Lightning’s Core Gets Scrutinized as Larkin Talk Heats Up

Tampa Bay’s roster has been under the microscope, and the most valuable pieces are getting measured against the kind of cap math that usually makes general managers lose sleep. The Larkin angle adds another layer, because any serious pursuit forces the Lightning to balance ambition with the reality of what they can actually fit. This is the part of the offseason where buzz can turn into a hard conversation in a hurry, and Tampa Bay is right in the middle of it.