The Tampa Bay Lightning have agreed to a contract with Jake Guentzel.
Details about the deal’s money are still unknown, but it might be clear by tomorrow. This news comes right after the Lightning traded a third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft to get Guentzel’s rights from the Carolina Hurricanes. The new contract is expected to last eight years, with Guentzel earning nearly $10 million each year. Since Tampa Bay got his signing rights today, they are the only team that can offer him an eight-year deal. If he had waited until free agency tomorrow, he could only get a seven-year deal like everyone else.
Guentzel was traded to the Hurricanes from the Penguins at the trade deadline and showed he could excel without Sidney Crosby. Now joining Tampa Bay, he might play alongside Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point on the top line. Kucherov just finished a season leading in assists and points . Guentzel brings experience with 520 regular-season games, scoring 227 goals and 491 points over eight years. Known for his playoff performance, he’s scored 38 goals and 67 points in 69 playoff games and has one Stanley Cup win.
Contract Implications:
Depending on how much money Guentzel gets paid, this deal might affect other players on the team. With Steven Stamkos becoming a free agent tomorrow, Tampa Bay may not have enough cap space to re-sign him.
Fans might feel excited about this new addition but worried about losing Stamkos.
Guentzel’s arrival aims to help turn around Tampa Bay’s recent bad luck in playoffs after getting knocked out early two years in a row.
What do you think? Will Guentzel make a big difference for Tampa Bay?
