The Tampa Bay Lightning have acquired Anders Nilsson and Marian Gaborik from the Ottawa Senators. In return they gave up Braydon Coburn, Cedric Paquette, and a 2022 2nd Round Pick. Although, this allows Tampa to get under the salary cap, Ottawa got the better end of the trade.
Acquisitions
The Lightning acquired an old worn down forward as well as a depth goalie in this trade. Marian Gaborik, a seasoned veteran, was a great player in his prime but has not played a full season since the 2011-12 season. Furthermore, he has not played an NHL game since March 22, 2018. He has one year left on his contract and he will likely never play another NHL game once his contract expires. Additionally, the Lightning have picked up LTIR goalie Anders Nilsson who has not played a game since December 16th, 2019. Nilsson has struggled with concussion related issues since going down last December. Similar to Gaborik, Nilsson has one year left on his contract and a renewal will be determined by fellow Goalkeeper play. Curtis McElhinney, Spencer Martin, and Christopher Gibson’s contracts will also expire. If Nilsson resigns with the team, Tampa Bay will have a solid backup moving forward. It is unlikely that either of these players will ever play for the Lightning but it does clear up cap.
The Cost
An on the rise Ottawa team will be grateful for a depth forward and a veteran presence on Defense. Also included in this trade was a 2022 2nd Round pick leaving Tampa Bay with 6 picks in 2022. The Lightning lost Cedric Paquette who consistently puts up 10-20 points a season. Alternatives such as Mitchell Stephens or maybe Gage Concalves, depending on training camp performance, could fill this gap. Brayden Coburn, however, a regular on the defensive side of the puck for the Lightning will be missed. With Coburn and Shattenkirk now gone, the Lightning will have to look at Cal Foote, likely, for depth. Although these are regulars removed from the lineup, this will give some young guys a chance to crack the lineup.
What This Means
Overall, this will allow Tampa Bay to fit under the salary cap for another shot at a cup. Another positive to this trade is new opportunities in the lineup. Over time these new spots will allow young guys to develop in a winning culture, meaning a brighter future. On the other hand, Tampa Bay gave usable players away for cap space, and Ottawa got the say in what they got in the trade. This trade simply translates to Coburn, Paquette and a pick for 3.35 million dollars and rights to Anders Nilsson and maybe Gaborik. In a few years time we will reflect on this trade and know who the true winner of this confusing deal was.