With The salary cap staying flat at $81.5 million for next season, old problems have become relevant for the Tampa Bay Lightning again. Currently the Lightning have already signed 15 players to a total of $76.1 million, not including youngsters Mikhail Sergachev, Anthony Cirelli and Erik Cernak, who have become a significant part of this season’s team. Joe Smith of the Athletic examined the best-case scenario for the Lightning, which supposes re-signing those three players.
The Lightning will have to clear more than $10 million in cap space, at the very least, and move some of their younger prospects up into bigger roles.