According to Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff, the Tampa Bay Lightning have agreed to phrases on a contract with pending UFA ahead Jake Guentzel. The deal’s monetary phrases weren’t disclosed and will take till tomorrow to totally develop. The information comes a couple of hours after the Lightning acquired Guentzel’s rights from the Carolina Hurricanes in trade for a third-round choose within the 2025 NHL Draft.
The reported deal will doubtless verify in at an eight-year time period with the Lightning proudly owning sufficient cap house to offer Guentzel practically $10M yearly. As a result of the crew acquired Guentzel’s signing rights earlier right now, Tampa Bay grew to become the one crew in a position to signal Guentzel to an eight-year contract. If Guentzel made it to free company tomorrow, the Lightning would have solely been in a position to supply him a max of seven years — the identical as all different suitors.
After being acquired by the Hurricanes on the commerce deadline from the Pittsburgh Penguins, Guentzel proved past the shadow of a doubt that he may thrive with out taking part in subsequent to Sidney Crosby. Nonetheless, by inking a contract with the Lightning, Guentzel might arguably have higher linemates. The crew will doubtless begin him subsequent to Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point on the highest line, with the previous ending up a season wherein he led the league in assists and factors.
Guentzel will land in Tampa Bay having already performed 520 common season video games on the NHL degree whereas scoring 227 targets and 491 factors by way of eight years. Largely recognized for his postseason contributions; Guentzel is a one-time winner of the Stanley Cup as he’s scored 38 targets and 67 factors in 69 profession video games within the playoffs. After being knocked out within the first spherical of back-to-back postseasons, the Lightning will certainly be in search of Guentzel to assist flip across the crew’s most up-to-date fortunes.
Relying on the monetary phrases of the settlement, the contract between Guentzel and the Lightning group might have some collateral harm. With longtime captain Steven Stamkos hitting the free agent market tomorrow, Tampa Bay might not have the cap flexibility to re-sign him in spite of everything.