Joined: Jul. 2019
Posts: 2,445
Likes: 546
I agree that Tampa should've kept Miller and traded Gourde this past off season. However, Miller was never getting used properly here bc Cooper is a fool and Gourde likely would have only returned a 2nd and 3rd/4th instead of the 1st + 3rd that Miller brought. In any case, if JBB was going to mortgage the near future then I would've still gone after Coleman but then left Goodrow alone and went heavily after Manson. He is a rhd who still had term so not a ufa that Tampa would never go after. They should've offered the 1st they gave for Goodrow, plus a good prospect and a conditional 2nd(becomes a 1st if Tampa wins a cup this year or next) for Manson at 50%. Tampa would then have had the shutdown rhd for this run and maybe 2 more, while not having a huge cap hit. By not going after an rhd now, Tampa makes themselves much weaker this year before the hurt guys get back and next year as well. Shattenkirk is gone and who knows about Rutta. By not giving Foote a chance now while so many are injured it is a little concerning as to the confidence the team has in him to be ready to be a regular 3rd pairing rhd next year. Maybe Tampa tries for a defenseman in the offseason through a trade or something, but getting Manson at 50% for these high assets seemed like something they should've considered.