The Lightning continued their off-season makeover as they sent a 2025 third round pick to the Carolina Hurricanes for forward Jake Guentzel. Considered the number one target on the free agent market, the 29-year-old has 227 goals in 520 games with Pittsburgh and Carolina.
By trading for him, the Lightning pick up an extra day to negotiate a long-term extension before free agency starts on Monday. For Carolina, they pick up an extra draft pick next year for a player that likely wouldn’t sign with them. It has long been rumoured that an 8-year, $64 million offer had been Carolina’s offer, but the two sides couldn’t come to terms.
If the Lightning can’t come to a deal with Guentzel by tomorrow, he will head to market.
