It’s time for another edition of NHL rumours. We’re rocketing towards the March 7 trade deadline and that means plenty of trade chatter. Teams are doing all they can to get their rosters ready for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Some clubs may be quiet at the deadline. However, others are clearly focused on adding to their rosters. One team that may be in the market to bolster their roster is the Tampa Bay Lightning. This edition of NHL rumours deals with the Lightning possibly chasing forward help.
All NHL Rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
Tampa Bay Lightning May be Seeking Forward Help
Rumour: In a recent edition of TSN’s Insider Trading, Chris Johnston said that Tampa Bay has some salary cap space to add a forward. The insider added that Lightning General Manager Julien BriseBois is out there shopping and going to use the cap space.
Analysis: Tampa Bay is in the mix to win the Atlantic Division title. The Lightning are three points behind the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs for first place in the division. BriseBois has usually been willing to make moves at the trade deadline and this year may be no different.
Johnston said that the Lightning could be a player and “upend” the trade deadline. The Lightning have been running a short roster coming out of the Four Nations Face-Off break with only one extra player. This seems to be a move in order to bank salary cap space ahead of the deadline.
Tampa Bay currently has just over $6 million of deadline cap space that it can weaponize. Lightning Head Coach Jon Cooper told Tampa Bay Times reporter Eduardo A. Encina that it’s going to be a different deadline this year. BriseBois won’t have to do money-in/money-out trades if he wants to add to the roster.
What It Means
Johnston said that BriseBois’ track record is that he’s going to make the most of the salary cap space that he’s racked up. There are a number of forwards that can be available for under the cap number. We’re also seeing a number of teams willing to retain salary in order to make deals happen.
This could give Tampa Bay a chance to add one of the more in-demand forwards at the deadline. We heard teams like the Seattle Kraken could retain up to 50-percent of Brandon Tanev’s $3.5 million salary according to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun. Tampa Bay hasn’t been linked to Tanev, but that could make a trade easier to digest for BriseBois.
The Lightning have been playing very well since the Four Nations tournament and are always a desired destination for players. Tampa Bay has a winning pedigree and advantages like not having a state income tax. The Lightning are going to be a player at the deadline and could really make a splash before the end of the week.
Johnston didn’t identify a specific target, but Tampa Bay has options. We may see the Lightning strike in just a couple of days time.
Main photo by: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
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