from Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times,

Hearing the Lightning has a side deal with the Vegas Golden Knights to protect one or more of its young defensemen.

Those types of trades won't be announced until Wednesday, so details aren't available yet. GM Steve Yzerman neither confirmed nor denied whether he has a side deal.

"It's not something I'd share publicly at this time," Yzerman told the Times.

But it certainly makes sense for Tampa Bay to try to find a way to hold onto both Slater Koekkoek and Jake Dotchin, both of whom were left unprotected.

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