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Yzerman expects to sign RFAs Drouin, Johnson, Palat

Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters / USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman doesn't foresee any problems locking up the team's pending restricted free agents, according to Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times.

Forwards Jonathan Drouin, Tyler Johnson, and Ondrej Palat are all set to become restricted free agents, but the good thing going for the Lightning is that there appears to be a desire among the players to remain with the club.

"I want to be here," Johnson said, according to Smith. "Tampa is my second home. Hopefully everything works out the way that I want it to."

That being said, the team could be in a bit of a pickle regarding the salary cap. The team projects to have just under $18 million to work with, while Peter Budaj, Yanni Gourde, Cory Conacher, Gabriel Dumont, Greg McKegg, and Luke Witowski will become unrestricted free agents. Andrej Sustr and Jake Dotchin will also be RFAs.

Of course, the trio of Drouin, Johnson, and Palat will surely be the club's priority. The three finished third, fourth, and fifth in team scoring, combining for 57 goals and 150 points.

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