NHL: Lightning waives Johnson

By The Associated Press

It didn’t take long for the bubble to begin bursting on the Tampa Bay Lightning's Stanley Cup party.

The effects of a flat salary cap took its toll on the Lightning less than two weeks after winning their second Stanley Cup. Tampa Bay bid farewell to defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, who signed with Anaheim, and the team was forced to place center Tyler Johnson on waivers as the NHL’s free agency period opened Friday.

The Lightning entered the offseason projected to have about $4.5 million of room under the cap, also lost forward Carter Verhaeghe, who signed with Florida. As for Johnson, who had four goals and seven points in 25 playoff games, the former Spokane Chief and Coeur d'Alene Laker was placed on waivers with three years remaining on a seven-year, $35 million contract that includes a no-trade clause.