Calling it Now: Tampa is a Serious Threat Again, Nashville has Screwed Themselves, and These facts are not Unrelated

[SimpleJack]

100% agreed on all accounts. Even if TB isn't quite good enough to be a Cup contender, they still improved themselves in many areas while Nashville foolishly thought they could buy their way to a Cup when in reality they are so, SOOOOO far away from being one of the leagues best teams, especially after those silly signings.

 

[22FUTON9]

Never understood the backlash of letting Stamkos go, atleast from an on ice perspective. Some were calling Guenztel a “marginal” upgrade, where that’s clearly not the case, IMO he’s just a much better player at this point. The Sergachev trade I though was a bit weird but I guess they’re doing just fine.

 

[EXTRAS]

I just feel like their key guys are too old to be counted on for 82 + 16. McD, Hedman, Vasi, have all shown their age the last few years. While still being incredible, they have slowed down.

We'll see it's a long season

Vasi the last few years was 27/28/29. I feel like that ain't showing age, just playing poorly. Most goalie don't even break out until 25 or 26.

 

[x Tame Impala]

Never understood the backlash of letting Stamkos go, atleast from an on ice perspective. Some were calling Guenztel a “marginal” upgrade, where that’s clearly not the case, IMO he’s just a much better player at this point. The Sergachev trade I though was a bit weird but I guess they’re doing just fine.

Agreed. I don't think Tampa is a serious Cup contender, they're probably the 5th best team in the East, but letting Stamkos go was a smart and gutsy move. I hope teams are seeing these loyalty contracts will sink whatever hopes you have of competing down the line.

Pietrangelo was an interesting counter example to this but he was I think 3 years younger when his new deal was up. Vegas was smart to sign him when they did and they were smart to let Marchessault go when they did.

Tampa won't win a Cup this year but they're at least positioned to have a good shot for this season. I'm not sure what they're going to do going forward since they've got some major depth issues to worry about. Nashville has the least amount of cap space in the league with 2 guys in their mid-30's just starting their deals with a combined $13.5m AAV.

 

[olli]

OP, I think you're selling Evangelista short by calling him just a middle sixer, he just finished 5th in rookie scoring last year despite playing 10-15 games less than everyone else.



Duchene was a supposed locker room issue, plus if Duchene is there Ryan O'Reilly isn't and we'd much rather have O'Reilly.

Why couldn’t they have had both of them? Do they have personal issues?

 

[Master P]

yes the end of a shitty dirty hit from behind that 1000% is a penalty.

and a cheap goon job.

but yes that would have been the end of it.

Maybe you didn't read what I posted...

"Please, spare me the dramatics"

 

[Soundgarden]

Why couldn’t they have had both of them? Do they have personal issues?

I believe so

 

[strattonius]

Sounds like sour grapes. You still have to choose the right players and put them in position to succeed.

If it was as simple as you say then why did Florida only recently win their first playoff round since the 90s? Why didn’t Toronto and New York dominate the pre-cap era?

Never said otherwise. Holy shit what sour grapes? You guys are annoying.

I said the praise for letting Stamkos go was over-rated and now I have fans like yourself getting overly defensive. The contract Nashville signed Stamkos to was stupid the moment it happened. He's old and has lost a step - also Forsberg is elite on the left half wall on the PP where Stamkos has made a career. Weird target for Trotz.

I have also said that Florida teams have a competitive advantage in free agency. It's true stop being so sensitive about it.

 

[Skidooboy]

Maybe you didn't read what I posted...

"Please, spare me the dramatics"

dramatics?

since you repeat the same “spare me your dramatics”phrase in-lieu of a cogent argument… i’m sure it’s a favourite post you make to sound smug and superior… when you can’t sound credible.

challenge my facts. answer the questions honestly. I dare you.

Was Connor engaged with another player?

was Connor vulnerable?

Was Connor along the boards?

Was the hit from behind straight into the numbers?

Does Kucherov have a history of dirty play, suspensions, and letting his emotions drive him to bad decisions?

You answer these question honestly… and the result is …? By any sane reading of the rules ?

A dangerous play that is 100% a penalty.

I’m not saying intentional headshot, I’m not saying intent to injure… but
it was a goonish cheap play from angry frustrated player who stepped over the line and TWO refs missed it.
That’s obvious to anyone but a fanboi.

 

[Master P]

dramatics?

since you repeat the same “spare me your dramatics”phrase in-lieu of a cogent argument… i’m sure it’s a favourite post you make to sound smug and superior… when you can’t sound credible.

challenge my facts. answer the questions honestly. I dare you.

Was Connor engaged with another player?

was Connor vulnerable?

Was Connor along the boards?

Was the hit from behind straight into the numbers?

Does Kucherov have a history of dirty play, suspensions, and letting his emotions drive him to bad decisions?

You answer these question honestly… and the result is …? By any sane reading of the rules ?

A dangerous play that is 100% a penalty.

I’m not saying intentional headshot, I’m not saying intent to injure… but
it was a goonish cheap play from angry frustrated player who stepped over the line and TWO refs missed it.
That’s obvious to anyone but a fanboi.

You're right. You're not being dramatic at all.

 

[PullHard]

I need @Coffee to weigh in before I give my full opinion but my gut reaction to reading the title and first post is “woah don’t go too far out on that limb, OP!!”

 

[haveandare]

Tampa’s depth is still very rough imo. Not sure they needed someone else to score on the kucherov line - he’s a one man line himself

 

[Tasty Biscuits]

Nashville center depth is tragic.

 

[Skidooboy]

You're right. You're not being dramatic at all.

so again… you can’t form a cogent a argument to my points and regress to a failed attempt at smug superiority…

one of us is honest and presents the actual facts… the other is too cowardly to even discuss the facts of the incident. preferring pointless and rude ad-hominem attacks….

trust me. Everybody is aware that I’m not the one who looks like he’s doesn’t understand the rules of hockey and is out of their depth in this discussion.

 

[tucker3434]

Yet they gave Guentzel a 7 year deal which will pay him during his mid 30’s

But he’s 30 now. $8m for Stamkos or $9m for Guentzel. At least they get a few years out of Guentzel first.

 

[abax44]

You're right. You're not being dramatic at all.

He's certainly right in that you can't (won't?) answer the questions because you know he's not wrong.

 

[FlameChampion]

I haven’t read the thread.

I know most people thought Stamkos was a PP merchant and his 5 on 5 game is cooked so it’s not really surprising.

I still thought TB might struggle due to a locker room rift with how things went down despite acknowledging that Guentzel is a better use of cap space.

I do wonder how the decision to move on from Stamkos was determined. Was it purely a management decision? I wonder if some of the leadership core secretly didn’t want him back. We will never probably know but its fun to speculate.

 

[EdmFlyersfan]

Trotz should get the axe for what he did this summer. The Prefs were looking like a really good club until he went out and brought in old guys who are on the decline.

They can't chop his head off if he has no neck... he's safe...

 

[Master P]

He's certainly right in that you can't (won't?) answer the questions because you know he's not wrong.

I've already given my thoughts on the play.

Again, if the jets player doesn't hit Cernaks head then he just gets knocked down to his knees and nobody bats an eye.

Its really not that serious.

 

[abax44]

I've already given my thoughts on the play.

Again, if the jets player doesn't hit Cernaks head then he just gets knocked down to his knees and nobody bats an eye.

Its really not that serious.

If we're just strictly questioning if it was a missed call, it was.

Rule 43.1 is pretty clear.

 

[MarkusNaslund19]

I need @Coffee to weigh in before I give my full opinion but my gut reaction to reading the title and first post is “woah don’t go too far out on that limb, OP!!”

How much leeway do you suppose you offer on a message board between, "what an obviously stupid opinion" and "Not really going out on a limb there OP".

You could always skip the thread if it seems banal to you.

 

[Laus723]

Never said otherwise. Holy shit what sour grapes? You guys are annoying.

I said the praise for letting Stamkos go was over-rated and now I have fans like yourself getting overly defensive. The contract Nashville signed Stamkos to was stupid the moment it happened. He's old and has lost a step - also Forsberg is elite on the left half wall on the PP where Stamkos has made a career. Weird target for Trotz.

I have also said that Florida teams have a competitive advantage in free agency. It's true stop being so sensitive about it.

Only one being sensitive here seems to be you. Not a single poster who cries about “no state taxes” can answer the question he asked. Is it an “advantage?” Sure, but most of our arguments are that there’s A LOT more that goes into it and the criers never want to acknowledge it. Verhaeghe is a perfect example, he did little until he became a Panther, Zito believed in him, signed him, and Verhaeghe proved him right. If Verhaeghe didn’t work out, he wouldn’t have been re-signed, it took time to find all these guys and now he can use the great big massive no fair advantage. No other GM could before.

 

[strattonius]

Only one being sensitive here seems to be you. Not a single poster who cries about “no state taxes” can answer the question he asked. Is it an “advantage?” Sure, but most of our arguments are that there’s A LOT more that goes into it and the criers never want to acknowledge it. Verhaeghe is a perfect example, he did little until he became a Panther, Zito believed in him, signed him, and Verhaeghe proved him right. If Verhaeghe didn’t work out, he wouldn’t have been re-signed, it took time to find all these guys and now he can use the great big massive no fair advantage. No other GM could before.

Never criticized the GM. Zito is fantastic. Tampa has great management too - Just said letting Stammer go was obvious and not some smooth brain GM work.

Said Florida teams have a competitive advantage in free agency. It's a fact I'm really done with your straw man nonsense about it.

 

[PullHard]

How much leeway do you suppose you offer on a message board between, "what an obviously stupid opinion" and "Not really going out on a limb there OP".

You could always skip the thread if it seems banal to you.

Sorry I know I took as an opportunity to knock your thread which had a thoughtful premise and quite a bit of work put into it. I was mostly posting to flirt with @Coffee

 

[Brookbank]

100% agreed on all accounts. Even if TB isn't quite good enough to be a Cup contender, they still improved themselves in many areas while Nashville foolishly thought they could buy their way to a Cup when in reality they are so, SOOOOO far away from being one of the leagues best teams, especially after those silly signings.

Few were saying that Nashville's signings were silly in the off season. They were inside the top 10 on most pre season predictions.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1810404739324018865