the best teams are ruthless. especially when hedman, point, kuch and vasy are still in their primes.
wonder if they are as ruthless as they should be. the window is closing but it's still a good team.
Ovi, Malkin, Carlson, Sid, Burns, Ek65, Pavelski, Keith?
34 years may not be absolutely peak but this is one of the best dmen of his respective era, I would not be surprised to see him still be bona fide 1st pairing for the next 3 years.
Since turning 34:
Ovi: 195G, 339P in 342 GP
Malkin: 82G, 220P in 238 GP
Sid: 106G, 271P in 233 GP
Burns: 232P in 372 GP
So yeah, saying they're not in the primes may be true but the way you are framing this comes across as they're not good players and not good enough to be impactful on a contender
>the way you are framing this comes across as they're not good players
The comment you replied to literally started "of course he's still a good player" lmao
Forgive me for being ignorant, but I thought your problems last season were due to poor D (and Vasi playing slightly worse), not lacking offense? how does trading Sergachev and bringing a winger help here?
All these moves are exciting/wild, but yes I’m in the same boat. I liked the mcdonagh trade even tho I think we shouldn’t have traded him in the first place. JBB has to be doing something on D. On one hand getting guentzel would help out secondary scoring tremendously, which lacked in the playoffs. Assuming stammer is also back, the top 6 could look like some combination of
Guentz - Point - Kuch
Stammer - Cirelli - Hagel
D would still have me very concerned though.
I’m always curious about comments like these after a player gets moved. I went and looked at Sergachev’s underlying numbers on moneypuck for the last two seasons and he’s actually .. pretty good defensively? His On Ice High Danger Shots Against per 60 is lower than Hedman and Cernak and his On Ice Expected Goals Against per 60 minutes is the best of the Lightnings top 6 d. This is true for both 2023-24 and 2022-23. Most of his offensive stats are in the same realm as Hedman too.
His 2021-22 was similar, less expected goals than Hedman but Hedman seems to be better at getting shots through.
Overall he’s not really a colossal defensive liability like these comments seem to make him out to be. And he’s not really as dynamic offensively as he’s said. Interesting stuff really.
He’s a Russian Jake Gardiner. Good underlying numbers and good at transitioning play and tilting the ice in your favor.
But when he fucks up, he does it in such catastrophic fashion that it ends up in your net.
Pst hey
Most tampa fans dont understand hockey and just Parrot whatever BS other tampa fans say.
Sergy was a fucking stud, with excellent 2 way play, and in 2022 he made way less fuck ups than McD so frankly im not convinced most tampa fans even watch the games lol
Our issues were defense and 5v5 - our forward depth was non-existence and our defense was insanely top heavy. Sergy is a great player, but is certainly offensive first (and paying 8.5m for a pp2 defenseman isn't optimal), trading him gives us an opportunity to try to solve both problems.
The sergachev trade brought in a 24 year old defenseman, along with us bringing McD back (a much more defensively solid player). Add Guentz to the top 6, and Kuch doesn’t have to carry the team on his back again. Kuch did most of the offensive work this year
I hope that original deal didn’t piss him off enough to not sign on or else you’ll be losing stammer and stamkos
Why am I being downvoted? I’m saying Tampa losing stamkos would be like cutting one of the hearts of the team out
Well you probably can’t lose BOTH stammer and stamkos, don’t think that’s possible haha.
But honestly, I don’t think you’re wrong thinking it might irk him. They continually prioritize everyone else and hope he’ll take a sweetheart deal, it’s easily possible he’s had enough and has moved on.
I hope not
he got y’all 2 stanly cups and been captain since 2015 (I think?) that deal was well my dad (who was also baffled and upset about it he’s a leafs fan also) would put it “a huge insult” it would be heartbreaking seeing him go tbh
My thought was Chychrun.
They were rumoured to be in on Hanifin, and Chychrun has ties to hockey in Florida so I expect he would be interested in extending there
Sergs contract was absolutely not an albatross. Did he quite live up to expectations? No. But he's still a solid dman who played a metric shit ton of shutdown minutes and had a solid offensive upside. Slightly overpaid but not horribly.
The fact that Friedman was saying we were trying to get it done before the draft…and that he’s not signed despite us upping our offer…has me thinking he gone. Hope I’m wrong.
These “reports” from everyone not named Friedman have been speculation and just shilling for the teams. Same thing happened at the deadline and it’s ridiculous.
Until Friedman updates on the status I don’t buy any of this. Everyone wants to see him go.
Tampa letting Stammer walk just to sign Guentzel feels wrong to me
the best teams are ruthless. especially when hedman, point, kuch and vasy are still in their primes. wonder if they are as ruthless as they should be. the window is closing but it's still a good team.
Hedman turns 34 this year
And he just had a career offensive year lol
Of course he's still a good player but there is no world where a 34yo is "still in his prime"
Tom Brady?
Tom Brady played in the NFL. That’s a football league. This is the NHL, which is a hockey league. Different sports.
Can someone fact check this?
Incorrect, NFL is a hand egg league.
Played by meat popsicles
nick lidstrom was in his prime the day he retired.
Bergeron too
Back in my days, we had the Nik Lidstrom award for best d-man and Patrice Bergeron award for best two way forward /s
Well yeah, but he was (and is) a robot
Ovi, Malkin, Carlson, Sid, Burns, Ek65, Pavelski, Keith? 34 years may not be absolutely peak but this is one of the best dmen of his respective era, I would not be surprised to see him still be bona fide 1st pairing for the next 3 years.
None of these players were in their prime at 34 years old. Turn your brain on.
Since turning 34: Ovi: 195G, 339P in 342 GP Malkin: 82G, 220P in 238 GP Sid: 106G, 271P in 233 GP Burns: 232P in 372 GP So yeah, saying they're not in the primes may be true but the way you are framing this comes across as they're not good players and not good enough to be impactful on a contender
>the way you are framing this comes across as they're not good players The comment you replied to literally started "of course he's still a good player" lmao
I like how you decide by age and not actual play for prime. Silly comment.
[удалено]
I can tell I’m just gonna waste my breath here.
[удалено]
Maybe I'm being silly 🤪 but imo the six year stretch where he was a top-3 Norris finisher every season was actually Hedman's prime
And a career worst defensive year.
You haven’t watched Hedman’s career if you think this was his worst lmfao sit this one out
We just cleared nearly 12mil. Stammer isnt going anywhere
Letting a 34 year old PP merchant go for Guentzel would be the right choice honestly
Missing some context there but sure if you want to look at it like that.
They can keep Stamkos and sign Guentzel too
Taking a page out of San Hose’s playbook
Actually its the best choice for both side. I couls see BOS overpaying for Stammy 2-3-4 years
Ducks will sign him to a $9x6 or something similarly asinine
Can you just give everyone else a turn Tampa?
No
We’re so back
Forgive me for being ignorant, but I thought your problems last season were due to poor D (and Vasi playing slightly worse), not lacking offense? how does trading Sergachev and bringing a winger help here?
All these moves are exciting/wild, but yes I’m in the same boat. I liked the mcdonagh trade even tho I think we shouldn’t have traded him in the first place. JBB has to be doing something on D. On one hand getting guentzel would help out secondary scoring tremendously, which lacked in the playoffs. Assuming stammer is also back, the top 6 could look like some combination of Guentz - Point - Kuch Stammer - Cirelli - Hagel D would still have me very concerned though.
If Jake Guentzel is secondary scoring for you, scoring is not a problem or a need.
Kuch goes brrrrrrrrr
Hedman Raddysh McD Cernak Insert league minimum guys here as third pair
Emil Lilliberg is going to be back I imagine
I’m cool with that. I liked his play.
Moser will probably slot in the top 4.
Over Hedman and McD? Nah
Tbh tho, Serg has never been great defensively lol. We dont win 2 cups without him. One of my fav players but he has struggled on defense
I’m always curious about comments like these after a player gets moved. I went and looked at Sergachev’s underlying numbers on moneypuck for the last two seasons and he’s actually .. pretty good defensively? His On Ice High Danger Shots Against per 60 is lower than Hedman and Cernak and his On Ice Expected Goals Against per 60 minutes is the best of the Lightnings top 6 d. This is true for both 2023-24 and 2022-23. Most of his offensive stats are in the same realm as Hedman too. His 2021-22 was similar, less expected goals than Hedman but Hedman seems to be better at getting shots through. Overall he’s not really a colossal defensive liability like these comments seem to make him out to be. And he’s not really as dynamic offensively as he’s said. Interesting stuff really.
He’s a Russian Jake Gardiner. Good underlying numbers and good at transitioning play and tilting the ice in your favor. But when he fucks up, he does it in such catastrophic fashion that it ends up in your net.
Pst hey Most tampa fans dont understand hockey and just Parrot whatever BS other tampa fans say. Sergy was a fucking stud, with excellent 2 way play, and in 2022 he made way less fuck ups than McD so frankly im not convinced most tampa fans even watch the games lol
Sergachev doesn't really play defense like that unfortunately. McDonagh is a much better actual defender.
We don't win 2 cups without McD. Dude was a wall in the playoffs.
Don't win them without Serg either
No, but with the current team structure/contracts McD is more valuable.
Our issues were defense and 5v5 - our forward depth was non-existence and our defense was insanely top heavy. Sergy is a great player, but is certainly offensive first (and paying 8.5m for a pp2 defenseman isn't optimal), trading him gives us an opportunity to try to solve both problems.
Honestly not having Vasi till December really put us behind the 8 ball and I think JBB realized Sergachev extension was a mistake
The sergachev trade brought in a 24 year old defenseman, along with us bringing McD back (a much more defensively solid player). Add Guentz to the top 6, and Kuch doesn’t have to carry the team on his back again. Kuch did most of the offensive work this year
They got Moser back another LHD btw
Sergy barely played last year due to injury, JBB also brought back McDonagh
I hope that original deal didn’t piss him off enough to not sign on or else you’ll be losing stammer and stamkos Why am I being downvoted? I’m saying Tampa losing stamkos would be like cutting one of the hearts of the team out
Well you probably can’t lose BOTH stammer and stamkos, don’t think that’s possible haha. But honestly, I don’t think you’re wrong thinking it might irk him. They continually prioritize everyone else and hope he’ll take a sweetheart deal, it’s easily possible he’s had enough and has moved on.
Yeah, losing Stammer AND Stamkos will be real tough
To be fair, keeping one without the other would be impossible.
I hope not he got y’all 2 stanly cups and been captain since 2015 (I think?) that deal was well my dad (who was also baffled and upset about it he’s a leafs fan also) would put it “a huge insult” it would be heartbreaking seeing him go tbh
Hey, how about you fucking don't please
No, they’re going to overpay Jeff Skinner
$3milx7 for Skinner, their plan all along!
He has never lost in the playoffs.
No
Sí
I will go fistfight Brisebois myself. I will lose but I think my point will have been made
I dunno, Tampa could also take all that money and sign Matt Murray
just keep Stamkos and screw off
Not a Bolts fan but this makes no sense. Trade a great young dman so you can sign an older winger and let your longtime captain walk?
WHY WONT YOU DIE?!?!!!
It's our turn with the Guentzel
Looks like I’m going to be needed in the canes lineup next year better work on my skating
My thought was Chychrun. They were rumoured to be in on Hanifin, and Chychrun has ties to hockey in Florida so I expect he would be interested in extending there
The Bolts Last Dance
Oh fuck right off.
Clearing out huge albatross contract seems good
Sergs contract was absolutely not an albatross. Did he quite live up to expectations? No. But he's still a solid dman who played a metric shit ton of shutdown minutes and had a solid offensive upside. Slightly overpaid but not horribly.
Dibs
Pls say sike right now
If Carolina could just announce the re signing it would be cool. So sick of this fake news around trying to acquire him.
The fact that Friedman was saying we were trying to get it done before the draft…and that he’s not signed despite us upping our offer…has me thinking he gone. Hope I’m wrong.
After the Tarasenko bullshit last year too, I’m guessing the canes aren’t announcing anything or letting anything leak until it’s official.
These “reports” from everyone not named Friedman have been speculation and just shilling for the teams. Same thing happened at the deadline and it’s ridiculous. Until Friedman updates on the status I don’t buy any of this. Everyone wants to see him go.
[well](https://x.com/nhl_watcher/status/1807087729877885186?s=46&t=XWvxAerWrH_L7aS5CR2vkw)
Yah I just saw that live. 48 hours for him to think it over
My hope + cope is that Guentzel plans on signing but camp is assuming we get desperate and up the offer, and he ends up signing at the 11th hour
The tax advantage is ridiculous. Might as well be buying in an entirely different currency.
Funny how Tennessee, Washington, Texas, and Nevada all don't have an income tax but they never seem to get mentioned when people cry about taxes...
Nevada, Texas and Tennessee do get mentioned a lot. I'm surprised I don't more about the Kraken honestly
Yes