Tampa Bay Lightning Forward Becoming Trade Candidate

The Tampa Bay Lightning will not be able to bring the same team back next season as they have four extensions starting next season and no cap space to work with. They have to prioritize players who are key contributors and signed long-term, and a few players don't fit into that. There is absolutely no room for unrestricted free agent Alex Killorn, but Ross Colton is also someone to watch.

Elliotte Friedman brought up the point that he is an RFA at the end of the season and has just one year before becoming a UFA. He was drafted and developed by the Lightning and is in his third full season with the team. He is also a key middle-six player and provides a good amount of secondary scoring.

Colton is arbitration-eligible this offseason and will likely take whatever he gets for one year. After that he will join the many other key depth players the Lightning have lost over the past few years. The other option is the Lightning trade him in the offseason and ensure they have room. His cap hit from arbitration could already put them over the cap. Watch for the Lightning to get ahead of it and move him to restock some of their draft picks in the offseason.