So this is TBs cap space if salary cap is rolled back but given a cap compliance buyout. 7 million doesn't look like enough to sign Sergachev and Cirelli plus fill all the remaining holes.
Because Palat is better than Gourde and his contact is shorter.
This... Palat has been a beast again this year playing a great two way game. If the Lightning do a compliance buyout it will be one of Gourde, Johnson or McDonagh (if they need an extra 2M to sign players, worst case scenario buyout)