Speculation: 2024-2025 General Lightning Discussion II: New year, same Cooper shell

[Sky04]

I think we've done a good job at F extending the window, but we are gonna need to figure out how to replace one of the most irreplaceable players in the league (Hedman). Or we need to find a time machine for him.

It doesn't matter, I hope we don't try and plug holes to prolong a rebuild and just go full tear once it's over. We all knew the window was ~3 years left for awhile now. Hedman has at most 2 years left in him, Kucherov will be 33, McDonagh off contract, Point will be 31. Once Point loses a step we're not going to have a top center, Kucherov is going to hang around as a top forward but we're already struggling with him a top-3 record setting forward...don't be the Pens and just tear it down, don't keep blowing futures when your teams clearly out of it.

You can get a kings ransom for Kucherov on his last year and Hagel? that's like 5 first round picks right there.

 

[Point21]

all the commotion during the TB/PIT game the other night

 

[bov]

Not sure if Klingberg still has it, but there's a guy who has played at a 40+ point pace every single year he has been in the NHL, except for the last year he played and got the injury. Could be a nice depth add at no cost.

 

[JTBF81]

If Seattle is making Bjorkstrand available, I really hope JBB does what is needed to acquire him. Grab one of Donato or Kunin for the 3rd line as well, and the F situation is looking much better with this group:
Guentzel-Point-Kuch
Hagel-Cirelli-Bjorkstrand
Donato/Kunin-Paul-Geekie
Ace-Glendening-Chaffee
Girgensons/Finley

Hedman-Moser
McD-Cernak
Dumolin-Raddysh
Lilleberg-Perbix/Crozier

These three adds can be made, and while this team may or may not win the Cup, the F situation above is deeper and provides more flexibility and versatility in line combos throughout. Howard could also potentially fit in late this season/layoffs, but that's no guarantee, so I haven't included him here. I like Dumolin because of his play this season and his playoff experience, but other dmen could be an option for a depth add.

 

[Stammertime91]

We should have signed Foegle for what he got in la 3 x 3.5 . He would be a great addition compared the waste of cap space of Atkinson, Gonglaves, or Sheary when they are on the roster. We have the space and he is what we need in the bottom 6. We need to find a guy or two like him in a trade if we want to make a run. If not this team is getting iced first or second round.

I said Foegele over and over in the summer and a couple posters laughed. He's a solid player for his cap hit. Him and Paul would have been a huge tag team to wear down opponents. Imagine a trio of Foegele, Paul and Geekie on the third.... instead of Sheary in the minors, Atkinson with 7mins TOI and whoever else. We missed on that.

 

[JTBF81]

I said Foegele over and over in the summer and a couple posters laughed. He's a solid player for his cap hit. Him and Paul would have been a huge tag team to wear down opponents. Imagine a trio of Foegele, Paul and Geekie on the third.... instead of Sheary in the minors, Atkinson with 7mins TOI and whoever else. We missed on that.

There was zero room for another 3.5 million player. You subtract all of those guys and add Foegele, great, except now you have a 20 or maybe 21 player roster. It wouldn't have worked at that time.

 

[bov]

If Seattle is making Bjorkstrand available, I really hope JBB does what is needed to acquire him. Grab one of Donato or Kunin for the 3rd line as well, and the F situation is looking much better with this group:
Guentzel-Point-Kuch
Hagel-Cirelli-Bjorkstrand
Donato/Kunin-Paul-Geekie
Ace-Glendening-Chaffee
Girgensons/Finley

Hedman-Moser
McD-Cernak
Dumolin-Raddysh
Lilleberg-Perbix/Crozier

These three adds can be made, and while this team may or may not win the Cup, the F situation above is deeper and provides more flexibility and versatility in line combos throughout. Howard could also potentially fit in late this season/layoffs, but that's no guarantee, so I haven't included him here. I like Dumolin because of his play this season and his playoff experience, but other dmen could be an option for a depth add.

TB has 4 everyday LHD, Dumoulin isn't going to move the needle all that much. Yawn.

Kunin yes, I could see that.

 

[JTBF81]

TB has 4 everyday LHD, Dumoulin isn't going to move the needle all that much. Yawn.

Kunin yes, I could see that.

Dumolin is playing better this season than any of Lilleberg, Raddysh, or Perbix, and since they are playing Moser on the right, he fits in nicely at 3LD. His playoff experience would also be a plus. With retention, he fits in well. Donato is also more likely than Kunin, as Chicago can retain on him so that he costs just 1 million. Dumolin, though, should very much be on the radar, especially since the Ducks will likely make him available. He moves the.needle plenty at 1.5ish for the 3rd pairing.

 

[Lightning1995]

As others have suggested need some grit and a little scoring punch in the bottom six. It’s not gonna be cheap, but maybe something with control is palatable

 

[These Are The Days]

I am becoming genuinely alarmed with how stupid we are with our empty net strategy.

 

[EmptyNetAssassin]

I'd be contacting Utah about bjustad 2.1 million cap hit , Hayron 2.6 million, McBain 1.6 million cap hit, and stenlund 2 million cap hit. All 4 would help bottom 6. We could acquire 1 or 2 with sending packages sheary/atkinson/gonglaves/defense plus picks.

 

[aylib]

Curious what someone like Luke Kunin would cost at the TDL

 

[LTIR Trickery]

I said Foegele over and over in the summer and a couple posters laughed. He's a solid player for his cap hit. Him and Paul would have been a huge tag team to wear down opponents. Imagine a trio of Foegele, Paul and Geekie on the third.... instead of Sheary in the minors, Atkinson with 7mins TOI and whoever else. We missed on that.

Hes in that sweet spot of cost though, anything over 2.5 is damn near impossible for us to fit without moving other people and money around, though i'll agree that he would be a good fit.

 

[LTIR Trickery]

It doesn't matter, I hope we don't try and plug holes to prolong a rebuild and just go full tear once it's over. We all knew the window was ~3 years left for awhile now. Hedman has at most 2 years left in him, Kucherov will be 33, McDonagh off contract, Point will be 31. Once Point loses a step we're not going to have a top center, Kucherov is going to hang around as a top forward but we're already struggling with him a top-3 record setting forward...don't be the Pens and just tear it down, don't keep blowing futures when your teams clearly out of it.

You can get a kings ransom for Kucherov on his last year and Hagel? that's like 5 first round picks right there.

Jesus christ you guys act like we're the 06 Lightning with basically Vinny and Marty, and nobody else on the roster. This team still has about 5ish seasons of opportunity. We're talking about Point like we're going to take him behind the woodshed once he turns 31. The f***?

 

[creg]

I'm pretty optimistic on this team's short term future - we're going into consecutive off-seasons of increased cap space with no big players coming off the books. We're at a point where we can finally address some of the glaring holes in our roster (which hasn't been the case for what like 5 years now?) and have young talent that are taking big steps (who could predict Howard having the season he's having).

When I look at the top of the east, I see no reason why we can't stay a competitive team. The top 5 is Washington, New Jersey, Toronto, Carolina, & Florida, like who of these actually have a core to build around that you would take over Tampa or at least would describe as a significant upgrade over Tampa? JBB certainly has his work cut out for him but look at what a single savvy off-season can do for a team like Washington, who had way worse pieces to build around.

 

[Sky04]

Jesus christ you guys act like we're the 06 Lightning with basically Vinny and Marty, and nobody else on the roster. This team still has about 5ish seasons of opportunity. We're talking about Point like we're going to take him behind the woodshed once he turns 31. The f***?

5 seasons lol ok if we're living in lalaland or if we want to be as dumb as the Penguins are.

I mean it's pretty obvious Point's game is going to take a dive once his speed is gone, gotta replace Hedman, McDonagh, hope Cernak stays healthy while having nothing in the bin. Sounds like a recipe for success 4+ years from now, yup.