The Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning have had their core collectively for years and hope to be capable to carry that ahead.

Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos, Yanni Gourde, Tyler Johnson, Alex Killorn, Victor Hedman, Ryan McDonagh and Andrei Vasilevskiy are signed long-term and Brayden Level has two years left on his deal earlier than he turns into a restricted free agent.

Even a pair newcomers, Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow, are signed subsequent season.

However protection could possibly be a difficulty, with Mikhail Sergachev due a increase as a restricted free agent. Erik Cernak can be restricted.

The Tampa Bay Lightning must negotiate with defenseman Mikhail Sergachev this offseason.

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Kevin Shattenkirk, who signed after being purchased out by the New York Rangers and scored in time beyond regulation in Recreation 4, is an unrestricted free agent. So is Zach Bogosian.

They will additionally must re-sign restricted free agent ahead Anthony Cirelli. Again-to-back Stanley Cup champion Pat Maroon is unrestricted.

The Lightning’s projected cap hit is about $76 million, in line with capfriendly.com, and the wage cap for subsequent season is flat at $81.5 million.

The runner-up Dallas Stars have a projected $66 million cap hit, however have gamers to re-sign.

Goaltender Ben Bishop is signed for an additional three years, however he has had harm points, together with this postseason. Anton Khudobin performed admirably in Bishop’s absence, and he’s an unrestricted free agent.

Different unrestricted free brokers embrace defenseman Andrej Sekera and ahead Corey Perry.

Forwards Denis Gurianov, Radek Faksa and Roope Hintz are restricted.

Defenseman Miro Heiskanen, who had a breakout postseason, can be within the last yr of his entry-level contract subsequent season, so the Stars might attempt to negotiate an extension with the 21-year-old.

Interim coach Rick Bowness, 65, and the Stars will determine if he’ll assume the full-time job after he changed fired Jim Montgomery through the season. Basic supervisor Jim Nill mentioned earlier that Bowness has earned the fitting.

“I nonetheless have the eagerness to compete,” Bowness mentioned after Monday’s loss. “I nonetheless have the eagerness to teach. … I’ve all the time informed my household that on the day I get up and I do not wish to go to the rink, then I do know the eagerness’s gone. We’re not there but. I am simply going to maintain pushing.”

This text initially appeared on USA TODAY: After Stanley Cup, Lightning, Stars have offseason selections to make