"It's a big-picture trade," Julien BriseBois said at the conclusion of his first NHL draft as Lightning general manager. "Eventually we had to move some money out, and unfortunately, J.T.'s the one guy who didn't have the no-trade clause. He was the easiest one to move."
BriseBois said moving Miller along with a "worst-case" scenario of placing Ryan Callahan on long-term injury exemption gives the Lightning a little breathing room in terms of the salary cap, the upper limit announced at $81.5 million following the draft. The moves should allow them to get a deal completed for their biggest priority Point, whom BriseBois said he isn't concerned he'll be able to sign to a new contract, but it remains early in the process.
"I said from the get-go I expect Brayden to sign with us, and I still think that's the case," BriseBois said.
With the first of their two third-round picks thanks to the haul from the Canucks, the Lightning took Alnefelt to further address that organizational goalie depth.
"I don't think it could have gotten any better," Alnefelt said upon being drafted by the Bolts. "I've heard just a lot of great things about Tampa. I'm just super thrilled and happy."
Alnefelt was the second-ranked European goalie by NHL Central Scouting entering the 2019 draft.
"I would say that I'm a pretty calm goalie who doesn't want to make any bigger movements than I have to," Alnefelt said. "But I'm still pretty explosive. I like to stay on my feet pretty much."
With their original third-round selection, the Lightning chose Slovakian forward Maxim Cajkovic from Saint John of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The 18 year old scored 22 goals and recorded 46 points in 60 games to lead the Sea Dogs in goals, assists (24) and scoring in 2018-19. The Bratislava native also ranked third among all QMJHL rookies for goals and fifth for points.
In the fourth round, the Lightning added to their blueline prospect pool by taking Canadian defenseman Maxwell Crozier out of Sioux Falls of the United States Hockey League with pick No. 120.
Crozier led all Stampede defensemen for goals (10), assists (33), points (43), game-winning goals (2), power-play goals (6), shots (118) and penalty minutes (132). Crozier ranked tied for first among all Sioux Falls skaters for assists and tied for sixth for scoring.
In helping Sioux Falls to a Clark Cup championship in the USHL, Crozier paced the Stampede for playoff assists and tied for the team playoff scoring lead with four goals, seven assists and 11 points in 12 games. He's committed to play at Providence College next season.
The Bolts were without a selection in the fifth round, but in the sixth (182nd overall), they took another defenseman, Quinn Schmiemann from Kamloops of the Western Hockey League. The 17-year-old Schmiemann skated in 58 games with the Blazers in 2018-19, recording five goals and 28 points to rank second among all WHL rookie defensemen for scoring. A native of Wilcox, Saskatchewan, Schmiemann played in six WHL playoff games last season, posting a pair of assists.
