Atlantic Division rival could be losing their ''Zach Hyman'' this summer and the Leafs should sign him

The flat cap continues to wreak havoc on many of the NHL's top teams, including the Toronto Maple Leafs, who have some very important decisions to make this summer. What's worse, is that it may end up costing them their starting goaltender, as Jack Campbell is rumoured to be looking for a $5M AAV on his next deal - a price that the Leafs may be unable to pay.

That said though, the Leafs are not the only team in the Atlantic Division would are almost certain to look very different next season. Per Kevin Allen, the Tampa Bay Lightning are expected to lose forwards Ondrej Palat, Nick Paul and defenseman Jan Rutta this summer due to salary cap constraints.

While the Bolts seem to like what Paul and Rutta both bring to the table, the real, substantial loss here is obviously Ondrej Palat. Palat has been an important player for the Bolts - especially during their back-to-back Cup runs in 2020 and 2021. A reliable, gritty, defensively responsible workhorse who shows up and does his job, never taking a shift off.

In a lot of ways, Palat is to Tampa what Zach Hyman was to Toronto, albeit probably a better version. What Leafs fans felt last summer watching Zach Hyman walk, that's what the Bolts fans are going to feel if the Lightning can't find a way to make the money work to bring him back.

My opinion on the matter - and I've said this before - is that if Palat makes it to free agency, the Leafs should take a good run at signing him. He could end up being for us what Zach Hyman has been for the Oilers this season. The only difference is that the Leafs should try to get Palat for half the length of Hyman's deal - even if the AAV is similar. Probably wishful thinking though.

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