The Tampa Bay Lightning continued their makeover on Sunday by trying to jump the gun with a top NHL free agent.
The Lightning acquired the rights to star forward Jake Guentzel from the Hurricanes on Sunday, trading a 2025 third-round pick to Carolina.
By making the trade, the Lightning get an exclusive window to negotiate a potential seven-year contract with Guentzel before free agency officially opens on Monday.
Tampa Bay general manager Julien BriseBois is ostensibly optimistic about striking a deal with Guentzel, for it’d be foolish to give up a third-round pick just to see him sign elsewhere.
Guentzel, 29, had been with the Penguins his entire career until he was dealt to the Hurricanes at this year’s trade deadline, helping Carolina reach the second round of the playoffs, where they fell to the Rangers.
He had 30 goals and 47 assists this past season, recording eight goals and 17 assists in 17 regular-season games with the ‘Canes before notching four goals and five assists in 11 playoff matches.
The Hurricanes offered Guentzel an eight-year, $64 million contract before the trade, according to The Athletic.
A big-money deal for Guentzel would seemingly spell the end of the Steven Stamkos era in Tampa, with the forward set to become a free agent after 16 seasons with the club.
Stamkos, 34, had 40 goals and 41 assists this past season, and the Cup-winning captain has 1,137 points in 1,082 career regular-season games.
The trade for Guentzel’s rights comes a day after the Lightning traded 26-year-old defenseman Mikhail Sergachev to Utah and 27-year-old forward Tanner Jeannot to the Kings, clearing out their $8.5 million and $2.665 million cap hits, respectively.
The Post’s Larry Brooks reported the Rangers were believed to have checked in on Guentzel, though his expected high salary is an almost impossible match for the Blueshirts, who have been focused on reuniting with Patrick Kane.
