This is more of a move if Palat doesn’t return, and it would be a heck of a replacement. If the Lightning want middle-six help, some speed and some juice on the forecheck, Marchment could be available at a relatively inexpensive number.Įvolving-Hockey contract projection: Three years, $2.46 million AAV David Perron, wing The analytics favor him, too, with a 65-percent expected goals rate, and a 3.42 points per 60. Marchment can contribute offensively, too, with his 47 points in 54 games (18 goals) being nothing to scoff at, especially when you consider he played a third line role with limited power play time. Our Dom Luszczyszyn compared him to Toronto’s Michael Bunting, only with a much bigger NHL sample size. Marchment, 27, is an excellent forechecker and puck retriever, which could make him a quality disruptor in a top-six role. But, more than likely, here are some of the kind of targets Tampa Bay can look at to fill some holes in free agency. Tampa Bay has approximately $5.9 million in cap space, according to CapFriendly. So it wouldn’t surprise me if the Lightning at least kicked the tires on some of the high-profile names like Evgeni Malkin and Claude Giroux to ask what they’d be willing to play for.
Tampa Bay has notoriously swung big in free agency, even when no one thought they had the cap space - see: John Tavares, Joe Pavelski. The idea from the beginning was to re-sign Palat and Jan Rutta, but if both go to market, the Lightning have to adjust. There won’t be much waiting for Tampa Bay as the noon window opens for free agency, as they’ll have Plan B or Plan C ready. It’s just the practical nature of this business. “We’ll re-sign our players,” BriseBois told me. It’s why signing Nick Paul to a seven-year deal was a priority. Who are driving the bus? It’s always looking forward, not back. BriseBois’ focus is extending the Lightning’s championship window, and he does that by looking at age, contract and contributions of his players. GM Julien BriseBois has shown he’s not driven by emotions, having to say a hard goodbye to the likes of Tyler Johnson, the entire Yanni Gourde line and, most recently, to ask Ryan McDonagh to waive his no-trade clause.
Essentially, this will be up to Palat, what he wants, what his priorities are.Īnd nobody should blame the Lightning if they move on. It’s likely his last big contract in his career, and there’s no shortage of teams, from the Red Wings to Ducks to perhaps some contenders, that will show interest in him. 1 choice to stay,” said family friend Jakub Mikulik.īut if Palat is able to get more on the open market - more term, more money - then no one will blame him if he takes it.
The Lightning are the team that took a chance on him in the seventh round in 2011, developed him and gave him multiple contracts so he and his family could build a life in Tampa. Palat, 31, for his part, has hoped to stay, too.
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