The Tampa Bay Lightning have a trade candidate worth watching in Calgary Flames winger Joel Farabee, and he checks a box Tampa Bay could use right now.
If the Lightning are going to improve through the trade market this season, a middle-six winger makes a lot of sense. Their current forward group could use another piece in that range, and Farabee fits the profile of a player who could help balance things out.
Farabee’s name has already been circulating in the rumor mill, and Calgary’s situation is part of why. The Flames are rebuilding and sit among the bottom teams in the NHL, so a move this season can’t be dismissed.
From Tampa Bay’s perspective, the appeal is obvious. Farabee is 26 and has shown he can chip in offensively. He could fit on the second line with Jake Guentzel and Brayden Point, while also giving the Lightning another skilled option on the power play.
He has started this season with five assists in eight games. Last season, he put up 20 goals and 38 points in 82 games with Calgary. That kind of production would give Tampa Bay more secondary scoring, which is exactly what makes him an interesting target.
There’s also the contract side of it. Farabee would not just be a short-term add, since he carries a $5 million cap hit through the 2027-28 season.
It will be worth watching whether Tampa Bay actually pushes to get something done with Calgary on Farabee this season.
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