Steve Yzerman. The mastermind behind all things Lightning.

Steve Yzerman. The Jedi who pulls off some ridiculous moves to shift players and build a contending club.

Steve Yzerman. The man who trades for Anders Lindback in an effort to solve the goaltending woes of the Lightning.

The good and the bad. Nobody’s perfect, and Steve Yzerman is no exception. But, let’s take a look at some of his best trades and some that I’m sure he’d like to re-do if he had the chance.

Beginning with some of his best work…

1. Bishop for Conacher

The first that comes to mind is quite obvious: the Ben Bishop trade. With the lockout-shortened season of 2012-2013, the trade deadline was later in the calendar than usual: April 3. With Ben Bishop looking for a more prominent role in net and Ottawa not giving him that opportunity, Yzerman sent rookie sensation Cory Conacher to the Sens, along with a fourth-round pick in 2013 for massive goaltender Ben Bishop.

Fleeced. Bryan Murray, the Senators GM, was absolutely fleeced. Bishop turned out to be an elite goaltender looking for an opportunity to prove his worth, and he did just that. Yzerman gave him that chance, and he ran with it, taking the Bolts all the way to the Cup Finals with only half a groin. He is, quite possibly, the second-best goaltender in Lightning history. The obvious number one goes to one of my favorites, Nikolai Khabibulin, who backstopped the Bolts to the franchise’s first and only Stanley Cup in 2004.

The fourth-round pick the Senators acquired became Tobias Lindberg, who know plays for the Toronto Marlies of the AHL. He had 6 goals and 10 assists for 16 points in 44 games for the Marlies this year and has played in 6 NHL games in total, notching just 2 assists.

2. Flipping Kyle Quincey for what turned out to be Andrei Vasilevskiy

In a rocky campaign for the Bolts, Yzerman was in the market to cash-in on restricted free agent (RFA) Steve Downie. This move, executed on February 21, 2012, is one of the most underrated moves in the Yzerman era, and it eventually laid the foundation for elite goaltending for the next decade and quite possibly beyond.

As an RFA at season’s end, Steve Downie was sent to the Avalanche for unrestricted free agent (UFA) defenseman Kyle Quincey. Why might Yzerman send an RFA to one team to acquire a UFA? Easy. To flip him. And that is precisely what Stevie Y just did.

Miraculously, Yzerman sent Quincey to the Red Wings for a 2012 first-rounder and Sebastian PIche, another defenseman. I have absolutely no idea how Yzerman pulled this off, but so be it. The Lightning used the pick to take goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy with the 19th overall selection in 2012. What a pick it was. I am sure that Ken Holland is kicking himself in the ass for this trade. The Wings eventually signed Quincey to a lengthy contract extension, after he put up 2 goals and 1 assist in 18 games for the remainder of the 2012-13 campaign. Before the trade, Quincey put up 5 goals and 18 assists in 52 games for the Avs.

Sebastian Piche never saw time in the NHL, but he did put up 23 goals and 49 assists for 72 points in his overage year in Rimouski. He currently plays in the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga (EBEL) in Austria.

As for Vasilevskiy, well that story is well-documented. Vasy is an elite talent and will be the goaltender for the Lightning for at least the next decade plus, barring a disaster.

3. Valtteri Filppula Salary Dump

The most recent move made by Yzerman came at this season’s trade deadline. With a looming cap crunch and the Lightning looking more and more like they were not going to make the playoffs, Yzerman was forced to step in and sell some declining assets. Enter: Valtteri Filppula.

Filppula carried a $5 million cap hit that ran through the 2017-18 season. Needing to re-sign several key RFAs, Yzerman dealt his contract along with the Bolts’ 2017 fourth- and 2017 seventh-round picks to Philly for veteran UFA defenseman Mark Streit. The seventh-rounder was conditional and would be sent to Philly if the Lightning traded Streit. Just like the Quincey deal, Yzerman was poised to flip the incoming asset. And he did just that.

Looking for some defensive depth, Jim Rutherford sent the Penguins' 2018 fourth-round selection to Tampa for Streit. Boom. Pittsburgh was happy, and so was Tampa, and the Lightning effectively traded a $5 million third-line center for a seventh-round pick.

Larceny. One of the highlights of Yzerman’s general managing career and absolutely crucial to the Lightning’s cap situation next season.

4. Captain for Captain

This was probably one of the hardest decisions that Yzerman has had to make over his tenure as general manager. What us fans have to remember is that emotions cannot be considered when mulling over the business side of things. Remember: this is a business. Feelings might get hurt, but the GM must act in the best interest of his club.

Yzerman was also the GM of Team Canada, and Marty St. Louis felt snubbed by not being named by Yzerman to the Olympic team in Sochi in 2014. For that reason (and what Marty said included being closer to his parents, who lived in Connecticut), St. Louis requested a trade.

In an unprecedented Captain for Captain swap on deadline day March 5, 2014, Marty St. Louis was sent to the Rangers for pending UFA Ryan Callahan, a 2014 conditional second rounder, and a 2015 first rounder. The condition is laid out below:

Should the Rangers advance to the 2014 Eastern Conference Final, the 2014 second rounder would become a 2014 first-rounder. In the event that Callahan should re-sign with the Lightning, then the Rangers would receive Tampa Bay’s 2015 second rounder, while the Lightning would receive the Rangers’ 2015 seventh rounder.

Given that Callahan re-signed for six years at a whopping $5.8 million per year (a contract that Yzerman now surely regrets) and that the Rangers made it to the 2014 Eastern Conference Final (and even to the Stanley Cup Final where they lost in five games to the Kings), the condition was converted.

In an interesting twist of fate, the two clubs squared off against one another in the 2015 Eastern Conference Final, where the Lightning bested the Rangers in a fantastic seven game series, highlighted by a Ben Bishop 2-0 shutout in MSG in Game 7. St. Louis became a UFA upon being eliminated with the Rangers and subsequently announced his retirement. Callahan was a key cog of the Lightning’s run to the Cup Final that eventually ended in six games at the hands of the Blackhawks.

Let’s take a look at the picks that were sent between the two clubs as a part of this deal.

The 2014 first rounder that the Bolts received in the Callahan-for-St. Louis deal became Josh Ho-Sang, after the Lightning traded this selection to the Islanders for the 35th and 57th picks in the next round of the draft. They selected Dominik Masin and Johnathan MacLeod, respectively. In retrospect, I hate this draft day deal. Ho-Sang looks to be a sure-fire top-six forward, whereas the two defensemen selected by the Bolts currently have an upside far lower than when they were drafted.

The 2015 first rounder that the Bolts received was, you guessed it, traded to the Islanders, who selected Anthony Beauvillier. Beauvillier, had 24 points in 66 games in his rookie season with the Isles this year. The Lightning, in turned, received the 33rd overall pick in 2015 and selected Mitchell Stephens and the 72nd overall pick in 2015 and selected Anthony Cirelli. Both Stephens and Cirelli have a lot of upside and will be in Syracuse next season. It might not be long before both play in for the Bolts.

The 2015 second rounder that the Rangers received eventually was dealt to the Flames, who selected defensemen Oliver Kylington (pronounced: Shee-ling-tin). Kylington had a nice year for the Flames’ AHL affiliate, the Stockton Heat, posting 27 points in 60 games. Although he was born in Stockholm, Sweden, Kylington is, however, of Eritrean descent. His mother fled a civil war in Eritrea when she was a teenager and found refuge in Sweden before meeting her husband in Stockholm.

Lastly, the 2015 seventh rounder that the Rangers sent to the Lightning was re-acquired by the Blueshirts for defenseman Daniel Walcott, who currently plays as the Swiss Army knife for the Syracuse Crunch. Eventually, the Rangers sent this pick to Edmonton, who selected towering 6’6" defenseman Ziyat Paigin. Paigin just came over from the KHL and has joined the Condors, the Oilers’ AHL affiliate.

5. The Connolly Experiment is Over

Go read my take on the Brett Connolly situation in a previous article.

Given that Connolly was stalling as a prospect and that the Lightning had a legitimate chance at hoisting the Stanley Cup, Yzerman dangled Connolly as trade bait to the Boston Bruins and received two second round picks in return (2015 and 2016). This trade, on March 2, 2015, was coupled with the Gudas and picks for Coburn deal in the wee hours of the morning.

With these draft picks earned by the Bolts, Yzerman selected righty defenseman Matt Spencer in 2015 and power forward Boris Katchouk in 2016. Spencer projects to be a No. 4/5 defenseman, whereas Katchouk looks to be a solid top-nine character player with skill. Spencer will be in Syracuse next year, and Katchouk, who was just recently signed, will be returned to juniors.

An interesting note here is that after the completion of his contact in the 2015-16 campaign, the Bruins did not qualify Connolly, as he was an RFA, and he later signed with the Washington Capitals on a one-year deal.

Given that Connolly was a declining asset, Yzerman had to act. He was able to fleece the Bruins’ GM for a nice return for a previous busted 6th overall draft pick back in 2010.

6. Acquiring A Veteran Goaltender in Dwayne Roloson

On July 4, 2008, the Lightning acquired our favorite player Matt Carle, 2006 1st rounder Ty Wishart, a 2009 first rounder and a 2010 fourth rounder from the San Jose Sharks in return for defensemen Dan Boyle and Brad Lukowich.

Wishart was a highly sought after prospect, who put up 5 goals and 32 assists in 70 games in his draft year for Prince George of the WHL—the same club that Connolly played for. However, Connolly only played 4 games with Prince George at the end of the 2007-08 season, and by that time, Wishart had been dealt to Moose Jaw--the alma mater of current Lightning player Brayden Point and Lightning prospect Brett Howden. The Lightning were able to acquire his rights in return for two aging veterans on the back end.

In the 2008-09 season, Wishart put up a meager 7 points (1 goal and 6 assists) in 61 points with the Norfolk Admirals before playing in 5 games with the Bolts, notching one assist. He saw most of his playing time in the minors and was a stalling prospect, who looked to be a bust.

Looking for some goaltending depth, Yzerman sent Wishart, currently playing for the Norfolk Admirals of the AHL to the Islanders for veteran netminder and UFA Dwayne Roloson on January 1, 2011.

Roloson, who was 41 at the time of the deal, carried the Oilers all the way to the Cup Final in 2006 before being injured in that series. Yzerman and Roloson were both looking for a chance to play for the Cup, as well.

Roloson played in 17 games for the Bolts on their run to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final before they were handed a 1-0 loss at the TD Garden in Boston. He posted a .924 save percentage and really gave the Bolts a chance. Had the Lightning escaped Game 7 with a win, there is strong likelihood that they would’ve beaten the Canucks in the Final.

Roloson was resigned to a one-year contract extension that summer, but this deal just goes to show that Yzerman was able to cash in on yet another stalling prospect and propel his club to the Eastern Conference Final.

Wishart currently plays in Slovakia and never amounted to much in his pro career in North America, playing in only 26 NHL games after being drafted 16th overall by San Jose.

Honorable Mention

A few honorable mentions go to Steve Yzerman for three other subtly good deals.

On February 16, 2012, Yzerman sent veteran journeyman center Dominic Moore and a 2012 seventh rounder to San Jose for a 2012 second rounder.

That second rounder ended up being traded to Nashville and was the same selection that resulted in Pontus Aberg (Don't forget about this; it'll come full circle in a bit).

That seventh rounder was eventually dealt to Chicago, who selected 6’5" goaltender Brandon Whitney. Whitney has since retired and never saw an ounce of NHL time.

Leading up to this year’s trade deadline, Yzerman was looking to sell some expiring assets, and he did just that—sending Brian Boyle to Toronto for Byron Froese and a 2017 second rounder on February 27, 2017.

Froese is a huge addition to the AHL club and will be a key cog in their push for the Calder Cup. The 2017 second rounder will be highest of the three second rounders that the Leafs currently own, as they own their own selection and those of Ottawa and San Jose. It remains to be seen if Froese is resigned in the off-season, as there are a bevy of young prospects that will be joining Syracuse next season.

Last on the list was the addition of diminutive, yet talented Jonathan Marchessault. At the 2014 deadline, Marchy was acquired along with grinder Dalton Smith for Dana Tyrell and Matt Taormina.

Tyrell was originally a Tampa Bay 2007 2nd-round selection who was inconsistent at the NHL level and bounced around between the NHL and AHL. He has since retired.

Taormina, as we all know, has returned to the Bolts via free agency, and I hope that he is resigned next year as a veteran presence on the Syracuse back end.

As for Marchessault, well that story is well-documented, as well, as he went on to pot 30 goals this year for the Stinkin' Panthers. 30!

Whew, ok. Now for the bad.

I previously examined the draft choice that the Lightning had with the 19th overall selection in 2014.

Given his character issues and being a healthy scratch on nine separate occasions in his rookie pro season in Syracuse, Anthony DeAngelo was beginning to become a headache for Steve Yzerman. Willing to part with his offensively-minded righty defenseman—a desperate organizational need—Yzerman sent Tony D to the Coyotes for the 37th overall pick in 2016, which was used to selected lefty defenseman Libor Hajek.

The problem that I have with this trade is the value that was put on DeAngelo. Tony D has top-two potential, although his defensive play is spotty, and Hajek looks to have top-4 potential. However, I still believed that Tony D was worth more than a second-round pick. It would’ve been masterful if Yzerman could have attached a dead-weight contract in this deal, as the Coyotes had the cap space to obtain such a contract.

However, this was not the case, and the Bolts were forced to use a buyout on Matt Carle. It would’ve been really nice to ship that $5.5 million cap hit to the desert instead of buying the remaining two years of his contract out.

2. Acquiring Anders Lindback

With the goaltending carousel on full display in Tampa Bay, Yzerman really needed to solidify this situation…and fast. Given Lindback’s rising value as a goaltending prospect and young age (only 24 at the time), Yzerman believed that the Swede could be a significant boon to his team.

In a deal on June 15, 2012, Yzerman sent two 2012 2nd-round picks, a 2013 3rd-round pick, and goaltender Sébastien Caron to Nashville for Lindback, a 2012 7th, and Kyle Wilson.

Needless to say, this was a significant overpayment, and a deal that did not work out at all for the Bolts.

The first second rounder that was sent to Nashville was owned by both Minnesota and, you guessed it, San Jose (Dominic Moore deal), before being sent to Nashville. This selection was Pontus Aberg. Funny how so many trades are interrelated.

The 2nd second rounder that was sent to Nashville went through Philly at one point before the Preds acquired it, before selecting Colton Sissons. Sissons put up 10 points in 58 regular season games and scored 2 goals in the first round sweep of the Blackhawks.

The 2012 seventh rounder that the Lightning acquired was used to select Nikita Gusev! Gusev, who has one year left on his contract with SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL put up a ridiculous 71 points in 57 regular season games, followed by a 23-point effort in 18 playoff games en route to a Gagarin Cup.

Gusev projects to be a tremendously skilled top-6 forward, although undersized, and may come over at the beginning of the 2018-19 campaign (if fellow countryman Nikita Kucherov can persuade him).

Kyle Wilson, also acquired by the Bolts, never saw time in the NHL and currently plays in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga in Germany.

The journeyman goaltender Sébastien Caron who the Bolts sent to Nashville only played in three games in the 2011-12 season with the Lightning and posted a .877 save percentage and 3.11 goals-against average.

The one memory of Caron that I have is when the Lightning shelled him for eight goals while he was a member of the Penguins. In a 9-0 victory on November 8, 2003 (yes, the Cup-winning year), Caron let up eight in 48:40 of work before giving way to Marc-André Fleury. Fedotenko scored twice; Vinny had a hat trick, and Stillman put up a team-high 4 points.

Finally...

Looking back at the deals that Yzerman has and hasn’t made (see: Jonathan Drouin), it is safe to say that he has done some of his best work as a general manager in negotiations with other clubs. Of course, no human is perfect, and Yzerman would certainly like to re-do a few of these deals if he could, but in the grand scheme of things, Yzerman’s touch as it relates to trades has been spot on.

And now we wait. We wait for Yzerman to make a deal for a top-four right-handed defenseman. It seems as if it is only a matter of time, and boy, do the Lightning need one. Keep an eye out for Tyler Johnson—the most expendable asset that the Bolts currently own.

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