Lightning acquire rights to Jake Guentzel from Hurricanes

Carolina Hurricanes' Jake Guentzel (59) watches the puck against the Boston Bruins during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, April 4, 2024. (Karl B DeBlaker/AP)

The Tampa Bay Lighting are looking to keep one of the top goal-scorers on the market from reaching the open market.

The Lightning completed a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes to get the rights to Jake Guentzel in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

Guentzel finished last season with Carolina after a trade-deadline deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 29-year-old is coming off his third-straight 30-goal season and finished last season with 30 goals and 77 points.

Tampa has been busy making moves sending out defenceman Mikhail Sergachev and forward Tanner Jeannot in an attempt to create cap space.

Guentzel helped the Penguins win the Stanley Cup as a rookie in 2017 and was a fixture on the wing next to Sidney Crosby for years. He is coming off a five-year, $30 million contract.

June 30, 2024 - 11:25 am ET
tb Tampa Bay Lightning
Acquire
  • Rights to Jake Guentzel, LW
car Carolina Hurricanes
Acquire
  • Third-round pick (2025)
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