Tampa Bay Lightning
Additions: Andy Delmore, Marc Denis, Doug Janik, Filip Kuba, Luke Richardson
Subtractions: John Grahame, Pavel Kubina, Fredrik Modin, Darryl Sydor, Shane Willis
Analysis
Hands up who was surprised when Brad Richards received a $7.8 million per year for 5 years deal earlier this season. Ok, everyone. Moving on.
Whether Richards deserves that kind of money or not (short version: no way, but Tampa Bay was given an ugly choice - give him that kind of money or lose him for nothing when he hit free agency), in a salary cap era, tying up just a hair short of $20 million on three players is bound to cause trouble. Locking up the trio of Richards, Lecavalier and St. Louis certainly has its benefits, but it has come at the cost of depth. Beyond those three, the Lightning now have almost no one left on their forward lines. Prospal is easily the next best forward and a real bargain ($1.9 million per year for two more years and 80 points last year - now that’s smart). Modin was a solid 20 goal scorer who was dealt both to solidify the Lightning in goal and also to free up some salary (although giving the experienced but unproven Mark Denis almost $3 million per year may not turn out as well as the Lightning hope). Compare this to the Carolina Hurricanes, who even after giving significant raises to Eric Staal, Eric Cole and Justin Williams have not a single player making more than $4.5 million.
On defence, the problem is just as severe. Kubina and Sydor are gone and have been replaced by the much cheaper, but much less effective, Kuba and Richardson. Richardson is probably the best bargain on Tampa’s blueline this year, providing stability and leadership, but he’s a short term solution at best and no longer has the ability to anchor a blueline. Kuba was a solid addition but is no Kubina.
Tampa Bay still touts the formidable trio of Richards, Lecavalier and St. Louis and those three, should they have strong seasons next year, can be expected to almost single handedly drag their team into the playoffs. Unfortunately, the lack of depth behind those players will likely keep them just short of that coveted playoff position, and will certainly stop them from an extended run. Considering that the moves they made were lateral at best, and considering how much better the teams around them got, I can’t see Tampa Bay making the playoffs next season. Toronto, Atlanta, Florida, NY Islanders and Boston, the five teams below the Lightning in the standings last season, all improved substantially. Lateral movement is not enough.