TAMPA — The Lightning stated an abrupt goodbye to a different piece of their championship core Saturday, one which was anticipated to be a Bolt into the following decade, giving common supervisor Julien BriseBois the wage cap flexibility he’s coveted for years to maintain the Lightning a contender.
However for now, that freed-up cash shouldn’t be earmarked for Steven Stamkos, and the Lightning captain seems headed to the open market when free company begins Monday at midday.
BriseBois made a stunning transfer, dealing away 26-year-old budding celebrity defenseman Mikhail Sergachev to the Utah Hockey Membership through the second day of the NHL draft in Las Vegas.
A much bigger shock got here later within the day. BriseBois stated that even after gaining $11.15 million of cap house by buying and selling Sergachev and ahead Tanner Jeannot, he re-approached Stamkos’ agent, Don Meehan, however didn’t make Stamkos a greater supply.
“Our respective positions haven’t modified following (Saturday’s) trades.” BriseBois stated by telephone after the draft. “As of now we’ve each agreed to get to July 1. It doesn’t imply we will’t circle again to 1 one other. However we’re each going to go forward and comply with by means of with our due diligence, seeing what’s on the market and seeing what’s greatest.
“My response was to see what’s greatest for the Lightning group. And Stephen has to do what’s greatest for him, his profession and his household. So except one thing adjustments between now and July 1, and it doesn’t appear to be it is going to, we are going to get to (free company).”
The roster may look rather a lot completely different within the subsequent couple days with out two of the franchise’s fan favorites in Sergachev and Stamkos.
The Lightning won’t be a greater group right this moment, however they’re youthful. For Sergachev, they acquired a 24-year-old top-four defenseman in J.J. Moser, who averaged 20:34 in ice time final season for Arizona, and 20-year-old ahead Conor Geekie, a former No. 11 total choose who instantly turns into the Lightning’s prime prospect.
And BriseBois now turns into a serious participant in free company. The Lightning’s cap house elevated to $16.5 million, to allow them to make a run at a few of this 12 months’s prime free brokers, or discover commerce presents from groups hamstrung by the $88 million cap who want to maneuver salaries.
“We now have a warfare chest of cap house to exit and enhance our group in free company,” BriseBois stated. “And the hope is that the newfound cap house, our favorable taxation scenario, the chance to be on a aggressive group and to play with some nice gamers ought to make us an interesting vacation spot when free brokers need to make choices on the place to signal come July 1.”
BriseBois didn’t need to essentially transfer Sergachev, calling him a “stud, two-time Stanley Cup-winning, 26-year-old No. 1 defenseman,” however he noticed energy on the left facet of the Lightning blue line after re-acquiring defenseman Ryan McDonagh final month and determined to subsequent enhance the depth of the ahead group.
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Nonetheless, that Sergachev was the participant who needed to be moved got here as a shock. The Lightning had seen him as part of their long-term future, signing him to an eight-year extension through the 2022 offseason to maintain him underneath group management by means of 2030-31, making him the highest-paid defenseman on the group. He received his second Stanley Cup simply days after his twenty third birthday, and he discovered underneath the tutelage of Hedman and McDonagh.
“Taking a look at what we had on our again finish, it felt such as you would find yourself with a greater collective group if we reallocated a few of our riches from the again finish to enhance our depth on the ahead place,” BriseBois stated. “And this time of 12 months, through the draft and the opening of free company is one such time, and what we’re making an attempt to do, it’s at all times concerning the collective group. It’s at all times about making an attempt to construct the strongest group doable.”
Apart from parting methods with Sergachev, the Lightning minimize bait on the 27-year-old Jeannot, whom they paid a hefty value to accumulate on the 2023 commerce deadline. He didn’t stay as much as expectations, they usually discovered a suitor within the Kings that might take his $2.665 million cap hit for subsequent season earlier than he reaches free company.
Shortly after Saturday’s commerce, Sergachev posted on Instagram, thanking the Lightning and their followers:
“I’m grateful to (the Lightning) for every little thing we’ve had collectively, all of the ups and downs, from dropping 4-0 within the first spherical to profitable two Stanley cups! Due to the group for offering me with every little thing I wanted to carry out my greatest! Due to the coaches, I’ve discovered rather a lot from you. Due to the medical workers, I like you guys and big because of the gamers that I performed with, you actually made it particular!
“I used to be proud to name myself a bolt and I gave my absolute every little thing to this group! Tampa will at all times be a house to me and my household! And thanks to the followers and metropolis of Tampa! I’ve felt love and assist from you and it made me higher! Every little thing involves an finish, however we’re ceaselessly champs and I like you Tampa!”
Coming into the offseason, BriseBois stated his mission — together with re-signing Stamkos — was to enhance defensively after the Lightning ranked twenty second in objectives allowed. He traded to get McDonagh again, and boasted having a top-four group made up of Victor Hedman, McDonagh, Sergachev and Erik Cernak.
However BriseBois stated that earlier this month — when negotiations with Stamkos hit a deadlock — his workers began sending out feelers for trades and took a more in-depth have a look at a free-agent market they beforehand couldn’t deeply delve into. They determined to handle upgrading the ahead group, possible specializing in the highest two-way forwards accessible.
The Lightning can even pursue an extension for Hedman, who’s coming into the ultimate 12 months of his contract, within the coming days.
Together with Moser and Geekie, the most recent trades netted the Lightning 4 extra draft picks, together with two in Saturday’s draft.
Moser was a second-round choose by Arizona in 2021. One other left-shot defenseman, he had 5 objectives and 26 factors in 80 video games final season for the Coyotes. He’ll get a major elevate from the $886,667 cap hit he carried on his entry-level contract.
Geekie is coming off his third full season within the Western Hockey League, the place he scored 43 objectives and 56 assists in 55 video games between the Wenatchee Wild and Swift Present Broncos. His plus-51 score was the second-highest amongst Western Hockey League skaters. Geekie additionally represented Crew Canada on this 12 months’s World Juniors, recording two objectives and an help in 5 video games.
Geekie, whose entry-level contract runs by means of 2026-27, is predicted to begin the season at AHL Syracuse after making his professional debut final season with the Coyotes’ AHL affiliate in Tucson.
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