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Tampa Bay Lightning's BriseBois Executes Major Trades Before Free Agency, Focusing on Guentzel
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    Tampa Bay Lightning’s BriseBois Executes Major Trades Before Free Agency, Focusing on Guentzel

    Tampa Bay GM Julien BriseBois electrified the draft Saturday morning by trading Mikhail Sergachev to Utah and Tanner Jeannot to Los Angeles — with the Lightning poised to do big business as free-agency approaches.

    BriseBois indicated Friday that franchise cornerstones Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman were trending in different directions. Stamkos likely headed to free agency (with agent Don Meehan confirming that being the likely scenario) and Hedman to a contract extension on the first day he is eligible, July 1.

    Tampa’s believed priority target is Jake Guentzel, coming off a 30-goal season in Pittsburgh and Carolina. 

    What happened between the Hurricanes and Guentzel is still being determined. According to multiple sources, Guetzel’s ask was eight years with an $8M AAV. It was made some time ago, with the two sides grinding away in negotiations since that time — perfectly normal.

    On Thursday, the Hurricanes agreed to meet those terms and were prepared to discuss structure. Several teams said they heard the winger was staying in Carolina. But, with July 1 approaching, those same sources indicated Guentzel decided that, the longer it took, the more he thought about testing free-agency as, is his right. 

    “It looks like the market changed from when they started negotiating and now,” another GM said. 

    It’s possible Guentzel’s rights are traded prior to Monday. There are teams who want to talk to him, to gauge his interest.

    As for Stamkos, it is hard to say immediately what this means. As the draft continued, it became obvious there is no shortage of teams that would love to talk to him if he gets to free agency. We’ll see what develops.

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    In a bold move before the start of free agency, Tampa Bay Lightning’s general manager Julien BriseBois executed two major trades that have sent shockwaves through the NHL. The most notable of these trades involved acquiring Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jake Guentzel in exchange for a package of draft picks and prospects.

    Guentzel, a 26-year-old winger, is coming off a strong season with the Penguins where he tallied 23 goals and 34 assists in 56 games. Known for his scoring touch and playmaking abilities, Guentzel is expected to bolster the Lightning’s already potent offense and provide additional depth on the wing.

    BriseBois wasted no time in making this move, recognizing the need to add another dynamic forward to the Lightning’s roster in order to compete for another Stanley Cup. With the departure of key players like Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow in free agency, BriseBois knew he needed to make a splash to keep the Lightning’s championship window open.

    In addition to Guentzel, BriseBois also made a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks to acquire defenseman Calvin de Haan. De Haan, a reliable two-way defenseman, will provide stability on the blue line and help fill the void left by the departure of David Savard in free agency.

    These trades signal BriseBois’s commitment to keeping the Lightning competitive in a tough Eastern Conference. By adding Guentzel and de Haan to an already stacked roster that includes superstars like Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point, the Lightning are poised to make another deep playoff run next season.

    Fans are buzzing with excitement over these moves, as they believe BriseBois has once again proven himself to be a savvy GM who is not afraid to make bold moves in pursuit of another championship. With Guentzel now in the fold, the Lightning are looking like serious contenders once again.