Confirmed Trade: [TBL/SEA/DET] Y Gourde (@25%), O Bjorkstrand, K Aucoin, 2026 5th to TBL; M Eyssimont, 2026 1st, 2027 1st, 2025 2nd, c. 3rds to SEA; 2025 4th to DET

[Master P]

What are Tampas new lines?

We'll find out tomorrow, both are flying to Tampa tonight and are expected to play.

 

[ThunderRoad]

Yeah, but not all 1st round picks are created equal. Those were all low 1sts, and they're just not worth that much.

Very true and seeing who Tampa drafted with 1st round picks when they actually kept them would make them even less worthwhile (Vasilevskiy aside). Other than Kucherov in the 2nd, it’s like the team has no idea how to draft potential quality until the 3rd round starts anyway. (Fingers crossed Howard and Gauthier break the trend)

Hoping Gourde is healthy now and wasn’t rushing back to be in Seattle’s lineup last game due to trade deadline. He’s got to be stoked to be heading back to Tampa so hopefully that also lights a fire under him.

 

[bossram]

This trade is not going to age well, though it's pretty bad already. When Brisebois is fired within the next year or two, this trade is going to be the one that is cited the most as to why.

This is a take you may have if you don't know puck.

 

[bossram]

Yeah, I think thats pretty much JBB's philosophy.

If you have star players and your core is still good, do whatever it takes to win now.

Exactly. Hedman is 35 and Kuch is 31. They need to extract everything they can from this core. People were saying the Coleman deal was an overpay. That Hagel was an overpay. Were they? Those people were wrong.

If Brisebois has 3 cup rings at the end of the day, is anyone gonna care they traded too many picks?

 

[SympathyForTheDevils]

Me too. Bjorkstrand is approximately the kind of player you realistically expect out of the tail end of the first round in the first place anyway, so a team like the Bolts might as well trade it for someone who helps them now instead of waiting a few years to see if the pick develops into the kind of player that Bjorkstrand already is.

Honestly I think even that is being generous. A realistic outcome for a late first is a low-end NHLer, a bottom-6/bottom pair guy who you can plug into a lineup, but won't move the needle. Bjorkstrand is significantly better than that. But otherwise I agree; even if it was a mid-round first rounder, the Bolts should still trade it, since it doesn't fit their window (just like Bjorkstrand doesn't fit the Kraken's current plan).

 

[Oneiro]

This is excellent for Tampa. Adds even more depth to a great forward group.

Oh wow, they can't draft a player who won't be better than Bjorkstrand in a few years...

 

[AD1066]

Great move for Tampa. Who cares about what happens in 5 years?

Hedman is 34, Kucherov 31, Vasy already 30...may as well go for it. 1st round picks are mystery boxes.

 

[Rschmitz]

Exactly. Hedman is 35 and Kuch is 31. They need to extract everything they can from this core. People were saying the Coleman deal was an overpay. That Hagel was an overpay. Were they? Those people were wrong.

If Brisebois has 3 cup rings at the end of the day, is anyone gonna care they traded too many picks?

But what if those picks turn into McDavid, Lidstrom, and Jagr though? We traded 3 Hall of Famers for Bjorkstrand, definite overpay.

 

[bossram]

But what if those picks turn into McDavid, Lidstrom, and Jagr though? We traded 3 Hall of Famers for Bjorkstrand, definite overpay.

Could be three Gretzkys. Ya never know what's in the mystery box.

 

[RDTBay4]

I'm interested to know what the teams who the Lightning have traded picks to actually drafted.

 

[canuckslover10]

I don’t understand how Tampa couldn’t find a way to include Connor Sheary in this deal, would have helped them next year for sure.

 

[KJoe88]

I feel like Seattle made out like bandits.

Not to say TBL didn’t do well. However I feel like the value is really excellent for the Kraken.

As a wings fan… thanks for the 4th I guess. Hate the retention.

 

[DFC]

Exactly. Hedman is 35 and Kuch is 31. They need to extract everything they can from this core. People were saying the Coleman deal was an overpay. That Hagel was an overpay. Were they? Those people were wrong.

If Brisebois has 3 cup rings at the end of the day, is anyone gonna care they traded too many picks?

2, but let's hope you're an accidental prophet

 

[Sota Popinski]

I see that you edited Cirelli out of that post.

Good for your reputation as a serious poster...

Should I have left it in there? I could replace it with two or three other players they traded picks for.

I see that neither you nor the previous responder could answer the question. They drafted Cirelli in 2015 and the only worthwhile players they've drafted since then are Ross Colton in 2016 and Nick Perbix in 2017. Two players in nine years. How is that "the best in the league?" It's putrid.

 

[DFC]

But what if those picks turn into McDavid, Lidstrom, and Jagr though? We traded 3 Hall of Famers for Bjorkstrand, definite overpay.

Those players rarely go late 1st. 3rd round, sometimes, but rarely late 1st

 

[DistantThunderRep]

View attachment 987322
If they draft and develop players so well, why did they need to bring in Guentzel, Hagel, McDonagh, Jeannot, Paul, etc?

Look at the developed players that Tampa traded for assets. Hell, look at their undrafted free agent signings. Tampa's drafting and smart scouting built their cup teams:

Palat
Johnson
Killorn
Kucherov
Point
Cirelli
Joseph
Vasy
Gourde

Those are just drafted or undrafted FA signings. The only first round pick listed there is Vasy. Not even including Hedman and Stammer. I can't believe someone has such an asinine opinion that Tampa of all teams can't develop players. Jesus christ.

 

[DFC]

Look at the developed players that Tampa traded for assets. Hell, look at their undrafted free agent signings. Tampa's drafting and smart scouting built their cup teams:

Palat
Johnson
Killorn
Kucherov
Point
Cirelli
Joseph
Vasy
Gourde

Those are just drafted or undrafted FA signings. I can't believe someone has such an asinine opinion that Tampa of all teams can't develop players. Jesus christ.

He's not wrong that there has been a big drop off in recent years. We can't really count on developing prospects anymore. I mean, that's fine. I'm just saying, the youngest guy on that list is like 27.

 

[DistantThunderRep]

He's not wrong that there has been a big drop off in recent years. We can't really count on developing prospects anymore. I mean, that's fine. I'm just saying, the youngest guy on that list is like 27.

We have and did. We just traded them for immediate help or they priced themselves out. Look at Colton, Verhaeghe, Marchessault. The same will happen with Chaffee, Perbix, Goncalves (if he keeps the same pace). We churn out solid middle 6 players like clock work. Always finding value in late rounds to keep our top end talent accommodated. Its just hilarious that the statement that Tampa doesn't develop players can come out of people's mouths.

 

[Summer Rose]

I feel like Seattle made out like bandits.

Not to say TBL didn’t do well. However I feel like the value is really excellent for the Kraken.

As a wings fan… thanks for the 4th I guess. Hate the retention.

Seattle definitely got pretty good value for them, yes, but of course that's also not knowing who they draft with those first round picks they have now. They could turn out to be busts. As it stands right now, they're assuming less risk than JBB is in pulling the trigger on this trade. However, JBB isn't afraid to make risky moves, and while there's an obvious example of one not working out very well (the Jeannot trade), other risky trades he's made have worked out great. Remains to be seen whether this one does. If the Bolts win the cup this year, it's going to look like a masterful move. Of course, any team that wins a cup can say that any trade they made during their championship season is a masterful move. I'm really curious to see what kind of moves JBB pulls off in the upcoming year or two while the window is still open, as he's the kind of GM who will probably make even higher-risk trades as the end of the window looms nearer.

 

[Sota Popinski]

Look at the developed players that Tampa traded for assets. Hell, look at their undrafted free agent signings. Tampa's drafting and smart scouting built their cup teams:

Palat
Johnson
Killorn
Kucherov
Point
Cirelli
Joseph
Vasy
Gourde

Those are just drafted or undrafted FA signings. The only first round pick listed there is Vasy. Not even including Hedman and Stammer. I can't believe someone has such an asinine opinion that Tampa of all teams can't develop players. Jesus christ.

Brisebois took over 6 years ago and he hasn't drafted and developed one player that's currently playing for them

 

[DistantThunderRep]

Brisebois took over 6 years ago and he hasn't drafted and developed one player that's currently playing for them

Brisebois was Yzerman's Assistant GM and also ran the Syracuse Crunch the whole time all these players played down there. What are you talking about? It was also pretty well known back then that Al Murray handled the draft and Brisebois the AHL and Day to Day in the NHL with Verbeek.

 

[Sota Popinski]

We have and did. We just traded them for immediate help or they priced themselves out. Look at Colton, Verhaeghe, Marchessault. The same will happen with Chaffee, Perbix, Goncalves (if he keeps the same pace). We churn out solid middle 6 players like clock work. Always finding value in late rounds to keep our top end talent accommodated. Its just hilarious that the statement that Tampa doesn't develop players can come out of people's mouths.

Marchessault priced himself out at...*checks notes*...750k? Verhaege priced himself out at 1M? And Tampa didn't draft either of them

 

[DistantThunderRep]

Marchessault priced himself out at...*checks notes*...750k? Verhaege priced himself out at 1M? And Tampa didn't draft either of them

I didn't say they drafted them. And yes, they priced themselves out, Tampa had other players to sign? Marchessault and Verhaeghe both wanted more play time and we couldn't accommodate. What other points you want easily debunked? What kind of revisionist history would you type out next?

 

[ThunderRoad]

Brisebois took over 6 years ago and he hasn't drafted and developed one player that's currently playing for them

He came in with Yzerman and was supposedly involved in all aspects of the Lightning, including drafting and player development. He also was the GM of Syracuse where the players on that list started out in most every instance, so would have had a hand in their development at AHL level as well. So definitely can’t say he didn’t have a hand throughout that entire timeframe.

It’s obvious though he’s more of a risk taker than Yzerman ever was/is, so once he got the promotion, that tendency has been on full display, for good and some bad.

 

[Sota Popinski]

I didn't say they drafted them. And yes, they priced themselves out, Tampa had other players to sign? Marchessault and Verhaeghe both wanted more play time and we couldn't accommodate. What other points you want easily debunked? What kind of revisionist history would you type out next?

If they're the best in the NHL at drafting and developing why don't they have a single player in the lineup that was drafted and developed under Brisebois time as GM? How has he not even gotten lucky with a later pick over 6 years?

You could certainly say they used to be the best. You can't say it now with a straight face when over the last 8 drafts (since they nailed the Cirelli pick) the best you have to show are Nick Perbix and Ross Colton

He came in with Yzerman and was supposedly involved in all aspects of the Lightning, including drafting and player development. He also was the GM of Syracuse where the players on that list started out in most every instance, so would have had a hand in their development at AHL level as well. So definitely can’t say he didn’t have a hand throughout that entire timeframe.

It’s obvious though he’s more of a risk taker than Yzerman ever was/is, so once he got the promotion, that tendency has been on full display, for good and some bad.

He deserves some of the credit for sure. And he made some great trades. They don't have anything to lean on recently that says they're the best at drafting and developing though