Confirmed Trade: [TBL/SEA/DET] Y. Gourde (75% ret.), O. Bjorkstrand, K. Aucoin, 2026 5th to TBL; M. Eyssimont, 2026 1st, 2027 1st, 2025 2nd to SEA; 2025 4th to DET

[eojsmada]

I mean that should of been evident after our Tanner Trade with Nashville lmao

JBB just goes out and gets what he wants, costs be dammed.

Totally fair. Just always interesting to see how Brisebois does his job compared to everyone else.

 

[Barsky]

We paid a third rounder for Tarasenko last year lol

It was 2 3rd rounders

 

[KovalchukFistPump]

Realistically, there's no window when Hedman can't handle #1 duties no matter what we do. That's been true for 10 years. The window has always been Hedman.

I think the rise of Cirelli and Hagel have extended the potential Cup window by 3 years. Really when Kucherov is a UFA might be a pivot point as they probably need to let him go the way they did Stamkos (he will be 33-34 and probably still asking for a top dollar contract that could be risky). But maybe they can convince him to take a 3 year deal at a reasonable price. They will have to do defense by committee, yes, but remember that Hedman's 8M cap hit isn't even #1 money anymore.

 

[majormajor]

Took Bjorkstrand only 3 years to increase his value from a 3rd and a 4th to a first.

He would have been worth a 1st++ (even more than now) if he was traded in 2023, just one year after the trade to Seattle.

That was widely considered to be a huge blunder by Jarmo. It was a bad panic move. It was not an accurate reflection of Bjorkstrand's value. Go ask Jackets fans how happy they were with it.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Seeing the retention on Gourde makes me feel like this is a pretty reasonable deal in the end. It basically splits up into Gourde at 25% for Eyssimont and a 1st and Bjorkstrand for a 1st and 2nd. I think that value there is reasonable, it's a hell of a deal for Seattle but I wouldn't call it an overpayment or bad deal for Tampa.

 

[TGWL]

Why is Detroit helping Tampa? There's an actual chance they could meet in the playoffs...

Because some other team would help them instead and Detroit would get nothing and still have that possiblity of meeting the same team in the playoffs.

 

[Weltschmerz]

He would have been worth a 1st++ (even more than now) if he was traded in 2023, just one year after the trade to Seattle.

That was widely considered to be a huge blunder by Jarmo. It was a bad panic move. It was not an accurate reflection of Bjorkstrand's value. Go ask Jackets fans how happy they were with it.

I remember it as a low price because they needed cap space after signing Jonny Hockey.

 

[WarriorofTime]

What a nightmare matchup the Lightning will be for whomever draws them. They really need to go seed the teams 1-8. The Atlantic is going to be a blood bath.

If they did 1-8 and season ended today (use point % for convenience)

it'd be

1 Washington vs. 8 Ottawa
2 Toronto vs. 7 Columbus
3 Florida vs. 6 New Jersey
4 Tampa Bay vs. 5 Carolina

with Divisions/Wildcards

M1 Washington vs. WC2 Ottawa
A1 Toronto vs. WC1 Columbus
A2 Florida vs. A3 Tampa Bay
M2 Carolina vs. M3 New Jersey

Obviously still time for standings to change. Carolina is only pacing out over 82 games for 2 points less than Tampa Bay, 4 points less than Florida right now and 6 points less than Toronto now. So it could certainly flip.

 

[DFC]

I think the rise of Cirelli and Hagel have extended the potential Cup window by 3 years. Really when Kucherov is a UFA might be a pivot point as they probably need to let him go the way they did Stamkos (he will be 33-34 and probably still asking for a top dollar contract that could be risky). But maybe they can convince him to take a 3 year deal at a reasonable price. They will have to do defense by committee, yes, but remember that Hedman's 8M cap hit isn't even #1 money anymore.

Hedman has barely ever made true #1 money.

I just mean, the plan is to extend, extend, extend. And I think we will always be able to add players. But once Hedman can't cut it, none of that will matter. And that has always been true. So we have to get everything we can out of this core, because it's unlikely we are gonna stumble onto another Victor Hedman. (I think we hoped Sergachev could be the guy in waiting, but it just clearly wasn't him.)

 

[JKG33]

If I'm in Tampa's position and I need a guy for my middle six who will have heavy checking duty and no powerplay time, then I'd much rather have Bjorkstrand than Brock Boeser. Bjorkstrand will score with anyone and is a high end forechecker. Boeser right now is not exactly lighting the league on fire away from Miller. He is not going to be worth 1st + 2nd if a club can't give him top linemates and PP time.

meh, I'd much rather plug Boeser on the top line, moving someone else down the lineup, than I would plug Bjorkstrand on the 2nd line.

Bjorkstrand was just packaged with an injured Gourde (who us Seattle fans were hoping was still worth a late 1st) and the total return was two late 1sts + 2nd. That doesn't prove what you want to prove.

Virtually all of us agreed that Bjorkstrand was worth more - he's better than Gourde, Bjorkstrand was often times Seattle's best forward period - and has an extra year at good value. Maybe you should just listen to people who know better than you?

Hey maybe Bjorkstrand will prove me wrong, but he's been pretty consistent throughout his career. And being the best forward on Seattle isn't the flex you think it is. I'll take the middle 6 all situation C over the middle 6 winger any day.

 

[oobga]

The more you pay, the better the player will become. That's how it works right? Probably will be more useful than Jeannot at least.

 

[majormajor]

Hedman has barely ever made true #1 money.

I just mean, the plan is to extend, extend, extend. And I think we will always be able to add players. But once Hedman can't cut it, none of that will matter. And that has always been true. So we have to get everything we can out of this core, because it's unlikely we are gonna stumble onto another Victor Hedman. (I think we hoped Sergachev could be the guy in waiting, but it just clearly wasn't him.)

As an outsider I think you're overstating it. As great as Hedman is, he's had times where he limped through series at half effectiveness and the team around him won it.

 

[JKG33]

My understanding is that this type of transaction has so many interested participants that they don’t really care who is helping who. It’s more just a market where the going rate is set by the group willing to facilitate for the best price.

Different teams may have different thresholds for participation here - perhaps targeting some specific range of dollars, so when a deal comes that is in the area you want:

you can either get your prize or let somebody else get the prize.

Yup, it's a way to facilitate deals. A gentleman's agreement. If you have the means, you get it done this year with the expectation someone returns the favour for you.

The only way it doesn't happen is if it's a direct playoff rival. LA/EDM, FLA/TB, CAR/NJ... that kinda thing

 

[WarriorofTime]

I think the rise of Cirelli and Hagel have extended the potential Cup window by 3 years. Really when Kucherov is a UFA might be a pivot point as they probably need to let him go the way they did Stamkos (he will be 33-34 and probably still asking for a top dollar contract that could be risky). But maybe they can convince him to take a 3 year deal at a reasonable price. They will have to do defense by committee, yes, but remember that Hedman's 8M cap hit isn't even #1 money anymore.

When Kucherov and Hedman are no longer top players, whether they're in Tampa or somewhere else and regardless of their cap hit, the Lightning window is caput. 27 year old Cirelli and 26 year old Hagel are nice pieces to have of course right now, but their presence doesn't mean the Lightning have any sort of real chance at contention in a post Kucherov world.

 

[Aashir]

Can we offer you a pick for retained salary?

sure we will take a 2nd round pick for david kampf at 50% retained salary

 

[DingDongCharlie]

meh, I'd much rather plug Boeser on the top line, moving someone else down the lineup, than I would plug Bjorkstrand on the 2nd line.

Hey maybe Bjorkstrand will prove me wrong, but he's been pretty consistent throughout his career. And being the best forward on Seattle isn't the flex you think it is. I'll take the middle 6 all situation C over the middle 6 winger any day.

Calling Bjorkstrand a mid 6 winger is completely disingenuous. In no way is he a 3rd liner. Not by deployment , ice time or production.

 

[JKG33]

If they did 1-8 and season ended today (use point % for convenience)

it'd be

1 Washington vs. 8 Ottawa
2 Toronto vs. 7 Columbus
3 Florida vs. 6 New Jersey
4 Tampa Bay vs. 5 Carolina

with Divisions/Wildcards

M1 Washington vs. WC2 Ottawa
A1 Toronto vs. WC1 Columbus
A2 Florida vs. A3 Tampa Bay
M2 Carolina vs. M3 New Jersey

Obviously still time for standings to change. Carolina is only pacing out over 82 games for 2 points less than Tampa Bay, 4 points less than Florida right now and 6 points less than Toronto now. So it could certainly flip.

Yup, and provided Washington and Toronto don't choke, that beautiful format allows for an all-Florida ECF which is the correct outcome.

 

[AvroArrow]

JBB strikes again....Nobody manages to direction better than him......Picking a direction with convivtion is the right was to do it in this league...............Trying to play the short term and long term game at the same time is usually just a one way ticket to no man's land.........

Best GM is the league.....

I mean I think going for it is the answer, especially when Kuch is still playing this well

Not so sure about this trade, awful lot of assets to give up. Kinda seems like the Tanner Jeannot trade all over again, maybe not that bad Jeannot is a plug, but that's a LOT going out.

I don't think they can really make another impactful trade after this.

 

[kerrabria]

Tampa could get cup #3 in 6 years.

That would make for 3 cups, 5 SCFs, and 2 other ECF runs (2016 and 2018) for the Kucherov/Hedman/Vas era Bolts if you add in MSL/Lecav teams they get 1 more Cup + 1 ECF as well

They win this and its over for Pens, Hawks and any other dynastic teams to claim they had best dynasty/success post 80s Oilers

They'd overtake Pittsburgh, yes. Below is a little table I made at the start of the year to show team success in the Salary Cap era.

 

[indigobuffalo]

If they did 1-8 and season ended today (use point % for convenience)

it'd be

1 Washington vs. 8 Ottawa
2 Toronto vs. 7 Columbus
3 Florida vs. 6 New Jersey
4 Tampa Bay vs. 5 Carolina

with Divisions/Wildcards

M1 Washington vs. WC2 Ottawa
A1 Toronto vs. WC1 Columbus
A2 Florida vs. A3 Tampa Bay
M2 Carolina vs. M3 New Jersey

Obviously still time for standings to change. Carolina is only pacing out over 82 games for 2 points less than Tampa Bay, 4 points less than Florida right now and 6 points less than Toronto now. So it could certainly flip.

When you see this it’s evident that there are just 16 contenders and it doesn’t really matter how they’re paired up. No one gets an easy round.

 

[AvroArrow]

First round picks are not an overpayment when we draft and develop players better then anyone in the league and not when your keeping a window open to win cups.

Depends entirely on what the return is

 

[JKG33]

Calling Bjorkstrand a mid 6 winger is completely disingenuous. In no way is he a 3rd liner. Not by development, ice time or production.

If you have Bjorkstrand on your 3rd line you're doing great. If he's on your first line, either you're really hitting the blender and bumped someone better down, something's gone horribly wrong (injury), or you're a bottom feeder.

When you see this it’s evident that there are just 16 contenders and it doesn’t really matter how they’re paired up. No one gets an easy round.

I see this and think the opposite. Florida/Tampa and a bunch of filler teams

 

[DingDongCharlie]

Seattle did well here too. Getting those picks is exactly what the team needed. They need to build this club up through the draft. The roster is barren of high end talent. They have to do that the hard way. These picks even if late 1st can help in that department.

 

[OurlordAndSaviorKuch]

Depends entirely on what the return is

Not really, This is extending our window AND making us better for potential cup #3 if we do indeed win that cup I could give two shits less about the picks.

 

[jetsforever]

Wow big price but good return