Team: 2023-24 Tampa Bay Lightning

Initial Creation Date: May 9, 2023

Published: May 9, 2023

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Well another Summer of Change has come for Tampa. I don't see them being able to re-sign Killorn who had a career year in goals and points this year. Colton is an RFA who will command much more than Tampa can afford. With Jeannot not being able to play much due to injury and not being productive in his games with Tampa this season, I think his RFA bargaining chips are minimized, so he signs for less.

Tampa does have prospects who can play roles in the NHL. Tampa doesn't need stars they need effective roles players to help the stars. Alex Barre-Boulet (2nd in scoring in the AHL this year) has earned a few call-ups to the NHL but is not suited for a Bottom 6 role, where he's been slotted before. With Killorn and Colton gone he can fill the RW2 spot. Koepke is built for a Bottom 6 role on the 4th line. Simon Ryfors was one player who could've made the 23-24 roster, but signed for his former team in Sweden for next year.

The free agents are interesting. Mikkola gets a pay raise/term to be Cernak's D partner. Nosek/Hathaway fulfill roles left by Bellemare and Perry, with younger legs but similar play styles as long as they want to take less money than they're previous cap hit.

Varlamov played 23 games this year, clearly a back-up now but quite a good one. Will he come to Tampa to back-up Vasy? Could throw $50,000 more in there if it gets it done.

Thoughts? If you're Julien BriseBois, do you try to swing this?