Major changes are not what the Lightning need this summer. However, some fine-tuning could be in order.
First off, you have to look at the contract and salary cap situation of the Lightning during this offseason. There are no major core pieces set to hit free agency during the summer. The only two players on the active roster set to become unrestricted free agents are Chris Kunitz and Andrej Sustr. Sustr is not expected to be brought back, while Kunitz is 38 and is in the twilight of his career. He could be brought back on another one-year deal, but don’t be surprised if he moves on this summer.
As for restricted free agents, Adam Erne, Louis Domingue, Slater Koekkoek, J.T. Miller, and Cedric Paquette round out that list, with Erne being the only one in the group who isn’t eligible for arbitration. Erne missed the final six games of the regular season and most of the postseason due to a lower-body injury. By the time he was skating again late in the playoffs, there was no room for him on the active roster. However, he should be coming back strong next season. Domingue played well as Vasilevskiy’s backup and it would be surprising if he doesn’t return. Koekkoek could easily be brought back, but the coaching staff doesn’t seem to have much trust in him despite the fact he’s played well when called upon.
Miller tallied 18 points in 19 regular season games after arriving along with Ryan McDonagh from the New York Rangers at the trade deadline.
However, he cooled off in the playoffs with just two goals and eight points in 17 postseason games. While the glut of talented forwards in the Lightning’s system could make him trade bait, I believe he’s a guy who could be brought back at a similar cap hit to the $2.75 million he played under the last two years.
Meanwhile, Paquette is a guy who we might have seen wear Lightning blue for the last time. Although useful as a fourth line grinder, agitator, and penalty killer, he’s not particularly effective at faceoffs and has a very limited offensive ceiling.
For the sake of this article, let’s say Miller is brought back on a one or two-year deal while Kunitz walks and Paquette doesn’t receive a qualifying offer. That would leave two forward spots open for youngsters from Syracuse of the AHL. The two guys most likely to fill those spots could be center Mitchell Stephens and winger Mathieu Joseph. Matthew Peca could also be brought back, but he’s also a UFA. Due to the crowded forward corps, it wouldn’t be shocking to see him leave for an opportunity for more ice time elsewhere.
