Lightning Trade Target #2 Erik Haula

Erik Haula via Alex Daugherty, Nashville Tennessean

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 2nd name as a target for the Lightning is Erik Haula 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. Erik Haula is a guy in my opinion who doesn’t fit the teams identity from a stat perspective, but if you look at the teams center depth it’s been plagued by injuries all year long and Haula is not going to be a guy who puts up 30 goals a year his role is more in the bottom 6 where the Lightning year in year out make acquisitions to solidify their depth. This move would be different than what we’ve seen from general manager Julian Brisebois in years past. Haula who’s 34 years old also a pending UFA in the summer is a prime candidate to get moved in the next month or so at a reasonable cap hit.

Haula is having a solid season for the Predators scoring 9 goals and 20 assists good for 29 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. Haula is somewhat affordable at 3.15 million aav, but the Predators could easily afford to retain salary making it a really affordable contract. Haula is obviously on the older side at this stage of his career considering he was a 40 point player earlier in his career. If Nashville was willing to retain on Haulas cap hit at 50% that’s a solid 3rd or 4th line center option at 1.575 million who could also be put on the wing. Haula overall fits the Lightning style the only thing is he’s on the older side.

Erik Haula 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. So ultimately I’m going after possible guys who can play center for the Lightning but can also be put on the wing. Erik Haula is guy who can do both roles especially on a contending team.

Tampa Bay Lightning resources via PuckPedia

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

Lightning receive : Erik Haula 50 % retained

Predators receive : 2026 5th round pick

This trade shouldn’t cost the Lightning, but I have no idea how much they value 34 year old Erik Haula who’s a pending a UFA. It’s more than likely going to same year draft pick as to what Nashville is asking for Michael Bunting but that all makes sense because he’s way younger than Haula. If I had to guess it’s around there what the asking price would be since they traded a 4th rounder to get him last summer.