NHL Rumors: 2 Tampa Bay Lightning Trade Candidates

The Tampa Bay Lightning were dethroned by the Colorado Avalanche and now a busy offseason begins. General manager Julien BriseBois has some serious work to do this summer to try and re-tool his hockey club and has already got a jump on the order of business, signing Nick Paul to a seven-year contract extension. Unfortunately in a salary cap era, not everyone is able to return to the hockey club for next season, let's take a look at two Lightning who appear on their way out of town:

Alex Killorn

Veteran winger Alex Killorn has spent his entire 10-year career in Tampa Bay and has given all his blood, sweat and tears to the organization. Killorn is entering the final season of his contract and is on the books for a $4.45 million cap hit in 2022-23. With Paul re-signed and with him showing just how valuable he can be for the hockey club, it's pushed Killorn down the depth chart and likely out the door. The team also has Ondrej Palat they would love to re-sign and will only be able to do so if someone like Killorn is moved.

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The Halifax, Nova Scotia native holds modified trade protection and submits a list of 16 teams he would like to avoid. While the regular season was a bounce back for Killorn, scoring 25 goals and 59 points in 82 games, in the Stanley Cup playoffs, he was nowhere to be found, recording only four assists in 23 games. Look for contending teams, likely in the western conference to make trade offers at the NHL draft.

Ryan McDonagh

Recently, Ryan McDonagh's name has hit the trade market as Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman has reported the team is trying to move the veteran defenseman. The 33-year-old is signed through the 2025-26 season at $6.75 million per season and there will be a long list of interested teams for the Lightning to negotiate with. He holds a full no-trade clause so the ball is in his court when it comes to approval, don't expect to see McDonagh 'ok' a move to a non-contending team.

The only one that may get themselves in the picture could be the Detroit Red Wings where Steve Yzerman is running the show and has a great relationship with the player. McDonagh recorded 26 points in 71 regular season games last season and collected another five points in 23 Stanley Cup Playoff games. He's no stranger to being involved in big trades and it sounds like another one is on the way this summer.