The Tampa Bay Lightning acquired forward Jake Guentzel from the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday for a third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Guentzel, 29, can become an unrestricted free agent at noon ET on Monday. He completed the final season of a five-year, $30 million contract signed before the 2019-20 season when he played for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Tampa Bay has exclusive rights to sign him, possibly to a maximum seven-year contract, before the window closes Monday.
Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois said Saturday that they expect team captain Steven Stamkos, a star center who is 34, to test free agency.
Carolina had traded in March with Pittsburgh for Guentzel, a 2021 All-Star. He had 22 goals and 30 assists in 50 games for the Penguins, and eight goals and 17 assists with the Hurricanes in 17 regular-season contests for a combined plus-25 rating. He contributed nine points (four goals, five assists) in 11 playoff games.
Pittsburgh selected Guentzel in the third round of the 2013 NHL Draft, and he won a Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 2017.
In eight NHL seasons starting in 2016-17, Guentzel has 227 goals, 264 assists, 31 game-winning scores and has a plus-53 rating in 520 regular-season games. He has an additional 67 points (38 goals, 29 assists) in 69 playoff contests.
–Field Level Media
A day after the Pittsburgh Pirates’ front office declared its intention to keep ace Paul Skenes for the long term, the right-hander will get the start Friday against the visiting…
Carlos Rodon earned his fifth straight win by pitching six solid innings as the host New York Yankees became the second team in the American League to reach 30 victories…
Christian Yelich hit a pair of home runs and finished with four RBIs to help the Milwaukee Brewers open a four-game series with an 8-5 win over the host Pittsburgh…
MLB roundup: Carlos Rodon, Yanks blank Rangers 1-0, sweep series
Christian Yelich blasts 2 homers as Brewers top Pirates
Frost earn stunning OT win over Charge, level PWHL finals
Jose Altuve’s two homers spark Astros’ blowout of M’s
Field Level Media - Professional sports content solutions | FLM
