The Tampa Bay Lightning have made a significant move to bolster their roster, announcing the acquisition of forward Jake Guentzel from the Carolina Hurricanes. Vice President and General Manager Julien BriseBois revealed that the Lightning traded a third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft to secure Guentzel's services.

Guentzel, 29, had an impressive season last year, skating in 67 games split between the Hurricanes and the Pittsburgh Penguins. He showcased his offensive prowess by notching 30 goals and 77 points, accompanied by a plus-25 rating. Following his arrival in Carolina on March 8, Guentzel made an immediate impact, leading the Hurricanes in assists and overall scoring. In just 17 contests, he registered 25 points and contributed 17 assists. Additionally, Guentzel excelled on the power play, leading all Carolina skaters with nine power-play points during that span.

Having previously lifted the Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 2013, Guentzel brings a wealth of experience to the Lightning roster. Throughout his career, he has played in 520 regular season games, totaling an impressive 227 goals and 491 points. Guentzel's power-play ability is evident with 121 power-play points to his name, as well as showcasing his clutch factor with 31 game-winning goals. In postseason play, he has appeared in 69 games, tallying 67 points, including 38 goals and 29 assists.

Guentzel, who hails from Omaha, Nebraska, was originally drafted by the Penguins in the third round (77th overall) of the 2013 NHL Draft, marking another successful contribution from their drafting strategy.

The addition of Jake Guentzel provides the Tampa Bay Lightning with a talented and experienced forward, strengthening their offensive capabilities. As the team sets its sights on the upcoming season, the Lightning aims to build on their recent success and make a deep playoff run with Guentzel's valuable contributions.