5 Players New Jersey Devils Can Trade For Before Training Camp

Myriad Of Tampa Bay Lightning Players

The Tampa Bay Lightning have been a target from us in the past. They are in a bad way with the salary cap, and this is before they sign Anthony Cirelli and Erik Cernak to new contracts. Without those deals, they are still over the cap by close to $2 million. Basically, they need to shed around $5 if both Cernak and Cirelli agree to basement deals as players have in the past.

There are pipe dreams on this roster. Steven Stamkos would be lovely for the Devils, but there is no way he’s waving his no-trade clause to come to Garden State. That’s basically asking to pay double the taxes he’s currently paying now. The same goes for players like Yanni Gourde or Ondrej Palat. They could probably be convinced with promises of more playing time, but that’s still extremely unlikely.

Tyler Johnson also has a no-trade clause, but the team seems motivated to make him wave it. He’s making $5 million per season, but he doesn’t have a no-movement clause so the Lightning can put him on waivers whenever they want and force him to play in the AHL. That might motivate him to accept a deal to a team where he’s guaranteed to get playing time.

Alex Killorn makes a lot of sense here. He has a modified no-trade clause, so the Devils might be on it. If they are not, he’s a really good option. He’s making $4.45 million per season, so he’s make up a lot of what the Lightning need to sign their players. Killorn brings 50-point ability every season.

The Devils could also look at Cernak himself. The Lightning could get a middle-round pick for him along with a prospect, and the Devils can get the defensive depth they desperately need. This could be a win-win deal similar to how the Blake Coleman deal worked out for these two teams.

Anthony Cirelli also makes sense, but the Lightning will ask for an arm and a leg for him. It’s unlikely the Devils come to their price.