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Five free agents the Tampa Bay Lightning should avoid

By Benjamin Henderson

Mar 23, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Minnesota Wild left wing Gustav Nyquist (14) looks on in the first period against the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 23, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Minnesota Wild left wing Gustav Nyquist (14) looks on in the first period against the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tampa Bay Lightning
Apr 13, 2023; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Capitals center Craig Smith (16) celebrates after scoring a goal against the New Jersey Devils in the first period at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Free agents for the Tampa Bay Lightning to avoid: Craig Smith

  • 2022-23 season – 16 points in 64 games played (nine goals)
  • 2023-24 salary projection – $1,300,000

Smith is coming off a three-year deal with Boston worth $9,300,000. However, as part of the three-way trade that sent Dmitry Orlov and Garnet Hathaway to Boston, Smith was shipped out to Washington as the Capitals missed the playoffs.

He’ll be affordable at $1,300,000, but he has seen far better days in the NHL. He hasn’t topped 40 points since 2018, he didn’t hit or block shots much last year between his two teams.

When thinking about players that would fit well into what Tampa wants to do come playoff time, Smith just isn’t that guy.

He’ll be 34 once the season starts, so he still has some legs under him, but he went to the injured list three times last season and twice during the 2021-22 season.

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