Speculation: 2025-2026 Offseason Thread 2: it's not about the size but how you use it edition

[creg]

Another perimeter forward, 19 points in 48 NHL postseason games. I mean righthanded shot is nice, but it's not an electric howitzer either. He's not the answer.

maybe not the answer but an answer, rakell's not a monster but he had more hits than hagel + cirelli combined and plays a great defensive game


like he’s not a perfect player by any means but he does check a lot of boxes and was pretty noticeable in the 4 nations I thought

 

[DistantThunderRep]

Yep, I just don't think the draft has to be the deadline.

I do think if anybody does want him, the summer is their best bet so they can get him to camp and have him compete for a roster spot. I don't believe Howard wants to go back to Mighigan State either if he can land in a spot that will take him right away to the NHL.

So trade for him when he has full ability to just walk away? How does that increase his value for us? Trading him anytime after July 1st is just dwindling returns. Howard in general has more leverage than JBB does. Trading him before the draft, makes that another teams problem and not ours.

 

[More 2004]

Let the Jets do that shit. We don't need another Kunitz and Morrow so we can dick around and run the Cooper shell all game

Kunitz and morrow couldn't hold toews jock. People are pointing to how toews looked in his last couple seasons when he had been struggling through long covid. I'd give him a shot on a 1 year prove it. Dude has heart. Thats for damn sure.

 

[Felonious Python]

So trade for him when he has full ability to just walk away? How does that increase his value for us? Trading him anytime after July 1st is just dwindling returns. Howard in general has more leverage than JBB does. Trading him before the draft, makes that another teams problem and not ours.

I figure that any trade would pretty much require Howard committing to sign with his new organization.

It seems that being scratched in the World Championships didn't substantially sway him.

 

[DistantThunderRep]

I figure that any trade would pretty much require Howard committing to sign with his new organization.

It seems that being scratched in the World Championships didn't substantially sway him.

That still leaves the leverage with Howard, which in turn doesn't help his value in return. It's what I have been saying for a bit now. Howard's value now isn't what people here think.

 

[Todd1a]

Toews replacing Glendening I can see but not something I'm really mulling over, he's not going to be a top 6 guy and not someone I'm thinking we absolutely need to address.

I think we need his leadership in the locker room ! Others aren’t getting it done

 

[RSchmitz PhD]

maybe not the answer but an answer, rakell's not a monster but he had more hits than hagel + cirelli combined and plays a great defensive game


like he’s not a perfect player by any means but he does check a lot of boxes and was pretty noticeable in the 4 nations I thought

First time I've ever heard him called a great defensive player, I don't think he's touched ice on the PK his entire NHL career. Hits are fine I guess.

I would have happily acquired him before Bjorkstrand, but now?

 

[RSchmitz PhD]

I think we need his leadership in the locker room ! Others aren’t getting it done

That isn't happening.

 

[creg]

First time I've ever heard him called a great defensive player, I don't think he's touched ice on the PK his entire NHL career. Hits are fine I guess.

I would have happily acquired him before Bjorkstrand, but now?

sure, I guess I mean 5v5 he's pretty good on both sides of the ice, creates more chances than he gives up which is pretty impressive considering he gets tough assignments and plays for a team with literally like 0 capable defensemen.

I doubt we're going to trade for him but I do think he would fit really well with what we need. I just hope that we add something in the top 6 or have a player take a significant step, one more capable body for the top 9 would be nice for flexibility in the lineup

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

I figure that any trade would pretty much require Howard committing to sign with his new organization.

I agree. It would need to be a sign and trade.

It seems that being scratched in the World Championships didn't substantially sway him.

I would guess if there's no trade by the draft he'll be a no-show for development camp, which is probably 3 or so weeks away. But development camp would provide a face to face setting for JBB and Howard to meet again.

So trade for him when he has full ability to just walk away? How does that increase his value for us? Trading him anytime after July 1st is just dwindling returns. Howard in general has more leverage than JBB does. Trading him before the draft, makes that another teams problem and not ours.

I just don't want JBB to be tempted to take a bad deal to either just be done with him or because he's afraid of making a worse one as the clock keeps ticking. I'm sure there are plenty of greedy teams eager to take him off our hands, and take advantage of the situation. The hardest thing to do is have patience. That said who even knows what the deals out there even are.

Howard does have leverage, but he's got to wait a season to get to do what he wants. I don't understand how he could be fine wasting another full year in college, especially if he believes he's already too good for the AHL.

 

[Stammertime91]

First time I've ever heard him called a great defensive player, I don't think he's touched ice on the PK his entire NHL career. Hits are fine I guess.

I would have happily acquired him before Bjorkstrand, but now?

Agreed. Getting Rakell would've been better than getting Bjorkstrand and a step in the right direction. As of now, not really the piece we need with minimal room/assets to work with.


I hope Bjorkstrand is a huge contributor this coming season...

 

[RSchmitz PhD]

Agreed. Getting Rakell would've been better than getting Bjorkstrand and a step in the right direction. As of now, not really the piece we need with minimal room/assets to work with.


I hope Bjorkstrand is a huge contributor this coming season...

Yep, I’m not trying to throw shade on Bjorkstrand, just saying he’s the guy we picked for middle 6 RH shot and we will need to see what happens. I think the need for finesse scoring isn’t as high as getting a legit top 4 RD or someone who can play a power forward style. If we had more resources it would be fine to go after him.

 

[Point21]

can we just go back in time and bring 2004-2007 Vinny back

 

[DFC]

can we just go back in time and bring 2004-2007 Vinny back

Lol that would actually solve most of this.

So that settles it. We a need a 6'4 elite center. Make it happen JBB.

 

[Crunchrulz]

Heck, if we are going to get older by bringing back fan favorites who have departed, let's look at free agency first.

Jan Rutta, Jonathan Drouin, and Pat Maroon are UFAs who might be convinced to come back. Tanner Jeannot is also a UFA who can be brought back and then have all the blame for the failure of the team's fan favorites to perform in the post season placed on him once again.

If there are any other departed Lightning players who you would like to see brought back, I am sure between Howard's rights, Duke, Geekie, Moser, and what draft picks over the next three seasons we have left, some kind of deals can be made.

Given the number of posters here who live, breath, and thrive on the past success of this organization rather than accepting the fact we are not getting any younger and the super stars have failed to produce for three straight post seasons, why not?

 

[AlwaysSunnyInTampa]

Jan Rutta

Careful. You'll wake the scourge of British Columbia. And I don't mean Ogopogo

 

[T REX]

How did JBB f up the Howard pick so bad?

I mean...was any scouting done...any conversations about expectations with the prospect?

This is rookie GM stuff...Jeannot? Dude went from turning everything to gold to turning everything to lead.

SMDH. Let's finish this last season or two and get on with some major changes.

Tick tock, tick tock.

I guess that what happens when you trade all your 1st rounders...you don't know what to do with them when you use them.

EPIC FAIL

 

[Hoek]

Maroon retired. Rutta maybe...

 

[DFC]

Toews is interesting if he signs close to league min. There's no reason for him to come back other than to chase a cup.

 

[AlwaysSunnyInTampa]

Toews is interesting if he signs close to league min. There's no reason for him to come back other than to chase a cup.

Then it doesn't make sense for him to come here amirite?

 

[DFC]

Then it doesn't make sense for him to come here amirite?

We'll just send him video of 2020 and not tell him anything else.

 

[Stelio Kontos]

Then it doesn't make sense for him to come here amirite?

This team has a chance if JBB wakes the f*** up.

I still believe damnit

 

[DFC]

How did JBB f up the Howard pick so bad?

I mean...was any scouting done...any conversations about expectations with the prospect?

This is rookie GM stuff...Jeannot? Dude went from turning everything to gold to turning everything to lead.

SMDH. Let's finish this last season or two and get on with some major changes.

Tick tock, tick tock.

I guess that what happens when you trade all your 1st rounders...you don't know what to do with them when you use them.

EPIC FAIL

I don't think this looks that bad. It's a disgruntled prospect who wants to jump immediately to the NHL. He's not a blue chip prospect. Even if we were moving him for full value, we aren't talking about an big return. Or even one that makes an impact.

 

[Todd1a]

Let’s say the oilers called us up and said we will trade you

Leon Draisaitl for kucherov and cirelli​

Would you say yes ?

 

[Crunchrulz]

Let’s say the oilers called us up and said we will trade you

Leon Draisaitl for kucherov and cirelli​

Would you say yes ?

No, not enough from the Oilers.
Koochch is arguably the best regular season scorer in the league right now and Draisaitl cannot fill in for both Kooch and Cirelli.
As good as Draisaitl is, he is not worth two top six forwards from an organization that does not have the talent nor cap space to use the $1.75 million salary difference to sign a replacement top 6 forward.