Ilya Mikheyev Posted March 14, 2021 Share Posted March 14, 2021 Proposal: To Tampa Bay: Jordie Benn w/retained salary + a 5th round pick 2022 (somewhere in there - possibly a 4th or 6th..?) To Vancouver: Alex Volkov Why? For Tampa Bay: Tampa is the best team in the league. They don't have many holes. They're going to add one of the best players in the league for the playoffs in Kuch. However, if there's one place they would like to add, it's adding a defenseman a la adding Bogosian last year, someone who can play both sides. As we've seen all year, Benn can provide stability to a pairing and with a simple game can read plays well enough to play with stars like Hughes. From a Tampa fan blogger: Quote So, the Lightning would be looking for a veteran defenseman making less than $1 million who is currently playing for a team that will likely be selling at the deadline. While this may be a lot of restrictions, there are a few players who fit this description... The first players that could work for the Lightning are Ben Hutton of the Anaheim Ducks and Matt Irwin of the Buffalo Sabres. These are two experienced defensemen with over 350 NHL games played in the NHL that could easily take on 15 to 18 minutes of ice time each night if called upon. Even if they are both left-handed defensemen, a position Tampa Bay has more depth at, they still could be a worthwhile addition for a playoff run... While it would be beneficial for the Lightning to add defensive depth before they attempt to defend their Stanley Cup championship, the odds of them swinging a trade is rather low. Not only are they lacking the cap space needed to make a splash, but the market is going to be incredibly limited since there are only a handful of players that most of the NHL could trade for. Source: https://thehockeywriters.com/lightning-need-to-add-defensive-depth-before-trade-deadline/ Volkov's ELC is over, and although he made the team out of camp he's struggled to maintain a place in Tampa's top-9 and isn't really a bottom-line forward. He's a moveable asset for Tampa, esp with Kuch comes back. A 4th-6th pick gives Tampa some futures from a player they've developed rather than nothing. He's a RFA at season's end. In 2019, JD Burke and Friedmann both reported that Volkov was a potential trading chip in a Tampa running at Poolparty, so he's been a name associated with trade rumours before. Why for Vancouver? It's doubtful Aquilini and Benning are going to suddenly abandon their 'retool on the fly' strategy (whether it's liked or not), and two weeks ago Pierre Lebrun stated that every team in the league had heard from Benning in search of a young forward who could fill out the top-9. With Roussel underperforming and being demoted to the 4th line there's even a little extra wiggle room for a player ready to break out. Volkov has consistently been one of the last players sent back down to Syracuse after training camps, where he's impressed coaches and management alike. This year he made the best team in the league out of training camp (probably partly due to contract reasons) so he would surely make the cut with most teams. He's a skilled forward, who by watching interviews, has a solid attitude toward hockey and since coming over to NA in 2017 hasn't made any notions about returning to Russia. He's a left-handed forward who has played both wings as well as centre, and who could possibly gel with Sutter. He's got 25 pounds+ on Gaudette and might fill out that line a little nicer. He has 5 points in 17 NHL games this year, but they all came in the first 10 games when he was getting a little more top six time. A worst he would make the last top-9 spot competitive for the rest of the year. The Canucks' second PP desperately needs aid. Volkov can read plays well and is strong on the puck and could be a valuable addition there. Perhaps being given a shot centering it. The Canucks have Olli Juolevi ready to play and develop, showing signs of improvement with each game played making Benn expendable, even if they do *somehow* make the playoffs. Lastly, the Canucks are trying to pull two of their Russian prospects over (Podkolzin, Tractor) and it's no secret the Canucks haven't had much of a relationship w/ Russian players in recent years. Volkov might help that transition. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AriGold Posted March 14, 2021 Share Posted March 14, 2021 (edited) Tampa has spent 4 years developing this kid, they aren't going to give up on him for 2 months of Jordie Benn. I could see something surrounding Edler but not Benn. Edited March 14, 2021 by AriGold 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostsof1915 Posted March 14, 2021 Share Posted March 14, 2021 CDC and it's Bure Goggles. Things will never change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elias Pettersson Posted March 14, 2021 Share Posted March 14, 2021 2 hours ago, AriGold said: Tampa has spent 4 years developing this kid, they aren't going to give up on him for 2 months of Jordie Benn. I could see something surrounding Edler but not Benn. They will need to leave him unprotected in the ED. I think Seattle may take him... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil_314 Posted March 15, 2021 Share Posted March 15, 2021 (edited) 3 hours ago, Elias Pettersson said: They will need to leave him unprotected in the ED. I think Seattle may take him... Wouldn't it be better for them to get something instead of nothing for him? Stamkos/ Kucherov are already on NMC's, won't move Point/ Palat/ Cirelli and probably not Gourde and one of Killorn/ Johnson. The other would also have a NTC so they probably can't dump them (or would use their big contract as a disincentive for Kraken to take them), and then there's Volkov who would need to be also exposed if not moved (since he probably wouldn't take priority over the pricier guys). If they won't protect him and he's a prime target, then why not flip him for a future asset, even if it's pennies on the dollar? Better than losing him outright for nothing IMO, and with TB's scouting they can probably find another him that they can keep, even with a late pick. Good call OP, didn't know he was an energy guy with skill, maybe we could have him and Motte on the same wing and we'd have a capable and dynamic 4th line (or could play him on the 3rd line as you'd mentioned). Edited March 15, 2021 by Phil_314 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
higgyfan Posted March 15, 2021 Share Posted March 15, 2021 He would have to be protected. Is he better than Jake or Gaud? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D-Money Posted March 15, 2021 Share Posted March 15, 2021 Tampa is not going to waste assets acquiring a fringe NHL D-man like Benn. Especially adding in dealing with quarantine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mll Posted March 15, 2021 Share Posted March 15, 2021 (edited) 3 hours ago, Phil_314 said: Wouldn't it be better for them to get something instead of nothing for him? Stamkos/ Kucherov are already on NMC's, won't move Point/ Palat/ Cirelli and probably not Gourde and one of Killorn/ Johnson. The other would also have a NTC so they probably can't dump them (or would use their big contract as a disincentive for Kraken to take them), and then there's Volkov who would need to be also exposed if not moved (since he probably wouldn't take priority over the pricier guys). If they won't protect him and he's a prime target, then why not flip him for a future asset, even if it's pennies on the dollar? Better than losing him outright for nothing IMO, and with TB's scouting they can probably find another him that they can keep, even with a late pick. Good call OP, didn't know he was an energy guy with skill, maybe we could have him and Motte on the same wing and we'd have a capable and dynamic 4th line (or could play him on the 3rd line as you'd mentioned). Tampa are operating with 12 F and 6 Ds given their limited cap room. Removing Volkov puts them short a F while adding an extra D. They already have a veteran D like Schenn waiting on the taxi squad. Doesn’t feel like a trade that helps them. Tampa are already a few millions above the cap with a roster of only 16 for next season. They need to move at least 2 if not 3 of Johnson, Gourde, Palat and Killorn. They’ll have a hard time finding a taker for McDonagh given the contract and Stamkos is not looking to waive his NMC. Kucherov will be available next season and they need to clear 10M to fit him under their cap. That still leaves them little room to complete the rest of their roster. Edited March 15, 2021 by mll Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flickyoursedin Posted March 16, 2021 Share Posted March 16, 2021 Don’t like retaining on a 2 million cap hit. We’ll have played 44 of the 56 games so the team acquiring Benn only needs like 430k of cap space. You can only retain so many contracts and I’m still holding out hope that if we’re out Benning moves Sutter, Pearson and potentially Edler if he’s up for a chance at a cup. Get better returns retaining on those deals where the receiving team might actually need help making the numbers work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mll Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 On 3/17/2021 at 12:00 AM, flickyoursedin said: Don’t like retaining on a 2 million cap hit. We’ll have played 44 of the 56 games so the team acquiring Benn only needs like 430k of cap space. You can only retain so many contracts and I’m still holding out hope that if we’re out Benning moves Sutter, Pearson and potentially Edler if he’s up for a chance at a cup. Get better returns retaining on those deals where the receiving team might actually need help making the numbers work. Cap space is also pro-rated. Not just the players cap hit. If a team has not banked cap space with 25% of the season left they will only have 25% of 81.5M left. Quite a few teams are also in LTIR. Canucks are in LTIR and had to find room to fit the full Vesey 900K and not just a pro-rata as they haven’t been able to bank cap space because of LTIR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ilya Mikheyev Posted March 23, 2021 Author Share Posted March 23, 2021 On 3/14/2021 at 3:06 PM, Ghostsof1915 said: CDC and it's Bure Goggles. Things will never change. YOU'LL NEVER TAKE MY BURE GOGGLES. GIVE THEM BACK Jk. I don't see Volkov as another Bure, much more lumbering and intentional in his offense. More like an Artem Anisimov if anything IMO Anyway, I think this trade is pretty much moot with Vesey and Boyd's trials. Probably not gonna add another depth/tryout guy at this juncture. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ilya Mikheyev Posted March 25, 2021 Author Share Posted March 25, 2021 Looks like Volkov is getting traded tonight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ilya Mikheyev Posted March 25, 2021 Author Share Posted March 25, 2021 On 3/14/2021 at 12:33 PM, AriGold said: Tampa has spent 4 years developing this kid, they aren't going to give up on him for 2 months of Jordie Benn. I could see something surrounding Edler but not Benn. What about giving him up for a 7th round pick and a forward prospect with 6 points in 21 AHL games at 22 y/o? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now