Lightning at Leafs - Game 7 - 5/14 7PM ET

[Hoek]

This is it. The moment of truth. Do they have what it takes to continue chasing history or not?

[Pat664422]

Incredibly gutsy win, and what a team commitment to defense. The Eddie O kept mentioning the shot blocks by the Lightning. Toronto got the kind of loss Boston used to give us with team defense before we started winning cups (our two recent ones).

The Paul trade was a great one. He finally he got rewarded for his play throughout the series tonight.

[Hoek]

We finally played the kind of game that won us two cups. Just a very solid professional win. Our experience wasn't just a platitude tonight.

Hope Point can come back somehow.

[aapbolt]

Yep we played our best game of the series. Great D and wow Nick Paul scoring 2 to win. I also hope Point can recuperate quickly. Great call on the pick and terrible call that gave the Leafs a PP in the 3rd.

[dmaxf9]

Vasilevskiy was simply outstanding and that third period was vintage Lightning defensive turn out the lights hockey. It certainly appears Vasilevskiy is back on his game.

[Bolthed]

No substitute for experience.

[Hoek]

[RSchmitz]

What a pickup Paul has been

[aapbolt]

We need to get Paul under contract before someone tries to steal him from us.

[Bolthed]

He’s out of our price range now. Everyone can see the player he is. It’s too bad bc he seems to really fit in with the boys and clearly likes competing for a winner.

The only way we re-sign him is if we trade Killorn, which I'm actually in favor of since we need to get younger and have more salary flexibility. There’s a possibility in my mind (hopefully not unrealistic) that we trade Killorn for a decent pick (or two … or a pick and a prospect … or a pick and a young 3rd line type with potential) and then use the salary we saved to sign Paul.

Love Killer, but he is one of our oldest top-9 forwards and he’s coming off a career year, which helps his trade value. I think the math works to do the following …

1. Pay for Point’s raise (~ $2M)
2. Sign Palat for one year at ~ $4 or 5M
3. Sign Paul for something like 3 years, $7.5M ($2.5M AAV)
4. Fill the 12th and 13th forward and the 7th dman spots with rookies or minimum salaries

This only works if Paul and his agent are reasonable.

[Bolthed]

JBB really has done a masterful job or roster management. How lucky are we that Yzerman was a god-level GM who trained his replacement to be as good or better?

The cap goes up $1 million next season. If you replace Rutta with a rookie, you basically only need about $500k for Point, and that money could come from Killorn being traded or from Palat accepting a slight salary cut to stay.

Trading Killorn would be sad as hell because he really wants to stay, but it’s hard not to look at his salary and envision a couple of smart moves with that money — first and foremost bringing back Paul.

[Hoek]

I doubt Palat signs for that short and that little. Keeping Killorn makes more sense unless he really does go for that discount.

[RSchmitz]

Hearing a lot about how Hagel is a Palat replacement, but Paul is definitely closer to that role. Honestly might be the best power forward we've had in a while, not the skill set of Miller but more consistent and can play in any role you put him in. Gotta find a way to keep him.

[Derek28]

We have $5,650,000 in cap space with 10F, 6D, 2G signed for next season. Unless he's making under $4 million, I think Palat is gone. Let's say the bolts get a 7th defenseman for $800,000 and sign Paul for $2.8 million. That would leave around $2 million for another forward addition for next season.

[Bolthed]

Palat is UFA and wants to stay. How much he wants to stay? We’ll find out. But I wouldn’t be surprised to see him opt for a short term deal, yes, even a series of one-year deals if his priority is staying in Tampa and the money is adequate. However, the only way to keep him would be trading Killorn, who will be a UFA the following year.

I’m simply looking at managing the cap for multiple years, the way I suspect JBB will look at it. We all agree Paul should be signed. So would you rather have Palat, whatever assets you acquire for Killorn and about $2.5 million in cap space to play with? Or would you rather let Palat walk, keep Killorn (knowing he might walk next summer) and have about $2 million for Palat’s replacement?

I love both players, and JBB does as well. It’s not an easy decision by any means. I just see the scales tilted slightly in favor of trading Killorn and capitalizing on his career year. But salary demands could easily play a role. If Palat’s agent believes there’s a 4-year, $20M deal out there, it might be hard to persuade him to give us a hometown discount. And Killorn could be willing to sign a reasonable extension, especially if JBB tells him it’s either him or Palat. Maybe it’s whoever is willing or first to stay and play for less? Who knows the future? Maybe JBB wants to let both of them walk and be replaced with younger forwards? Can’t argue with our pro scouting department. They’ve been on a helluva roll for the last several years.