Bolts by the Bay
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2023 Trade Deadline Primer: Five Players the Lightning Should Pursue

By Stephen Parrino

VANCOUVER, CANADA - JANUARY 18: Luke Schenn #2 of the Vancouver Canucks waits for a face-off during the third period of their NHL game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Rogers Arena on January 18, 2023 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Tampa won 5-2. (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, CANADA - JANUARY 18: Luke Schenn #2 of the Vancouver Canucks waits for a face-off during the third period of their NHL game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Rogers Arena on January 18, 2023 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Tampa won 5-2. (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
(Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /

Sam Lafferty — C/RW, Chicago Blackhawks

Age: 27
Stats: 48 GP | 10 Goals | 11 Assists | -9 | 14:55 TOI/G
Contract: 2024 UFA, $1,150,000
Misc. Stats: 19 Blocked Shots | 89 Hits | 2:00 PK TOI/G | 52.3 FO%

Trade board rankings:

  • Daily Faceoff: 13
  • The Athletic: NR
  • TSN: 11

Sam Lafferty is perhaps an under the radar name, to Tampa fans, that we should be paying more attention to. Frank Seravalli had said Lafferty’s return may surprise and The Athletic lists him as the second best fit for the Lightning behind the next player down on this page.

But what makes Lafferty such an enticing potential fit for the Lightning? His speed is the first thing that stands out as it has propelled him to 4 shorthanded goals this season. While not a top shot blocker in the defensive zone, he is an active forechecker that will hound opponents in the neutral and offensive zones. Additionally, he is the Blackhawk’s top possession forward in terms of corsi-for percentage. Recall that the last Blackhawks corsi-for% leader we traded for worked out okay for us.

A similarity to a past trade that comes to mind here is Barclay Goodrow. Both look like fourth liners on the surface, but when Goodrow was put in the right situation in Tampa he became one heck of a nuisance higher in the lineup. Could Lafferty repeat that in Tampa? Maybe.

As Jon Cooper said about Goodrow on the Lightning, you need Jeeps in addition to Ferraris to win it all, and Lafferty has shown some Jeep qualities this season.

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