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Lightning Round: The Lightning front office is still not done for this offseason

Maxim Groshev picked up an assist at the WJC

By Igor Nikonov
2020 NHL Stanley Cup Final - Media Day Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images

Julien BriseBois and the Tampa Bay Lightning front office were very busy on Christmas Eve signing their last big RFA this offseason – Anthony Cirelli. The 23-year-old forward signed a 3-year, 4.8M AAV contract with the team. In his first year of the contract Cirelli will receive $2.4 M ($1.5 in signing bonus plus $900k salary), the second year will be $4.8 M ($1.5 M in signing bonuses plus $3.3 M salary) and the last year is $7.2 M (all salary)

However, the Lightning still isn’t done this offseason. Even after putting Nikita Kucherov’s contract on LTIR, the Bolts are $2,191,666 over the cap hit. Per Joe Smith, Julien BriseBois is still working on some trades to clear the cap space and would like to avoid putting players on waivers. The two most likely candidates for a potential trade remain Alex Killorn and Tyler Johnson, although at this time the Lightning could move just one of them. We’ve already heard some rumours regarding a potential trade with the Detroit Red Wings and definitely will hear more in the next few days.

Speaking of the Cirelli contract, he received even more than some of his contract projections were. For instance, Evolving-Hockey projected his contract at $4.4M, which is $0.4M less than Cirelli’s actual contract. Still a very good price for a player with Selke Trophy potential.

Lightning Links

Meanwhile, the Lightning sent a note to their season ticket members, announcing that the attendance at Lightning home games at Amalie Arena will be at 23-percent capacity this season. The opening game is scheduled for January 13, against the Chicago Blackhawks.

On the opening day of the 2021 World Juniors, Lightning prospect Maxim Groshev scored his first assist of the tournament on the second goal by Russian team.

Around the Hockey

The NHL released a statement that the league has reached a preliminary agreement with Canadian health authorities that the Canadian teams will be able to start their season at home arenas, however it hasn’t been officially confirmed yet.

At the opening day of the 2021 World Juniors, Slovakia shutdown Switzerland with a big help of their goaltender Simon Latkoczy, the depleted German still lost to Finland, despite giving an opponent a big fight and team Russia were better than USA. A more detailed recap is coming later at Raw Charge.

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