NHL Trade Rumors: Tampa Bay Lightning Defensive Targets

The Tampa Bay Lightning have big dream this season, and a point total that puts them among the NHL’s best, but that doesn’t mean they are Stanley Cup ready. As NHL trade rumors keep coming in the Lightning need to be a big part of the deadline. For Tampa to contend for a Cup they will need to strengthen their defense; something that won’t come cheap and won’t be easy to do. The Lightning need to find defensemen with NHL Playoff experience and some term left on a contract, but if that fails than finding a solid young up and coming defensemen will be the only option.

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There are a few solid defensemen on the market, and even some that are not being tossed out in the rumor mill could be had for the right price. There’s always the same names Tyler Myers,Dion Phaneuf, Keith Yandle, Andrej Sekera, Andrew Ference, and Zbynek Michalek. Looking at those names a few top picks jump out at me. But, it all depends on what the Lightning are looking to fix.

My Top Targets For Tampa

Dion Phaneuf: Toronto Maple Leafs, $7 million cap hit, still has six years left on his contract and only 29 years old. Toronto is looking to unload him and if Tampa thinks they have the prospects and a strong forward to toss in the mix a deal would be hard to make, but I could see them calling the Maple Leafs, after all Toronto needs to fix a lot of things and a rebuild could be in their future.

Andrew Ference: Edmonton Oilers, $3.35 million cap hit, three years left on his contract. Ference would bring a veteran presence to the Lightning and with

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Oilers in possible “tank” mode dumping another player would only strengthen their goal of a top two pick. With a 120 playoffs games on his resume he fits a big need for Tampa.

*Andrej Sekera: Carolina Hurricanes: $2.75 million cap hit, would be a Rental player. Sekera is an interesting thought. He has logged some solid minutes for the Hurricanes and has played a solid game. At 28 years old Sekera add some experience and would be hungry for a chance to win the Cup. There are going to be teams calling about him so if the Lightning want in they need to act soon.

There will be rumors coming out almost daily and Tampa will be part of some of them. One thing is for sure if the Lightning believe this is their year they need to be active and figure out a way to boost their defense. It will take giving up a forward and maybe a top prospect but that’s just how things go at the deadline. Teams often are forced to over pay for what they need.