Kucherov to Sit Out from Training Camp Until Signed, Remains Without Contract

Per Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times, Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov's agent has informed the team that the young sniper will be sitting out from training camp so long as he remains without a contract:

#tblightning GM Steve Yzerman said they were told by Nikita Kucherov's agent that the wing won't report to camp without a contract. Is RFA

— Joe Smith (@TBTimes_JSmith) September 29, 2016

Kucherov, a restricted free agent, has been without a contract since the 2015-16 season ended.  Having scored 131 points in 159 games over the past two seasons, all while being an incredible possession driver, Number-86 is in a position where he no doubt deserves a hefty pay raise.  When you look at deals signed by players like Filip Forsberg, Nathan MacKinnon, and Vladimir Tarasenko, among others, it's quite easy to envision a situation in which Kucherov receives north of $6.5-million annually on a long-term deal.

Vincent Lecavalier to be Honored by the Tampa Bay Lightning on October 18th

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced today that they will be honoring former captain Vincent Lecavalier on October 18th, when the Florida Panthers will be in town for an interstate matchup.

Lecavalier, 36, retired this offseason after finishing his career on a relative high note with the Los Angeles Kings; after being all but written off as an NHL player during his time with the Philadelphia Flyers, Lecavalier established himself as a reliable bottom-six presence for the Kings by putting up 10 goals and 7 assists in 42 games to end his National Hockey League career.  In total, the Quebec native suited up for 1,212 (!) regular season contests and notched 949 (!) career points.

BREAKING: Andrei Vasilevskiy Signs Three-Year, $10.5-million Contract Extension

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced this afternoon that they have signed goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy to a three-year contract worth $10.5-million total, or $3.5-million per season.

Keeping his streak of signing players to cap-friendly deals alive, Lightning GM Steve Yzerman managed to ink Vasilevskiy in such a way that will give the Bolts an above-average starting goaltender at a very affordable rate.  The signing of Vasilevskiy undoubtedly signals a changing of the guard for Tampa Bay, as it is almost a certainty now that Ben Bishop will be shown the door in one way or another.  If there's one thing his run in the playoffs proved, it's that Vasilevskiy is prepared to be 'the guy' for the Lightning.  He's going to get that shot.

BREAKING: Lightning Sign Victor Hedman to Eight-Year Contract Extension

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced this morning that they have re-signed defenseman Victor Hedman to an eight-year contract extension with an average annual value of $7.875-million.  This news comes on the heels of the team signing Captain Steven Stamkos to a similar eight-year extension just two days ago.

Lightning Waive Matt Carle with Buyout in Mind

The Tampa Bay Lightning put defenseman Matt Carle on waivers today, with the intention of buying him out tomorrow.  This, combined with yesterday's news surrounding Steven Stamkos, basically sent Bolts Nation to the moon.

Why, you ask?

Because, since signing with Tampa in the summer of 2012, Carle has been a 'lightning' rod (no pun intended) for criticism.  His play has underwhelmed in a significant (read: enormously monstrous) way, especially when you compare it to the $5.5M cap hit he carries/carried:

.@MimicoHero's chart on Carle sums up why he was waived today: You can't pay $5.5M per for a depth defender. pic.twitter.com/IuSrdGFoO4

— Michael Stuart (@MikeStuartTLL) July 1, 2016

As the tweet says, you can't have a guy on your roster carrying a $5.5M cap hit who does... that.  It wasn't good enough.  No matter how you slice it, there are better ways for the Lightning to be spending that money.  It's hard to argue against Steve Yzerman's choice to end Carle's second tenure with Tampa Bay.

Stamkos Signs for Eight Years

Well that was quite a day, wasn't it?  With Taylor Hall (!!!) being traded to New Jersey for Adam Larsson and P.K. Subban (!!!) being traded to Nashville for Shea Weber, it's amazing that there was any room left on the airwaves to announce that the Tampa Bay Lightning have re-signed Captain Steven Stamkos to an eight-year contract worth an average of $8.5-million per season:

Stamkos's deal with TB is expected to come in at eight years, with an AAV of $8.5M.

— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 29, 2016

With the hockey world (yours truly included) practically certain that Stamkos was set to walk when the clock struck July 1st, the captain surprised everyone by signing a very, very, very affordable deal with Tampa Bay.  Remember all that talk about him getting $10-million, $11-million, or even $12-million per year on the open market?  Somehow the Bolts locked him up for an amount that can only be described as a discount.

Edmonton's Nail Yakupov is the Right Fit at the Right Price for Tampa Bay

One of the bigger storylines to come out of this year's draft weekend was all the fuss surrounding the Edmonton Oilers.  It seemed that any time a rumor was brought up, the Oilers found themselves right in the middle of it.  Ryan Nugent-Hopkins?  On his way out.  Taylor Hall?  We'll miss you.  Jordan Eberle?  You can kiss him goodbye.  Leon Draisaitl?  He'll look great in a Montreal jersey.  Aside from Connor McDavid, almost every Oiler of note had his name thrown around the rumor mill in one form or another.

Of course, with all those big names spamming the headlines, some of the smaller-ticket items found themselves slightly off the radar; that included Nail Yakupov, who reportedly was available for... basically nothing:

"We're talking a 3rd round pick at this point (for Yakupov). Maybe a late 2nd." - Rishaug

— Tyler (@akaRCN) June 23, 2016

While the draft is now over and those picks have been made, the Nail Yakupov sweepstakes are likely ongoing.  With the addition of Jesse Puljujarvi at the draft, the Oilers once again find themselves with a bevy of forward talent and a dearth of wealth on the blue line heading into the offseason.  Something has got to give, right?  It seems that Yakupov, in desperate need of a fresh start, could be one of the players who is shipped out of Alberta's capital region.  If he is indeed available, the Tampa Bay Lightning should absolutely be giving Peter Chiarelli a call.