So how exactly do you think a conversation would go where Brisebois asks Serg to take THAT much less than McAvoy and Werenski?

Sign bridge deal for two years just like all of our players have done because that is how we do business. Come back in two years and we will talk long term.

No one took a discount THAT large over their comparables

It's cause of the taxes.

No it isn't. The Panthers and other teams would benefit if that were the case. Even so, that wasn't my point.

Do Gourde and Palat waive their NTC’s? I’m doubtful TBay can move out the cap required to sign their big RFAs as not many teams can take that kind of cap without expecting some serious pluses (Colorado).and the teams that do have lots of cap space, most of those players won’t waive to go to (Ottawa).

You never know to be honest how it will play out. Gourde and his wife are from Quebec and if he plays on the top line on a team that has a lot of youth in the system he could be back in the playoffs in no time as a top line winger. Not saying Gourde would wavie to Ottawa but there is an argument to be made that he could waive there.

I find it funny how a lot of the armchair GMs always dismiss guys waiving their NTC when they do it all the time. I personally think in the Lightning's situation that Gourde and Johnson are stuck in the bottom six playing 14 min a night but both are 2nd line players on a lot of other teams. The chance to go play 18-20 a night in the top six could be enticing to them.

Tampa is deep and its the depth they are going to lose this year to fit their young good players under the cap.

Its hard to say because in this GMs scenario they are taking 2 year deals to keep the team as intact as they can instead of 3 year deals.

What is 2x3.75M comparable, is it much worse then 3x4.8M for Sergachev since its 1 less year? Cirelli at 2x4M vs 3x5M is it that large of a discount for 2 years instead of 3? I am not sure but I think the Bolts are going to have to sign one of these guys to a 3 year deal because if not they would have Cirelli, Sergachev and Point all do at the same time for their long term cash out deals.

"no player will Bolt from Tampa". Sure looks like two players have bolted from Tampa...Palat and Gourde. As suggested above NTCs have meaning, especially if it means going from a very good team to be poor team. Plus Gourde just isn't playing up to contract. Better ways to spend 5.16m a year and not having to give up assets.

Just being realistic. If TB is such an enticing place to play that players would take discounts and short bridge contracts, then why would players waive their NMCs that they negotiated into their contracts so that couldn’t be moved by management?
There are a lot more armchair GMs out there that think they can fix their cap issues by moving their large cap hits without giving up anything of substance and their NMC contracts to any old team.
Players don’t waive their NMCs all the time. The ones that do are usually TDL deals of just a few months and even fewer are long term contracts. Alot, I mean a lot, have zero Canadian teams on their NT lists as well.

TBL better pray for CBO

Over cap and you need to pay for someone to take 5.17M in cap

Pretty much this.

Fat chance of Cirelli and Sergachev signing that cheaply, Sergachev gets at least the McAvoy deal 3 x 4.9 and Cirelli probably around 3 x 5.5 give or take.

their will be a lockout in 2 years, so it may be a smart idea for 2 years. also this is tampa and their no cap increase, they may sign that cheap

Possibly, But everything i'm hearing about the new CBA pretty much sounds encouraging. So we shall see.

It will be interesting to see it all play out. I think Cirelli and Sergachev will be with the Bolts next year, teams do whatever they can to keep their young talent. Cernak is 50/50 as he is the RFA they might have to trade if it comes down to it. I also think that there are teams that would take Johnson or Gourde on their team, will they waive their NTC I don't know but they are not cap dumps.

It will be interesting to see it all play out, all we can do is speculate for now. The Bolts are in a tough spot but that is what happens when you scout, draft and develop so well.

Kucherov signed 3 year bridge at 4.7mil after back to back 65 point seasons.
Palat signed 3 year bridge deal at 3.3 mil. after 59 point season.
Johnson signed 3 year bridge at 3.3 mil after a 50 point season.
Vasi even took a 3 year bridge after his first big season.

I think they will convince them to take 1 or 2 year bridge deals, because of no cap increase due to shortened season.

You've entirely missed the point

I specifically chose these two players for certain reasons. As mentioned above Gourde is playing on the third line because of how deep Tampa is. I think he waives if you give him a chance to play for a Canadian team on a top line. I think of him as a player like Brendan Gallagher from the Canadiens.

Palat waives because it gives him a chance to play will fellow countrymen, Jakub Voracek. Philly has been wanting to dump Ghostsbeeheere for a year and will eat salary to move him and get a player like Palat.