With the 2025 Trade Deadline approaching, the Tampa Bay Lightning are shaping up to be buyers again. They have been one of the busiest teams at the deadline over the past few seasons, for example, trading for Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow during their Stanley Cup runs. However, the Lightning recently moved away from pure rentals when they acquired long-term pieces like Brandon Hagel and Nick Paul at past deadlines. This season, the Lightning could take interest in forward Kyle Palmieri of the New York Islanders. Frank Seravalli wrote an article on Palmieri as a low-cost buy for a contender, and he listed the Lightning as a potential landing spot. Would he be a good fit and at what cost?
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Disclaimer: The players featured in these articles aren’t always linked to the Lightning but have been made available in some capacity this season. These articles consider whether Tampa Bay should target them and at what cost.
Palmieri’s Background
Raised in New Jersey, Palmieri played one season in the NCAA with Notre Dame during the 2009-10 season. After just one season of college hockey, the Anaheim Ducks’ 26th overall selection from 2009 jumped to pro. He split a few seasons between the NHL and American Hockey League (AHL), before becoming a full-time member of the Ducks in 2013.
Palmieri continues to carve out a nice career for himself, reaching the 50-point plateau four times, including two 30-goal campaigns. He’s found success with three clubs, including his hometown New Jersey Devils and his current team, the Islanders. Having turned 34 years old earlier this month, he has a respectable 16 goals and 21 assists for 37 points in 55 games this season. He’s in the final year of his four-year, $20 million contract and will likely take a pay cut this summer.
Palmieri Scouting Report
Palmieri is an energetic winger despite his age. He would slot nicely in a second-line right-wing role in the top six for Tampa Bay while providing a much-needed layer of secondary scoring. While we’ve only looked at two defensive targets for the Lightning, adding a middle-six winger is a better idea for the trade deadline.
Palmieri is a quick-strike offensive player with a shot-first mentality. He generates most of his offense off the rush and…
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