“We’d like to keep them” – Tampa Bay Lightning keen to sign forwards Ondrej Palat, Nicholas Paul and defenseman Jan Rutta

“We’d like to keep them” – Tampa Bay Lightning keen to sign forwards Ondrej Palat, Nicholas Paul and defenseman Jan Rutta

Ondrej Palat, Nicholas Paul and Jan Rutta

The Tampa Bay Lightning want to sign pending unrestricted free agent forwards Ondrej Palat and Nicholas Paul and defenseman Jan Rutta ahead of the next National Hockey League (NHL) season. 

Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois on Tuesday said for the next few weeks, he will be focused on the 2022 Upper Deck NHL Draft at Bell Centre in Montreal on July 7-8, the start of NHL free agency on July 13 and managing the NHL salary cap ($82.5 million next season). He also mentioned that there’s some flexibility with the cap, which should help him keep Paul, Palat and Rutta.

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Notably, BriseBois addressed the media two days after Tampa Bay saw the end to their dream of a third straight Stanley Cup championship with a 1-2 defeat to the Colorado Avalanche in Game 6 of the Final on Sunday.

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“I’ve already been in touch with all three of their agents and had preliminary discussions over the past 36 hours,” BriseBois said, as quoted by NHL.com. “I know all three would like to stay here and we’d like to keep them.”

“Don’t think we’re done chasing Stanley Cups”

Tampa Bay Lightning players
Tampa Bay Lightning players

BriseBois concluded the interaction with a firm belief that the Lightning’s championship window can remain open for the next several seasons. Moreover, Julien is hopeful that the moves he makes this offseason will lead the side to win another Cup.

Also Read | “Honestly feel bad” – Pat Maroon felt more for Lightning teammates than own missed Stanley Cup chance

“I’m trying to put on a brave face, but no one gets to the Stanley Cup Final not to win the Cup,” BriseBois said. “You get to the Stanley Cup Final to bring home the Cup, especially this year when we had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to win three straight Stanley Cups.”

“I don’t think we’re done chasing Stanley Cups here,” BriseBois said. “We’re set up to be a really competitive team for the foreseeable future and hopefully stars align again for us at some point and we get to bring back the Stanley Cup to Tampa Bay.”

Also Read | “Definitely motivated” – Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon finally hoists Stanley Cup with his team after years of disappointment