3 Best Contracts On The Tampa Bay Lightning

The Tampa Bay Lightning have been led by their core, especially this season. This puts even more value on them as some players are having stellar seasons and leading the Lightning into the playoffs. We are going to check out the three best contracts on the team below.

Brandon Hagel

The Lightning were able to trade for Brandon Hagel two years ago in the first year of a three-year, $1.5 million AAV. He is still on that contract until the end of the season and has done great work in the team's top-six. The 25-year-old has 25 goals and 73 points in 80 games and plays over 19 minutes per game. He is paid like a fourth line player, but continues to be very productive. He already signed an eight-year deal at $6.5 million AAV, so that tells you what he is actually worth.

Nikita Kucherov

Nikita Kucherov is going to win the Art Ross Trophy, and if it wasn't for Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid, and Auston Matthews, would be a shoe-in to win the Hart Trophy. He has been absolutely lights out this season for the Lightning, leading his team in points with 141 in 79 games. That puts him 52 points ahead of anyone else on the team. He is on a steal of a contract through 2027 at only $9.5 million AAV. He should easily be one of the highest paid players in the league around $13 million AAV right now.

Victor Hedman

Victor Hedman has held the back-end for the Lightning together this season, especially since Mikhail Sergachev has had unfortunate injury trouble this season. Hedman is in the Norris Trophy conversation this season at age 33. He was voted the most difficult player to play against in his own end by other players and has 13 goals and 76 points in 77 games this season. He is still at the top of his game and at a $7.875 million cap hit until the end of next season.