Carolina Hurricanes trade Jake Guentzel ahead of free agency

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Josh Tupper
June 30, 2024 (11:43)

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Jake Guentzel is officially on the move after being traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning team on Sunday morning.

The Tampa Bay Lightning share via a social media post that they've acquired the rights to Jake Guentzel from Carolina in exchange for a 2025 third round pick.

"The Tampa Bay Lightning have acquired forward Jake Guentzel from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, vice president and general manager Julien BriseBois announced today." The Lightning said.

Here's a rewritten version with a more formal tone:

Jake Guentzel, a native of Omaha, Nebraska, began the 2023-24 season with the Pittsburgh Penguins before being traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in March. Throughout 67 games with both teams, he accumulated 77 points (30 goals, 47 assists), 22 penalty minutes, and a plus-25 rating. In the Stanley Cup Playoffs with the Hurricanes, Guentzel added nine points in 11 games.

To clear sufficient salary cap space, the Tampa Bay Lightning made trades on Saturday, sending Tanner Jeannot to the Los Angeles Kings and Mikhail Sergachev to the Utah Grizzlies. This move enables the Lightning to sign Guentzel to a long-term contract with a substantial cap hit. Additionally, it likely signifies the departure of Steven Stamkos, who will become an unrestricted free agent on Monday at 12 pm ET, officially ending his tenure with the Lightning.