Lightning get involved in Oilers’ trade to better position themselves in monster move!

When the Edmonton Oilers’ trade for Anaheim Ducks’ Adam Henrique and Sam Carrick was first reported, insider Frank Seravalli made sure to precise that a third team was a third party broker since there was salary retention involved in the Henrique’s contract. After all, the pending unresolved free agent is currently playing the final season of a five-year, $29.125 million contract he signed with the Ducks ahead of the 2018-19 season with an AAV of $5.82 million.

Seravalli just revealed that the third club is the Tampa Bay Lightning, who is getting an Oilers’ fourth round pick in the deal, while also sending a reserve list player, as the Bolts retain 25% of Henrique’s full contract.

Many fans and pundits believe this will lead to a significant trade by Tampa Bay who now has assets and things in place to acquire Calgary Flames coveted defenseman Noah Hanifin.

Tampa has been reported as the preferred destination for Hanifin in a pending trade ahead of Friday’s deadline. There is the issue for the Lightning to sign Hanifin once they acquire him though the team needs to look at its tight cap and have enough to re-sign captain Steven Stamkos in the offseason.

Several teams have been linked to Hanifin, including the Florida Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights, Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings, but the Lightning may be setting up a perfect plan to be the ones to acquire Hanifin before the deadline buzzer rings.

More to come.

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