NHL Rumors: Lightning lock up Mikhail Sergachev is Cirelli next? Islanders say goodbye to Johnny Boychuk, and more
Anthony Scultore
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The Tampa Bay Lightning have announced a three year deal for RFA defenseman Mikhail Sergachev. At the moment, Tampa is over the salary cap by almost $2 million with Sergachev’s $4.8 million AAV.
NHL Rumors: Lightning sign Sergachev, Anthony Cirelli next?
At 22 years-old, Sergachev has a long and promising future ahead of him. His 10 goals and 34 points last season are just the tip of the Lightning bolt. Now the challenges for Tampa are to get their other RFA, Anthony Cirelli signed to a new deal and clearing cap space.
Per Pierre Lebrun, Cirelli’s agent informed him that “nothing new to report” on contract talks.
Two weeks ago, NHL Insider Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports reported that the Lightning were being very aggressive on the trade market. “The Lightning are a team with the most problems right now and it will cost him dearly to fix this problem,” Lavoie explained.
“What I am told is that they believe they can resolve it by the start of training camp,” Lavoie revealed. According to his sources, Tampa believes they will have to part with at least two good players and likely have to add draft picks to facilitate those deals.
Speculation for which two players is not difficult. Tyler Johnson and Alex Killorn are the names we have heard for months. Can they move them before the season starts? Time is almost up, and the Lightning are already over the cap so this will be interesting.
Johnny Boychuk retires, Islanders may now move to announce new deals
The Islanders announced that defenseman Johnny Boychuk has retired due to his eye injury. On March 3rd, the 36-year-old rearguard caught an errant skate to the face in a game against the Canadiens. It was a ghastly injury that required stitches and plastic surgery to his right eye which was injured once before.
We wish Johnny all the best.
RELATED: Boychuk takes skate to eye (Graphic)
NHL Rumors: Islanders to announce signings soon
The retirement and subsequent LTIR relief gives the Islanders around $6 million in cap space. This should allow them to announce new deals for UFA’s Cory Schneider, Matt Martin, and Andy Greene per Dave Pagnotta.
Mat Barzal is expected to get done well before the start of next season.