Tampa Bay Lightning free agent primer: Shattenkirk, Williams, Girardi among those on radar

By Erik Erlendsson | @Erik_Erlendsson | Like us on Facebook
June 30, 2017

BRANDON – As the Lightning prospect camp reached the 3-on-3 tournament portion of the week, the scene will quickly shift to the big club on Saturday.

Just after that 3-on-3 tournament starts at the Ice Sports Forum, the free agency period officially opens up at noon Eastern Time. It’s that time of year where everybody gets up in arms over the length and salaries handed out to the top players on the open market.

It’s that time when teams look to fill holes in the lineup in preparation for training camp. Free agency, when general managers tend to make the biggest mistakes that can put their teams in to salary cap hell that can cripple their team down the road which often gets tag-teamed off to the next general manager.

And by all accounts, the Lightning expect to be right in the middle of it all on the opening day of free agency.

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While plans can always fizzle out when the opening bell starts things off – teams are permitted to discuss potential interest from pending free agents but are not allowed to negotiate or exchange the parameters of a deal – some around the team expect to be busy in free agency.

So who exactly might be on Tampa Bay’s radar?

I addressed the situation regarding former New York Ranger defenseman Dan Girardi, who was bought out by his former team, on Friday and that feels like it’s all but a done deal. Expect that when things are finalized that it will be a short-term deal, either one or two years, at a relatively friendly cap number for a player who will be double dipping on a deal due to the buy out.

With the Girardi signing, it might make sense that would take Tampa Bay out of the conversation regarding Kevin Shattenkirk, but that does not appear to be the case in the final hours leading up to the opening of free agency. While he is near the top of the list of available defenseman and figured to command one of those big-dollar, long-term contracts. And it’s quite possible he will land one of those deals.

So it’s interesting to see top league insiders suggest that Shattenkirk remains connected to the Lightning on the day before free agency. There’s no way that Tampa Bay doles out one of those big ticket contracts. But former Lightning goaltender Kevin Weekes, now on NHL Network, suggested on Friday that Shattenkirk has at least three offers he is mulling over and one of them is of the seven-year variety from a team that might not quite be ready to contend for a Stanley Cup. (Buffalo perhaps?? But Weekes also mentioned that the other two deals are of the shorter variety, perhaps in the four-year range and said they were from teams there were closer to competing, mentioning “as examples’’ Tampa Bay and the New York Rangers.

What is also interesting here is the fact that Shattenkirk, who comes from the New York area, has been linked to the Rangers for some time but turned down a reported deal to Tampa Bay in January that would have included a seven-year contract extension had he agreed to waive his no-trade clause to come to the Lightning.

Is it possible Tampa Bay could still land the veteran, right-handed defenseman to help out with their power play? Can’t rule anything out, but were it to come to fruition, have to wonder what the deal will look like. Also have to wonder what it would mean for the Lightning trio of young defensemen, Slater Koekkoek, Jake Dotchin and Mikhail Sergachev.

If Tampa Bay end up landing both Girardi and Shattenkirk, I’d get the sense a trade might be in the works that would likely involve one of the team’s young defensemen, particularly with Koekkoek and Dotchin both requiring waivers this season to be sent to Syracuse. It would also mean that Luke Witkowski and his glorious beard – which he’ll be shaving off for charity later this year – won’t be back, with ties to his hometown Red Wings already having been reported.

There is also interest in veteran forward Justin Williams, as Darren Dreger reported Friday afternoon with the Lightning considered one of three finalists along with the New York Islanders and Philadelphia the other two teams. Mr. Game 7 has won three Stanley Cups in his career, one with Carolina and two in Los Angeles and would bring a veteran presence to the locker room and lineup.

On the Brian Boyle front there does not seem to be much going on. Tampa Bay did not show interest during the free agency exploration period, but that doesn’t necessarily mean things can be ruled out. While there were perhaps some concerns regarding some back issues, another short-term deal might still be a possibility, particularly if the Lightning miss out on Williams.

Tampa Bay will also be in the market for a goaltender to serve as the No. 3 on the depth chart and presumed starter in Syracuse to help mentor Connor Ingram. Mike McKenna is a possibility to returned, but the lack of a deal heading to July 1 does not have the feel of a reunion on the verge of happening. The market seems a bit thin on that front with no names that jump out with perhaps Michael Leighton or Matt Hackett a possibility.

Of course, some of the top free agents on the minds of Lightning fans are two of Tampa Bay’s own – Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat, both restricted free agents. But in the day of offer sheets nearly being a myth than an actual tool that teams use, there is no great concern either of them will be subjected to an offer from another team. Not to mention both hold arbitration rights. Deals will get done with both players – assuming neither is traded – well before the start of the season.

So as you get ready to depart for the 3-on-3 tournament to conclude prospect camp, or fire up the computer to watch the live stream on the team’s website, make sure you buckle yourself in, Saturday has the makings of a bit of a bumpy ride for Lightning fans.

The outrage should start in about 3. . . . . 2. . . .
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