Waiting on Kovalchuk: Why Steve Yzerman should trade for Simon Gagne

I actually have another account (Sons of Thor) that I have not used in quite some time. I’m a high school social studies teacher and a long, long-time fan and frequent lurker/occasional commenter of many different hockey blogs, especially Boltprospects (nhljohnson). I’ve always wanted to write about the sport I love but I’ve never buckled down and done it, until now.

Again, thanks for taking the time to read it!

I personally like Frolov. I know he gets a lot of flak from some Kings fans for his consistency and overall game (hence his being referred to as “The Loaf”) but I think he would be a suitable addition to the top-6 here in Tampa.

But I do not see Frolov as a more realistic target because I believe his agent is pursing a multi-year deal and probably for substantial $ (which he should be). Based on Yzerman’s comments regarding his intended approach to free agency (this off-season, at least), I think Frolov is unlikely. Sure, his demands might have fallen and continue to fall as the summer progresses, but then there’s also always the KHL looking for its next former-NHL-superstar-come-home PR homerun.

But the entire caveat of the article was Kovalchuk has to sign with the Kings.

Gagne’s got to waive his NTC

That is the key here. The post lists some teams that have the CAP room to sign him, but to call any of them contendors and/or ideal teams to be on is a stretch.

I can’t speak for Gagne, but Tampa would actually seem like a rather desirable situation considering the forward company he’d be in (Lecavelier, St. Louis, Stamkos).

I was hoping he’d come to my Leafs – however it’s not necessarily the team that can put together the best package or the one that has the room, it’s the team that Gagne would be willing to waive to go to.

How confident are you that Matt Smaby, Riku Helenius, Vladimir Mihalik, Martins Karsums and even Ty Wishart are part of the Lightning’s future?

Wishart is the only player I’d even hesitate to include in a package for Gagne.

You’re not a terrible fan for pointing out the obvious…

The only case that one can make, and it’s a case repeated often in playing up Tampa Bay, is that the team wasn’t that far out of a playoff spot. Technically it’s closer to contention than the questions reflect.

But on the flip side, last season was one of the worst Eastern Conference seasons that I can remember. No one was as good, or consistent, as they should be. That was the only reason the team (with it’s lower line questions, goaltending woes and defensive aberration) was in the playoff picture at all last season.

Trading for Gagne is looking at the brighter-days-ahead, and hoping with the moves that have been viewed positively by the fans… well, that this owuld just continue to round things out.

I wrote a post about WHY Yzerman should trade for Gagne, not WHAT.

I don’t think you’re a “terrible fan” for doubting that next year’s Lightning squad is going to be in Cup contention; I think many (probably even Steve Yzerman) would agree with you on that front. Yet, I wouldn’t say the playoffs are a reach. I think this team is closer than emerging like the ‘02-’03 team did than might seem readily evident.

The whole point of getting Gagne would be to give this club that extra boost NOW to get back to the playoffs. I do not think anybody presently on the free agent market (aside from Ilya Kovalchuk) is as much of a sure bet to provide a consistent and dynamic offensive threat and still play a great two-way game.

We may disagree on this but I do not think any GM is going to have to mortgage the future for Gagne. He’s in the last year of a deal, he’s been labeled “injury-prone”, there are numerous quality UFA forwards still available and Paul Holmgren has put the Flyers into a precarious cap position. Sorry, I don’t buy that the Flyers are necessarily destined to receive a premium for Gagne.

In short, it’s a gamble I’d be willing to take. Especially if the Lightning only had to part with, at most, something like Helenius, Mihalik and the 2012 2nd round pick that was originally acquired from Philadelphia in the Meszaros deal.

…but, yeah, it almost makes too much sense to actually happen ;-).

Not @ $1.7 million.

I’m not sure that Yzerman could have gotten Gagne for Meszaros.

And in regards to Dustin Penner, I wouldn’t call him a Malone clone but he would be redundant in the top-6, which needs a second speedy play-maker to play St. Louis’ role on whichever line he’s not skating with. We’d be better off trying to acquire one of their young wingers (Paajarvi-Svensson, Omark). Except that a) Edmonton has probably ZERO interest in trading them and b) the cost would be exorbitant for MPS and wince-inducing for Omark.

Reply fail to “Shakenbake11”.

(Note to readers, Katerina is having issues with the idea of Simon Gagne being traded from the Flyers to anywhere else… even IF the Lightning are her other team)

An RFA would result in us having to give compensation to the team we sign a guy from… that is, if TB’s offer isn’t matched.

Did you mean UFA’s? Unrestricted Free agents as to Restricted Free Agents?

With Yzerman focusing on building organizational depth, it’s not a question of cap room as so much how much of the long term building he would willingly sacrifice to bring in a RFA. And odds are, he’s not going to even contemplate the idea of sacrificing any.

And all he does is really hype the move with little objectivity about the risks. I love the asides he does n injuries — and yet it’s right out in the forefront on his first part of hyping gagne… “In the last three seasosn Gagne was healthy…”

You know I would love to see Gagne here and think the idea makes a good deal of sense for reasons I’ve already stated but I do not think Stempniak will be on the Lightning’s radar. First, Stempniak is arguably a VERY streaky scorer. Sure, he looked great in Phoenix in the 18 regular season games he played with them (14g, 4a) after being traded by Toronto (14g, 16a in 62gp). He was a serious disappointment in St. Louis and then Toronto for the better part of three seasons after his impressive sophomore season (27g, 25a in 82gp) in 2006-2007. Still, could he serve as a top-6 stop-gap until one of the kids are ready? Sure. But I think the more significant issue is the timing of his free agent status. He’s 27 years old (only a couple of weeks older than me, I might add). I would assume his agent is doing his best to ensure Lee gets a multi-year deal while also getting a nice payday. Given Yzerman’s comments during various interviews, I don’t see the Lightning as a good fit.

Fedotenko would seem the most likely acquisition that you’ve proposed. He would conceivably provide a dependable veteran presence for the 3rd line who should chip here and there as he always seems to do, but he wasn’t really hacking it in Pittsburgh and I think his skating might be held as a knock against him here. I don’t see

In all honesty, Tom, I think a lot of the bottom-6 will be rounded out with internal solutions like Harju, Persson, Jones, Thompson, Szczechura, and maybe one of the kids with the exception of perhaps 1 veteran free agent. I, of course, would like to see the Lightning get Gagne (or Sharp is another intriguing name who might be available) or a vet UFA to complete the top-6 for a year or two.

Why is Teddy Purcell completely cast off from the Lightning here? And why are prospects Ashton and Wright relegated to 4th line grinder status? I’d want neither in the NHL if they weren’t going to get a chance to contribute.

If Ashton is going to make this team, he’s got to make it on the 3rd line or up. Wright’s the same deal. If they can’t earn minutes out of camp, they’re both AHL bound. If the Bolts are goign to sign people, they should be signing the journeymen who often make up those grinder positions… Not demoting their hot prospects to doing the dirty work.

Eklund’s reporting it? OK, now I know there is no substance to it. Carry on. :)

A) Look, I wrote an article stating the Lightning should acquire a top-6 winger, or, in other words, not stand pat and depend on Ted Purcell or a rookie. Nobody thinks Ted Purcell is the second coming of Wayne Gretzky, but the dude showed some chemistry with Vinny. You can’t take that away from him. His 1-year deal is essentially a trial period and I’m pretty confident you’re going to see him in a third-line role this season, so there’s really not a lot to complain about regarding Ted Purcell being a member of this club.

B) There’s very few clubs I think you could legitimately argue that Steve Downie would not be a top-6 winger for. The dude has so much skill aside from being an agitator that he doesn’t get widespread credit for.

C) The Lightning are not trading Ryan Malone for Tomas Kaberle, let alone any defenseman. You are aware of who the Lightning signed July 1, right? Ignore the crazy talk, eh? ;-)

D) John Madden is 37 years old. Just because he made $2.75 million with the Blackhawks last season does not mean he’ll have a similar deal available this off-season. Also, I never insinuated that I believed Yzerman would actually pursue him. I merely suggested that he or Belanger is the type of lower-line player that Yzerman would be tempted to pursue as opposed to Ruslan Fedotenko. Check that reading comprehension, bud.

oh and btw you gave me a B the last quarter…my only one all year. i hate you

You’re expressing yourself in a public forum. When you misrepresent what I say, I’m going to call you out on it, bud. :-)

Madden has been an excellent checking line center for over a decade. Dude’s 37 and hasn’t lost the most important aspect of his game yet. He can skate and in terms of speed, I meant that he’s quick on the ice; he accelerates quickly and does actually skate pretty “fast”. Does he skate faster than 99% of the league? No. But is he a better skater than Ruslan Fedotenko? Yes. That was my point. And I said he’s more versatile. He can take face-offs and play the PK unlike Fedotenko.

As far as Vinny’s captainship goes, well, that’s entirely speculation. We don’t know that it is really affecting the club adversely or not. We do know that Marty is a leader on and off the ice. Marty doesn’t need the “C” to act the elder statesman. You don’t even have to have a letter on your jersey to be a leader. I’m just not sure this is a crucial issue.

Yes, this club is going to be devoid of “goons” in the sense of one-dimensional players but I would not be surprised if the lineup, next season and in the future, continues to have players who can and will readily scrap. The catch is these guys will have be able to contribute in other ways. I don’t think Yzerman is opposed to having a player in the mold of Arron Asham or Dan Carcillo.

In terms of your theory about the Lighting being short-handed too much…they did in fact have to play short-handed (336) more every team in the league except St. Louis and about 100 more times than New Jersey. The Lightning were also in the bottom third at actually killing off their opponents power plays (80%). Kubina and Clark, both accomplished shot-blockers, should help with the PK and we can hope that the overall team construct, and “system”, will alleviate these problems.