The Lightning’s early exit set the stage for adjustments in the offseason. Last summer general manager Julien BriseBois aggressively addressed where the Lightning needed to improve, and overall they were a more complete team, better both defensively and at 5-on-5.
This year, BriseBois didn’t specify where moves would be made in the offseason, but overall he stated that he likes the team they have. Here’s what we know:
Yanni Gourde is set to become a UFA
The Lightning traded two first-round picks at this year’s NHL trade deadline to acquire both Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand, who still has one more year left on his contract. After a sports hernia surgery in late January, Gourde was traded after just one game back. He worked through it and feels that being back in Tampa has been a natural fit for he and his family.
Gourde wants to stay in Tampa Bay, and the Lightning reportedly want to keep him. With a $5.17 million cap hit from his 2019 extension, he’ll most likely need to take a pay cut to make it work.
Fourth-liner Luke Glendening, third-pair defenseman Nick Perbix, veteran forward Cam Atkinson are also set to become UFAs
Luke Glendening, Tampa Bay’s top face-off guy played the last two seasons on an $800,000 AAV deal. He's been a great culture fit in the Lightning room, which does carry some weight. Despite battling shoulder injuries in back-to-back postseasons, the 36-year-old believes he has more hockey left, and given his value the Lightning may find it hard to get more bang for their buck given all that he does.
Right-shot defenseman Max Crozier has been biding his time in Syracuse, and his NHL chance could come soon if the Lightning move on from Nick Perbix. Crozier, along with Gage Goncalves are both set to become pending restricted free agents. The Lightning were impressed with Goncalves and will have to submit a qualifying offer by June 30. Both players are arbitration-eligible.
“All the guys that are here I like, and there’s a possibility for all of them to come back,” GM Julien BriseBois said at end of year media availability. “Odds of them all coming back are small. Some of those guys are unrestricted free agents and might want the opportunity to go to a different organization where they might be able to play a bigger role.”
Perbix may be among those eyeing a different role elsewhere.
Cam Atkinson was a positive presence in the Lightning room, but with such limited ice time, a return seems doubtful.
McDonagh Wants to Retire in Tampa, Extension Talks Still TBD
Veteran defenseman Ryan McDonagh has made it clear he wants to finish his career in a Lightning sweater, but with one year left on his seven-year, $6.75 million AAV deal, it’s still unclear when extension talks will begin.
Reaquired last year from Nashville, the 35-year-old helped bolster Tampa Bay's blue line and posted a league-best plus-43 rating. The Lightning weren’t the same without him, and his impact this season proved it.
“I have a ton of hunger still in me in wanting to win, and this is a great place for me to have that chance,” McDonagh said. “We’ll see what happens. But this is an unbelievable organization, city. There’s nowhere else I’d want to be for the rest of my career."
“Whether it happens or not, we’ll see. But it’s a great chance to win every year, a team that’s always going to be going for it and a great, great group of guys that care for one another, and that’s all you want to be a part of.”
Justified or not, waiting to initiate discussions with Steven Stamkos had clear ramifications. No one in Tampa Bay wants to relive that.
The Lightning locked Victor Hedman into a four-year extension before the final year of his deal. With McDonagh now in a similar spot, timing will be key.
