The Tampa Bay Lightning are not used to losing in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs and it will not get any easier for them next year.
The NHL salary cap will likely force the Lightning to lose two key pieces to their lineup. Alex Killorn is likely signing with another team as he is due a nice raise and left wing Ross Colton is due a BIG raise.
Ross Colton will be traded this summer
Frank Seravalli from The Daily Faceoff reports forward Ross Colton is ready to be paid. He is a pending restricted free agent who has established himself as a consistent 15-20 goal scorer and will be due a big raise from his current salary of $1.125 million.
Seravalli went on to say in his online piece that the Lightning only have $10 million is salary cap space next season to fill 8 roster spots and there is no way they can fit Colton’s new contract into the Lightning’s salary cap next year.
A Stanley Cup contending team looking for a dependable third line winger will have interest in Colton this offseason.
What are Lightning Fans saying about a Ross Colton trade?
This will be a tough loss for the Lightning. He is a hitting machine and can put up points. He will be paid nicely by another team.
NOOOO. We need Colton! We need to find away to re-sign him and not trade him.
He’s so good, he has Ondrej Palat vibes all day. The Lighting are on the decline. They could very well be the #8 seed in next year’s playoffs.
