Speculation: Off-Season 2013 - Part II

[The Wyzerhood]

Thompson is on par for most 3rd/4th liners on most teams. Stamkos is terrible. Filppula is good, Johnson is good but not proven over an entire season.

I wouldnt say that is as good as we need. Sure they're good, they're better than us right? but as good as a team needs in this division? Certainly not.

How is it not an improvement over what we had last season? Filppula makes us much better defensively down the middle, not to mention a full season of TJ coming as well.

No one said we're a SC contender, but when you consider the players coming in (Filppula and Drouin) and those going out (Lecavalier and Pouliot), we've become a better team for Coop's system (speed and puck possession).

Oh, and the off-season's not even close to being over yet.

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

https://soundcloud.com/tblightning/steve-yzerman-development-camp

EE:
Do you think as you go through the summer now maybe you can look for ways to make additions to the team through trades like we talked about yesterday? Will there be any specific area you'd want to concentrate on perhaps if you could if something made sense, or do you kinda roll with it and see what the summer brings?
SFY:

"In order to add somebody I'm going to have to move somebody out so you got to find a partner and fill a need. So specifically no, but anything that...you never know when an opportunity comes along, somebody from another club has reasons for doing, or has needs they have to address.. If there's a match, there is. So really I just kind of stay in touch with other managers around the league and see how free agency sorts itself out and teams positions changes and maybe something comes up."

EE:
A couple of guys who were hurt on the blueline, are you kind of satisfied with where you stand back there right now? I mean I know everybody's always looking to make improvements but just kind of generally if you went into the season the way you are
SFY:

"I think it's fair to say based on last year we need to be better defensively. We talked about it the other day. As a team we need to be better but our defensive core as a whole has to be better. Whether or not I could change it I'm not sure, but the group we have we expect to be better. They're together longer, they'll have a training camp, they'll have more time to prepare, a little more experience for the young guys, another year under his belt for Keith, (Aulie) Gudas has some games in the NHL, and our veterans after you know after a lockout and a shortened season, a compressed schedule, hopefully the normal routine and the proper preparation they can play at a higher level as well."

 

[jg39]

We lost a number of games last season playing the other teams' games as opposed to our own. The flyers loss especially comes to mind. They got the Lightning pissed off and out of focus from their gameplan, and we took the bait. Crombeen's skull can attest to this. The Eric Brewer "who cares if we're shorthanded" pinch in the Bruins game; the 3rd period against the Pens (the 4-3 loss on NBCSN); the first 50 minutes of the Montreal game where we somehow got a point; the Caps game where we went to sleep for the 2nd and half of the 3rd.

Cooper needs to let his team know that regardless of what guys like Chris Neil or Brad Marchand may do to us, complete deviation from the game plan will sink the team every single time.

To add to the discussion, it may be interesting to look at last season's results against this year's division opponents. Gain from it what you will, and keep in mind these stats are for nothing more than information purposes. These results don't take into account winning/losing streaks, whether the game was played under Boucher or Cooper, etc.

Anyway...last season's matchups vs. this year's division opponents:

Boston:
-Bos 4 v TBL 2
-TBL 2 @ Bos 3 (Nice pinch, Brewer/hit the net Steven)
-TBL 0 @ Bos 2 (rescheduled due to blizzard)

0-3, -5 goal differential

Buffalo:
-Buf 2 v TBL 1
-Buf 1 v TBL 2
-TBL 1 @ Buf 3

1-2, -2 GD

Detroit:
N/A

Florida:
-FL 2 v TBL 5
-TBL 6 @ FL 5 (OT)
-TBL 3 @ FL 2
-FL 3 v TBL 2 (SO)
-FL 5 v TBL 3

3-1-1, +2 GD

Montreal:
-Mtl 4 v TBL 3 (SO; the "3 late goals" stolen point game)
-Mtl 4 v TBL 3
-TBL 2 @ Mtl 3

0-2-1, -3 GD

Ottawa:
-Ott 4 v TBL 6
-TBL 3 @ Ott 5
-Ott 2 v TBL 3

2-1, +1 GD

Toronto:
-Tor 2 v TBL 4
-TBL 2 @ Tor 4
-Tor 2 v TBL 5

2-1, +3 GD

Against next season's division opponents, we were 8-10-2...and we add Detroit this season. Lovely. However, I don't think we are as "completely outmatched" against our future division rivals as some may think.

 

[FDfranklin]

https://soundcloud.com/tblightning/steve-yzerman-development-camp

EE:
Do you think as you go through the summer now maybe you can look for ways to make additions to the team through trades like we talked about yesterday? Will there be any specific area you'd want to concentrate on perhaps if you could if something made sense, or do you kinda roll with it and see what the summer brings?
SFY:

EE:
A couple of guys who were hurt on the blueline, are you kind of satisfied with where you stand back there right now? I mean I know everybody's always looking to make improvements but just kind of generally if you went into the season the way you are
SFY:

Everything that SFY said makes me feel doubt about next season.

 

[TBLbrian]

We are going to be so bad. I understand the want for long term success but its going to be a painful process

 

[newham89]

Everything that SFY said makes me feel doubt about next season.

Why? He isn't going to come out and say that our D sucks ass and he will be desperate to trade for a help back there. That would give other GMs an advantage in negotiations and would be a kick in the **** for the defensemen we currently have back there.

Personally, I think the long silence when he got asked the question said more than his words actually did. He was composing himself and trying to find a way to answer the question whilst keeping his cards close to his chest.

 

[LightningStrikes]

We lost a number of games last season playing the other teams' games as opposed to our own. The flyers loss especially comes to mind. They got the Lightning pissed off and out of focus from their gameplan, and we took the bait. Crombeen's skull can attest to this. The Eric Brewer "who cares if we're shorthanded" pinch in the Bruins game; the 3rd period against the Pens (the 4-3 loss on NBCSN); the first 50 minutes of the Montreal game where we somehow got a point; the Caps game where we went to sleep for the 2nd and half of the 3rd.

Cooper needs to let his team know that regardless of what guys like Chris Neil or Brad Marchand may do to us, complete deviation from the game plan will sink the team every single time.

To add to the discussion, it may be interesting to look at last season's results against this year's division opponents. Gain from it what you will, and keep in mind these stats are for nothing more than information purposes. These results don't take into account winning/losing streaks, whether the game was played under Boucher or Cooper, etc.

Anyway...last season's matchups vs. this year's division opponents: (...)

Against next season's division opponents, we were 8-10-2...and we add Detroit this season. Lovely. However, I don't think we are as "completely outmatched" against our future division rivals as some may think.

As for roster changes in our new division so far:

Boston
+ in: RW Loui Eriksson, RW Jarome Iginla, RW Reilly Smith, D Joseph Morrow
- out: RW Tyler Seguin, RW Nathan Horton, D Andrew Ference, C Rich Peverley, G Anton Khudobin, LW Kaspars Daugavins, RW Jaromir Jagr, D Wade Redden

Buffalo
+ in: D Jamie McBain
- out: D Andrej Sekera, C Nathan Gerbe

Detroit
+ in: C Stephen Weiss, RW Daniel Alfredsson
- out: C Valtteri Filppula, D Carlo Colaiacovo, RW Damien Brunner, LW Danny Cleary, D Ian White

Florida
+ in: C Aleksander Barkov, D Mike Mottau, RW Joey Crabb
- out: C Stephen Weiss, RW George Parros, RW Jack Skille, D Filip Kuba, RW Peter Mueller, D Tyson Strachan, G Jose Theodore

Montreal
+ in: RW Danny Briere, RW George Parros
- out: RW Michael Ryder, D Yannick Weber, D Tomas Kaberle, C Jeff Halpern, RW Colby Armstrong

Ottawa
+ in: LW Bobby Ryan, LW Clarke MacArthur
- out: RW Daniel Alfredsson, RW Jakob Silfverberg, C Peter Regin, D Andre Benoit, LW Guillaume Latendresse, D Mike Lundin

Tampa Bay
+ in: LW Jonathan Drouin, C Valtteri Filppula
- out: C Vincent Lecavalier, LW Benoit Pouliot, RW JT Wyman, G Mathieu Garon

Toronto
+ in: RW David Clarkson, C Dave Bolland
- out: LW Clarke MacArthur, C Mikhail Grabovski, C Tim Connolly, D Michael Kostka, D Ryan O'Byrne


Who's gotten better/worse?

 

[The Wyzerhood]

As for roster changes in our new division so far:

Boston
+ in: RW Loui Eriksson, RW Jarome Iginla, RW Reilly Smith, D Joseph Morrow
- out: RW Tyler Seguin, RW Nathan Horton, D Andrew Ference, C Rich Peverley, G Anton Khudobin, LW Kaspars Daugavins, RW Jaromir Jagr, D Wade Redden

Buffalo
+ in: D Jamie McBain
- out: D Andrej Sekera, C Nathan Gerbe

Detroit
+ in: C Stephen Weiss, RW Daniel Alfredsson
- out: C Valtteri Filppula, D Carlo Colaiacovo, RW Damien Brunner, LW Danny Cleary, D Ian White

Florida
+ in: C Aleksander Barkov, D Mike Mottau, RW Joey Crabb
- out: C Stephen Weiss, RW George Parros, RW Jack Skille, D Filip Kuba, RW Peter Mueller, D Tyson Strachan, G Jose Theodore

Montreal
+ in: RW Danny Briere, RW George Parros
- out: RW Michael Ryder, D Yannick Weber, D Tomas Kaberle, C Jeff Halpern, RW Colby Armstrong

Ottawa
+ in: LW Bobby Ryan, LW Clarke MacArthur
- out: RW Daniel Alfredsson, RW Jakob Silfverberg, C Peter Regin, D Andre Benoit, LW Guillaume Latendresse, D Mike Lundin

Tampa Bay
+ in: LW Jonathan Drouin, C Valtteri Filppula
- out: C Vincent Lecavalier, LW Benoit Pouliot, RW JT Wyman, G Mathieu Garon

Toronto
+ in: RW David Clarkson, C Dave Bolland
- out: LW Clarke MacArthur, C Mikhail Grabovski, C Tim Connolly, D Michael Kostka, D Ryan O'Byrne


Who's gotten better/worse?

Montreal, Florida and Buffalo have gotten worse.

Toronto has moved laterally.

Detroit and Ottawa have improved.

Unsure on Tampa and Boston, depends on how young players perform full-time next year (Drouin, TJ, Palat, Gudas, Panik, Hamilton, Krug, Knight, Fraser, Smith etc.)

 

[dbieon12]

Montreal, Florida and Buffalo have gotten worse.

Toronto has moved laterally.

Detroit and Ottawa have improved.

Unsure on Tampa and Boston, depends on how young players perform full-time next year (Drouin, TJ, Palat, Gudas, Panik, Hamilton, Krug, Knight, Fraser, Smith etc.)

This offseason was pretty even for us so far. The moves will improve over the next 2-3 years (Drouin, Filppula, losing Vinny's contract).

 

[LTIR Trickery]

Boston could go either way. They lost some meat and potatoes types and are going to rely on kids quite a bit next year.

I like how people are saying we're going to be "so bad".

 

[InjuredChoker]

Montreal, Florida and Buffalo have gotten worse.

Toronto has moved laterally.

Detroit and Ottawa have improved.

Unsure on Tampa and Boston, depends on how young players perform full-time next year (Drouin, TJ, Palat, Gudas, Panik, Hamilton, Krug, Knight, Fraser, Smith etc.)

I think Montreal improves.

Maybe not on paper, I feel Ryder is little better than Briere.

But they have many young players who are likely to be better. Price should also play better.

But never know. Cups aren't won during the offseason. For example, Hawks did barely anything last year.

 

[The Wyzerhood]

I think Montreal improves.

Maybe not on paper, I feel Ryder is little better than Briere.

But they have many young players who are likely to be better. Price should also play better.

But never know. Cups aren't won during the offseason. For example, Hawks did barely anything last year.

I was more rating teams on their off-season moves alone and not on whether there'll be improvements on the players already on the team. The last bit about Boston and Tampa was just to add to my explanation on how I'm unsure of whether or not the teams improved, went laterally or got worse.

In terms of off-season movement, Montreal definitely got worse imo. If forced to decide on Tampa and Boston, I'd say Tampa improved, or at the very least went laterally (Filppula and Drouin > Lecavalier and Pouliot), while Boston likely improved (Eriksson, Iginla, Fraser and Smith > Seguin, Peverley and Jagr).

 

[CupsOverCash]

I believe it will be another tough year defensively and goaltending is going to have to be superb. That's a lot to ask on these young goalies.

 

[Doctor Drej]

I believe it will be another tough year defensively and goaltending is going to have to be superb. That's a lot to ask on these young goalies.

i'd like Cooper to name a #1 after camp/preseason and stick with him until a change is needed, if at all.

whether that's bishop or lindback, i don't care. i just don't think this "platoon" of 1A/1B thing will work with these two. but it's more than likely what we're going to be doing.

 

[InjuredChoker]

I was more rating teams on their off-season moves alone and not on whether there'll be improvements on the players already on the team. The last bit about Boston and Tampa was just to add to my explanation on how I'm unsure of whether or not the teams improved, went laterally or got worse.

In terms of off-season movement, Montreal definitely got worse imo. If forced to decide on Tampa and Boston, I'd say Tampa improved, or at the very least went laterally (Filppula and Drouin > Lecavalier and Pouliot), while Boston likely improved (Eriksson, Iginla, Fraser and Smith > Seguin, Peverley and Jagr).

How about when you add Horton to the losses?

 

[The Wyzerhood]

How about when you add Horton to the losses?

I knew I forgot to list Boston losing someone else. Ference was also absent from my analysis. With those two losses in mind as well, I would say that Boston ends up worse now than they finished last season. The optimism for them comes from the internal options they have to replace those players in Krug and Hamilton and maybe Spooner and Knight.

 

[InjuredChoker]

I knew I forgot to list Boston losing someone else. Ference was also absent from my analysis. With those two losses in mind as well, I would say that Boston ends up worse now than they finished last season. The optimism for them comes from the internal options they have to replace those players in Krug and Hamilton and maybe Spooner and Knight.

I think they can replace Ference.

But not so sure they can replace Horton.

I think they are still the team to beat in the division.

 

[The Wyzerhood]

I think they can replace Ference.

But not so sure they can replace Horton.

I think they are still the team to beat in the division.

Agreed. At this point, I see it being:

1. Boston
2. Detroit
3. Ottawa
4. Toronto
5. Montreal
6. Tampa Bay
7. Buffalo
8. Florida

IMO, if we are able to trade for a top pairing dman, there's a chance we could sneak into the playoffs over Montreal, if goaltending holds up. If we trade for a second pairing guy, I think it would solidify our position as 6th in the division.

 

[Mike Mike Caron]

Hey guys, i was wondering why Brett Connoly is being offered fro scrap in most proposals on the main board, as he been that much of a disappointment?

 

[Felonious Python]

Hey guys, i was wondering why Brett Connoly is being offered fro scrap in most proposals on the main board, as he been that much of a disappointment?

I wouldn't say he's being offered for scrap.

In order to address the team's need on defense, Connolly would likely bring in the biggest individual haul.

 

[HoseEmDown]

Hey guys, i was wondering why Brett Connoly is being offered fro scrap in most proposals on the main board, as he been that much of a disappointment?

Most of the proposals aren't from Lightning fans so I wouldn't take them to serious. He has been progressing like expected but we have a log jam on RW and thin on the blueline and he's the most valuable piece.

 

[Mike Mike Caron]

I wouldn't say he's being offered for scrap.

In order to address the team's need on defense, Connolly would likely bring in the biggest individual haul.

Most of the proposals aren't from Lightning fans so I wouldn't take them to serious. He has been progressing like expected but we have a log jam on RW and thin on the blueline and he's the most valuable piece.

Thanks!

 

[Stammer Time*]

He's being offered a bunch but a lot of them are deals I'd make.

 

[IdealisticSniper]

Agreed. At this point, I see it being:

1. Boston
2. Detroit
3. Ottawa
4. Toronto
5. Montreal
6. Tampa Bay
7. Buffalo
8. Florida

IMO, if we are able to trade for a top pairing dman, there's a chance we could sneak into the playoffs over Montreal, if goaltending holds up. If we trade for a second pairing guy, I think it would solidify our position as 6th in the division.

All of the following is based on rosters as of now:

To be honest I think Boston isnt going to be anywhere near what they have been in the recent past. Lost a lot of key guys and didnt bring much in. They make the playoffs but arent a dominate force like they have been.

Toronto wont be good next year. Lost one of their better possession players and their big FA signing is a guy who was sheltered in spots and has really only had one good year. His shooting % was insane and wont ever be that again as his track record has shown. Speaking of shooting % TO as a whole had almost a 12% last season. No way in hell that happens again. I see TO starting another streak of missing the playoffs.

Detroit has gone lateral at best this off season but they are really a wild card. They are so used to the west style of play and are now going to be playing mainly east teams. How fast can they adjust over the season and can a few of their players continue to grow or will some flop out. They are really an enigma this year IMO. Prob make the playoffs though.

Montreal isnt going to be as good as last year, but they should be solid enough to make the playoffs. Really depends a lot on their key guys having big seasons again. If they fall off at all they wont do much.

Ottawa is the team that has improved IMO. Ryan is a huge gain and losing Alfreddsson aside from the sentimentality isnt a huge deal. I see them being better this year. Just gotta stay away from the injury bug.

Florida and Buffalo will both be terrible.

That leaves us. Along with Detroit Id say we are a big enigma. We have two goalies that we will live or die by and if they put up .905%+ then we could be in business. If not well....

New coach, new system, full training camp, everyone healthy to start. Its basically a perfect storm for either a massive flop or a massive success. I still believe Yzerman will pull a trade for a top 3 dman, but im basing this off of current rosters so Ill say we finish just outside the playoffs this year. Unless everything goes perfectly.

 

[dbieon12]

Why? He isn't going to come out and say that our D sucks ass and he will be desperate to trade for a help back there. That would give other GMs an advantage in negotiations and would be a kick in the **** for the defensemen we currently have back there.

Personally, I think the long silence when he got asked the question said more than his words actually did. He was composing himself and trying to find a way to answer the question whilst keeping his cards close to his chest.

I'm not expecting any big moves that would impact the top 2 pairings. Maybe something to add a few prospects to the affiliate supply chain.

Yzerman makes a lot of points that should improve our defense. Unfortunately the other teams have the same advantage of training camps, longer season, etc - so that may negate some of his points. But the D can't get worse.