Rumor: Tampa Bay Closing In On A Trade

The Tampa Bay Lightning won the Stanley Cup and immediately their management team needed to get to work, with big decisions looming. While it all hasn't been worked out quite yet, it appears it could be soon, as according to TVA Sports, the Lightning are working on trades on two of their forwards which could include Tyler Johnson and Yanni Gourde.

Both players have no-trade protection, however this doesn't mean they can't and won't be dealt. Johnson, 30, has four years left at $5 million per season. It's already been a whirlwind offseason for Johnson, and he could finally be getting some answers soon.

Placing Tyler Johnson on waivers could also be a way for Tampa to get around his No Trade Clause.

Meaning that Tampa could have a deal in place where a club has agreed to pick him up off waivers, and then that club makes a separate deal for 'future considerations' with Tampa. https://t.co/2ySlMimbQw
— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) October 9, 2020

For Gourde, he's been linked to the Nashville Predators who are dying for some offense. The Preds have tried to sign Taylor Hall, they talked to Mike Hoffman, and now are being linked to Gourde. The 28-year-old has five years left on his current deal that pays him $5.166 per season.

Look for Tampa Bay to have some moves in place for training camp as the team still needs to sign restricted free-agents Anthony Cirelli, Erik Cernak and Mikhail Sergachev.

Decisions, decisions for the champs.