I think they have to make a trade. You're 3.3 over and I count maybe 8 guys with one year left for term. Even if the cap goes up 2.5 next year and the Bolts lose a guy making say 5-6m to expansion Seattle, that is going to be another brutal year getting everyone under contract. Not impossible, but ugly difficult.

i agree. especially with so many players needing extensions in 20-21 (Vasilevskiy, Sergachev, Cirelli, other ELCs) i think they need to make a trade. I think they should move out Callahan and maybe Palat (or Miller or Killorn). This also assumes they do not resign any veteran D (stralman, coburn, etc) and replace them with ELC's, which isnt promising if they want to push for a cup. I think they should bring back at least 1 vet D (preferably Stralman) and try to sign Point to a cheaper bridge deal and hopefully fit under the cap.

I think they have to let Girardi, Coburn, and Stralman walk. They can only trade either TJ or Callahan, and TJ is too valuable right now to them. Raddysh, Volkov, and Barre-Boulet are too good for the AHL anymore, but because of cap space they should give Raddysh and Barre-Boulet the roster spots over Volkov. Erne will sign a 1-1.5 million contract for injury insurance. Plus, he's a great fourth liner. They should sign Rutta to a 1.5-2 million dollar contract, and trade Callahan, and two prospects not named Katchouk, Foote, Cernak, Barre-Boulet, Raddysh, Volkov, or Ingham for Connauton. They can't trade Killorn or Palat because of their full NTCs.

ahh i may have misinterpreted Capfriendly's NTC explanations. I thought Killorn's NTC started in 20-21 and Palat's started in 21-22, but now that i look back maybe it means they have full NTC's until 20-21 and 21-22

https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/lightning

My point about bringing Stralman back was only so that TBL wouldnt be stuck with 3 rookies on RD, but Rutta would work also. They just need an experienced D on the right side imo

I agree, and Stralman would be ideal if he'd sign for 2 million or less, but he's worth at least twice that. Sergachev can play the right side, so it wouldn't be all rookies, though he plays very sheltered minutes. He would benefit from an expanded role.