s always had a great shot and scoring ability but never got to prove it on the 3rd D Pairing and no PP unit. Any fan who watched this team would know that and the proof is play, scoring, +/-, any stat, and the team’s record since he went to the first D Pairing. From your dopey comments it seems you’d rather keep an underachiever like Bjorkstrand instead of a guy who is playing great and could be on the verge of being a star in this league. Shows your idiocy and ignorance.
6. Funny how you say we don’t need a 37 year old Toews. But we need a McD through ages 37-39. Also you talked about how important it was to have McD’s Playoff experience. But Toews Playoff experience means nothing. You HYPOCRITE! Can’t have your cake and eat it to. Also Toews is #3 in Faceoff Win %. Better than any of the Players you mention. Also Toews will cost minimal in trade and is only under contract for the rest of this year. Maybe instead of being overly sensitive you should step back and comprehend what I was saying and not draw your own conclusions and make up lies about what I said. You make some valid points but so do I. So maybe respect that and you’ll get the respect back.
Moser is becoming the Duncan Keith I thought he would become.
Yeah so many were excited when we got Geekie in that trade. I told everyone Moser was the best player in that deal. He was already a better Defensive Player than Serg but had untapped Offensive potential that we’re now seeing. Great passer and mover of the puck. Great vision and at positioning himself. No weakness in his game. He’s one of my favorite players, and watching him and Raddy working together is so fun to watch.
Overall, right now, they have good problems. They can afford to wait and see where their overall team health is near the deadline and make a move then.
If we can add McCarron and Coleman at deadline, I would be happy, assuming everyone else is healthy.
When they were struggling, I was on record asking them to recall James and Dastous….. Geekie may get a recall soon as well.