Bolts by the Bay
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Trade Deadline Primer: 7 players the Tampa Bay Lightning could acquire

By Stephen Parrino

Mar 13, 2022; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev (98) checks Vancouver Canucks forward Tyler Motte (64) in the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 13, 2022; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev (98) checks Vancouver Canucks forward Tyler Motte (64) in the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports /
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UFAs After Season

Tyler Motte – LW/RW, Vancouver Canucks

Age: 27
Stats: 7 Goals | 8 Assists | +5 | 14:15 TOI/G
Contract: 2022 UFA, $1,225,000
Misc. Stats: 49 Blocked Shots | 80 Hits | 90:16 PK TOI

Trade board rankings:

  • The Athletic: 23
  • Daily Faceoff: 16
  • TSN: 19

Tyler Motte is a fast-skating aggressive forechecker that excels with the puck on his stick around the front of the net. He is willing to throw the body and use it to block shots and is a more than capable penalty killer that would bolster the Lightning’s depth.

While Motte does not have great Corsi metrics, even among teammates, he has been effective at limiting dangerous attempts by opposing teams this season. He would be a natural fit in the bottom-six of the Lightning’s lineup.

Here Motte battles for the puck behind the net before working it out to Luke Schenn for a shot that is redirected into the net.

Remember this?

Andrew Copp – C/LW, Winnipeg Jets

Age: 27
Stats: 13 Goals | 19 Assists | Even | 19:57 TOI/G
Contract: 2022 UFA, $3,640,000
Misc. Stats: 35 Blocked Shots | 34 Hits | 138:34 PK TOI

Trade board rankings:

  • The Athletic: NR
  • Daily Faceoff: 18
  • TSN: 14

Andrew Copp could be the best overall player listed here as he has the experience and ability that would instantly elevate the Lightning’s roster. He plays in the top-six of the Jets’ lineup and is a minute crunching body on the penalty kill.

Even though Winnipeg remains in the hunt for a playoff spot, and Copp is young enough to be an important player going forward, Winnipeg and Copp have had trouble seeing eye-to-eye on contract value. Just last offseason Copp filed for salary arbitration, but eventually settled on a one-year deal. Rather than losing Copp for nothing as a UFA this offseason, the Jets may opt to trade him.

Should the Bolts pursue Copp, his salary cap hit this season is beyond the Lightning’s range of moving one of Katchouk or Raddysh, even if they were to get him on double salary retention. Additionally, Copp’s health is an ongoing concern as he has not played since taking a hit to the head on the 13th.

Copp’s condition is unknown as of now, but if he suffered a concussion, it would be his second of the season. The Lightning should probably steer clear to avoid a similar situation to that the Toronto Maple Leafs faced with Nick Foligno after last season’s trade deadline.

Justin Braun – RD, Philadelphia Flyers

Age: 35
Stats: 5 Goals | 10 Assists | +3 | 20:05 TOI/G
Contract: 2022 UFA, $1,800,000
Misc. Stats: 105 Blocked Shots | 78 Hits | 139:30 PK TOI

Trade board rankings:

  • The Athletic: 18
  • Daily Faceoff: 35
  • TSN: 8

Justin Braun is a strong experienced right-handed defenseman capable of playing big minutes and would immediately bolster the Lightning’s right-side defense. Even at the ripe age of 35 he’s still one of Philly’s most reliable defenders. He is most often paired with Ivan Provorov on the Flyers but would make a logical fit with any of the Lightning’s left-side defenders.

Braun is still a capable penalty killer, as he’s the second most used defenseman by Philadelphia and, is a shot blocking machine with 105 blocked shots on the season. That is more blocked shots than any other defenseman listed here and on par with the Lightning’s leading shot blocker, Ryan McDonagh with 107.

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