The Tampa Bay Lightning has taken a much different direction than the one they chose last season. Last season, the Lightning were relatively quiet heading into the NHL Trade Deadline; this season, not so much.
The Lightning has already watched as two of the team’s much-loved players were left to find new homes for the remainder of the season. Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop was traded to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Peter Budaj and Erik Cernak. In addition to Bishop, Lightning forward Brian Boyle was sent to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for AHL forward Byron Froese.