Lightning Trade Target #1 Michael Bunting

Apr 6, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville Predators left wing Michael Bunting skates with the puck against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period at Bridgestone Arena. via Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

The Tampa Bay Lightning are likely to be buyers at this years NHL Trade Deadline and I’ll be throwing out possible names they might be interested in to secure an extensive playoff run winning the Stanley Cup. I’ll go into what the cost of a player is to secure the trade. The first name as a target for the Lightning is Michael Bunting of the Nashville Predators.

The Nashville Predators are going to be selling at this years deadline and have some talent that could interest the Lightning. Michael Bunting fits general manager Julian Brisebois which is a guy who’s not afraid to bring an edge to a hockey game. Bunting who’s 30 years old a pending UFA in the summer is a prime candidate to get moved in the next month or so at a reasonable cap hit.

Bunting is having a solid season for the Predators scoring 12 goals and 18 assists good for 30 points on the season. It’s been an up and down season for the Nashville Predators where there’s been rumors regarding numerous players on the team. Bunting is somewhat affordable at 4.50 million aav, but the Predators could easily afford to retain salary making it a really affordable contract.

Michael Bunting player profile via NHL.COM

The Lightning are currently sitting at 3.843 million in cap space at the deadline with recently putting Brayden Point on LTIR which means there’s a need a center for the Lightning. Nick Paul and Anthony Cirelli both got hurt before the Olympic break and there’s no way to know if they’ll be 100 percent healthy on February 25 when the Lightning take on the Maple Leafs.

Tampa Bay Lightning where things stand via puckpedia

As for the proposed trade my mock trade is the following :

Lightning receive : Michael Bunting 50 % retained

Predators receive : 2026 3rd round pick & Gage Goncalves

I think this is a reason deal because the New York Islanders tried trading for Bunting before the break and Nashville rejected because of the draft pick situation. Nashville wants a 2026 pick and New York offered a 2027 pick. So I’m willing to bet a 3rd or 4th round pick gets this deal draft pick wise. As for why I included Gage, Nashville and among other teams have been scouting the Lightning game up to the deadline. If I were to guess on which players of the Lightning are being scouted is Dominic James or Gage Goncalves who are the youth of the team.