With salary cap realities looming for the Tampa Bay Lightning, the ability to go out and make a major splash is next to impossible. While guys like Alex DeBrincat, Pierre-Luc Dubois, and Timo Meier will be hitting the market, these are not the guys that Julien BriseBois will be looking at for 2023-24.
Realistically, Tampa will look at slightly older talent that can be signed for $3,000,000 or under to fill the bottom six forwards or add depth to the blue line.
Moreso, with Brandon Hagel needing a new deal after the 2023-24 season, JBB will probably be looking for an Ian Cole like deal that lasts only one year.
The following are five players that are forwards that are unrestricted free agents for the 2023 offseason that would fit the bill as a one-year rental for the Lightning.
Tampa Bay Lightning Rentals: Kyle Okposo
- Buffalo Sabres
- 2022-23 – 11 goals, 17 assists
- Age – 35
- 2022-23 Cap Hit – $6,000,000
If you want a contract that symbolizes Buffalo’s incompetence over the past decade, the six million per year they gave Kyle Okposo for the past seven seasons is a good place to start. He never topped 50 points while in Buffalo, and only three times did he top 40 points.
Now that his $6,000,000 is off the books, there is next to zero chance Okposo gets that kind of money heading into 2023.
But even though he didn’t live up to the big deal, he still adds value as a fourth-line player if you can get him for $1,000,000.
He spent the bulk of the season paired with Zemgus Girgensons and Peyton Krebs, and while on the ice during 5 v 5 play this past season, Okposo’s lines actually had a positive expected goal share and scoring chances share (both just a tick over 50%).
Where Okposo’s lines failed in 2022-23 was a lack of pure scoring and a combined shooting percentage of just 6.21%.
He’s marginal at faceoffs, tallying just a 46% percentage, but he also drew 18 penalties on the season and has been on Buffalo’s penalty kill these past two seasons.
While Buffalo is improving, Okposo might want to join a Cup contender now and Tampa Bay might be the place for him to do that.