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

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Steep price. If they win it doesn’t matter.

The Bolts had 6 great forwards prior to this trade but were dragging around a ton of corpses / deadweight / not ready guys in their top nine. I think that was glossed over a bit by their stars but it would’ve been a tremendous Achilles heel in the playoffs.

Guentzel-Point-Kucherov
Hagel-Cirelli-Bjorkstrand
Goncalves?-Paul-Gourde

Suddenly looks much better and ready for a deep run when you are going to need those tertiary guys to score some timely goals.

This keeps them right there with Florida as favorites in the East imo. I’m not convinced they were at that level prior to today.
 
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.
"The roster is barren of high end talent"

Q: is it realistic to get high end talent with the 30th pick each year?
 
Tampa actually understands what its all about, your core you drafted has a limited window to win cups before they eventually get old and you have to start again. Too many teams constantly just gear up for a new beginning.
There will come a day when Hedman isn't a true #1. And those of us who are realistic realize that the following years will HURT. But that's coming either way. So, in the meantime, let's win as much as possible.
 
Oh, just for all the whiners about JBB:

giphy.gif
 
Tampa literally went to the finals three times in a row, winning two of them, using this “draft-schmaft” strategy

Just because the Leafs suck at it doesn’t mean other teams do
Yeah, I am pretty sure the Leafs have tried every strategy in the book since 1967 and not a single one has worked. Doesn't mean that they are all bad.
 
Hagel-Cirelli with occasional rotation to confuse opponents with Point-Kuch. Definitely will rotate into PP1/PP2
okay, I figured he would be on the 2nd line. Super great trade for the bolts, you know what you have with Gourde as well. Seems to me the east is going to come down to TB, FLA and Wash.
 
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- tbay improving just adds more fuel to my fire for detroit not buying anything
- and i know a 4th isnt very valuable but it makes the fun of draft day funner , plus can be added to several other pix to move up
 
okay, I figured he would be on the 2nd line. Super great trade for the bolts, you know what you have with Gourde as well. Seems to me the east is going to come down to TB, FLA and Wash.
Bjork with Cirelli and Hagel is a 5+ point per series in the postseason. Watch and see. He's got the shot, the skill, and the puck smarts.
 
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Goals for: 2nd
Goals against: 7th
Powerplay: 6th
Penalty Kill: 10th
Goal differential: 3rd
Vasilevskiy top 3 in basically all goalie stats
Hedman top 5 in basically all defense stats
McDonagh league leader in +/- (worthless stat but he has been unreal defensively this year)
Hagel third player ever to hit 30 goals with ZERO power play goals
Kucherov top 3 in points
4 guys on pace for 40 goals
I hear the coach is decent too.
Guentzel is clutch in the playoffs too. I am very curious to see what he will do this year.
 
"The roster is barren of high end talent"

Q: is it realistic to get high end talent with the 30th pick each year?

No but the more assets you have like 1st rounders the more likely you hit on one. A fairly veteran roster near the bottom of the standings what direction would you suggest?

We also don’t know where those picks will land in the end. It’s a step in the right direction. For a club low in the standings. If they are going to build this club it has to be through the draft and around Wright, Beniers, Catton, a coming top 10 pick this season. Draft capital is worth more to a club like Seattle vs a contender as Tampa Bay. Exactly why this deal made sense for both clubs.
 
Nice haul for Seattle for essentially spare parts. I think Tampa is stuck in the nostalgia of Gourde, and that will come back to bite them. Bjorkstrand for one 1st I can get, but both feels like a big mistake.
 
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This move definitely bolters Tampa's depth.

They have a great top six, but their bottom six was kind of shite. This move definitely makes it better. Gourde has played and had success there. But man... two first rounders and a second? Talk about a steep price to pay.

The Lightning have balls, though. They go for it.
 
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