Two Lightning Forwards Headed to Free Agency After Early Playoff Exit

Tampa Bay’s season ended the same way the last three did: with a first-round playoff loss. This time it took seven games, and the opponent was the Montreal Canadiens. But the result was the same, and now the front office is dealing with the fallout.

General manager Julien BriseBois told reporters Saturday night that two veteran forwards acquired at recent trade deadlines will test the open market when free agency opens Wednesday. Oliver Bjorkstrand and Corey Perry are both expected to hit free agency, according to team reporter Benjamin Pierce on X. BriseBois did not rule out bringing either player back, but the door is wide open for them to sign elsewhere.

Bjorkstrand came over from Seattle two seasons ago alongside Yanni Gourde in a deadline deal that was supposed to give the Lightning more depth up front. Perry returned to Tampa Bay for a second stint this year, reuniting with a team that knows exactly what he brings in the postseason. Neither move produced the kind of impact the front office was hoping for. The Lightning needed more from their bottom six forward group, and they didn’t get enough.

Defense may lose one but could keep another

Defenseman Declan Carlile is a different story. BriseBois said the team is still talking with his camp. Carlile quietly had a nice season for a Bolts defense that leaned heavily on call-ups from AHL Syracuse. He played a career-high 42 games, finished plus-5, and chipped in a goal and two assists. His game got noticeably better as the season went on, especially on the third pairing.

That matters because breakout defenseman Darren Raddysh is gone. He signed with Toronto in a sign-and-trade, which opens up a spot. Carlile could slide right into that role if the two sides get a deal done.

The bigger question is what BriseBois does with the rest of the roster. Tampa Bay still has its core — Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Victor Hedman, Andrei Vasilevskiy — but that core isn’t getting any younger. And the cap situation is always tight. If Bjorkstrand and Perry do walk, the Lightning will have to replace that production without much financial flexibility.

Free agency opens July 1. Expect BriseBois to stay active, but don’t expect any big splash signings. This is a team that needs to find value on the margins. Again.