Rejoint: juill. 2019
Messages: 2,445
Mentions "j'aime": 546
Tampa doesn't plan to move Gourde anyway unless it's a last resort. His stats have mainly dropped this year not because his game has declined but more due to his usage and ice time. He was playing with rookies or on a defensively minded checking line most of the year, and when he did get the opportunity to move up due to some injuries, he produced 11 points in his last 16 games. He averaged 56 points a year the 2 seasons before this and is not drastically overpaid, if at all. Most likely he gets at least one more year here with, hopefully, an increased role and then could either go to Seattle or trades the year after.
Tampa isn't trading either Serg or Cirelli. Killorn, Paquette, likely Coburn through trade or a buy out if neccessary, and one of Johnson or Palat through a trade or cbo. If there's a cbo then maybe Gourde is targeted, but even then it would be close. It is also very possible that they trade Cernak now as well, depending on contract numbers and how Briseboia wants to approach the exp draft next year. If Foote is valued higher long term, then one could see Cernak getting traded now for a pick and a solid RD prospect, which allows Tampa to protect Hedman, McDonagh, Serg and Foote. For this coming year, the D pairings could look like Hedman-Rutta, McD-Foote and Serg playing either side with a depth acquisition or one of Masin, Bogo etc. They would still have a dman who can carry each pairing. Cernak, while being a good complementary piece, is not carrying a top 4 pairing on a good team yet.