Franchise Altering Trades

Tampa Bay Loads Up On Prospects

In the span of 9 days the Tampa Bay Lightning and their new GM Justin Levergneux have successfully made 12 trades. This doubled the number of trades made by the franchise in the past 4 years, it’s clear that Tampa Bay is headed in a new direction.

Excluding draft day trades, 8 trades had been made prior too the draft which have been centered around selling off the team to send Tampa into a long, but hopefully successful, rebuild. This article will breakdown every trade made up to draft day including the Franchise altering trade that even the Tampa GM did not for see happening…

Trade 1:

BOS Receives:

Jordan Binnington

TB Receives:

Parker Kelly
Urho Vaakanainen
Mackenzie Blackwood

In this deal Tampa took the opportunity to receive what they believe will be a core piece too their bottom 6 for years to come while creating the culture of what type of play Tampa will covet. Kelly’s hardnose play and never ending engine will provide Tampa with the grit and winning spirit that they aim to have throughout the lineup. Tampa saw similar value in Blackwood & Binnington thus they took the chance too get a player they covet in Parker Kelly in return.

Trade 2:

FLA Receives:

Oliver Ekman-Larsson (50% retained by TB)

TB Receives:

Jacob Bernard-Docker
James van Riemsdyk
Jason Spezza
Vladislav Kolyachonok
Year 2023 - Round 2 – CAR

This trade was made to set up Tampa Bay’s D core for years too come. OEL has been a top pairing Dman for years, but Tampas new Gm felt like it was time for a new chapter. The key piece too this deal was Vladislav Kolyachonok, at age 21 Koly already has immense experience playing hockey against men. Koly has played in the KHL, AHL, NHL, & for Belarus at the Olympics. Known as a do it all defender Koly will make a mark of the Tampa dline sooner rather then later. JBD although seen as a future fixture on TB dline, was traded at this years draft along with a 2^nd for the 16^th ovr pick (more on this in the next article). JVR & Spezza are two solid veterans who will help the youngsters learn the ropes during this long awaited rebuild, letters may be seen on their jerseys in the weeks to come.

Trade 3:

SJ Receives:

Ben Chiarot
Devin Shore
Vladislav Namestnikov

TB Receives:

Year 2023 - Round 2 - SJS
Year 2023 - Round 3 - SJS
Year 2023 - Round 4 - SJS
Year 2023 - Round 6 - SJS
Year 2023 - Round 7 - SJS
$2,000,000

This trade simply centered around TB wanting to have as many picks as possible in the highly anticipated 2023 NHL Draft. TB gave up 3 cheap and effective roster players, but in return received 5 future prospects and some cash.

Trade 4:

SEA Receives:

Philip Broberg

TB Receives:

20^th Ovr in 22’

FLA 2^nd in 23’

Philip Broberg was regarded as one of the top prospects in Tampa Bays system, although the new GM wasn’t as high on the Swedish Dman as most of the league. In this deal TB received 2 high picks too help further the rebuild.

Trade 5:

CLB Receives:

Jeff Skinner

SJ 7^th 23’

TB Receives:

CLB 3^rd 23’

Jeff Skinner emerged last season as the 30+ goal scorer that he once was, regaining some of the value on what was once seen as an albatross contract. In this deal TB wanted to relieve themselves of the risk around Skinner with the hope of taking on more cap in the future too further gain picks and young players.

Trade 6:

NJ Receives:

Morgan Frost

TB Receives:

Ondrej Kase
Year 2023 - Round 2 - BOS
Year 2023 - Round 5 – SJS

This similar too the Broberg trade was centered around the Tampa GM creating his own team made of players he believes in. Although a fantastic player Frost did not fit with the timeline of the rebuild thus he was traded for a future 2^nd & 5^th. Ondrej Kase will serve as a strong middle 6 winger on an affordable deal, he should garner big minutes in Tampa.

The following two trades fall into Franchise altering trades, GM Levergneux did not expect to relinquish the services of what was expected too be his core 3 throughout the rebuild. These deals made simply too much sense for the future of the Tampa Bay Lightnings on their quest for Lord Stanley.

Trade 7:

ANA Receives:

Mikhail Sergachev
Robert Thomas
Urho Vaakanainen

TB Receives:

Jordan Martinook
Kent Johnson
7^th Ovr 22’
ANA 1^st 23’

Thomas and Sergachev where seen as the 2 largest pieces in the Tampa Bay organization with both being young and affordable for years too come. What it came down too where the realization that in 5 years Sergachev would be 30 years old and leaving his prime, as well as the return that was offered. Levergneux said that if either where too be moved we would need several blue chip prospects going the other way. In this deal Tampa got just that. Kent Johnson a former 3^rd overall pick in the 2021 DCHL Draft will be regarded as the building block of the organization, his offensive creativity will allow him too shine in today’s NHL while also having the versatility too play centre or wing long-term. At 7^th overall Levergneux expects too pick a top flight centre to join Johnson as a one-two punch or too create 2 pieces of a dynamic top line. Tampa expects ANA pick too be in the late teens next year. Martinook will join vets Spezza & JVR in leading the young Lightning squad.

Trade 8:

ANA Receives:

Alex Tuch

Mats Zuccarello (50% retention)

TB Receives:

Dustin Brown
Fyodor Svechkov
Zack Ostapchuk
FLA 3^rd 23’

25^th Ovr 22’

Zucc & Tuch where the final pieces left too move. In order too make this trade Tampa felt they needed to match the equivalent of 3 1^st for these players. Svechkov a former 1^st round pick and dynamic defensive center and Ostapchuk a large 6’4”, 2^nd round pick who has outplayed his draft stock did the trick. Levergneux envisions Ostapchuk & Svechkov leading a shut down 2^nd line for years to come.

The Tampa Bay Lightnings would like to thank all of their previous players for their services.

GO BOLTS!!