The Tampa Bay Lightning are entering what should be a busy summer for them. Their goal will be to strengthen their roster after a five-game exit against the Florida Panthers in the first round.
The Lightning have multiple pending free agents who they could lose or simply move on from this off-season. Defenseman Nick Perbix is one of their top pending unrestricted free agents (UFA), and if he walks, the Lightning will need to find a replacement for him on their right side. When looking at potential options, Boston Bruins defenseman Henri Jokiharju stands out.
Jokiharju is a pending UFA who would have the potential to provide the Lightning's blueline with a boost. This is because the 2017 first-round pick is a solid two-way defenseman who works in all situations. Furthermore, at just 25 years old, there is reason to believe that the former top prospect can hit a new level in the right situation.
When looking at the Lightning's defensive group, Jokiharju could be a strong addition to their third pairing with Emil Lilleberg. In addition, he would also offer the Lightning another option for their penalty kill to work with.
Jokiharju also quietly had a solid 2024-25 season. In 60 games split between the Buffalo Sabres and Bruins on the year, he posted three goals, 10 points, and a plus-13 rating. When noting that both the Sabres and Bruins were the two worst teams in the Atlantic Division this season, Jokiharju's plus-13 rating stands out.
Nevertheless, if the Lightning lose Perbix, Jokiharju would be a strong replacement for him. This is because he is a steady bottom-pairing defenseman right in his prime who can jump up in the lineup if needed. It will be intriguing to see if the Lightning target him this off-season from here.
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