If you arent able to trade him

With his NTC, it's unrealistic to assume he's going anywhere.

Well, except to Seattle, if they leave him unprotected.

Agreed, I think Johnson stays in Tampa.

A small price to pay for salvation

I doubt any of the NMC guys want to leave Tampa. Every off-season there's this whole schpeele about players loving the no tax idea of playing in Tampa or Miami with the Panthers so why suddenly players would just leave without making it hard for the front office?

Welcome to the realities of handing out NMCs.

While I don't think the tax difference is as much as folks say it is, I agree with you, I find difficult to believe that players have the desire to leave the good Lightning team. Why should the players who signed the contracts, give up any benefits that contract affords them. The NTC players find Tampa's cap situation, management problem, not the players. Their thinking must be, " Want cap space, don't sign Sergachov to so much $$$ or trade Vasilslevi. Don't affect MY $$$, life style or career."