Lightning’s reputation remains strong in NHL free-agent market
TAMPA — It hasn’t been that long since the Lightning won back-to-back Stanley Cups, but in today’s NHL personnel changes quickly. A look at the team’s retooled forward lines reveals just four players (Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli) who hoisted the Cup at Amalie Arena to end the 2021 postseason.
The forced facelift continued this weekend.
The Lightning signed Conor Sheary, Luke Glendening and Josh Archibald — veteran players who have combined for 1,500 games of NHL experience. Each brings aspects of the game that the Lightning need in their forward group. The team also signed depth defenseman Calvin de Haan and backup goaltender Jonas Johannson.
The Lightning said goodbye to Alex Killorn after 11 years, as the veteran power forward received a $25 million, four-year deal from Anaheim. They traded Pat Maroon, who was entering the final year of his contract, for a seventh-round pick next season. They also dealt Ross Colton, another member of the 2021 Cup team, and let their two-year pacts with Corey Perry and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare run their course.
In restocking their forward lines, the Lightning had to seek value. Their three veteran forward signings took up just $3.6 million of cap space for next year’s payroll. Killorn’s cap hit with Anaheim is $6.25 million alone.
But this weekend’s acquisitions also served as a declaration that though the Lightning exited early from last season’s playoffs, losing to Toronto in the first round, their reputation as a championship contender among free agents hasn’t taken a hit.
“I think anytime a team goes to three straight finals and still has a lot of pieces there, the opportunity is always there,” said Glendening, who spent his first eight seasons in Detroit as a division rival. “I think they have such great players here, such a great culture, it’s something that I couldn’t pass up on and just really wanted to be a part of.”
The Lightning were able to get bargains on the three players in part because the players believe they can win in Tampa Bay. No, the Lightning might not be as scary as they were a few seasons ago, and the NHL is getting more of the parity it seeks with the salary cap, but Tampa remains a destination for veteran free agents.
“That’s something we take great pride in, and we worked a long time to establish that reputation,” general manager Julien BriseBois said. “And now we’re working really hard to maintain it. Having that strong core of star players makes us an appealing destination. That’s first and foremost because good players want to win. So, if we want to attract good players, we need to be able to sell them on the possibility of us competing for, chasing and, ultimately, hopefully winning championships. That’s the first appeal.
“And then I think they know that we have really strong coaches, we treat our players really well, Tampa has tremendous fans, our game experience is elite within our league (and) the quality of life here for the players and their families in the Tampa Bay area is I would say second to none. So, I think we’ve established that we’re an appealing destination.”
Filling in the puzzle pieces is the easy part, BriseBois said. As long as he has elite players like Andrei Vasilevskiy, Kucherov, Point, Stamkos and Victor Hedman; and a talented young core of Cirelli, Brandon Hagel, Mikhail Sergachev, Erik Cernak and Nick Paul; he can build around that group, even with the Lightning up against the salary cap.
“I’ve played with people that have played there, and they’ve all had great things to say about the organization,” Archibald said. “And when you look at some of the players, they are some of the best in the league.
“So, just to have an opportunity to be in a locker room with some of those guys, really looking forward to it. And I think just being in the Sunshine State, you get some nice warm weather during the winter. The family will love that. The kids will love that.”
All three new forwards are veterans who know what it’s like to play in Tampa as an opponent, and they have heard about the Lightning’s reputation for nurturing a family feeling in their room. They lose some of that camaraderie with Killorn, Maroon and Perry gone, but the reputation still holds.
“I think the main thing is just, you know how well the organization takes care of you and your family,” Archibald said. “And that’s a big part for me. I’ve got three kids, all under 5 right now. So just to have an organization that not only cares about you, but your family.”
Said Sheary, who signed a three-year deal: “I wanted a little bit of stability. I’ve got a family now, and I don’t want to keep moving around.”
Outside of the dressing room, the players noted that Amalie Arena’s atmosphere is one of the best in the league. Plus, spending the winter among palm trees and sunshine has its selling points.
It all helps BriseBois fill holes. And on Saturday, he acquired three players he expects to bring a checking game that will make the Lightning tougher to play against.
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