If this is indeed the end of Steven Stamkos’ stay in Tampa, Julien BriseBois has offered himself a good replacement option.
Published at 11:51 a.m.
The Lightning have acquired the rights to forward Jake Guentzel from the Carolina Hurricanes in return for a 3rd round pick.e tour in 2025, Sunday.
We specify “the rights” because Guenztel’s contract expires on 1is July. With this transaction, the Lightning therefore offers itself exclusive negotiation rights with the prolific winger.
Guentzel, 29, had 30 goals and 47 assists for 77 points in 77 games last season, with the Penguins and Hurricanes. He thus crossed the 70 point mark for a third campaign in a row.
Despite the trade, Guentzel cannot sign an eight-year contract with Tampa. The maximum allowed is seven years. To sign an eight-year contract, the player must be a member of the team at the trade deadline immediately preceding the expiration of his contract, pursuant to Article 50.8, Section B, Paragraph IV of the Collective Agreement between the NHL and the Players’ Association.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, ARCHIVES LA PRESSE
Steven Stamkos
In Tampa, he will likely replace Stamkos, whose departure appears imminent. Stamkos also has a contract that expires Monday, and his agent, Don Meehan, told colleague Pierre LeBrun that he will test the free-agent market.
BriseBois, the Lightning’s GM, has created the necessary salary space in recent days to add a big contract to his organization chart. He indeed traded defender Mikhail Sergachev (annual salary of $8.5 million) and forward Tanner Jeannot ($2.665 million) on Saturday.
