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Tampa Bay Lightning Mailbag: Trade Deadline prep edition

By Chase Kimball

OTTAWA, ON - FEBRUARY 22: Tampa Bay Lightning Center Vladislav Namestnikov (90) and Ottawa Senators Defenceman Erik Karlsson (65) battle for position during first period National Hockey League action between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Ottawa Senators on February 22, 2018, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON - FEBRUARY 22: Tampa Bay Lightning Center Vladislav Namestnikov (90) and Ottawa Senators Defenceman Erik Karlsson (65) battle for position during first period National Hockey League action between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Ottawa Senators on February 22, 2018, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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In this mailbag, we answer our reader’s questions about the Tampa Bay Lightning, their strong season, and the looming trade deadline.

Welcome to our first ever Bolts By The Bay mailbag, where we answer questions about the Tampa Bay Lightning asked by our readers on Twitter.  If you would like to have a question answered in our next mailbag, follow us on Twitter @BoltsByTheBay and lookout for our next call for questions!

Seems it’s been tough going the last few weeks to get some W’s. It also seems every team plays us strong. Have we just hit a bump in the road or is this a sign of more to come? Is it fair to expect the win% from the start moving forward?

The Lightning have had one of (if not the) most dominant starts to the season in franchise history.  Their loss to the Calgary Flames right before the bye week finally pushed the team to double-digit regulation losses for the first time this season, and they still haven’t hit 20 losses in regulation yet.  While I’d love to see a perfect 82-0-0 season, that just isn’t realistic.

It does seem that the Lightning have been challenged more in their more recent games.  Every time a team plays the Lightning, it’s an opportunity for them to prove something.  Beating the team in first place in the league is an accomplishment, and now more than ever the points from every game matter.

It’s important for the Lightning to keep their foot on the gas for the rest of the season.  While winning the President’s trophy isn’t necessarily the end goal, the focus of the team should be preparing for the playoffs. Things will only get more difficult, and the worst thing they could do as a team is ease up and coast to the finish.

What do you think is the biggest weakness of the Bolts this season?

Thankfully, the Bolts have finally broken their horrible habit of not shooting the puck in favor of passing.  While we still see flashes of that at times, I’m happy to report that this issue isn’t the most pressing one facing the Bolts.  In fact, their offense is just about as good as it could be.  Their biggest problem is with their defense.

The Tampa Bay Lightning lack defensive depth and consistent defensive play.  This is especially true of their penalty kill, which as of late has been abysmal.  Currently, they own a rather sad 77.8%, which places them 23rd in the league in that category.  If the Lightning are to make the deep playoff run Bolts fans are hoping for, this has to improve.

Your target acquisition for Tampa at the deadline? I’d assume nothing huge, but if it’s just a depth scorer, why did we not give a reasonable offer for Duclair?

The Lightning need defensive depth.  Very, very badly.  Dotchin hasn’t been performing as expected lately and the healthy scratch rotation of Sustr and Koekkoek isn’t doing it for the Bolts either.  Even rookie star Mikhail Sergachev has had rough and inconsistent patches.  Recently, I wrote a piece on why the Lightning shouldn’t go after Erik Karlsson, but if a trade involved mostly prospects and draft picks, it could work out extremely well for the Lightning.

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Regardless of whether or not the Lightning land Karlsson, they need defensive help.  There are multiple targets that will satisfy this need, but I’ll go into more depth on that in the next question.

Personally, I don’t see the Lightning pursuing depth offensive help before the deadline.  Their offense has been the strongest point of the team, and everyone has been working well together so far.  In addition to this, Tampa has a huge prospect pool that both the coach Cooper and Yzerman are very fond of.  I would expect a call-up rather than a trade if Cooper wanted a change on offense.

As for Duclair, I’m really not sure why the Lightning didn’t make an offer.  He was traded for what seemed to be very little, and the Tampa Bay Lightning could have easily matched the offer.  My best guess as to why no offer was made is that Cooper wants to dip into his prospect pool rather than bring in a forward from another team.

Who you all think we’ll pick up before the deadline? And what would be the cost of those moves?

Rumor has it that if the Senators were to trade Karlsson, they would also like to unload the huge contract of Bobby Ryan at the same time.  Obviously, the Lightning can’t take on that contract.  But, if the trade were to involve another team it’s possible that Tampa could get Karlsson while the third team takes on Ryan and Tampa gives Ottawa draft picks and prospects and a little something to the third-party team for their help too.

According to Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times, Yzerman doesn’t want to move any big pieces from the current roster in any deals this deadline.  What they have going has worked pretty well, and there’s no reason to dismantle that for rental players for a playoff push.  While a mostly prospect trade for Karlsson is possible, it still seems too good to be true.  Personally, I think these rumors are mostly smoke and won’t come to fruition.

If the Karlsson trade doesn’t work out, I’d like to see the Lightning pursue Mike Green.  He’s a right-handed offensive defenseman that would fit into the Lightning’s style of play well.

There have also been rumblings of the Lightning being interested in Ryan McDonagh, Cody Cici, and Christopher Tanev.  None of these options would work out as well for the Lightning as Green or the hail mary of trying to acquire Karlsson.

The asking price of McDonagh and Tanev is supposedly high.  In addition to this, McDonagh is a left-handed defenseman and a right-handed defenseman would benefit the Lightning the most.  There are reportedly other teams that are aggressively after McDonagh which will drive his price up even more.  As for Cici, trading for him would effectively add another Sustr to the roster, and the Lightning definitely doesn’t need that.

Regardless of who’s acquired, the Tampa Bay Lightning will be sending off mostly prospects and draft picks.  While the Lightning are buyers, they aren’t shopping anyone of significance from their current roster.  This means there will be no trades involving Johnson, Point, Sergachev, or Namestnikov.

Of course, Yzerman could be bluffing to throw everyone off, but expect deals with mostly rebuilding teams involving mostly assets for the future.

Do you think the bolts could use a 3rd liner upgrade for the playoff push or should we keep Conacher around?

Personally, I’m partial to the Honey Badger.  He’s served more than his time in the minors and has been patiently waiting to get his shot despite numerous setbacks.  He’s played fairly well so far too, and I don’t think there’s a reason that he shouldn’t be kept around.

As for bringing in a new forward, the only scenario that I see working out would be if a veteran forward was added to provide a bit of leadership to the very young Lightning team.  A move for a top 6 forward just doesn’t make sense right now and if a forward is acquired, I wouldn’t expect it to be the result of a big move.

Next: Team retires number of Vincent Lecavalier

Thank you to everyone who submitted a question for our first mailbag.  Make sure to follow us on Twitter so you don’t miss the next one!

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