LA Kings: Three players to target after Lightning re-signed Sergachev
By Ryan Sikes
Tyler Johnson
I’ve been pounding the table for the LA Kings to make a move to acquire Tyler Johnson since the Stanley Cup Finals ended. Even if the Lightning let both restricted free agents Cernak and Cirelli walk, they’re still over the salary cap. When the offseason began, Tampa puts Johnson on waivers, but he went unclaimed.
Teams reportedly asked the Lightning to add a sweetener in the deal, in the form of draft capital, to take on all of Johnson’s contract. Speaking of, the 30-year-old has four years remaining on his deal at a $5M cap hit each year. He scored 14 goals with 17 assists for 31 points in the shortened 2019-2020 season.
He’s consistently flirted with 20+ goal seasons throughout his eight-year career, achieving the feat four times. Johnson played a big role in the Lightning’s power play and scored a career-best eight goals during the 2014-2015 season. During the Lightning’s Stanley Cup run, he tallied four goals with three assists in 25 games.
Johnson’s versatility makes him an attractive trade candidate. He can play at all three positions, primarily doing so on Tampa’s second and third lines this past year. Given how deep the LA Kings are at center, Johnson would be playing along the wing if acquired.