Photo credit: NHL

A day before free agency, the Carolina Hurricanes trade pending UFA Jake Guentzel to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for a 2025 third round pick.

Guentzel, who spent his first eight NHL seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins, playing alongside stars in Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin & Kris Letang, was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes at the trade deadline.

Guentzel, who won a Stanley Cup in 2017 and a two-time NHL all-star, was a top line Center for Carolina, with 8 goals and 25 points in 17 games, along with 9 points in 11 playoff games.

Tampa, who still has a top free agent in Steven Stamkos, now adds Guentzel as a potential top-line option in their lineup in the case Stamkos does not return to the Bolts. Sportsnet’s Hockey insider Elliotte Friedman projects Guentzel to get a potential eight-year contract with an $8M AAV.

The Lightning cleared cap space at the draft, trading defenseman Mikhail Sergachev to the Utah Hockey Club and forward Tanner Jeannot to the Los Angeles Kings during the 2024 NHL Draft, clearing just over $11M in cap space for Tampa.

Guentzel, 29 had 30 goals, 47 assists & 77 points in 67 games this season for the Penguins and Hurricanes.