Three tempting moves that will put the Tampa Bay Lightning in the…
The Tampa Bay Lightning don’t appear to be a lock to finish in the top three in the Atlantic Division, but that might change if they add one or two more pieces to the puzzle.
As the 2024 playoff race moves into a new phase, the Tampa Bay Lightning are alternating between a wild card and a top-three Atlantic Division position. When the 2024 trade deadline comes around, this perennial playoff challenger will still draw trade assets to the team because of their recent, much superior performance.
The Lightning, though still among the best in the Atlantic and hence the Eastern Conference, are in dire need of defensive depth, particularly in light of the departure of Mikhail Sergachev, their defenseman.It would be fantastic to have a better No. 2 goaltender, for example, or a blueliner who can play in the top four when needed or even in the third pairing. Even though it is doubtful, it wouldn’t be out of the question if the Lightning signed one more goalkeeper by March 8th.
In Tampa, Tyson Barrie would rekindle his talent.
It seems inevitable that the Lighting will try to strengthen their defensive rotation, and Tyson Barrie has a history of success in this area. Even though Barrie has had difficulty this season in the offensive zone, his two-way game is a boon for Tampa, who might even increase their scoring if they sign the 13-year veteran.
Barrie has been a huge asset for the Predators in the 5-on-5 game, even with his recent poor appearance. The Predators have a 10.0 shooting percentage when he is on the ice. Barrie has only assisted a club in reaching double digits in 5-on-5 scoring percentage three times in his career, so the value is unquestionably there.
In the same scenario, his on-ice save percentage is 91.7, which is still excellent enough to draw in a top hockey team like Tampa even though it’s lower than it was the previous year. But acquiring Barrie would put the Lightning in the red, forcing them to make some player adjustments.
In this scenario, Nashville will keep thirty percent of Barrie’s contract since they are allowed to keep one more. The Predators will also sign Haydn Fleury and Alex Barre-Boulet, two low-end players whose contracts are about to expire. In order to bolster their blue line, Tampa would also provide them with a third-round pick in 2024 in addition to second-round picks in 2025 and 2026.
