Mikhail Sergachev has been an up-and-coming defenceman for the Tampa Bay Lightning for years now, getting better and better and being given more of an increased role every season, and it looks like they will be hoping he can take that next step next season and take over the key minutes that McDonagh would play.
Sergachev has one more season left on a contract that pays him $4,800,000, and it will still be an RFA at the end of it. It doesn't look like he wants to wait another season before negotiating his next deal though as he just made an interesting change ahead of the start of free agency.
Sergachev has hired a new agent, which is the same agent used by both follow Russian teammates Nikita Kucherov and Andrei Vasilevksiy.
Mikhail Sergachev has made an agent change. The Tampa Bay defenceman has signed on with @HockeyAgent1� Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) July 4, 2022
Sergachev has put up 5 straight 30+ point seasons, primarily playing on a third pairing and on the second powerplay, but with the departure of McDonagh, look for those minutes to increase significantly.
With the potential offensive upside of Sergachev, and the increased role they are hoping from him next season, his new agent Dan Milstein will most likely not be getting a team friendly deal for the Bolts.
Millstein has negotiated quite a few contracts in his career and even got Nikita Zaitsev who isn't nearly as good as Sergachev, a $4.5 million deal. So if Sergachev is looking for a big payday on his next deal, he definitely hired the right agent.
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Should Sergachev take a team friendly deal | ||
yes | 219 | 47.2 % |
no | 245 | 52.8 % |
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