The Tampa Bay Lightning have been energetic for the reason that NHL Draft. Out with Steven Stamkos and Mikhail Sergachev, in with Jake Guentzel, Ryan McDonagh (once more), Conor Geekie and Cam Atkinson. Simply to call a number of.
The Lightning aren’t near being executed making an attempt to compete for the Stanley Cup. Nonetheless, they might use one other impression participant on the ahead place. A possible identify is Anaheim Geese winger Frank Vatrano.
No credible supply hyperlinks the Lightning to Vatrano at the moment. It’s simply social media buzz. Nevertheless it begs the query. Would a deal for him even make sense for the Lightning? With the precise deal, it actually would.
What Vatrano Would Deliver and The place Does He Match?
The Lightning closely lacked scoring depth final season. They made strikes on the deadline to treatment this, similar to buying Anthony Duclair. However the strikes weren’t sufficient to get the Lightning previous the primary spherical, and so they selected to not convey again their deadline additions amid their roster shuffle.
In 82 video games final season, the 30-year-old winger had 37 objectives and 23 assists for 60 factors. He additionally produced within the clutch with 20 factors on the ability play, three shorthanded objectives and 7 game-winning objectives.
There’s some higher potential right here that Vatrano may convey to the Lightning. These are the numbers he put up on a Geese group that scored the third-fewest objectives within the NHL. Put him on a group that scored the fifth-most objectives within the league, and see what occurs.
The Lightning struggled at 5-on-5 final season. That must be taken under consideration. Vatrano may assist repair the even-strength struggles. One-third of his complete factors got here on the play. To place that into perspective, Stamkos had virtually half of his factors come on the ability play. So, maybe Vatrano could be an enchancment in that space.
Associated: Revisiting the Dan Boyle Commerce That’s Nonetheless Impacting the Lightning
Now, the place to suit Vatrano is the query. He’s a left-shot on the left wing place. The Lightning have already got Jake Guentzel on the highest line with Nikita Kucherov, and Brandon Hagel on the second line. An answer could possibly be the Lightning pencil in Vatrano on the proper wing place to accomplice him with Hagel and Anthony Cirelli on the second line.
Wage Cap State of affairs
The golden subject when discussing any Lightning deal. The cap hit.
What could be best for the Lightning is the cap hit that Vatrano comes with. Based on Spotrac (RIP CapFriendly), he has a yr left on his present contract with a cap hit of $3.65 million. The Lightning nonetheless have $5.75 million in cap area. In the event that they transfer one other participant, or two, his cap hit could be a non-issue.
Who may they transfer to make room? One possibility is Conor Sheary together with his $2 million cap hit over the subsequent two years. The Lightning may commerce him to Anaheim in a deal for Vatrano or purchase him out to clear cap area. I went and did a buyout simulation on Spotrac to see what the state of affairs could be if the Lightning purchased out Sheary:
- 2024-25: $583,333 cap hit
- 2025-26: $1,083,333 cap hit
- 2026-27: $583,333 cap hit
- 2027-28: $583,333 cap hit
Sheary could be on the books for a number of years, however the useless cap could be minuscule, particularly with the cap growing once more. It’s a viable possibility if the Geese don’t need him in a commerce.
Although I’ve already named him as an extension candidate beforehand, an alternative choice is Nick Perbix. His identify got here up in that aforementioned so-called “rumor” a few Vatrano commerce. There’s no proof to consider this particular rumor is true outdoors of “belief me, bro,” however Perbix remains to be a reliable commerce piece on this hypothetical deal.
If not Sheary, Perbix could be the odd man out. An NHL participant would seemingly should be moved on this deal, and he’s the one participant with a cap hit over $1 million that the Lightning could be prepared to maneuver and has a cap hit the Geese could be prepared to tackle.
Our Hypothetical Commerce
So, what may a Lightning commerce for Vatrano appear like? Let’s have a look. I teamed up with Anaheim Geese author at THW Charlie Hiller to barter a hypothetical one. That is what we agreed on.
Lightning purchase:
- Frank Vatrano (Geese retain 50% wage)
Geese Purchase:
- 2026 third-round decide
- Defenseman Nick Perbix
- Prospect ahead Ethan Gauthier
Right here, the Lightning add offensive depth, whereas the Geese acquire defensive assist together with belongings to construct for the longer term.
Would this be the precise commerce that will pan out? No clue, however this could possibly be shut. Underneath the precise circumstances, the Lightning may acquire an impression ahead because the roster restructures for future success.
