Tampa Bay Lightning: Tyler Johnson, Palat Earn Long-Term Deals
The Tampa Bay Lightning look poised for a big season, and signing Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat to long-term contracts were a big part of their plans
The Tampa Bay Lightning are hungry for another Stanley Cup appearance. They missed the NHL playoffs by a small margin, but dealt with plenty of issues throughout the season. Steven Stamkos continued to battle injury woes, and the same can be said for Tyler Johnson. While Johnson played 66 games last season, Stamkos played a mere 17.
Jonathan Drouin had a productive season, but the lingering drama from his holdout ensured his departure from the Lightning. Ben Bishop was another player with plenty of trade speculation, and was finally dealt to the Los Angeles Kings in February. With two key distractions eliminated, the Lightning were all action this summer and are focussed on the 2017-18 season.
Locking up Ondrej Palat and Tyler Johnson
A major part of their productive offseason was signing Ondrej Palat and Johnson to long-term deals. Both players were important contributors during Stamkos’ absence, and became key parts to the Lightning’s continued success. While Palat signed a five-year, $5.3 million contract, Johnson will make $5 million till 2023-24. Johnson’s success was impressive, but his seemingly consistent injury problems coupled with Stamkos’ hindered the Lightning’s chances at another Stanley Cup.
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In Johnson’s defense, most of the Lightning roster did not play the full season. Whether it be juggling lines or injuries across the board, the Lightning had just three players break the 80-game mark – Alex Killorn, Andrej Sustr and Braydon Coburn.
To be successful throughout the regular season, and into the playoffs, the Lightning need to find consistency. Nikita Kucherov and Victor Hedman were the only players to break the 60-point mark, while Drouin and Palat were the only ones to break 50.
Palat is a strong two-way player, and could flirt with a 60-point campaign if he plays the full season. He scored 17 goals and 52 points in 75 games, while averaging a whopping 19:07 minutes per game. Even with a repeat offensive showing, Palat’s value at both end’s of the ice makes him an indispensable forward for the Lightning.
What does this mean for Nikita Kucherov?
Now that they locked up two of the ‘Triplets’, their entire focus will shift to signing their budding star. Easily the Lightning’s best forward for the past few seasons, Kucherov could be in for a major pay increase with another 80-point campaign. Where he falls in the upper $6 million to $10 million range remains to be seen, but with the current NHL contracts being thrown around, Kucherov could force Steve Yzerman‘s hand.
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If the Lightning have any chance at a Stanley Cup, Kucherov would need to be at his best. He seems to be the only sure thing for the Lightning, and they need him more than ever. Johnson will have a lot to prove this season, and Stamkos is in the same boat. While the lines are not finalized, the Lighting will boast one of the best top-six units if everyone can stay healthy.
Due to the uncertainties with injuries, the Lightning needed to focus on improving their depth, and adding Chris Kunitz and Dan Girardi was a step in the right direction. They have plenty of star power, but are unable to guarantee their health all season. Losing Stamkos or Johnson could be detrimental, and their health status will continue to leave everyone involved on edge.