Hockey Insider Links Canucks & Lightning to Offseason Trade

The Vancouver Canucks are going to be very active this upcoming offseason and there's already talk about some potential targets on their radar. Hockey insider Elliotte Friedman sees Tampa Bay Lightning forward Ross Colton as a potential fit as the Lightning are going to be in tough to sign the pending restricted free agent.

Friedman on 32TP says he thinks the Canucks will look to add another centre, he wonders about Ross Colton, looking at Tampa's cap situation, could be difficult to keep him. 26 yrs RFA with arb rights, will Tampa try to keep him or will teams line up to try and acquire him?

— NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) April 15, 2023

Colton recorded 16 goals and 32 points in 81 games this season, after a 22-goal campaign in 2021-22. At 26 years old he's entering the prime of his career and he could be a nice complimentary piece for the Canucks.

As for the Lightning, they have only $2.4 million in projected cap space heading into next season and a number of pending free agents to sign. One of which is Tanner Jeannot and considering what the team traded to Nashville to acquire Jeannot, don't expect to see Colton prioritized here.

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