Five potential forwards as a one year rentals for the Tampa Bay Lightning

Tampa Bay Lightning Rentals: Jonathan Drouin

• Montreal Canadiens
• 2022-23 – 2 goals, 27 assists
• Age – 28
• 2022-23 Cap Hit  – $5,500,000

Do you want to make a deal with the devil?

Now before you take your pitchforks out, allow me to stress that this is the type of move that works in NHL 23 but has zero chance of working out in real life.

But if you want someone under 30 that has high-end talent and is more than just a grinder, and is available for a one-year deal, that list gets very small very quickly.

We fully understand that Drouin is a locker-room cancer that Jon Cooper had to run out of town once, and given his time in Montreal, it doesn’t seem like what has ailed him maturity-wise has been fixed.

Drouin was still on pace for a 41-point season, and there is enough offensive upside that someone will kick the tires on Drouin, but it is doubtful he can convince anyone to commit to a long-term deal with him.

His final cap hit will probably come in around $2,500,000, possibly less, and depending on league-wide interest, it’s possible he will have to take a one-year deal.

Will it work out? Of course not.

But if you want to make a deal with the devil…