The Tampa Bay lightning are proud to announce the signings of 4 promising prospects in Hampus Lindhold, Filip Forsberg, Justin Hache and Bryan Rust. Hampus Lindholm is probably the most relevant signing as he was able to score 6 goals and add 24 assists while playing 78 games in the NHL last season. His overall numbers only got him a 69 OV rating however and may need one more season before he's ready to step in and help the Lightning. Justin Hache, the other defenseman signed is more of a long term project and could potentially be a PP quarterback in the future for the lightning.
Of the two forwards signed by the bolts, Forsberg is by far the most promising amongst the two. Drafted 3rd overall 2 years ago Lightning are expecting Forsberg to get a full season in the nhl next year and believe he will be an impact player for the lightning as soon as the 2015/2016 season. Rust showed at Notre Dame that he has a lot of offensive talent but the earliest we feel he'll get a shot with the penguins in the nhl would probably be 2 years from now.
Now to take a look at the roster and cap situation for the upcoming season without taking offseason trades and UFA into consideration.
Left Wing Center Right Wing
Brandon Dubinsky 79OV Patrice Bergeron 77 OV Jiri Hudler 73 OV
Mikkel Boedker 75 OV David Krejci 75 OV Tyler Johnson 72 OV
Benoit Pouliot 72 OV Travis Zajac 74 OV Devin Setogucchi 71 OV
Mikael Granlund 69 OV Zack Smith 70 OV Zack Kassian 69 OV
Left D Right D
Kevin Shattenkirk 75 OV Mark Methot 76 OV
Bryan Allen 73 OV Nicklas Hjalmarsson 70 OV
Victor Bartley 71 OV Jarred Tinordi 72 OV
Michael DelZotto 69 OV
Goalies
Jonathan Quick 82 OV
Karri Ramo 78 OV
Going into free agency we feel very confident about the skill and depth of our forward group along with our outstanding goaltending. Our D corps however appears to need some work. If we are unable to improve the D through free agency, we may decide to move Ramo or some of our younger players who aren't quite ready just yet to bolster that defense. Either way, we are looking forward to this upcoming season and finally returning to the playoffs!