Offseason Roundup: Tampa Bay Lightning
Over the next month, theScore's NHL editors will review all the offseason moves for each team around the league.
Steve Yzerman doesn't tiptoe into anything.
Much like his playing career, the Tampa Bay Lightning general manager hit the ground running as an NHL executive. Constantly tinkering, scheming, and negotiating, if Yzerman isn't the most active GM in the league, than he's not too far behind.
It was an audacious offseason for the Lighting, who survived Steven Stamkos' 45-game absence for a return to the postseason after a two-year layoff.
Offseason Roundup
Tampa Bay's offseason began with a rather important procedure: Vezina Trophy nominee Ben Bishop underwent surgery in late April to repair a torn ligament in his right wrist. The mountainous goaltender admits the joint has not fully healed, but he fully anticipates being between the pipes when the curtain rises on the Bolts' 2014-15 season.
A week later, Yzerman locked up one of the top goaltending prospects in the sport, signing former first-round selection Andrei Vasilevski to an entry-level deal. The 20-year-old was tremendous in the KHL last season, authoring a 2.21 goals-against average and .923 save percentage in 28 appearances.
Before Nathan MacKinnon could hoist the Calder Trophy, the Lightning locked up the other two nominees. Tyler Johnson received a $3-year, $10-million contract before Ondrej Palat agreed to an identical pact. A few weeks after that, Alex Killorn, who doubled his production from his rookie season, didn't command the same number, but did secure a two-year, $5.1-million investment.
Tampa then cut ties with one-part troubled, two-part declining Ryan Malone, using their second compliance buyout. Malone, who has since landed on his feet with the New York Rangers, was arrested on suspicion of DUI and possession of cocaine two nights prior to Tampa's regular-season finale.
With some money freed up, Yzerman ensured his dealing of Lightning legend Martin St. Louis wouldn't go awry, inking Ryan Callahan to a six-year extension worth $34.8 million before the former New York Rangers captain could get a taste of unrestricted free agency.
Yzerman bookended the first-round selection of dynamic Sarnia Sting blue liner Anthony DeAngelo with a series of deals from the draft floor. Jason Garrison was brought aboard for the Lightning's second-round selection, before Yzerman shed the contracts of Teddy Purcell and B.J. Crombeen by way of now-Arizona Coyote Sam Gagner.
Tireless, Yzerman then traded industrious Nate Thompson, sending him to the Anaheim Ducks in an effort to clear out more money ahead of July 1.
In free agency, Tampa pillaged the Eastern Conference champion Rangers, luring Anton Stralman with a $22.5-million agreement and convincing Brian Boyle to take a little less money to join the Bolts on a three-year, $6-million deal.
The summer months then proved cyclical, as Bishop, with his wrist on the mend, was rewarded for his performance and diligence with a two-year, $11.9-million extension.
Key Additions
F Brian Boyle
F Brenden Morrow
D Anton Stralman
D Jason Garrison
D Anthony DeAngelo
G Evgeni Nabokov
Key Departures
F Teddy Purcell
F B.J. Crombeen
F Ryan Malone
D Nate Thompson
G Anders Lindback
2014-15 Outlook
For Yzerman, the objective was clear: turn every game, practice, and morning skate into a 100-meter sprint.
The Lightning are going to be fast - scary fast - and are dressed with all the trimmings of a bona fide Eastern Conference title contender. They boast the best pure scorer on the planet in Stamkos; an emerging elite defenseman in Victor Hedman; the planet's top-ranked prospect in Jonathan Drouin; a Vezina-caliber goaltender in Bishop; and a fleet of young top-six forwards.
This team is built to win this year and next - or however long Stamkos decides to stick around.