The Tampa Bay Lightning came ever so close to completing the coveted three-peat. After losing in six games against the Colorado Avalanche in the 2022 Stanley Cup Final, the Lightning will be looking to bounce back next season and make another push for a championship. The Lightning may be down right now, but they are by no means out of the mix for next year's title race.

Tampa Bay is one of the most well-rounded teams in all hockey, with gifted attackers and talented defenders. Their team chemistry is among the best in the league, too, as their core guys have endured long playoff runs side by side. In terms of needed improvements, there's really not much the Lightning need in order to contend for another title.

As it stands, most of their key players are locked down for the 2022-23 season. They have Ondrej Palat, Jan Rutta, and Nicholas Paul set for unrestricted free agency, so they don't have too many key decisions to make in that regard. Additionally, they still own their first-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, meaning they could add a valuable piece for the future in the offseason, especially given they haven't had a first-rounder in each of the past two drafts. While trading their pick may be tempting, it could leave them scrambling in the long term.

With all that in mind, it's time to discuss the two moves the Lightning must make this offseason in order to get back to the Stanley Cup Final in 2023.

 

2 moves Lightning must make in 2022 NHL offseason to return to Stanley Cup

2. Re-sign Nicholas Paul, move on from Jan Rutta

Considering the Lightning only have a few players set for unrestricted free agency, it stands to reason that this team will look quite similar in 2022-23. One player who could reasonably be moved on from in the offseason is Nicholas Paul, who was acquired at the trade deadline from the Ottawa Senators. A long-term deal for Paul doesn't make a lot of sense, but if he's willing to re-up on a short-term and inexpensive contract, that's something the Lightning should jump on.

Paul presents the Lightning with some much-needed physicality and speed. Throughout the series with the Avs, it was clear to see there were times that the high-octane Colorado offense was simply outpacing Tampa Bay. Getting a strong and quick skater like Paul back in the mix will help mitigate that threat.

As for Rutta, he certainly won't be under much consideration for a long-term extension, so it could be most prudent to let him hit the open market, especially if they opt to bring Paul back.

1. Re-sign Ondrej Palat to a multi-year extension

Palat's situation is much different than that of Paul and Rutta. Palat has played his entire career in Tampa and has an excellent relationship with head coach Jon Cooper. The two came up together as coach and player through Tampa's minor league affiliates, and Palat has been one of the most efficient 7th-round picks in NHL postseason history. It's clear both sides are keen on a reunion, and getting that done should be Tampa's top priority over the summer.

At 31 years old, Palat is likely looking at his final NHL contract, so it'll probably be somewhere in the range of 4-5 years. Palat's current deal, which is set to expire, paid him $26.5 million across five years, for an average annual value of $5.3 million. It stands to reason that he could be in line for a similar contract this offseason, and at that price, the Lightning should have no reservations about bringing the forward back, especially after his prolific postseason.

Palat's presence on both offense and defense is impossible to ignore, as he's more than capable of disrupting opponents in their attacking third before getting out on the break to deal damage with his linemates on the attack. Ensuring that Palat remains with the Lightning will be critical for Tampa in the offseason.