Throughout the last decade or so, the Tampa Bay Lightning have not been shy at the trade deadline, and are often big time buyers ahead of the postseason, and this year they are even more spoiled for choice. Last year the went big and picked up Oliver Bjorkstrand and Yanni Gourde from the Seattle Kraken, and have historically made moves for guys like Matt Dumba and Tanner Jeannot prior to the deadline meaning this year nothing will change.
While Jon Cooper and the rest of the Tampa Bay management team will be searching for that perfect guy to add to the team, the Vancouver Canucks up north will be looking to shake things up themselves, and that shake up looks primed to be started by trading Conor Garland. The Cancuks who look all in on a potential rebuild have already sipped away Quinn Hughes and Keiffer Sherwood, and it is believed that Garland is next to go.
Back in July of last year Garland was awarded with a six year $36 million deal to keep him In Vancouver after rediscovering his game in British Columbia, however only less than a year later it looks like that $6 million AAV will be paid via somebody else's check book. Garland who has 22 points in 41 games so far this season has been a key part of how Vancouver have been managing to win some games, and is seen as one of the NHL's most valuable trade chips, and with teams around the league fluttering over the idea of bringing him in, Tampa Bay are a team to look out for, and look easily poised to bring Garland in, the same way they did Bjorkstrand and Gourde.
As for Tampa Bay, despite being a stacked team offensively and currently one of the best teams in the league as far as results go, Cooper can never have too many offensive weapons, and Garland is a guy that he would love. In terms of cap space the Lightning aren't particularly blessed, however with potential salary retainment and roster moves, Tampa could 100% make it work, and would be a great guy to have not only for the postseason, but for the future.
With Oliver Bjorkstrand's deal coming to a close at the end of this year, $5 million in cap space plus the extended cap will be cleared to eliviate the $6 million AAV of Garland, as is a very solid replacement for Bjorkstrand in the long term, making the trade even more inviting given the situation after this season. Tampa are seen as a very viable option for Garland, and would definitely be a classic Lightning move. They are playing more and more aggressive as the games go by, their heavy and tight checking style of play is ideal and curated for a guy like Garland, and ticks all the boxes that a Tampa Bay Lightning player needs.