Apr 16, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning right wing
Teddy Purcell(16) against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period in game one of the first round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Tampa Bay Times Forum. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
UPDATE 2.0:
The Lightning have now traded Nate Thompson to the Anaheim Ducks for a 4th and 7th round pick in the 2015 NHL Draft. Thompson was claimed off waivers in 2010 from the New York Islanders and played five seasons in Tampa, recording 75 points (36-39) in 305 regular season games.
Holy late night deadlines, now Nate Thompson sent to Anaheim for a 4th and 7th round pick in 2015 #tblightning
— Lightning Insider (@Erik_Erlendsson) June 30, 2014
Elliotte Friedman adds that the Lightning’s trades have generated $5.6 million in cap space. Furthermore, the Bolts now have 12 draft picks in 2015.
UDPATE:
Gagner didn’t last long in Tampa as he has been flipped to the Arizona Coyotes, along with B.J. Crombeen. Tampa received a 6th round draft pick in 2015 in return.
PHX gave up a draft pick to TB for Sam Gagner and B.J. Crombeen. TB clearing salary cap room.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 30, 2014
However, Tampa will pay 1/3 of Gagner’s contract, which is the same amount they would have paid if they had bought him out.
ORIGINAL:
Tampa Bay Lightning’s inconsistent winger Teddy Purcell has been traded to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for centerman Sam Gagner.
However, it appears as though the Lightning are going to put Gagner on waivers for the purpose of a buyout, but that has yet to be confirmed.
Bolts GM Steve Yzerman has said that he’d be interested in freeing up some salary cap space and the $4.5 million a year hit that Purcell had was one of the main targets.
However, Gagner is owed $4.8 million a season so the trade doesn’t give the Lightning any salary cap flexibility, hence the anticipated buyout.
If Gagner isn’t bought out, it’s an interesting move by Yzerman. The Lightning are already deep at center so if Gagner sticks around, he may be moved to the wing. In his NHL career, all with the Oilers, he’s tallied 295 points (101-194) in 481 games.
Purcell, on the other hand, has been a disappointment since signing a contract extension two years ago.
After he bagged a career high 24 goals during the 2011-12 season, Yzerman signed the Newfoundland native to a new three-year contract extension, which extended his old contract by another year, keeping him in Tampa through 2015-16.
Since then however, he has scored just 23 goals. He routinely passed up scoring opportunities to find the perfect pass which has drawn the ire of many Lightning fans.
I recently wrote why the Bolts should trade Purcell, which can be read by clicking here.
In five seasons with the Bolts, Purcell played in 310 regular season games, scoring 67 times and adding 136 assists. He also appeared in 22 playoff games, tallying 18 points and was an important member of the Lightning team that lost in game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals in the 2010-11 playoffs.
This past season, Purcell had 42 points (12-30) in 81 games as the Lightning reached the playoffs for the first time in three years.