Rumored Lightning Trade Target Off the Board
It is safe to say that the Lightning won't be trading for this player.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are one of the most talked about teams in the rumor mill. They are positioned to be buyers as they look to cement themselves a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. One player connected to the Lightning in recent weeks was Nashville Predators forward Tommy Novak, but that ship has now sailed.
Novak, 26, signed a three-year, $10.5 million contract extension (starting in 2024-25) with the Predators this week, taking him out of the rumor mill. It is tough news for the Lightning, as he could have been a great addition to their middle six.
While the Lightning's biggest priority is adding a defenseman, their forward group could still use more scoring. When noting that Novak currently carries an $800,000 cap hit, he could have been the perfect addition to their roster. Alas, the Lightning will now need to explore their options elsewhere.
In 51 games this season with the Predators, Novak has 13 goals and 34 points. That kind of production would have been nice to add to Tampa Bay's roster.
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