Lightning Rumors

Erik Cernak Suspended Two Games

February 24, 2023 at 4:00 pm CDT | by Josh Erickson 9 Comments

4:00 pm: NHL Player Safety has suspended Cernak for two games as a result of his actions, as announced Friday afternoon. They cited his previous suspension, as well as Cernak’s deliberate shift of his elbow to target Okposo, as reasoning behind the suspension.

9:41 am: The NHL Department of Player Safety announced today that Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak will have a hearing for elbowing Buffalo Sabres captain Kyle Okposo during last night’s game.

The incident occurred late in the third period (video link) when Cernak delivered a high elbow to Okposo’s head, spinning him around and knocking him to the ice as he attempted to gain the offensive zone. Okposo was slow to get up after the collision but rejoined the action. Officials did not assess a penalty to Cernak on the play. Buffalo would win the game a few moments later on an Ilya Lyubushkin shorthanded breakaway in overtime, defeating the Lightning 6-5.

Cernak has been suspended once before in his career, also for elbowing. NHL Player Safety handed out a two-game ban to Cernak in November 2019 after he elbowed Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, causing a concussion. With the incidents occurring more than 18 months apart, however, Cernak isn’t considered a repeat offender.

Cernak, 24, has seen his defensive metrics dip this season after multiple seasons of elite shutdown play. Offensively, he’s contributed a goal and 10 assists in 51 games, spending most of his time paired with Ian Cole. He’s locked into an eight-year, $41.6MM extension that kicks in next season.

Okposo, 33, is leading by example as the Sabres prime themselves to enter the playoff conversation for the first time in a decade. Largely in a fourth-line, shutdown role, Okposo has added seven goals and 14 assists in 49 games this season as he nears the 1,000-game plateau.

Tampa Bay Lightning Assign Gemel Smith To Henderson Silver Knights

February 16, 2023 at 7:45 pm CDT | by Josh Erickson 11 Comments

In a puzzling move, the Tampa Bay Lightning today loaned forward Gemel Smith to the Henderson Silver Knights, the AHL affiliate of the Vegas Golden Knights. Tampa’s affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, announced the news this afternoon. Smith hasn’t played with the Lightning this season, but has lit up the minors with 37 points in 35 games with Syracuse thus far. It’s unclear what, if any, compensation Syracuse might receive for losing their third-leading scorer to a different organization.

Erik Cernak Day-To-Day With Upper-Body Injury

February 15, 2023 at 8:43 pm CDT | by Josh Erickson Leave a Comment

The Tampa Bay Lightning are without a top-four defenseman tonight, per Lightning Insider’s Erik Erlendsson. Erik Cernak has an upper-body injury and is listed as day-to-day.

Latest On Luke Schenn

February 13, 2023 at 10:45 am CDT | by Gavin Lee 10 Comments

One of the names that have been floating around in trade speculation for weeks now is Vancouver Canucks defenseman Luke Schenn. The tough, experienced defender would be a good fit on several clubs, in part due to his extremely reasonable cap hit of $850K.

Today, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reports that things are “getting close” on Schenn, and notes that the Calgary Flames and Boston Bruins are still in the mix to acquire the veteran. The Tampa Bay Lightning, meanwhile, who have been linked most often to Schenn thanks to their history together, are out, according to Pagnotta.

If the reported price tag of a third-round (or more) is correct, you can see why the Lightning might decide to pull out of the running. The club doesn’t have much ammunition to make trades this year after sending multiple first-round picks away, and probably doesn’t want to use their highest selection this year on a player that would see limited minutes in the postseason.

Of course, things could certainly change. Depending on how long these negotiations go and how many other pieces are moved in the meantime, new contenders might emerge for Schenn’s services. Even if he isn’t going to make a huge impact, getting a two-time Stanley Cup champion for $850K is certainly an intriguing option for many contenders.

Tampa Bay Lightning Linked To Tyler Bertuzzi

February 12, 2023 at 10:30 am CDT | by Ethan Hetu 7 Comments

Marek reported that the Red Wings are expected to set a high price for Bertuzzi, who scored 62 points in 68 games last season and plays the sort of rugged, physical game many teams covet. Marek called the price “something substantial” in his report. Teams such as the Dallas Stars, who are reportedly seeking a player to play next to Tyler Seguin on a more regular basis, Edmonton Oilers, and Tampa Bay Lightning were all linked by Marek as teams holding varying degrees of interest in acquiring the talented Red Wings forward.

Nick Paul Listed As Day-To-Day

February 9, 2023 at 7:58 pm CDT | by Brian La Rose Leave a Comment

Lightning winger Nick Paul was a late scratch before tonight’s game against Colorado with the team announcing (Twitter link) that he’s listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury. The 27-year-old has been a capable secondary scorer in his first season with the team, notching 16 goals with 10 assists in 50 games. Notably, with less than $720K in LTIR room per CapFriendly, Tampa Bay does not have enough space to call up a replacement for him on the roster.

Salary Cap Deep Dive: Tampa Bay Lightning

February 8, 2023 at 7:43 pm CDT | by Brian La Rose 5 Comments

Navigating the salary cap is one of the more important tasks for any GM. Teams that can avoid total cap chaos by walking the tightrope of inking players to deals that match their value (or compensate for future value without breaking the bank) remain successful. Those that don’t see struggles and front office changes.

PHR will look at every NHL team and give a thorough look at their cap situation for the 2022-23 season and beyond. This will focus more on players who are regulars on the roster versus those who may find themselves shuttling between the AHL and NHL. All cap figures are courtesy of CapFriendly.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Current Cap Hit: $89,574,031 (over the $82.5MM Upper Limit)

Entry-Level Contracts

D Nick Perbix (one year, $842.5K)

Potential Bonuses
Perbix: $82.5K

Perbix has already signed an extension so we’ll cover that later on. His bonuses are games-played based and typically require 80 games to max out. However, there are generally a few tiers for bonuses at this price point so he should receive some of this amount. With Tampa Bay into LTIR, whatever Perbix earns will come off their cap next season.

Signed Through 2022-23, Non-Entry-Level

F Rudolfs Balcers ($750K, RFA)
F Pierre-Edouard Bellemare ($1MM, UFA)
D Ian Cole ($3MM, UFA)
F Ross Colton ($1.25MM, RFA)
G Brian Elliott ($900K, UFA)
D Callan Foote ($850K, RFA)
F Alex Killorn ($4.45MM, UFA)
F Vladislav Namestnikov ($2.5MM, UFA)
F Corey Perry ($1MM, UFA)

Killorn’s future with Tampa Bay has seemingly been in question for a while now with the team having to cut from its veteran core each season. Those questions will only intensify now as it’s hard to see how they can afford to keep him. The 33-year-old has a chance at beating his career high in points (59, set last season) which would at least help him hit the open market on a high note. He should be able to get a small raise on a medium-term agreement. Namestnikov also appears to be unlikely to return as he hasn’t fit in during his second stint with the team. He’ll also be hard-pressed to match his current AAV unless he can turn things around down the stretch. Perry and Bellemare are low-cost veterans that Tampa Bay will either want to retain or bring in someone else to replace them at likely a slightly lower cap charge if possible. If they look elsewhere, they’d be in line for similar contracts to what they’re on now.

On the RFA side up front, Colton will be in line for a sizable raise. He potted 22 goals last season and has a chance at 20 this year. Notably, he’ll also have salary arbitration eligibility which could push his next contract past the $3MM range. He’s an important part of their bottom six but they might have to get creative to keep him around. Balcers was picked up off waivers earlier this season and he tested the UFA market last summer after being bought out. Another minimum-priced contract should be coming his way which could keep him around for another year in Tampa Bay.

On the back end, Cole is arguably having a better year than he did last season with Carolina, logging his highest ice time since 2018-19 in the process. Having played on one-year deals for the last two seasons now, he might have a shot at a multi-year agreement at a price tag that’s close to this one. Foote still hasn’t been able to quite lock down a full-time spot in the lineup which will hurt his case even with arbitration eligibility. He should be able to push past the $1MM mark but his next deal shouldn’t be much more than that, even if they decide to tack on a second season.

Elliott has put up numbers that are hovering near the league average this year which is a good return on one of the cheapest goalie contracts in the league. But he turns 38 in April and is going to be going year-to-year from here on out. On merit, he’s worthy of at least a small raise but if he wants to stay with the Lightning, it’ll have to be at this price point at most. With how their roster is structured, Tampa Bay simply can’t afford a more expensive backup netminder.

Signed Through 2023-24

D Zach Bogosian ($850K, UFA)
D Haydn Fleury ($762.5K, UFA)
F Brandon Hagel ($1.5MM, UFA)
F Pat Maroon ($1MM, UFA)
D Philippe Myers ($2.55MM in 2022-23, $1.4MM in 2023-24, UFA)
D Brent Seabrook ($6.875MM, UFA)
F Steven Stamkos ($8.5MM, UFA)

Stamkos isn’t really slowing down and has provided a lot of value on this contract as he continues to be a focal point of Tampa Bay’s attack. Accordingly, he has positioned himself for a raise on his next deal if he wants to go after top dollar. In that case, he could land an eight-digit AAV, especially with 2024 pegged as the summer for the Upper Limit to jump up by a fair-sized amount. But if he wants to stick around with the Lightning, this feels like a situation where he could accept a longer-term contract to help try to bring the cap hit down somewhat relative to market value. Such a deal would take him closer to age 40 which isn’t necessarily ideal but it would keep the price tag closer to where it is now which would allow them to keep the core around as long as possible.

The Lightning paid a sizable price to land Hagel thanks to what has quickly turned into one of the bigger bargains in the league. If he continues to score around his current pace, he could make a case to quadruple his current price tag. Even with a higher cap at that time, it might be tough for them to keep both Hagel and Stamkos around. As for Maroon, he’s a fourth liner at this point and will be 36 when he hits the open market. That will likely keep him around this price tag two years from now.

Let’s get Seabrook out of the way quickly. You might have forgotten that he’s here now instead of in Chicago but his situation hasn’t changed as his playing career has come to an end. He will remain on LTIR until this deal expires which means that Tampa Bay is going to have regular cap space for a few more years.

Myers came over during the summer in the Ryan McDonagh trade and while many expected him to be bought out to give Tampa Bay a cap credit, he was instead extended at this lower price. Their cap situation has Myers in the minors right now but if he can lock down a regular spot next season, he could be able to land a deal a bit closer to what he’s getting this year. Bogosian has had a limited role when healthy this season and is more of a depth defender at this point. A deal around what he’s getting now is where his market should fall. Fleury, meanwhile, has had a very limited role and until he can establish himself as a regular, his value is going to remain at or near the minimum salary.

Signed Through 2024-25

D Victor Hedman ($7.875MM, UFA)
D Nick Perbix ($1.125MM from 2023-24 through 2024-25, UFA)

Hedman has been Tampa Bay’s top defenseman for the better part of the last decade and hasn’t shown much in the way of signs of slowing down. At a time when top rearguards are landing more than $10MM when they’re eligible for free agency, he has been a nice bargain for the Lightning and should continue to be for the rest of the deal. When it’s up, his playing time should be starting to dip which could keep his AAV close to this one, especially if he re-signs. Perbix has been a pleasant surprise this season which earned him this low-cost extension not too long ago. It’s a low-risk proposition as if Myers or someone else passes Perbix on the depth chart, the deal can be buried in the minors without any lingering cap charge.

Signed Through 2025-26 Or Longer

D Erik Cernak ($2.95MM in 2022-23, $5.2MM from 2023-24 through 2030-31)
F Anthony Cirelli ($4.8MM in 2022-23, $6.25MM from 2023-24 through 2030-31)
F Nikita Kucherov ($9.5MM through 2026-27)
F Nick Paul ($3.15MM through 2028-29)
F Brayden Point ($9.5MM through 2029-30)
D Mikhail Sergachev ($4.8MM in 2022-23, $8.5MM from 2023-24 through 2030-31)
G Andrei Vasilevskiy ($9.5MM through 2027-28)

Kucherov has been one of the elite wingers in the NHL for several years now but is only tied for the fifth-highest AAV in the league among wingers (and will slide further down the list over the next few seasons). At 29, there’s no reason to think he doesn’t have several more high-end years left in him so this should be a relative bargain for the foreseeable future. Point is a legitimate number one center and at 26, he’s in his prime. He doesn’t pick up the points like Kucherov does (few do) so his deal isn’t as below-market as his frequent linemate but having a top middleman locked up for this long gets one of the foundational pieces in place for the long haul.

Cirelli’s numbers are down this season although he continues to be one of the stronger defensive forwards in the league. If he can lock down the second center spot, the Lightning will get good value here. If he remains more of a secondary option (which could happen early on with most of the core set to return next season), this deal might be a bit pricey at the beginning unless he’s able to get closer to the 50-point mark. Paul was viewed as likely a straight rental but they were able to work out a long-term deal to keep him around at a higher-end third line rate. He’s producing a bit above that this year and as long as that continues, they’ll do well with this deal.

Sergachev has slowly been improving each season and has found another gear this year, emerging as a legitimate top-pairing defender. While he will need to maintain his current level of production to justify this price point, there’s certainly reason for optimism that he’ll be able to do so. It could be suggested that he’s already close to becoming their number one defender and when that does happen, he’ll be making less than market rate for someone in that role. Cernak is a valuable shutdown defender that can play some heavy minutes defensively. At his current price tag, they’re getting good value. At $5.2MM though, that’s a bit of a premium to pay for that type of player. Perhaps there’s a bit more offensive upside there but if that doesn’t happen, this could be a bit of an above-market contract.

Vasilevskiy has been an elite goaltender for several years and even in a bit of a quieter season as this one has been for him, he still has been well above average. Yes, he’s paid well above the league average for a starter but he has played well enough to earn that type of payday. It’s possible that he slows down a bit toward the end of the deal but that shouldn’t be a concern for a while. They’ll be paying a premium at this position but they’re getting bang for their buck.

Buyouts

F Vincent Lecavalier ($1.762MM through 2026-27, cap-exempt)

Retained Salary Transactions

None

Best Value: Hagel
Worst Value: Myers

Looking Ahead

There has been a reason why GM Julien BriseBois has been suggesting that his team isn’t likely to be active at the trade deadline. They just don’t have a lot of LTIR room remaining, not even enough for a player making the league minimum. They might be forced to try to get a team to retain on a minimum contract. When you’re in that situation, it’s hard to take a big swing on the trade front.

For next season, they have over $75MM in commitments even after backing out Seabrook’s deal which will once again be on LTIR. They’ll have at least five roster spots to fill (likely one or two more to be safe) with what’s left so that doesn’t give them enough flexibility to try to keep Killorn in the fold barring a trade. There has long been an expectation that the extra veteran depth would slowly be broken up and that has started with past trades of Tyler Johnson and McDonagh. That trend is likely to continue for 2023-24 and beyond.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Snapshots: Puljujarvi, Korchinski, Walsh

February 1, 2023 at 5:59 pm CDT | by Josh Erickson 12 Comments

After a slow start, things haven’t gotten any better for Edmonton Oilers winger Jesse Puljujarvi this season. As his ice time continues to dwindle, currently being utilized in a fourth-line role, so does his trade value. The 2016 fourth-overall pick has just 10 points in 49 games this season after a 35-point campaign last year.

With Edmonton expected to go all-in at this year’s trade deadline, Puljujarvi will likely see his Oilers tenure end by March 3 to make room on the roster. Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli outlined some potential destinations for the Finnish winger, also reporting that general manager Ken Holland sent a note to all 31 other NHL teams two weeks ago that Puljujarvi was available for trade.

That trade could come sooner rather than later, as the Oilers need to clear salary to activate Kailer Yamamoto from long-term injured reserve. They have at least another few days, as he’s not eligible to return until February 12. Seravalli lists the Florida Panthers, St. Louis Blues, and Tampa Bay Lightning as potential fits for Puljujarvi in a hockey trade but also says to keep the possibility of a pure cap-dump move to a salary cap floor-hugging team in mind.

In a mailbag piece released Wednesday, Scott Powers of The Athletic noted that 2022 first-round selection Kevin Korchinski could crack the Chicago Blackhawks’ NHL lineup out of training camp to start the 2023-24 season. Powers said the Blackhawks organization was impressed with his training camp before this season opened, and that “all signs” point to Korchinski being NHL-ready. Still 18, the left-shot defenseman has 40 points in 30 games with the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds this season.
TSN’s Darren Dreger reports that current United States Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh is the current front-runner to replace Donald Fehr as the NHLPA’s Executive Director. Dreger says an NHLPA board meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, which could yield a vote on whether to instate Walsh as the league’s top player representative. The former mayor of Boston, Massachusetts, has a strong labor union background and is certainly an interesting selection.

Lightning Recall Nick Perbix

January 30, 2023 at 9:00 pm CDT | by Brian La Rose 3 Comments

Nick Perbix’s time in the minors was short-lived as the Lightning recalled him today, per the AHL’s transactions log. The defenseman was sent down yesterday when Rudolfs Balcers came off LTIR following the conclusion of his conditioning stint; Perbix had to go down to keep them cap-compliant. Now that Balcers is off the roster (he was sent down after clearing waivers), the 24-year-old could be brought back. Tampa Bay could have kept him down through the All-Star break if they wanted but there wouldn’t have been a cap benefit to do so as they’re still in LTIR where cap room can’t be banked.

Rudolfs Balcers Clears Waivers

January 30, 2023 at 1:00 pm CDT | by Ethan Hetu 1 Comment

Jan 30: Balcers has cleared waivers and can now be officially assigned to the AHL.

Jan 29: The Tampa Bay Lightning have placed forward Rudolfs Balcers on waivers, according to CapFriendly. The move comes after Balcers finished his conditioning loan to the Lightning’s AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, today.

Balcers, 25, hasn’t played in an NHL game since November as he was dealing with an upper-body injury. This is not his first time on waivers this season, as he was claimed off of waivers by the Lightning in November.

Balcers’ injury means that he has only played in three games for the Lightning, despite being on their roster for quite a bit of time. In those three games, Balcers scored a goal and averaged just under seven minutes of ice time per game. His full-season total production is five points through 17 games, which is a decline from the rate he scored last year.

If he ends up clearing waivers, Balcers will head back to the AHL level in Syracuse where he’s had success. Balcers has 117 points in 149 career AHL games, so he should be able to help the Crunch’s scoring attack should he end up there.

Otherwise, teams across the league will have a chance to reinforce their group of forwards with Balcers should they want to place a claim. Balcers is available at a league-minimum price, and has 170 NHL games on his resume.

« Previous Page

Load More Posts

Headlines