Confirmed with Link: Lightning sign Cam Atkinson | 1 year, $900K AAV

[Rschmitz]

His last 3 years with Columbus he had 45, 44, and 23 in 40 games before the trade. He has pretty much been on that 45-50 point trajectory the last 3 seasons, with the exception of the the last 15-20 games this past season. His goal scoring did come down the last two seasons, but he's still producing near the .6 ppg level. He's also only 27, so he has.plenty of good years left. For 2.5-3 million, which is the range I've mostly been seeing, I'd definitely take him over Sheary(whom he'd be replacing in this scenario) at 2 million. If it's a pure goal scorer, then Sprong is likely the best target, but he also has deficiencies. I'd still take him in the 3-3.5 range over what they have there now though.

I'd take a musky cardboard cutout of Steven Stamkos over Sheary.

Assuming Sheary stays, I don't see Bresbois signing another tweener. It's not like it can't happen though

 

[LightningStrikes]

Atkinson was pretty good when they swept us IIRC.

 

[Zwui21]

Atkinson was pretty good when they swept us IIRC.

That was 5 years ago though: father time slows down even the most resilient players

 

[JTBF81]

I'd take a musky cardboard cutout of Steven Stamkos over Sheary.

Assuming Sheary stays, I don't see Bresbois signing another tweener. It's not like it can't happen though

Right, any acquisition of a player like Tarasenko, Sprong or Roslovic 100% requirss having Sheary off the team before the season starts. If not, the best Tampa could so would be to add someone in the 1-1.5 range depending on Moser's number.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Over 10 goals would be nice. Anything over 15 is incredible value for the price. Wonder how we use him on PP1 or PP2

 

[The Gongshow]

Over 10 goals would be nice. Anything over 15 is incredible value for the price. Wonder how we use him on PP1 or PP2

PP1 is most likely
Kuch - Heddy - Point - Guentzel - Paul (need 2 centers for faceoffs incase point is waved)

PP2
Cirelli - Raddysh - Hagel - Atkinson - Kuch (he sometimes doubles up) but probably Sheary or Ace

 

[Felonious Python]

Over 10 goals would be nice. Anything over 15 is incredible value for the price. Wonder how we use him on PP1 or PP2

Left circle (Stamkos spot).

The first four goals in this video are all from there (and more examples if you keep watching)

 

[Stammertime91]

Left circle (Stamkos spot).

The first four goals in this video are all from there (and more examples if you keep watching)

That's interesting. Not sure if Philly tried him there or not, but I watched his +20 goal season and I think there was one from that area. He's good in tight and on the rush. Also have to note that this video is from seven years ago. In hockey terms, that's quite some time if you aren't upper echelon.

I still think he gets a brief look there myself. It's easier to plug in someone and see if there's magic than move all four guys, reverse the PP or change it. In the end, those passes Stamkos connected on aren't ones Atkinson will. Kucherov is going to adjust to Atkinson in order to make it work.

 

[Rschmitz]

Left circle (Stamkos spot).

The first four goals in this video are all from there (and more examples if you keep watching)

If we get 2016-2017 Cam Atkinson this team is going to the cup finals

 

[Felonious Python]

I'm not sure where they're seeing the new number, but why lie?

 

[Felonious Python]

That's interesting. Not sure if Philly tried him there or not, but I watched his +20 goal season and I think there was one from that area. He's good in tight and on the rush. Also have to note that this video is from seven years ago. In hockey terms, that's quite some time if you aren't upper echelon.

I still think he gets a brief look there myself. It's easier to plug in someone and see if there's magic than move all four guys, reverse the PP or change it. In the end, those passes Stamkos connected on aren't ones Atkinson will. Kucherov is going to adjust to Atkinson in order to make it work.

Atkinson doesn't seem to be getting as much PP time as he used to, which has resulted in fewer goals. 2016-17 was his peak in PPG.

He's not a guy who breaks the puck in half with his shot, which may work in our favor. If he can still move and stick handle, then he might be an accuracy shooter.

There's really just a lack of PP options right now, if we want to keep everyone in their most familiar spots.

 

[Felonious Python]

I figure Thunderbug respects the drip.

 

[Outl4w]

34 year old 40 goal scorer for 8milllion per season to 35 year old 13goal scorer for 900k. #progress

 

[These Are The Days]

I really don't want this guy playing top 6 minutes. I don't know what the hell JB is doing but the 3 year hole at the top 6 continues anyway

 

[Todd1a]

I really don't want this guy playing top 6 minutes. I don't know what the hell JB is doing but the 3 year hole at the top 6 continues anyway

Yep this sucks and we had the cap space this year to finally address it and he signs cam cheap for 900 k ?

 

[These Are The Days]

Yep this sucks and we had the cap space this year to finally address it and he signs cam cheap for 900 k ?

Atkinson is a great signing at $900k. I just want him on the 3rd and 4th lines. We need to acquire someone else for the top 6 and not in return for someone we already have. This whole "we only play with 4 scorers and Cirelli" shit has me at my last nerve

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Atkinson is a great signing at $900k. I just want him on the 3rd and 4th lines. We need to acquire someone else for the top 6 and not in return for someone we already have. This whole "we only play with 4 scorers and Cirelli" shit has me at my last nerve

Hence why we need someone from the prospect pool to come up and step in. Cost controlled productive youth really help playoff teams getting from good to great. We saw it in the past. I don't think it's unreasonable for Goncalves to be Ross Colton level productive.

Need another right shot scoring forward though, agreed

 

[b0lthed]

At this point it’s clear that Atkinson is just a bargain basement gamble. If he sucks, bury him in the minors and his cap hit is nil. If he’s good, we got an experienced scoring line winger for $1M. If he’s somewhere in between, well, JBB is clearly saving some money for the deadline.

I don’t mind this approach since our top line might be one of the best in hockey. If we essentially have an opening on a scoring line, we can audition any number of options throughout the first half of the season. Atkinson has the best resume. Sheary could still have a bounceback in him. Ylonen is a former 2nd round pick with speed and offensive skills and could be a sleeper to grab that spot. Maybe Geekie or a rookie surprises. Or maybe it’s something JBB handles at the deadline, like he did last season.

 

[Bolt32]

Best case we get a 25g 50 point guy for 900k, worst case we get Sheary 2.0 on the right. Still don't like Cirelli at 2C though.

Yeah Cirelli is a bottom 6 guy. Think that is going to be painfully obvious this season.

 

[Rschmitz]

Yeah Cirelli is a bottom 6 guy. Think that is going to be painfully obvious this season.

I think Hagel-Cirelli-Atkinson will be a dominant line next year

 

[Stammertime91]

I think Hagel-Cirelli-Atkinson will be a dominant line next year

He's coming off a neck injury, being scratched, considered a 13th forward, and had a 22 game goalless streak. There's a reason he signed one year for 900k and said "LFG" on his Twitter post - he's just happy to still be in the league.

It's a good low risk signing that Brisebois is hoping pays off for cheap depth, but realistically expecting him to contribute on a line with a 40pt center and Hagel who has tendencies to come up goalless himself is a bit of a stretch.

Our second line is lackluster beyond belief.

 

[Rschmitz]

He's coming off a neck injury, being scratched, considered a 13th forward, and had a 22 game goalless streak. There's a reason he signed one year for 900k and said "LFG" on his Twitter post - he's just happy to still be in the league.

It's a good low risk signing that Brisebois is hoping pays off for cheap depth, but realistically expecting him to contribute on a line with a 40pt center and Hagel who has tendencies to come up goalless himself is a bit of a stretch.

Our second line is lackluster beyond belief.

His neck injury was over a year ago.

He was a healthy scratch/13th forward with John Tortorella as head coach.

I don't expect many to agree with me, but I've seen enough of Atkinson to see the fit and think he'll elevate his game here and surprise everyone out of camp. I can even see him on the top line, he's all speed and shot and knows how to get open.

I also don't see Sheary, Paul, or Eyssimont as viable alternatives.

 

[Felonious Python]

His neck injury was over a year ago.

He was a healthy scratch/13th forward with John Tortorella as head coach.

I don't expect many to agree with me, but I've seen enough of Atkinson to see the fit and think he'll elevate his game here and surprise everyone out of camp. I can even see him on the top line, he's all speed and shot and knows how to get open.

I also don't see Sheary, Paul, or Eyssimont as viable alternatives.

Atkinson played for Torts for years between Columbus and Philly.

 

[Stammertime91]

His neck injury was over a year ago.

He was a healthy scratch/13th forward with John Tortorella as head coach.

I don't expect many to agree with me, but I've seen enough of Atkinson to see the fit and think he'll elevate his game here and surprise everyone out of camp. I can even see him on the top line, he's all speed and shot and knows how to get open.

I also don't see Sheary, Paul, or Eyssimont as viable alternatives.

From what some Philly fans have said is that he's not been the same since that injury though. I don't know how much of that is true in October 2024 or will factor in, but that's where 35 year old Atkinson is at. Sure Tortorella isn't the easiest but he's also coming to a place where he has to be responsible defensively in the bottom six or chip in for ~40pts in the top 6. There's no real indication of what the expectations are for him from Brisebois and Cooper so far so the signing is good but I'd have Perry-like expectations point wise. 20/20, anything above is great, anything below, we'll it was better than an AHLer.

Also, I don't see the others as options either.

I could see Girgensons being a 3C for us at this point and Paul in the top six if we don't acquire a winger through trade.

Sheary - Girgensons - Atkinson
Chaffee - Glendening - Eyssimont

I don't really know what to make of that.

 

[Rschmitz]

Atkinson played for Torts for years between Columbus and Philly.

I know, my point still stands. I’m not saying he’s disliked by Tortorella, but we don’t demand the same things he does