It's not bad enough that the Tampa Bay Lightning had a horrible season. Add to that the financial trouble the new owners are experiencing. Now add to that the salary of the team as it sits today for next season, along with the seemingly never ending list of restricted free agents and unrestricted free agents the Lightning have and this is a recipe for disaster.

As a fan of the team I can honestly say I am worried. Forward Vinny Lecavalier is set to start on his new $10 million a year contract this upcoming season, and I cannot think of  a team dumb enough to take on a salary like that knowing in two seasons the cap is going to go down up to $7 million a season.

More than one-fifth of the Lightning payroll could be wrapped up in this one player. It's difficult to build a team around a star player when you have no money to work with. Martin St. Louis is on the books for $4 million a year and Ryan Malone is signed up at $4.25 million a year.

The mistake getting forward Radim Vrbata for no reason is going to cost this team $3 million over the next two seasons, And that does not begin to mention all the holes that are left to fill from UFA's. Five UFA's are looking for new contracts. None of which would be more than fourth line players in the NHL.

But on defense they have another five that will be unrestricted as well. In goal both Mike Mckenna and Karri Ramo are restricted but are going to be looking for some sort of raise. That seems to be more than one should have to handle. Here comes the No. 2 pick in the upcoming lottery.

I have already been forced to say the next few years for Tampa are going to be trying at best. The front office is going to have to work some serious magic to unload some of this enormous payroll to try and make the team successful down the road.