If Karlsson wants to make Tampa work, I wouldn't be shocked to see him take less than Hedman if he came to Tampa. No state tax helps a lot too.

I don’t think Philly accepts the Palat trade, we’re all set on LW and Palats injury history is a concern.

What happens when you need to sign Vasi, Serg, and Cirelli next year?

Palat can play RW too. Would you do that trade expect with Gourde. Gourde can play any forward position RW/LW/C

I’d take that trade for Gourde instead of Palat. I just don’t see why Tampa would want to do that

If Tampa is able to move one of Gourde/Johnson/Palat this offseason, there wouldn't be any cap related concerns in term of re-signing RFAs in 2020. As you can see in this particular case scenario, Tampa would already have 13.5M in cap space for next offseason. You can add Killorn's 4.45M (as his contract becomes a M-NTC with a 16 teams trade list) that could be moved, hence a total of 17.95M to re-sign our RFAs. Not bad if you ask me.

That's why I don't understand everybody's overestimation of the "Tampa is in a cap hell" narrative: it is a tough situation, but we just need one of Gourde/Johnson/Palat to go and we are in a great spot if you ask me. It's not easy, but it's definitely no mission impossible. Especially considering that Gourde's NTC kicks in July 1.

It's for cap space so they can sign Karlsson. It's even been rumored he'd be willing to take a discount to play with fellow Swede Hedman at $8-9M per year

Even in a theoretical situation where all of this does work out like you describe and Tampa has 18 million going into next offseason (which I still think is questionable, I’ve heard all of the pro Tampa arguments but I still think Karlsson and Point are being a bit underpaid here), they’d still need to give new contracts to Joseph, Cirelli, Vasy, Sergachev, and Cernak (also, finding a backup goalie) with 18 million, which I think is going to be a tough task to accomplish. Not to mention this implies that a bunch of new guys coming in on ELCs will be able to pick up the slack of Killorn, Miller and Gourde, who are all solid top 9 guys. I just feel like the entire notion of “Karlsson to Tampa” just implies too many things would have to work absolutely perfectly, yes it is possible but I really don’t think it will happen

18 mills for re-signing these guys will be enough, only Vas wil get paid paid. (and as I already said, I wouldn't be surprised if his re-sign would come mid July of this offseason already)

That's where our prospects come in hand: replacing Killorn will definitely not be hard. The guy hasn't it in him anymore, or at least that's what it felt like during the last couple of seasons. To replace Gourde we have Barré-Boulet, which it seems to be his prototype but with better skills and scoring abilities. I'd agree with you that JT Miller would be difficult to replace if he was proprely deployed in the top-six. But for some reasons Cooper doesn't like him there and to replace his production and what he brings on the ice when he plays in the bottom six it won't be that hard. Raddysh or Katchouk would be the perfect guys to take his spot: both big bodies, both gritty and both with scoring abilities.

And, if you ask me, that's the kind of change that Tampa needs: re-shape the secondary core will take the Bolts to the promised land. And the young guns down in Syracuse are hungry for some NHL ice

Karlsson rumour:
https://www.tsn.ca/nhl-off-season-watch-cody-ceci-staying-with-the-ottawa-senators-1.1312252
Point will take a discount to play with more stars the discounts are well documented:
Hedman = $7.875 (NMC)
Stamkos = $8.5M
Kucherov = $9.5M
It's not unreasonable at Point and Karlsson to sign at these prices.

Banned no damaged goods