The Toronto Maple Leafs carried a lot of LTIR baggage that I don’t think they expected to encounter last season. After starting the season under the ceiling and without any dead cap hits, the Leafs dealt with many injuries that ultimately limited their cap space at the trade deadline. One trade they did make was for Riley Nash. Nash was on LTIR in Columbus, and at the time the Leafs had enough “space” to fit his contract. They made the deal and then put him back on LTIR a day later. They were then able to “stash” him until the playoffs, at which point both he and the team disappointed.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are in a similar situation as Nikita Kucherov just injured his groin, his second major injury in as many seasons. Right now, they have $9.6 million in LTIR “space” to fit some players to replace him. The team was already in LTIR after acquiring Brent Seabrook’s albatross deal over the summer. They could, in theory, acquire a player who is “done for the season” in the hopes that he will come back in time for the playoffs. That player, let me be extra clear, won’t be Kucherov. He expects to play at the Olympics so the Lightning only have this window of extra space for a limited time.
The Leafs did something similar last season when they acquired Riley Nash from the Blue Jackets.
— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) October 20, 2021
Toronto had the space to fit him under their cap, they then placed him on LTI after he was acquired, and then activated him for the start of the playoffs once he was cleared to play. https://t.co/JbEi76BtDw
So now the question becomes: who?
- Paul Byron is currently on the Habs LTIR and has hip surgery that’ll keep him out for five months. He’s no superstar Adam Brooks, but he’s a decent bottom-six player that could supplant the inexperienced bottom-six the Lightning is currently running. And hey, he can play with Corey Perry again!
- Brandon Sutter is still dealing with COVID-19 symptoms and is on a one-year deal. Maybe they can convince him to come over, and if he’s healthy the Lightning can play him. If he’s not, it doesn’t hurt them cap-wise.
- Evgeni Malkin would be crazy. But maybe it’s just crazy enough to work? No, maybe it’s just crazy. Sorry to all my Pens fan friends who just blocked me on twitter and are presumably sending something smelly to my house.
- Maybe Jonathan Toews wants to go back on LTIR for some made-up reason again and come over?
Whoever it is, it won’t be Jack Eichel, who is out indefinitely as he tries to get his surgery. He won’t be healthy at any point this season and possibly next, and next season the Lightning won’t have the space, period.
What do you think the Lightning will do?
Byron/Sutter | 45 |
Malkin/Toews | 31 |
Nothing | 114 |
I refuse to read the article and thus vote Eichel | 148 |
Various Leafs and Branches
How the Sikh community turned Brampton into a training ground for some of the best ball hockey players in the world | by: Perry King, Toronto Star
Here are all the new food options at Scotiabank Arena this year (PHOTOS) | by: Daily Hive
The San Jose Sharks likely won’t be able to sever ties with Evander Kane anytime soon | by: Chris Johnston, Toronto Star
Student Sexual Assault Survivors Group Campaigns to Shut Down Barstool BU | by: Boston University Today
Bottom Six Minutes 4: Fire Marc Bergevin | by: HEOTP
Marc Bergevin thinks that he doesn’t need to make a trade at this time. @CanadiensMTL
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) October 20, 2021
Hearing #nhljets are bracing for more positive COVID-19 tests within locker room. Team is waiting on additional lab-based results overnight that will provide a clearer picture tomorrow exactly what they're facing.#GoJetsGo home opener Thursday night vs. #FlyTogether #nhlducks
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) October 20, 2021
📝 | Välkommen till Brynäs IF, "Dima"!
— Brynäs IF (@Brynas) October 20, 2021
NHL-forwarden Dmytro Timashov har skrivit på för två år. Värvning har delvis finansierats av er supportrar, ett gigantiskt stort tack för ert stöd!
➡️ Läs mer på https://t.co/MR7GswpDsO. pic.twitter.com/yRXhK67qvG
Florida’s Joe Thornton has been fined $1,875.00, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for Slashing Tampa Bay’s Boris Katchouk.
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) October 20, 2021