Tampa Bay Lightning: Which Players Could Be Moved By The Trade Deadline?

4 of 6

Nov 7, 2015; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning forward Alex Killorn (17) in the first period against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Ah, another casualty of the salary cap. Forward Alex Killorn is currently in the final year of a two-year, $5.1 million dollar contract and is set to become a restricted free agent following the end of the 2015-16 season. Though the team would love Killorn to be apart of future plans, it is unlikely to happen.

With Nikita Kucherov and Victor Hedman needing to be resigned (Steven Stamkos potentially as well) Killorn’s future cap hit is something the Lightning will not be able to afford. Unlike somebody like Filppula or Bishop, the Lightning would not be able to wait till after the season to trade him, so if the team wants to get something back for him, it is now or never.

At this point in his career, Killorn will be turning 27 and will be looking for the biggest deal of his career. The Lightning will not be able to afford Killorn past this year, so why let him walk without getting something in return?

Killorn can help a team win games. Ideally, the Lightning could come away with a couple of draft picks or prospects for a player that will most likely walk at the end of the season anyways.

To replace Killorn, Vladislav Namestnikov has proven that he was what it takes to play top-six forward minutes. When the Lightning are finally at full strength, it wouldn’t surprise me if Killorn ends up on the third line with Cedric Paquette and Ryan Callahan. That is, if the triplets are reunited and Namestnikov and Jonathan Drouin are on the top line with Steven Stamkos.

Next: Matt Carle And The Tampa Bay Lightning Defense

Home/Editorial