Speculation: 2024-2025 General Lightning Discussion II: Farewell 2024

[LTIR Trickery]

Imagine thinking you'd get Kucherov and Cirelli for Draisaitl, lol

 

[bov]

Greenway might have been a good fit from Buffalo but I think he is injured. Zucker is OK but I don't think the team needs another smallish, zippy forward. Lafferty does nothing for me. Cozens would be interesting but not sure if there is enough of a fit to justify the price.

Lindgren is a heart & soul player. I wouldn't mind that, even though he hasn't had the best season or two. But another lefty doesn't seem necessary.

 

[LTIR Trickery]

I have no idea what the ask would be and if we could, but Tuch would be incredible.

 

[DFC]

I have no idea what the ask would be and if we could, but Tuch would be incredible.

I'll bet that would cost Geekie. But yeah, that type of player would make us a contender.

 

[Five Alarm Fire]

I'll bet that would cost Geekie. But yeah, that type of player would make us a contender.

I’m not sure they’d even go for that. Why add a rookie to the mix when culture seems to be the problem?

 

[These Are The Days]

Tuch would cost us a guy like Howard and a 1st probably. I might be okay with that. No more defenders man. We have 4 dudes who can play in a #1 pairing and Raddysh who does it all the time. "moAr DeFEnSe" is not gonna solve a damn thing when we are in year 3 of rolling a bottom of the barrel bottom 6

 

[DFC]

I’m not sure they’d even go for that. Why add a rookie to the mix when culture seems to be the problem?

In the event they are burning it down. Along with the culture.

 

[JTBF81]

Plenty of forwards out there to look at for the middle 6. A depth dman should also be added, with Dumolin an interesting potential target, among others. Tampa could go big for Pettersson, who would give them an amazing left side not only for this season, but for future seasons as well, provided he re-signs. In any case, having defensive depth for a possible deep run is always a good thing.

As far as F's, it probably depends on if they feel Hagel-Cirelli-Geekie is the long-term plan. If yes, I would guess the focus would be on.kore of a 3rd line guy in the "middle 6" range. In that case, candidates such as Gourde, Kuzmenko, O'Connor, Frederic, Evans etc could be solid targets. If they want someone who can be more effective in the top 6 but also play throughout the lines, a player like Vatrano seems worth considering. If more of a top 6 shooter is wanted, Palmieri seems like.a.good target. I'd be good with one of Gourde/Vatrano/Kuzmenko as a F add, and a solid depth add on the.blue line like Dumolin. Vatrano or Kuzmenko would also provide more.flexibility, as.shpild Geekie struggle at times, they could try either Vatrano or Kuzmenko on line 2 where either can be effective as well.

 

[LordStanlersCup]

Plenty of forwards out there to look at for the middle 6. A depth dman should also be added, with Dumolin an interesting potential target, among others. Tampa could go big for Pettersson, who would give them an amazing left side not only for this season, but for future seasons as well, provided he re-signs. In any case, having defensive depth for a possible deep run is always a good thing.

As far as F's, it probably depends on if they feel Hagel-Cirelli-Geekie is the long-term plan. If yes, I would guess the focus would be on.kore of a 3rd line guy in the "middle 6" range. In that case, candidates such as Gourde, Kuzmenko, O'Connor, Frederic, Evans etc could be solid targets. If they want someone who can be more effective in the top 6 but also play throughout the lines, a player like Vatrano seems worth considering. If more of a top 6 shooter is wanted, Palmieri seems like.a.good target. I'd be good with one of Gourde/Vatrano/Kuzmenko as a F add, and a solid depth add on the.blue line like Dumolin. Vatrano or Kuzmenko would also provide more.flexibility, as.shpild Geekie struggle at times, they could try either Vatrano or Kuzmenko on line 2 where either can be effective as well.

Why Kuzmenko?

 

[Rschmitz]

I want a guy for our third line, someone cheap, affordable, with good defensive metrics. Kakko would have been perfect.

If we are acquiring that elusive top 6 guy, he really needs to be a perfect fit and not just a guy on a list.

 

[These Are The Days]

We just need to make a concerted effort to not fall into the same trap we have been.

Chances are once we hit the playoffs we are probably are gonna go right back to "one line does all the scoring" because Coop is gonna tie Cirelli and probably Paul down into a shutdown role. Okay that's fine. What about the other guys?

The kitchen sink is gonna get thrown at Kucherov no matter what. We can't afford to have our whole offense shut down again in the event that Geekie and Hagel are not up to the task. So. We need to either address the bottom 6 directly so this DOESN'T happen and we can roll the Cirelli line as a scoring option because we have bottom 6 help to grind away. Or we make a play for another scorer so Hagel and Geekie do not get left on an island while the Cirelli line can grind all Cooper wants.

I understand why the coaching staff wants to play this way. But the problem has been we were shutting ourselves down playing this way vs Florida and Toronto and not them.

There's a few ways we can slice this but again. That's what we have to avoid

 

[Soul Assumption]

Objectively the best options on the market are Vatrano and Granlund. But Vatrano will cost 1st and Granlund even more. Not sure if it's worth it.

I want a guy for our third line, someone cheap, affordable, with good defensive metrics.

Honestly Gourde is probably the only one who meets the requirements.

 

[Rschmitz]

Gourde would be an acceptable target, but I don't think we'd be able to outbid another team for him, mostly because we'd need them to retain 50% and then things start getting expensive.

I'm not against paying blue chips, but we would need to find an ideal guy, and by that I don't mean Tanner Jeannot.

 

[JTBF81]

Why Kuzmenko?

He's still a solid middle 6 winger with plenty of upside. He can play on the 2nd or 3rd line, and his acquisition cost should be lessened because he's having a.rough start this season. He should at least be on Tampa's short list, even if they don't make a deal for him.

 

[JTBF81]

Vatrano or Granlund is probably worth including the '26 1st for (with some protections), as is Palmieri if Tampa is going for a scoring winger, provided the team feels like re-signing the player is likely. They should not be including the 1st imo for any of Gourde, Kuzmenko, or anyone else lower on the potentially available ufa list. Of course if JBB is interested in a.big blueline add such as Pettersson, then the '26 1st will be needed there more than likely. I'd rather spend a mid round pick and something smallish for s depth dman, and use the 1st, if it's moved at all, for the F piece.

 

[Rschmitz]

He's still a solid middle 6 winger with plenty of upside. He can play on the 2nd or 3rd line, and his acquisition cost should be lessened because he's having a.rough start this season. He should at least be on Tampa's short list, even if they don't make a deal for him.

What happened to him to cause such a drop off in production? I haven't caught many west coast games over the last two years.

 

[JTBF81]

What happened to him to cause such a drop off in production? I haven't caught many west coast games over the last two years.

I don't watch him a great deal, but I know he's usually much better than the 1+9 stat line he has this season. Perhaps a change of scenery could be good for him. I'd rather get one of Vatrano, Gourde, or maybe Palmieri, but he'd still be a player to consider.

 

[These Are The Days]

We need to shoot higher than Gourde. I gave it another thought and Tuch on a line with Hagel centered by Geekie would be a f***ing nightmare to deal with. Coop could roll the Cirelli and Paul duo to shut down line 1 while Hedman and McDonagh almost never leave the ice.

It may be crazy enough to work

 

[bov]

Either go after a true impact player or add an element that the team is lacking. No interest whatsoever in another little hustle guy.

If it's someone for the lower lines, shoot for someone like Kunin or Olivier who can actually bring some bite along with being able to play the game.

 

[LordStanlersCup]

He's still a solid middle 6 winger with plenty of upside. He can play on the 2nd or 3rd line, and his acquisition cost should be lessened because he's having a.rough start this season. He should at least be on Tampa's short list, even if they don't make a deal for him.

A lot of his production comes on the PP and he would be on the 2nd unit for us which hasn't been getting played a lot recently. Also I know he was getting healthy scratched for how bad he was defensively but I don't know if thats improved. The general sentiment in Flames threads about him isn't great.

 

[Rschmitz]

I have no idea what the ask would be and if we could, but Tuch would be incredible.

Tuch would be incredible, and it's realistic with him making less than 5 for another year.

If Buffalo is dealing their young studs however, this is the one I want



I'd put everything on the table for this kid, and he's signed for another 5 years on a reasonable deal.

 

[JTBF81]

A lot of his production comes on the PP and he would be on the 2nd unit for us which hasn't been getting played a lot recently. Also I know he was getting healthy scratched for how bad he was defensively but I don't know if thats improved. The general sentiment in Flames threads about him isn't great.

He's having a rough start to the year, not concerned. He'll cost less in both what it costs to acquire and likely, his next deal. He's also young enough that even if he signs a long term deal, it won't take him into his late 30's. I'd rather not have to win an expensive bidding war for some mid 30's player. Vatrano is a player I have ahead of him who is still also young enough, and he's probably the best target for what Tampa needs. If Anaheim makes him available, and Tampa is willing to pay the highest price, then I'd go for him. If not, then Kuzmenko is certainly one of likely 6 or 7 names they should be considering.

 

[Todd1a]

I have no idea what the ask would be and if we could, but Tuch would be incredible.

Probably like Howard a 1st and something else

Tuch would cost us a guy like Howard and a 1st probably. I might be okay with that. No more defenders man. We have 4 dudes who can play in a #1 pairing and Raddysh who does it all the time. "moAr DeFEnSe" is not gonna solve a damn thing when we are in year 3 of rolling a bottom of the barrel bottom 6

Ya i honestly think we need two forwards at the deadline if we actually want to be a real serious team come playoff time

 

[JTBF81]

Probably like Howard a 1st and something else


Ya i honestly think we need two forwards at the deadline if we actually want to be a real serious team come playoff time

1 F should be enough. There are already two scoring lines, so opponents won't be able to just throw everything at Kuch thks season. As long as Hagel-Cirelli-Geekie remain solid, one additional F to pair with Paul and one of Chaffee/Goncalves.shoild.be morr than enough to give a team that is already at or.near the top of the league offensively a real chance. One F and one dman seems best, as the defense could still use a little better depth as well in case of injury.

 

[JTBF81]

I also highly doubt that the Sabres are going to entertain offers on either Tuch or Thompson, and the amount of futures/players that Tampa would have to give up would be crippling to the future.