Quoting: Bickellai_Khabibulin
Tampa has to lose somebody sooner than later. Cernak will cost £5m onwards. The Lightning can't afford both Sergachev and Cernak plus others on those contracts. All the draft picks spent on Hagel need to be replenished as well, otherwise its Chicago Blackhawks/LA Kings 2.0 for the Lightning so something is going to give.
Same old song and dance isn't it.
They'll lose Stamkos to free agency.
They won't be able to afford Kucherov/Vasy.
They won't be able to keep Point.
They won't be able to keep Cirelli, Cernak, Sergachev.
They won't be able to move Johnson without a massive overpay.
Now they won't be able to keep Cirelli, Cernak, Sergachev? Well they've got all next year to figure it out and even if they don't they're all RFAs anyway.
Tampa hasn't had a first round pick in years but had consistently added 2-3 skilled players every season. The Hagel picks aren't as dire as you think they are.
One day there will be a reckoning. But so long as Kuch, Point, Stamkos, Heddy, Vasy are around Tampa will continue to surround them with skill players like Cernak, Cirelli, Sergachev. Not trade them away.