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Top five free-agent signings in Lightning history

By Henry Yoho |
TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 5: Anton Stralman #6 of the Tampa Bay Lightning is congratulated on his goal Pittsburgh Penguins by teammates, including Tyler Johnson #9 and Alex Killorn #17 during the first period at the Amalie Arena on February 5, 2016 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 5: Anton Stralman #6 of the Tampa Bay Lightning is congratulated on his goal Pittsburgh Penguins by teammates, including Tyler Johnson #9 and Alex Killorn #17 during the first period at the Amalie Arena on February 5, 2016 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
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To ascend up the ranks of the NHL ladder, free-agent signing is just as important as drafting the right prospects in the Entry Draft. Winning a Stanley Cup is not easy, and it takes the right formula of players to function together as one unit to be named World Champions. After looking at the worst five free-agent signings in Tampa Bay Lightning history, it’s time to dive into the best five. Each of these paid significant dividends on the ice. While not all of them jumped off the page upon their initial signing, each played their own role in etching their names into Lightning lore.

Let’s jump right in!

PITTSBURGH, PA – APRIL 27: Sean Bergenheim #10 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates his second period goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Consol Energy Center on April 27, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – APRIL 27: Sean Bergenheim #10 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates his second period goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Consol Energy Center on April 27, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

Sean Bergenheim is the definition of deserving an honorable mention because of his ultimate bang for your buck. Bergenheim came to Tampa as a depth forward signing for just a single season at $700 thousand. Bergenheim would post a career-high in points with 29. This is an exceptional total for a player slotting in lower in the lineup, especially at his cap hit.

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Bergenheim’s exceptional regular season could only be outdone by having a post-season run of a lifetime during the Lightning’s 2011 run to the Eastern Conference Final. Bergenheim tallied nine goals in 16 playoff games, including the game seven in the first round in Pittsburgh. Bergenheim’s notable role as a playoff hero earned him a raise after his one season in Tampa Bay as he would sign a four deal with the Florida Panthers.

EDMONTON, ALBERTA – SEPTEMBER 28: Kevin Shattenkirk #22 of the Tampa Bay Lightning skates with the Stanley Cup following the series-winning victory over the Dallas Stars in Game Six of the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place on September 28, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
EDMONTON, ALBERTA – SEPTEMBER 28: Kevin Shattenkirk #22 of the Tampa Bay Lightning skates with the Stanley Cup following the series-winning victory over the Dallas Stars in Game Six of the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place on September 28, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Another player brought on a very low-risk deal; Kevin Shattenkirk proved to be a significant contributor towards the biggest reward of them all. Left for dead by his hometown New York Rangers, Shattenkirk came to Tampa with a heavy chip on his shoulder to prove he could still play in the NHL at a high level.

After being bought out of his expensive deal with New York, Shattenkirk signed for just one year at $1 Million in Tampa. Once regarded as one of the top offensive defensemen in the league, Shattenkirk had a lot to prove to himself in Tampa to stay in the NHL. Shattenkirk served as an exceptional puck-moving d-man on the Lightning’s right side and could slide in with multiple partners and even work the powerplay.

Shattenkirk was not counted on for high-end offensive output but was an outstanding skater and could break the puck out of the defensive zone as few could. The offense was still there for Shattenkirk as he finished tied for second on the team for points by a defenseman with 34. His most memorable moment came when he scored an overtime-winning goal in game 4 of the 2020 Stanley Cup Final as he pushed the Lightning to within a single win of their elusive Stanley Cup.

TAMPA, FL – JUNE 06: Anton Stralman #6 of the Tampa Bay Lightning skates with the puck as Patrick Sharp #10 of the Chicago Blackhawks defends during Game Two of the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena on June 6, 2015 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – JUNE 06: Anton Stralman #6 of the Tampa Bay Lightning skates with the puck as Patrick Sharp #10 of the Chicago Blackhawks defends during Game Two of the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena on June 6, 2015 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

The biggest Free Agent deal signed on this list; the Lightning had a glaring need for a player like Anton Stralman. The Lightning struggled with finding stability on the right side of their defensive group and especially were looking for a player who could pair up with Victor Hedman.

The Swedish defenseman filled the void and then some. The stay-at-home defenseman proved to be the ideal partner with Hedman on the Lightning’s top defense pair. Stralman signed for five years at $4.5 million annually and was worth every penny because he could be counted on after a period when the Lightning faced regular turnover of their defensive core.

While expected to be a more defensive defenseman, Stralman’s first season in Tampa Bay saw him reach a career-high 39 points. Stralman’s experience and dependability on the back end helped play a key role in several deep playoff runs with the Lightning. Though his time with Tampa did not result in a Stanley Cup, Stralman’s contributions cannot go unnoticed in helping solidify the Lightning’s previously unstable defense.

EDMONTON, ALBERTA – SEPTEMBER 28: Tyler Johnson #9 of the Tampa Bay Lightning skates with the Stanley Cup following the series-winning victory over the Dallas Stars in Game Six of the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place on September 28, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
EDMONTON, ALBERTA – SEPTEMBER 28: Tyler Johnson #9 of the Tampa Bay Lightning skates with the Stanley Cup following the series-winning victory over the Dallas Stars in Game Six of the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place on September 28, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Undersized and undrafted, Tyler Johnson would become one of the most important and lovable players in Bolt’s history. Johnson signed with the Lightning as an undrafted free agent in 2011. Perhaps Steve Yzerman’s greatest diamond in the rough during his tenure as Tampa Bay’s GM, Johnson, would become the ultimate scouting find.

Johnson would play nearly 600 games in his time with Tampa Bay and produced countless memories along the way. After helping Tampa’s AHL affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals, win the Calder Cup in 2012, Johnson would quickly find himself a top offensive option on the Lightning and become a rookie of the year finalist in 2014.

The centerpiece of Tampa’s fabled “triplet” line helped drive the Lightning to the 2015 Stanley Cup Final and lead the playoffs in goals. Johnson ranks among the franchise’s leaders in the regular season and playoff goals and produced in some of the biggest moments. From a hat-trick in the eastern conference final at Madison Square Garden and a last-second buzzer-beater to take a three-game series lead over Montreal, you can’t tell the chapters of the Lightning’s history without mentioning Tyler Johnson. Not bad for an undrafted Free Agent.

TAMPA, FL – JUNE 9: Tampa Bay Lightning Captain Dave Andreychuk holds up the NHL Stanley Cup trophy during a victory parade June 9, 2004 in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning beat the Calgary Flames in Game 7 for the championship. (Photo by Chris Livingston/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – JUNE 9: Tampa Bay Lightning Captain Dave Andreychuk holds up the NHL Stanley Cup trophy during a victory parade June 9, 2004 in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning beat the Calgary Flames in Game 7 for the championship. (Photo by Chris Livingston/Getty Images) /

Dave Andreychuk accumulated a Hall of Fame resume before coming to Tampa Bay. All that was missing was a Stanley Cup. After bouncing around with several cup contenders, Andreychuk would land in Tampa in 2001. The move came as a bit of a surprise as the Lightning were not yet considered contenders, but the signing would pay off in the long run for Andreychuk and the Lightning.

Andreychuk provided an invaluable veteran presence on a young Lightning team from the get-go. In his second season with the club, Andreychuk was named the captain as the team would make an unexpected leap forward and win the first playoff series in franchise history in 2003.

Andreychuk would go down as the NHL’s all-time leader in powerplay goals, but his greatest feat came in 2004. Andreychuk contributed his third straight 20 goal season with the Lightning in a year that saw him win the franchises’ first Stanley Cup. Andreychuk hoisted the cup first as the Lightning captain after his 22 years in the NHL. His long wait to raise Lorde Stanley is tied for the longest wait in NHL history.

WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 01: Martin St. Louis #26 of the Tampa Bay Lightning handles the puck against the Washington Capitals during Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinal during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Verizon Center on May 1, 2011 in Washington, DC. Tampa won the game 3-2. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 01: Martin St. Louis #26 of the Tampa Bay Lightning handles the puck against the Washington Capitals during Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinal during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Verizon Center on May 1, 2011 in Washington, DC. Tampa won the game 3-2. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /

Perhaps the greatest free-agent signing in the sport’s history, St. Louis comes in as the undisputed number one signing in Lightning history. St. Louis walked so that others like Tyler Johnson after him could run. St. Louis would become the gold standard for undersized players in the NHL and pave the path for all who were overlooked.

St. Louis’s inspiring journey from going undrafted, being cut by Calgary, and signing in Tampa saw him become one of the greatest players of his era. St. Louis joined the Lightning, eager for an opportunity to play. St. Louis went from a fourth-liner to a top scorer with the Lightning with the right opportunity.

2003-04 saw the greatest of St. Louis. He would win the NHL’s scoring title and the Hart trophy for the league’s Most Valuable Player. Oh, and he also helped lead the Lightning to the Stanley Cup. Have a year, Marty. St. Louis became the heart and soul of the Lightning.

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