Reports circulated throughout the week that the Lightning had interest in signing top free agent target, Nikolaj Ehlers. In recent years, it wouldn't be abnormal to see general manager Julien BriseBois clear space to make big moves, but this year was different.
Ehlers would have been a big pickup to an already accomplished Lightning forward group. Last season he had 24 goals and 63 points in 69 games with the Winnipeg Jets. In the end, the 29-year old signed a six-year, $51 million deal with the Carolina Hurricanes.
On Sunday, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman confirmed the Lightning had interest in Ehlers on the 32 Thoughts Podcast.
“You're right that BriseBois is always competitive, and he's always going to be into things,” Friedman said. “I heard he really wanted to be in on Ehlers, but there was just no way to get that done. I wasn't surprised that the obvious moves were around the edges.”
Free Agency was oddly quiet across the league this year. For the Lightning, other than re-signing top restricted free agent Gage Goncalves to a two-year, $1.2-million average annual value deal, there wasn’t a lot of movement.
Tampa Bay’s only one-way contract went to former Maple Leafs forward Pontus Holmberg, who became available after Toronto declined to send him a qualifying offer.
“I like Holmberg, that's a good signing,” Friedman said. “The Toronto Maple Leafs didn't cut him or not qualify him because he's a bad player. They didn't qualify him because they didn't have room for him and they didn't want to be forced into a tougher box than they already might be in.”
Holmberg is expected to slot in as the Lightning’s new fourth-line center, replacing veteran Luke Glendening. During his time in Toronto, Holmberg proved to be a reliable depth piece that could move up the lineup when needed.
The 26-year old is embracing the fresh start in Tampa and says Lightning fans can expect a strong work ethic and a commitment to protecting the puck.
“I'm pretty a strong guy in the corner with the puck. Good puck protection. I hope I can score a little bit more than I did last season," Holmberg said in his first media availability. "I know I can do more offensively, but my game is good starting with defense. That’s what they can expect from me.”
BriseBois added another restricted free agent in former first-round pick Jakob Pelletier. After not receiving a qualifying offer from the Philadelphia Flyers, the 24-year-old forward signed a three-year contract with the Lightning that starts as a two-way deal next season before converting to a one-way contract.
The Lightning view Pelletier as a player still scratching the surface of his potential, with a chance to earn a role in the bottom six.
With the salary cap set to rise by $7.5 million this season and $25.5 million over the next three years, many teams were opting to stay patient. The Lightning still have the ability to trade the rights to former first-round pick Isaac Howard, although BriseBois said the team is willing to wait out on an offer that best addresses their needs.
