The Tampa Bay Lightning are salary cap wizards once again

Somehow, someway, the Tampa Bay Lightning are able, time and time again, to creep right up to the salary cap limit without going over. It’s a continued stroke of mastery from the organization that has allowed the club to stay competitive, much to the chagrin of opposing fanbases.

As the official roster is being declared in preparation for the season starting tomorrow, GM Julien BriseBois might have pulled off the tightest cap squeeze anyone has ever done.

Tampa Bay Lightning: 2 Buck Chuck

Earlier today, the Lightning formally signed Austin Watson to a one-year deal worth $776,665. Watson had been with the team on a professional tryout but stood out in the preseason for his physical play.

The $776,665 number is significant because it officially leaves the Lightning $2 under the $83,500,000 salary cap.

For now, Waltteri Merelä is not included in Tampa’s 23-man roster to get under the cap. But Merelä was informed today that he will be a member of the Lightning this season.

The timing gets a little weird, but Tampa has to submit a roster that is under the salary cap that includes Andrei Vasilevskiy. After 24 hours, the Lightning is able to move Vassy to LTIR and then bring Merelä onto the main roster.

And it has to be Merelä being moved around and not Alex Barre-Boulet because the latter is cheaper, allowing Tampa to be $2 under the cap, and would have to be placed on waivers.

Inevitably, when Vasilevskiy comes back, the Lightning will have to make a decision on who to keep on the main roster because they would be $94,998 over the cap if Watson, Merelä, and Barre-Boulet are all with the big club.

When the time comes, BriseBois will do what it takes to stay under the cap. And if today is any indication, we trust his ability to do so without any wasted space.