I dont think you're going to need to shell out 1st' to move Gorde or Johnson. You're just going to need to let them go for significantly less then they are worth

Dude you're delusional

All they do is trade Johnson and palat and let Coleman walk then you pretty much cleared all the cap problems wouldn’t be suprised if they ltir Hedman and do what t they did last year with kuch

They could get a nice return for Cernak if they even let him go, which would be a mistake in my opinion, no chance they let him go for nothing.

Not if you're Detroit, apparently . . . at least according to a lot of the fans on here. Of course, the first fiction one must get passed is the idea that either of those players would waive their NTC to go to Detroit.

Bud. Gourde isn’t even a cap dump why would you give away a first third and fifth? How to get yourself fired as a gm 101

The whole league knows the position Tampa is in and no one will be doing them any favors. You're right that no one is waiving a NTC to go to Detroit, but you're wrong that it's not going to cost a hefty price to move those contracts.

This Detroit fan would take Johnson for the 1st alone but it would be future considerations going back to TB.

Gourde I don't think you'll need to pay to move, Johnson will most certainly cost a hefty price to offload the contract.

No appreciation of players NTCs or M NTCs, so some of those trade don't happen. No way Tampa loses 2.85m Cernak just to sign 4m Savard.

Gourde is a decent player but he's not worth his over $5M a year for the next 4 years, I think they might need to pay someone to unload him, just not that much. He did have a bounce back year this year though. I think teams look at him and say I wouldn't mind having that player on my team but that contract is a bit much, they would probably take him for free if it was from a team that wasn't in Tampa's situation.

I didn't say it wouldn't be costly . . . It will. Simply implied that certain groups operate within a narrow box with some even narrower thinking on how to value players and evaluate trade possibilities.

Trading these players might actually be the lesser of opportunities Tampa has to reduce cap, considering how many of their players hold the cards with NM and NTC's. My bet is that the Seattle approach --- however that may look --- is where we'll see Tampa shed dollars first. And yes, that could still cost Tampa Bay. But if Tampa goes the 8 skater route (4F/4D) and the Lightning leave some really good players on the board, is Francis REALLY gonna "pass them by" simply because BriseBois won't "pay" him to take a particular one. (?) Doubt it.

Then I'm reminded that there are 31 other teams . . . . AND that Gourde, Palat, Killorn, McDonagh are all really good players whom quite possibly will have 2 Stanley Cup rings before long. It's not totally out of the realm of possibility that at least 1 or 2 teams in this league will be interested in acquiring them, dare I say we may even see teams "bid" on these players just a little! . . . leading to a transaction that doesn't TOTALLY bend Tampa Bay over a barrel!! I mean we're talking about your boy's (Yzerman's) protege here! JBB learned from one of the best!

When it comes right down to it, maybe Tampa just exploits league loopholes all over again next year!! (bleh) Honestly, I hope someone DOES take the Lighting for all they're worth in a deal. I REALLY do.

No the first fiction we need to "get over" is the idea that you know anything about whether they will waive or not. Johnson has a relationship with Yzerman and he also wants to play center which he won't be doing next year for Tampa. He's 5'9" 32 year old third liner who's scoring continues to decrease while he's eating 5 million in cap. He doesn't have a ton of options and neither does Tampa. Might one the other four or five teams that can afford him underbid the Wings? Maybe but I doubt it and there certainly won't be a bidding war.

Itll take more than that to move johnson , no interest in gourde and his contract

Yzerman also has a relationship with BriseBois. Should we create some extensive theories on how that may effect any transaction between Tampa and Detroit? Or let me guess, it's because of their relationship that Yzerman will have the privilege of being the team to "help" Tampa with their situation!! . . . You know, by totally gutting them because Johnson's only value to the Wings is to sprinkle him with all the prettiest picks and prospects. . . . and lots of them! Furthermore, if BriseBois is convincing Johnson to waive his NTC because "Detroit thinks he can contribute and will be given an opportunity to do so," then flip that coin. . . . Why should JBB pay Detroit as HEAVILY in a trade (as they might a different team) if Detroit still finds some value in the player? Pick a lane, already.

As I alluded to in another post, there are 31 other teams, including an expansion franchise, that Tampa can explore. There are other ways and other players that Tampa can use to make cap space without totally destroying their prospect pool and/or draft capital even more than they have already. There may be more opportunities for Johnson right there in Tampa when all is said and done!!

(Do me a favor . . . be sure to give DeadWingsv2 the same s%#t you just sent my way. He agreed with my estimation that Detroit wouldn't make Johnson's trade list!! Or is this one of those "so long as it's a Detroit fan saying it, it's okay!!" LOL)

What a baby. There was nothing offensive in what I typed to you. So many words to say absolutely nothing. Arguing just because your ego won't allow you to shut up is a bad way to go in life...but hey it's working for you right? Do me a favor; make sense.

That last statement in my post was a joke. (I know, I know . . . everything I write is a joke!!!) But kindly relax. You're right. My post was convoluted, sarcastic, and even pretentious, and any valid point I wanted to make or questions I wanted to pose got lost because of it.

Peace brother. (or sister, I shouldn't assume)

Well spoken. Apologies for the name calling.