Source: Jake Guentzel, Tampa Bay Lightning agree to contract

Winger Jake Guentzel and the Tampa Bay Lightning have agreed in principle on a new contract, a source told ESPN on Sunday, confirming information.

Full details of the signing are expected to be announced on Monday, with the contract expected to last for seven years.

The Lightning acquired Guentzel from the Carolina Hurricanes earlier Sunday in exchange for a 2025 third-round pick. That gave Tampa Bay an exclusive window to negotiate with Guentzel before the unrestricted free-agent market opens Monday.

Guentzel, 29, has scored 30 goals four times, including 30 goals in 67 games between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Hurricanes last season. He won the Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 2017.

The Lightning cleared significant salary space Saturday at the NHL Draft, sending defenseman Mikhail Sergachev ($8.5 million average annual value) to Utah and forward Tanner Jeannot ($2,665 average annual value). million dollars) to the Los Angeles Kings.

Many have speculated that these moves were made in an effort to re-sign captain Steven Stamkos, who will become an unrestricted free agent on Monday. But BriseBois told ESPN that he did not increase his offer to Stamkos following those trades and that the player and team expected him to test free agency.

“It’s in the best interest of our organization to explore all options in the coming days, whether it’s through trades or entering free agency,” BriseBois said. “We have that cap space. We can allocate it in different ways, either by getting volume or quality. I don’t know yet how we’re going to do that. I know the priority will be to take care of our forward group.”

Guentzel is four years younger than Stamkos and could slide into his old position on left wing with center Brayden Point and right wing Nikita Kucherov.

Guentzel was one of the most coveted forwards on the free-agent market heading into the offseason. With his arrival in Tampa, that honor could now be bestowed on Stamkos.

News of the deal was first reported by Daily Faceoff.