Lightning acquire rights to Jake Guentzel from Carolina

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Cooper Godin
June 30, 2024 (11:33)

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Jake Guentzel is on the move after being traded to another Eastern Conference team on Sunday mornning.

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced in a social media post that they've acquired the rights to Jake Guentzel from Carolina in exchange for a 2025 third round pick.

"The Tampa Bay Lightning have acquired forward Jake Guentzel from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, vice president and general manager Julien BriseBois announced today." The Lightning said.

Guentzel, a native of Omaha, Nebraska, began the 2023-24 season with the Pittsburgh Penguins before being shipped to the Carolina Hurricanes ahead of the trade deadline in March. In 67 games with Pittsburgh and Carolina, Guentzel recorded 77 points (30 goals, 47 assists), 22 penalty minutes and was a plus-25. While with the Hurricanes in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the 29-year-old added nine points in 11 games.

By dealing Tanner Jeannot to Los Angeles and Mikhail Sergachev to Utah on Saturday, Tampa Bay moved out enough salary to ensure that they'll be able to sign Guentzel to a long-term contract at a high cap hit. It also likely means that officially, Steven Stamkos won't be returning to the Lightning and becomes an unrestricted free agent on Monday at 12 pm ET.