Hockey Insider Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports is reporting that the Lightning are being very aggressive on the trade market. “The Lightning are a team with the most problems right now and it will cost him dearly to fix this problem,” Lavoie explained.
Tampa Bay Lightning to make multiple trades soon
“What I am told is that they believe they can resolve it by the start of training camp,” Lavoie revealed. According to his sources, Tampa believes they will have to part with at least two good players and likely have to add draft picks to facilitate those deals.
The Lightning are handcuffed with only 18 players under contract and just $2.8 million in cap space. It has also been well documented that they are desperate to retain RFAs Anthony Cirelli and Mikhail Sergachev. Those two alone will cost them way more than the space they have left.
Tyler Johnson and Alex Killorn likely to be traded
Speculation for which two players is not difficult. Tyler Johnson and Alex Killorn are the names we have heard for months. The Lightning have already tried pushing out the 30 year-old Johnson out the door by putting him on waivers. Currently they are working with him and his no trade clause on a move but a $5 million AAV will make it tough.
While they work to trade Johnson, they will be trying to move Killorn. The 31 year-old potted 26 goals and 49 points in 68 games last season. You would think teams would jump at that, but he also has 3 years remaining at $4.45 AAV and a modified no trade list.
Finally, while there has been rumors of a Steven Stamkos trade it is highly unlikely.
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