With his NTC, it's unrealistic to assume he's going anywhere.

Well, except to Seattle, if they leave him unprotected.

Agreed, I think Johnson stays in Tampa.

A small price to pay for salvation

I doubt any of the NMC guys want to leave Tampa. Every off-season there's this whole schpeele about players loving the no tax idea of playing in Tampa or Miami with the Panthers so why suddenly players would just leave without making it hard for the front office?

Welcome to the realities of handing out NMCs.

While I don't think the tax difference is as much as folks say it is, I agree with you, I find difficult to believe that players have the desire to leave the good Lightning team. Why should the players who signed the contracts, give up any benefits that contract affords them. The NTC players find Tampa's cap situation, management problem, not the players. Their thinking must be, " Want cap space, don't sign Sergachov to so much $$$ or trade Vasilslevi. Don't affect MY $$$, life style or career."

What you would choose:
Playing on 4th line and getting less than 30 points/ year and playing bad--> noone wants to see you there in tampa anymore u getting benched vs playing on 1st line with McDavid(or any superstar) = everybody loves you + 60 points.

I know these are too simple but that's the reality... Tyler just lost his TOP LINE/2ND LINE spot because we have choosen to alter our gamestyle !!! not because they have become 40 years old or worse players... they just don't fit into our new'ish system, which you guys don't understand cause our results are bad and you all think from outside = tampa = old players = bad team = TJ/Gourde = bad players = no value = stay here forever and ever

SO TJ just lost his spot at our team, because we want to play defensive hockey, and he can't defend. Matthews also can't defens, so you want to trade away matthews? NOT. If he fits , he stays in toronto for full contract. If not, he gets traded... Like Marleau... OR Kessel..
However with McDavid's speed would be a perfect fit for him for scoring 1 million points/ year... Edmonton's goals = get into playoffs all costs = TJ is perfect for that, he is not fit for playoffs hockey...
Edmonton knows they can't win the cup... McDavid is doomed there... especially if they always miss the playoffs... but if they make it who knows... anything can happen right? TJ would help them achieving that goal...

He has the speed, which that line need... It's all about keeping all teams + players involved happy. If we sell him for cheap, he will go, and he will waive his NTC, if he feels bad... All players like this... After a horrible playoffs... big changes coming... it might be him or Gourde or both. Big changes = noone cares about NTC - not NMC oneX - it's NTC.

Our GM will handle the contracts carefully, and if he can fit those caphits next year, then they will stay. Otherwise they just play somewhere else... When you are a GM in these things are not rocket science. Need to solve a problem, you do it. Or you are not a gm anymore... They are good players... so we don't lose anytihng if they stay... but if we are moving into different direction --> they will be gone...
My current prediction: Tyler Johnson+ Killorn both traded in june... if we are making a bad run in the playoffs... like last year...--> no cup finals = fail
Things will not stay the same believe me... including the coach... then palat also in danger... but until then palat is safe...(coach's favorite)