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

[Bolthed]

Nothing gets my old friend DD to come out of hiding like Killorn trade talk!

[Donnie D]

Our salary cap problem isn't this summer - it's 2023-24 when Sergachev, Cirelli, Cernak and Colton are all due new contracts.

One would think that Palat would want term. That means we are going to have difficulty keeping him. Killorn's deal runs out at the end of 23. You are going to need both of those salaries to lock up the 4 RFAs to long term deals. If we are going for another cup next year, and there is no reason we wouldn't, they probably keep Killorn for another season and let him walk.

From the quotes at expansion, I think Killorn is the most likely to take a haircut and reduced term to stay beyond 23.

[Bolthed]

Paul turned down 2.5M AAV from Ottawa, wanted 4 years 12M and that was before he increased his value since coming over. I would say at this point it would take at least 4 / 14M and IMO the Lightning would be smart to find a way to make that work.

That’s still doable if Palat walks or Killorn is dealt. Paul has become a priority in his short time as a Bolt. Depending on what happens with the rest of this postseason run, it wouldn’t shock me if JBB wants to transition away from our 30+ year-old wingers and move on from both Palat and Killorn. Their combined cap hit this season was $9.75M. That’s a lot of room to maneuver. And again, our pro scouts have been killing it for several years now (I’d go as far back as the Cernak and Sergachev acquisitions in 2017).

[Pat664422]

I'll believe we'll face the Avs in a final when I see it happen, lol. They always choke.

I don't see that happening. I think goaltending was their problem last year and they seemed to have fixed it. I think either the Lightning or the Avalanche are going to be the winners this year.

[Iceman]

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.

Paul turned down 2.5M AAV from Ottawa, wanted 4 years 12M and that was before he increased his value since coming over. I would say at this point it would take at least 4 / 14M and IMO the Lightning would be smart to find a way to make that work.

[Hoek]

I'll believe we'll face the Avs in a final when I see it happen, lol. They always choke.

[gphockey]

Nice job boys.
Toronto gave them all they wanted.
Guessing Point out with either pulled groin, pulled hammy or hip injury.
Defense, secondary scoring, worlds best goalie and playoff shutdown experience won that series.

Round 2 tough series, likely to go 6 or 7 games.

Get through 2, maybe the Canes in 3...another tough series

Get through 3, likely facing the Aves....another tough series

Out

[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.

[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.

[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.

[Hoek]

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

[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.

[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.

[aapbolt]

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

[RSchmitz]

What a pickup Paul has been