Tampa Bay traded defenseman Mikhail Sergachev to the Utah Hockey Club on Saturday for defenseman J.J. Moser and forward Conor Geekie, a seventh-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft and a second-round pick in 2025. The Lightning also sent forward Tanner Jeannot to the Los Angeles Kings for a fourth-round pick this year and a second-round selection in 2025.
Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois said Saturday that forward Steven Stamkos, who just played the last season of an eight-year, $68 million contract ($8.5 million average annual value) he signed June 29, 2016, will become a UFA when the market opens.
“I mean look, he’s a Hall of Famer, he’s a special player,” Guentzel said. “I have the utmost respect for the guy. He’s just an unbelievable player and person I’ve heard. I’m not really sure what’s going on or what happened. Hopefully there’s still a chance he can come back. I would love to play with him and see where it goes. I have a lot of respect for him and obviously I’m not sure what’s going to happen.
“It’s part of the business. You’re not really sure what’s going to happen, but obviously this opportunity for me and my family was just tough to pass up. This hockey game, there’s going to be pressure wherever you play, so I feel like you’ve just gotta make the most of the opportunity.”
