The Tampa Bay Lightning star in Train to Guangdong

Team: 2023-24 Tampa Bay Lightning

Initial Creation Date: Jun. 12, 2023

Published: Jun. 12, 2023

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

The hit hockey sequel to cinematic thriller Train To Busan, Train to Guangdong follows our favourite cap evading enthusiasts in their quest to dump the Philippe Myers contract while returning to the promised land of Stanley Cups and cap compliance to bring balance back to the NHL. Basing this around Alex Killorn not accepting TB's long term offer (rumored to be 6 years, around 3M?) giving the Lightning the go ahead to start their off-season signings. Minimal UFA additions, preserve team chemistry, sign and elevate from Syracuse to top-9 roles instead.
Ship out Myers and the Seabrook contract; can modify the trade and receiving party as necessary or alter the package by adding a prospect like Fortier to sweeten "slightly"

Assuming Colton's old 3LW spot gets decided after camp with ABB, Balcers, and maybe Goncalves competing for it (chose Balcers for NHL experience's sake but ABB probably has a chance given last season, or ABB and Balcers play wing with Merela spending a year in the minors)

Colton signs a 3 year 3.5M AAV, elevated to top six and gets better minutes with Cirelli and Stamkos playmaking. Can offer up to 3.6 with whatever savings are left, or offer a 2 year with a larger increase pending cap increase and player performance.

Jeannot signs a short term 2 year deal around 1.5M aav to play in the bottom six. People envision a Paul-like deal spanning over 5 years but a 2 year window at 1.5 feels like the safer option for a bottom-six grinder-style winger like him. Might be a "bad contract" in terms of pick investment after the trade but it's safer than signing him to an albatross of an unmovable deal.

Rittich signs on for 1 year to backup Vasilevskiy (seems like the better and safer option compared to Ned, or maybe go after Blackwood if he doesn't get QO'd)
De Haan seems like a guy TB might add and he won't get playtime in Carolina anymore. Signs a 2 year in TB for just under a third of what Cole signed for to play on 3LD (can rotate with Fleury) and be a defensive partner for Raddysh or Bogo. Can offer around 950k or slightly north of it for 2 years in hopes he signs on until guys like Carlile, Lilleberg, Thompson, etc are ready to make the jump to the NHL level

Sign Huuhtanen to ELC. Megna, etc, all seemingly irrelevant AHL depth to do AHL depth things