Annual LTIR discussion: Bill Zito-Tkachuk regular season over, hopes he'll be back for the playoffs

[ucanthanzalthetruth]

I'm not a fan of this rule but I never hated teams using it, my opinion won't change because it's Florida. Obviously he's legitimately hurt, and if his season's over this thread is moot but my assumption is he'll be back. Now Florida has a ton of space and imo far and away the best GM (unequivocally top 3) to add to a team that's won the President's Trophy and went to back to back Finals the past 3 years. If Florida joins Chicago, Tampa, and Vegas and wins it all again, does this finally bring any changes?

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[bov]

Rantanen incoming

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Rantanen incoming

This is happening

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

I can't see Florida 3peating without Tkachuk.

 

[HFBS]

Rantanen incoming

Sure, trade for this guy to win the Cup, then give him to your biggest rival so they can win it instead.

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

...Stone must have been talking with Matthew at the 4 Nations...

 

[Dominance]

That’s a long time for post-group chat incident therapy.

 

[LPHabsFan]

Like with pretty much everything, if they wanted to fix it, they would fix it, as there are solutions out there.

Given they haven't fixed it, it means they haven't wanted to fix it, even though it's extremely f'ing dumb.

 

[BayStBullies]

Please fix the tax advantage as well, thanks. If anyone is going to pretend like it isn't a factor, please view limited no trade clauses and how they tend to target high tax locations and get a clue.

 

[bossram]

Like with pretty much everything, if they wanted to fix it, they would fix it, as there are solutions out there.

Given they haven't fixed it, it means they haven't wanted to fix it, even though it's extremely f'ing dumb.

It's a rule in the CBA. They literally cannot change it unless they alter the CBA, and obviously there is no appetite for CBA negotiations of the current CBA in the middle of their agreement while the league is growing steadily.

Based on what the "insiders" have reported in the past, it sounds like it will be a point of discussion in the next CBA.

I personally don't care and think the rule is fine as is. If it gets changed in the next CBA, also fine.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Tampa Bay proposed a rule when the Hawks did it in 2015 with Kane, it got rejected by every team besides one other (I think it was the Blues), the rest of the league can now live with it til next CBA

 

[hamzarocks]

I can't see Florida 3peating without Tkachuk.

3peating you have to win back to back first

Panthers won last year and lost 2024 in SCF.

They would be repeating if they win this year

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

If they get Rantanen wow.

Reinhart - Barkov - Verhaeghe
Tkachuk - Bennett - Rantanen

 

[barkovcanfinnish]

I’ll once again say how stupid this loophole is.

And it’s unfortunate because Florida is going to abuse it because if they don’t then they’re not doing enough to try to win.

They could try to get someone like Rantanen. But I don’t think Florida could keep him long term even if they wanted to. But I guess we will see.

 

[jetsforever]

Can't wait until this loophole gets fixed in the next CBA

 

[NVious]

I’ll once again say how stupid this loophole is.

And it’s unfortunate because Florida is going to abuse it because if they don’t then they’re not doing enough to try to win.

They could try to get someone like Rantanen. But I don’t think Florida could keep him long term even if they wanted to. But I guess we will see.

Agreed, stupid loophole but at this point if you're not actively trying to abuse it, you're a sucker, simple as. All the top teams could probably free up 5-10 million by asking guys to rest or treat their injury, go out and get a good-great player replacing their production and then the guy is magically ready for game 1.

Again this rule is so insanely stupid and needs to be patched yesterday, but if you're not trying to abuse it, it's your own stupid fault. Kind of how tanking gets rewarded, whereas mediocre teams don't, everybody knows the rules and it is what it is.

 

[Panteras]

I’ll once again say how stupid this loophole is.

And it’s unfortunate because Florida is going to abuse it because if they don’t then they’re not doing enough to try to win.

They could try to get someone like Rantanen. But I don’t think Florida could keep him long term even if they wanted to. But I guess we will see.

I guess if we let Bennet and Ekblad go in the summer we can? Not sure.

Anyway, you could say we literally lost against Tampa in the first round in 2021 and the finals to Vegas because of this loophole. So fudge it at this point. Might as well join the dark side and game the system.

 

[Gizmo Tkachuk]

If they get Rantanen wow.

Reinhart - Barkov - Verhaeghe
Tkachuk - Bennett - Rantanen

We're not getting Rantanen without giving away a key part of the team, so its not happening.

I'd expect more depth for G and F but nothing as huge as the Jones deal.

 

[Toby91ca]

I must say, I don't like the idea that they can already say he won't be back for the next 7 weeks, but we're hopefully he'll be good to go in 7 weeks + 1 day?

 

[JKG33]

I can't see Florida 3peating without Tkachuk.

Nobody in the east has given them any problems yet the last 2 playoffs, and none of them have really improved at all.

Bennett and Lundell are both playing some of their best hockey, Florida should still sleepwalk to the SCF again, and Tkachuk should be back at some point before then

 

[Zirakzigil]

Such a shame. And a medical miracle he will be ready for game 1 of the playoffs!

 

[Beneven Stanciano]

Please fix the tax advantage as well, thanks. If anyone is going to pretend like it isn't a factor, please view limited no trade clauses and how they tend to target high tax locations and get a clue.

Then why weren't the Florida teams winning years ago? Look at all the success Nashville has, they just keep loading up on top tier free agents. Sooo many division and conference banners hanging up in Bridgestone. Arizona with flat 2.5% income tax, let's fix that advantage so they quit winning. Look at Seattle just running away from the rest of the teams with high income tax brackets.

Let's also make it unfair for people to play for their hometown team so all the stars can't go play their golden years in Toronto, that's unfair. Can we also pump in extra oxygen to The Avalanche stadium because them having less oxygen but the CO players being able to be used to it is an unfair advantage.

 

[JKG33]

Please fix the tax advantage as well, thanks. If anyone is going to pretend like it isn't a factor, please view limited no trade clauses and how they tend to target high tax locations and get a clue.

Ah yes, because so many players have the California and New York teams on their NTC lists.

Players don't want to play in Canada for a bunch of reasons, but tax isnt the only boogeyman

 

[Breakers]

Gadjovich and Schmidt
For
Brady Tkachuk

 

[kerrabria]

We’ll have to wait until the playoffs to see how early and how healthy Tkachuk looks once he’s back. That will determine how much Florida is taking advantage.

And the only way we’re getting Rantanen is if both Zito and the Canes are willing to do a deal around Bennett, Sawchyn/Devine and a 2nd Rounder, which I highly doubt for both sides.