The Tampa Bay Lightning have locked up one of their incredible young talents for another few years, signing Mikhail Sergachev to a three-year contract. The deal will carry an average annual value of $4.8MM. Sergachev was a restricted free agent without arbitration rights. Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reports the full breakdown:
- 2020-21: $2.4MM
- 2021-22: $4.8MM
- 2022-23: $7.2MM
Technically, this move takes the Lightning about $2MM over the $81.5MM salary cap ceiling for the upcoming season, with Anthony Cirelli and Erik Cernak still to sign. Still, getting Sergachev under contract for a reasonable amount was imperative, especially with the threat of an offer sheet still theoretically out there.
Make no mistake, even at $4.8MM, Sergachev still represents some excess value for the Lightning. The 22-year-old defenseman, who the Lightning acquired in exchange for Jonathan Drouin in 2017, would likely be a top-pairing player already on many of the teams around the league. That hasn’t been required in Tampa Bay where Victor Hedman and Ryan McDonagh continue to soak up huge minutes on the blue line, but Sergachev has still seen substantial increases in playing time each season. This year, his third with the Lightning, he recorded a career-high 10 goals in 70 games, racking up 34 points and logging more than 20 minutes a night. That performance carried over to the postseason where he was even more effective, averaging more ice time than any Tampa player not named Hedman or McDonagh en route to a Stanley Cup victory.
Not only could Sergachev probably shoulder a heavier offensive load, but his defensive game has also improved enough to believe he could be an all-situations star. He became a legitimate option on the penalty kill this season, producing excellent results whenever trusted to be out there short-handed, while still playing a strong second fiddle to Hedman on the team’s powerplay units. Financially, he’ll now slot in behind Hedman ($7.875MM cap hit) and McDonagh ($6.75MM) in a tricky cap puzzle for GM Julien BriseBois.
That puzzle has a few extra pieces right now, making it even more challenging to finish. The team will have to at some point move out one or more of their expensive contracts like Tyler Johnson, who was shopped and placed on waivers earlier this summer. There is of course the chance that a player could be injured and placed on long-term injured reserve to help them become compliant, but with Cirelli and Cernak to come the team simply can’t afford everyone.
Sergachev will still be a restricted free agent when this contract expires, though he’ll be just one year away from UFA status and arbitration-eligible. If his career continues down its current path, he’ll have an incredible amount of leverage in his next negotiation. One would have thought the offer sheet scenario would have been extremely enticing to a player like him, who could have certainly made more elsewhere, but Joe Smith of The Athletic reports that Sergachev actually agreed to a three-year structure with the Lightning shortly after the season ended and wanted to “give it another go” with the Cup champions in Tampa.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
It’s going to be crazy if they have to attach pieces or assets to move out players who are actually pretty good. I’m sure they’re wishing the expansion draft would’ve been happening right now.
Tyler Johnson isn’t going anywhere unless he agrees to it. He holds all the cards with his full no-trade clause. The Lightning may have to look to move out someone like Killorn instead. Killorn has a modified no-trade clause and can be traded to 15 teams without his approval. Still, moving Killorn’s contract might not be enough space for the Lightning to get both Cernak & Cirelli signed. They may end up only being able to keep one of those players & trade the other
THIS IS VERY BASIC TAMPA FANS !!!
You are going to lose two players – most likely Johnson and Killorn
Face the music, the managers over signed star players and didn’t expect a cap freeze 1-2 years ago.
Not only will you lose them – you will get nothing for them because the other teams know – if you can’t trade them, you have to buy them out.
So in a trade: Johnson is given away, and the team taking him will ALSO want – at a minimum – a draft pick and a prospect. Killorn – a high draft pick. You get back the old “future considerations”.
Your team is in crisis – face the music. The fat lady is singing. The swallows are returning to Capistrano.
Lightning should have used the buyout window to free up some salary cap space but now they will have to entice teams who put players on LTIR to free up that needed salary cap space
Julien B. is finding out his first real test isn’t multiple-guess, after all. Essays…lots of essays… and math…
As most of their guys have no movement or trade clauses attached to them the only 1 guy that can be moved without him saying a word is 6.75 million man Brayden Point I would really consider or trade these RFAs for younger prospects or picks… If they do this they do have some nice young guys licking their chops for a shot… Point only has 2 years left on contract then a massive big contract…
I would love for the Rangers to deal for Cirelli but they would have to deal a few prospects plus a contract to make room. Here’s a trade idea that helps both teams. Rangers deal two prospects and Brett Howden for Cirelli.
Howden, Tarmo Reumanen, and Justin Richards. Justin Richards plays fir Dartmouth and he is a defensive center with speed and toughness. Tarmo is one of there top D men in their system and even higher on prospect list them Lundquist who I thought was neck and neck with Kandre Miller.
DREAM ON….you need cap space and EVERY team know it. You’ll get NOTHING in return on any trade
??????
One or both of Johnson and Killorn have to go though Palat and Gourde would get a lot more interest. Gotta find a way to make something happen. Then at the expansion draft next year work a trade with Seattle to get them to take McDonough and his $6.75M cap hit for the next like decade. That should free up enough to lock up point again long term.
Ahhhhh…..poor hockey players! Living in a posh hotel-24 hour room service and making millions.
What hardship…………
You guys are literally crying over a team winning lmao
G E T. A. L I F E jd!
Do not think of athletes as ‘gods’ They are basically jocks who were good enough (definitely not smart enough) to get million dollars contracts, be transported all over the country in private jets, and stay in the best hotels.
If these guys didn’t make it – at best, they would be selling insurance
Didn’t suggest that in the slightest but you do you