The Tampa Bay Lightning have acquired the rights to forward Jake Guentzel from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a 2025 third-round pick. This move comes on the heels of several significant trades by the Lightning, including Mikhail Sergachev, and Tanner Jeannot, as well as the imminent departure of Steven Stamkos. The team’s recent maneuvers have set the stage for a potentially transformative free agency period and Guentzel appears to be their top target.
NHL insider Elliotte Friedman indicated on Saturday that the Lightning were frontrunners to sign Guentzel in free agency. Despite an existing offer from the Hurricanes for eight years at $8 million per season, Guentzel had yet to accept. Friedman suggested that other teams are also interested in Guentzel, but Tampa Bay currently leads the pack. “It’s possible Guentzel’s rights are traded prior to Monday. There are other teams who want to talk to him, to gauge his interest,” Friedman noted. He further added, “I think right now the team to beat for Guentzel is Tampa Bay.”…