2012-2013 Roster

[Fat Tony]

Originally Posted by Donnie D

I take it back. When a guy named Fat Tony threatens death, it sounds like a mob hit may be coming.

hahaha, I guess it kinda does huh...my bad

[Top Shelf]

Originally Posted by Donnie D

I know I've brought this up before and have been stoned for even suggesting it, but if this team is going to do a major rebuild, is it fair to St. Louis to make him give up his last couple of years to stay with the team, when it may benefit both parties for him to move to a contender and give us the building blocks for the future?

"...stoned for even suggesting it"....there's still no more appropriate description available

No need to make the process any harder or time-consuming...IMHO you still continue to build around a core of players whose total commitment to the franchise stands unquestioned

[Kowalski]

I agree that Conacher deseves a look for sure. The kid is a monster at the AHL level and has proven that he has the skills. His defensive game would be what we'd have to see about. I love the idea of Marty's replacement seemingly coming out of nowhere just like Marty did. Makes me all warm and fuzzy inside.

[Alex]

Rocco who? Thanks Cory

[nhljohnson]

The general direction I think the Lightning will take:

CAPGEEK.COM CAP CALCULATOR ROSTER
My Custom Lineup
FORWARDS
Ted Purcell ($2.363m) / Steven Stamkos ($7.500m) / Cory Conacher ($0.871m)
Brett Connolly ($1.633m) / Vincent Lecavalier ($7.727m) / Martin St. Louis ($5.625m)
Ryan Malone ($4.500m) / Nate Thompson ($0.900m) / J.T. Brown ($1.350m)
J.T. Wyman ($0.600m) / Tom Pyatt ($0.600m) / Dana Tyrell ($0.600m)
Tim Wallace ($0.500m)
DEFENSEMEN
UFA / Trade ($5.000m) / Victor Hedman ($4.000m)
Brian Lee ($0.900m) / Eric Brewer ($3.850m)
Brendan Mikkelson ($0.750m) / Keith Aulie ($0.750m)
Mattias Ohlund ($3.607m) / Marc-Andre Bergeron ($1.000m)
GOALTENDERS
UFA / Trade ($3.000m)
Mathieu Garon ($1.300m)
BUYOUTS
Vaclav Prospal ($1.167m)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled without the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $64,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $60,093,166; BONUSES: $1,600,000
CAP SPACE (23-man roster): $4,206,834

I think the above is the minimum Yzerman will shoot for.

Priority #1 = Starting G, #2 = Top-4 D, Priority #3 = Bottom-6 F
Wish #1 = Top-6 F

[nhljohnson]

Perhaps the best lineup Yzerman could muster but also probably the least likely to come to fruition.

CAPGEEK.COM CAP CALCULATOR ROSTER
My Custom Lineup
FORWARDS
Ted Purcell ($2.363m) / Steven Stamkos ($7.500m) / Cory Conacher ($0.871m)
Brett Connolly ($1.633m) / Vincent Lecavalier ($7.727m) / Martin St. Louis ($5.625m)
Ryan Malone ($4.500m) / Dominic Moore ($1.500m) / J.T. Brown ($1.350m)
J.T. Wyman ($0.600m) / Nate Thompson ($0.900m) / Tom Pyatt ($0.600m)
Dana Tyrell ($0.600m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Ryan Suter ($7.000m) / Victor Hedman ($4.000m)
Brian Lee ($0.900m) / Eric Brewer ($3.850m)
Brendan Mikkelson ($0.750m) / Keith Aulie ($0.750m)
Mattias Ohlund ($3.607m) / Marc-Andre Bergeron ($1.000m)
GOALTENDERS
Cory Schneider ($2.750m)
Mathieu Garon ($1.300m)
BUYOUTS
Vaclav Prospal ($1.167m)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled without the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $64,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $62,843,166; BONUSES: $1,600,000
CAP SPACE (23-man roster): $1,456,834

[nhljohnson]

More balanced approaches to the lineup (in that you address holes at all three positions) but forced to gamble somewhat with top-6 F and top-4 D acquisitions:

CAPGEEK.COM CAP CALCULATOR ROSTER
My Custom Lineup
FORWARDS
Ted Purcell ($2.363m) / Steven Stamkos ($7.500m) / Martin St. Louis ($5.625m)
Brett Connolly ($1.633m) / Vincent Lecavalier ($7.727m) / P-A Parenteau ($4.000m)
Ryan Malone ($4.500m) / Nate Thompson ($0.900m) / J.T. Brown ($1.350m)
J.T. Wyman ($0.600m) / Tom Pyatt ($0.600m) / Dana Tyrell ($0.600m)
Tim Wallace ($0.500m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Dennis Wideman ($4.500m) / Victor Hedman ($4.000m)
Brian Lee ($0.900m) / Eric Brewer ($3.850m)
Brendan Mikkelson ($0.750m) / Keith Aulie ($0.750m)
Mattias Ohlund ($3.607m) / Marc-Andre Bergeron ($1.000m)
GOALTENDERS
Cory Schneider ($2.750m)
Mathieu Garon ($1.300m)
BUYOUTS
Vaclav Prospal ($1.167m)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled without the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $64,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $62,471,916; BONUSES: $1,600,000
CAP SPACE (23-man roster): $1,828,084

or

CAPGEEK.COM CAP CALCULATOR ROSTER
My Custom Lineup
FORWARDS
Ted Purcell ($2.363m) / Steven Stamkos ($7.500m) / Martin St. Louis ($5.625m)
Brett Connolly ($1.633m) / Vincent Lecavalier ($7.727m) / Cory Conacher ($0.871m)
Ryan Malone ($4.500m) / Jiri Hudler ($4.000m) / J.T. Brown ($1.350m)
J.T. Wyman ($0.600m) / Nate Thompson ($0.900m) / Tom Pyatt ($0.600m)
Dana Tyrell ($0.600m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Jason Garrison ($4.000m) / Victor Hedman ($4.000m)
Brian Lee ($0.900m) / Eric Brewer ($3.850m)
Brendan Mikkelson ($0.750m) / Keith Aulie ($0.750m)
Mattias Ohlund ($3.607m) / Marc-Andre Bergeron ($1.000m)
GOALTENDERS
Cory Schneider ($2.750m)
Mathieu Garon ($1.300m)
BUYOUTS
Vaclav Prospal ($1.167m)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled without the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $64,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $62,343,166; BONUSES: $1,600,000
CAP SPACE (23-man roster): $1,956,834

Obviously, Parenteau and Hudler, as well as Wideman and Garrison, are interchangeable.

[nhljohnson]

And then there's the D and more D approach:

CAPGEEK.COM CAP CALCULATOR ROSTER
My Custom Lineup
FORWARDS
Ted Purcell ($2.363m) / Steven Stamkos ($7.500m) / Martin St. Louis ($5.625m)
Brett Connolly ($1.633m) / Vincent Lecavalier ($7.727m) / Cory Conacher ($0.871m)
Ryan Malone ($4.500m) / Nate Thompson ($0.900m) / J.T. Brown ($1.350m)
J.T. Wyman ($0.600m) / Tom Pyatt ($0.600m) / Dana Tyrell ($0.600m)
Tim Wallace ($0.500m)
DEFENSEMEN
Jason Garrison ($4.000m) / Victor Hedman ($4.000m)
Dennis Wideman ($4.500m) / Eric Brewer ($3.850m)
Brian Lee ($0.900m) / Brendan Mikkelson ($0.750m)
Keith Aulie ($0.750m) / Marc-Andre Bergeron ($1.000m)
Mattias Ohlund ($3.607m) /
GOALTENDERS
Cory Schneider ($2.750m)
Mathieu Garon ($1.300m)
BUYOUTS
Vaclav Prospal ($1.167m)

[nhljohnson]

Obviously, there's a lot of variables and unknowns at this stage of the game. Several scenarios, however unlikely they may be, that would give the Lightning additional flexibility: a) both the NHLPA and owners opt to play under the current rules and Ohlund retires, b) a new CBA is negotiated that includes an "amnesty" clause which allows the Lightning to buy out Ohlund's contract without cap penalty, or c) a new CBA is negotiated and the cap ceiling is higher and cap floor is lower than both are presently.

[aapbolt]

Hey NhlJ, where is Adam Hall? Do you think Conagher is ready for the big time?
We do need another top 4 Dman, and a top 6 forward so it should be interesting to see how SFY gets.