Lightning: 3 players who won't be back next season after Stanley Cup loss

Lightning: 3 players who won’t be back next season after Stanley Cup loss

TAMPA, FLORIDA - JUNE 26: Brandon Hagel #38, Ryan McDonagh #27, and Alex Killorn #17 of the Tampa Bay Lightning look toward the goal in the first period of Game Six of the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Final against the Colorado Avalanche at Amalie Arena on June 26, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

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TAMPA, FLORIDA – MARCH 04: Brian Elliott #1 of the Tampa Bay Lightning looks on during a game against the Detroit Red Wings at Amalie Arena on March 04, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

Lightning players who won’t be back: Brian Elliott

After two consecutive poor seasons with the Flyers that saw him post save-percentages below .900 for the first time in ten years, Brian Elliott seemed to be nearing the end of his playing career before the Lightning brought him aboard as a backup to Andrei Vasilevskiy.

Elliott made 19 appearances for Tampa Bay last season, posting a solid 11-4 record and a .912 SV%, his highest since 2016 when he made an All-Star Game appearance for the Calgary Flames.

While his extensive playoff record (48 games) was undoubtedly part of the Lightning’s initial attraction to him, the fact is Elliott is an aging player who is strictly a backup and has not had extended success for many years.

The Lightning opted to re-sign Elliott to another one-year contract earlier this year, but there is still a very high chance that the club opts to move on to a younger and, frankly, better backup goaltender option.

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