Peter Budaj has signed a new contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Good fit there, can handle a big work load if need be and can keep Vasilevsky off his feet for some time if need be!

I'm real glad for Budaj he has always been pretty good in regular season struggling in Post Season... I hope this means Vegas will be taking Gudlveski (sp) the Latvian sensation . HE did pretty well for the Kings before he was traded to Tampa. At the time he had them in the Post Season, afterwards they fell fast... Tampa looked like they were done but made a real solid push for Post Season that I think failed by trading Boyle which helped Toronto get in there. Things worked out pretty well for Ben Bishop too whose injuries are only thing that kept him away from a Stanley Cup thus far . Lots of teams setup for the expansion draft, now they are building for Cup runs again etc ...

Tampa likely to lose one of either Dotchin, Koekkoek, or Brown. Unless Yzerman has cracked a deal to protect any of them, but that seems unlikely.

We will know for sure soon, Dorchin seems possible out of names mentioned... Though I'm real high on Kristers Gudlevskis, he nearly beat Canada for Latvia making 55 saves in a 2-1 loss... Besides he has been pretty great in his few NHL games... I think Tampa has tried to keep him hidden since he can be a potential star or least quality number 1A/B or backup sooner rather than later. If not now I think in 2-3 years he could be a major factor which would help Vegas heavily. If they can get Tampa to toss them some draft picks or prospect to take him that would be even better. I think since they signed Budaj they are already planning to lose him via expansion draft etc. Would be funny if they traded Vegas him not to take one of those players you named . I'll be sad if he don't end up on Knights or making it into NHL soon.

Just in the past couple days I had heard from I don't remember where that Yzerman was wanting to use Gudlevskis as the backup in Tampa this year, but I dont know. He'll probably get traded for some AHL goalie with no future in the NHL 1 for 1 because reasons beyond anything anyone knows.

This deal is going to end in a buyout.

Yeah that was why I was a bit surprised by them suddenly signing Budaj as if they knew they were losing Gudlevskis to Vegas. I'm hoping Knights raked Penguins over coals making them trade Ian Cole, or some other player, prospect and pick to take Fleury... I can see him ending up like Brian Hayward did for the Sharks forcing Jeff Hackett to be the guy getting shelled between pipes . Its really eerie how almost exact mirror of expansion of Sharks to Vegas. You had a gambling goalie like Jon Casey lead a team who were the 15th seed with 68 points to the SCF against the Penguins with Super Mario the big thing then. Vancouver had 65 points as the lowest seed for any who wonder. Then out of those ashes rose the Sharks team, Rinne is pretty aggressive who was with the 16th seed losing a real blowout much like Minnesota did least once then too .

I hope since I hear they have a side deal with CBJ not to take Joonas they grab Anton Forsberg he could have some real upside... Might be a few years away but he could perhaps be a starter at NHL level. Mrazek from Detroit or Hutchinson from Jets can be the Jeff Hacket if things don't pan out as hoped for Fleury. He can sell a lot of jerseys hopefully, though he has been injury prone so can't bet on him . He might retire at end of his contract even if he does well. I can't see him getting another bite of the apple at close to 6M in cap hit . Just wish things were done transparent so I was able to enjoy everything and experience it. Instead they probably will announce the trades, then who was taken, followed by more trades made afterwards. I think one expansion Islanders lost Glenn Healy then he ended up on the Rangers, maybe for their last Cup as a backup though not sure year off top of my head . I'm worried Drew Doughty will leave Kings to play for Tampa with Stamkos and Hedman.