Tampa Bay Lightning Free Agents: Should they stay or should they go?

Name: Adam Erne

Age: 23

Position: LW

Free Agent Status: Unrestricted

Adam Erne finally made the jump from the Syracuse Crunch to the Bolts in the spring of this season and has stuck around since.  In the 23 games he played with the Lightning, he recorded three goals and one assist for four total points.  Had he not been injured, he would have made his playoff debut this season as well.

Like fellow Crunch forwards Cory Conacher and Anthony Cirelli, it seems that Erne has been called up by the big club for good.  He’s a speedy forward that has shown that he isn’t afraid to get into the dirty areas of the ice to make a play.  At 23, he’s just now entering his prime and has the potential to be a mainstay for the Lightning for years to come.

Need proof?  Just check out this highlight reel play Erne made while falling against the New York Rangers.  The feed came from none other than Anthony Cirelli.  If it sounds like I’m hyping these guys up, it’s because I am.  The Lightning has one of the best developmental programs in the league, and these two players are the most recent fruits of their efforts with many more on the way.

Verdict: Stay, and for a long time.  The Lightning would be smart to lock Erne down for a few years now and avoid having another free agent to resign in the coming years.  As he’s just broken into the league, Erne probably won’t be asking for the moon either.