The Tampa Bay Lightning announced tonight that they have traded Braydon Coburn, Cedric Paquette, and a 2022 second-round pick to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Marian Gaborik and Anders Nilsson. Both Gaborik and Nilsson will spend the 2020-21 season on Long-Term Injured Reserve, which provides the Bolts with the cap relief they need to be compliant heading into the season.
After GM Julien BriseBois inked Anthony Cirelli just before Christmas, it was clear that a move like this was coming. While Nikita Kucherov being out for the regular season provides a significant amount of cap relief, it wasn’t going to be quite enough for the Lightning to sit below the legal threshold. This move, which clears Coburn’s $1.7-million cap hit and Paquette’s $1.65-million cap hit, was needed. The deal represents a perfect example of a team – in this case, the Senators – weaponizing cap space to bring home an asset. The Lightning dropped two bodies and cap hits, but gave up a second-round pick in the process.
From an on-ice perspective, this deal is unlikely to move the needle for Tampa Bay. As mentioned, neither Gaborik nor Nilsson will suit up this year. When you consider that Coburn spent the vast majority of the postseason in the press box, the deal almost amounts to a big nothingness for BriseBois’ Lightning. In fact, with the departure of Paquette considered, it might even be addition by subtraction:
Senators acquire Cedric Paquette who is .... extremely bad. pic.twitter.com/tnuCp47IGR
— Micah Blake McCurdy (@IneffectiveMath) December 28, 2020
The organization’s obsession with (and relatively expensive commitment to) Paquette over the past few years is one of the few blemishes on an otherwise stellar run of success. Taking him out of Jon Cooper’s toolbox should provide an opportunity for a more effective body to eat bottom-six minutes, which could provide a small win for the team as it looks to repeat as Stanley Cup champions.
Off the ice, it’s impossible to wish Coburn and Paquette anything but the best as they embark on this next chapter with the Ottawa Senators. Both gave the Lightning organization their all over the course of their tenures, and both leave as champions. Coburn’s five-plus seasons in Tampa, in particular, coincided with an unparalleled run of success for the team, and I don’t think that’s a coincidence. Especially early on, he was able to provide the team with very competent, professional minutes on the blue line. He was, in so many ways, the perfect fit for what the Lightning needed at the time and over the years. Seeing him leave as a winner feels right.
The bottom line: The Tampa Bay Lightning are now cap compliant, and didn't have to deal any of their big name players to make it happen. That's a major win for Julien BriseBois and his management group.
Let me know your thoughts on this deal in the comments section. As always, thanks for reading.