NHL Rumors: Jake Guentzel, Lightning Agree to New Contract After Hurricanes Trade

Jake Guentzel and the Tampa Bay Lightning agreed to a new contract on Sunday, according to Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff.

The terms of the deal were not initially known.

The reported contract agreement comes on the same day the Lightning acquired Guentzel’s rights from the Carolina Hurricanes for a 2025 third-round pick.

As a result, Guentzel’s brief tenure with the Hurricanes ended with the team’s second-round elimination by the New York Rangers.

The move marks Guentzel’s third team in two seasons. He joined the Hurricanes for their playoff run following his trade from the Pittsburgh Penguins in March.

The Lightning will hope Guentzel is able to adjust to his new team as well as he did to the Hurricanes following the midseason trade.

Despite suffering a brutal rib injury that left him sidelined for three weeks prior to the trade deadline, Guentzel was an instant difference-maker in Carolina. The winger recorded two goals and six assists through his first five games with the Canes.

He went on to finish the regular season with eight goals and 17 assists in 17 games, then added four goals and five assists in 11 playoff contests.

There’s plenty of reason to believe Guentzel will continue his consistent production during his age-30 season.

Despite missing 20 games and adjusting to a midseason trade, he finished his eighth NHL season with his fourth straight 30-goal, 70-point campaign.

Guentzel’s offense may not have been enough push the Hurricanes past the New York Rangers in the second round of the 2024 playoffs, but it was enough to prove to the Lightning that he could succeed as a top-line winger even away from Sidney Crosby.

After skating on Crosby’s wing for seven and a half seasons, Guentzel quickly found chemistry with Sebastian Aho on Carolina’s top line.

The veteran winger will be expected to get similar first-line minutes in 2024-25 as a potential linemate for Brayden Point.