SUNRISE, Fla. — Pontus Holmberg of the Toronto Maple Leafs against the Florida Panthers during first … More
This summer has been in stark contrast from that of a year ago for the Tampa Bay Lightning. While fans were not gathered outside Amalie Arena with pitchforks, there was much moaning, groaning and other expressions of disappointment when Steven Stamkos signed with Nashville upon the free agency window opening last summer.
The writing had long been on the wall and in type that became bolder as time marched along and the Stammer can continued to be kicked down the street. Extending Victor Hedman (four years, $32 million) proved to be the imperative off-season duty for Julien BriseBois, and while the late-May reacquisition of on- and off-ice pillar Ryan McDonagh from the Predators was popular move, it pretty clear the general manager was going about business in a manner that would not include the franchise’s all-time leading scorer.
A June 29 trade that could pay dividends for seasons to come had defenseman J.J. Moser and forward Conor Geekie, now 25 and 21, respectively, arrive in Tampa from Utah in exchange for blueliner Mikhail Sergachev and his $8.5 million AAV. That provided BriseBois with the capital to procure star forward Jake Guentzel from Carolina (for a 2025 third-round pick) and sign him at a rate of $9 million per over seven years. Guentzel fared very well in his first season with the Bolts, collecting a third 40-goal season.
Meanwhile, Moser proceeded to record a plus-20 rating despite missing nearly 30 games, and Geekie, showed flashes of his considerable talent during a rookie campaign (52 games, 8 goals) that also included a roughly two-month stint at Syracuse of the AHL.
Indeed, nothing this summer was going to compare with last year’s activity. Still, BriseBois and the Bolts, with $5.5 million in cap space, went to work fortifying the ranks in the aftermath of a draft that yielded eight selections led by forward Ethan Czata, who had 21 goals and 55 points in 68 games with Niagara (OHL), at No. 56.
Keeping Goncalves
With veteran Yanni Gourde re-signing in late May at an AAV of $2.33 million over six years, there was also a strong desire to retain the services of 24-year-old forward Gage Goncalves. In a 26-game stretch commencing with his season debut with the parent club November 5, the forward produced all of one goal and one assist and, ultimately, another flight to Syracuse. However, he was back with the Crunch less than two weeks before he was summoned once again.
“You would just want to see guys go down there and not hang their head and keep working at their game, and that’s what he did,” coach Jon Cooper said at the time.
Goncalves was 7-11-18 over his final 34 regular season games. That was followed by 1-3-4 in all five games of Tampa Bay’s first round playoff series loss to the Panthers, an experience that could only be of benefit. Cooper, BriseBois, et al, undoubtedly approved of what they saw and re-signed him to a two-year deal with an AAV of $1.2 million.
“It really means a lot to sign this deal, and hopefully I can just keep growing as a player and kind of as a person in Tampa,” said the second-round, 2020 pick.
Improving even-strength ‘model’
With UFAs Luke Glendening and Cam Atkinson not in the plan for 2025-26, the Lightning needed to address the bottom six of its forward ranks. The need was fulfilled when Pontus Holmberg and Jakob Pelletier did not receive qualifying offers from the Maple Leafs and Flyers, respectively, and signed with the Bolts. In Holmberg, Tampa Bay has a player who, according to BriseBois, can be tough to play against.
“He’s a pest, goes to the hard areas, takes pride in his work ethic and, in being particularly competitive and feisty, draws penalties,” said the GM. “Our model is to be a really good defensive team, a really good five-on-five team. He allows us to be an even better version of that model. That’s why we brought him in.”
Holmberg was signed to a two-year deal at an average of $1.55 million. The 26-year-old, who made his NHL debut with the Leafs in 2022-23, played in 68 games with Toronto last season and was 7-19-26 in 12:40 of ice time. His 53 blocked shots were third among the team’s forwards.
BUFFALO – James Reimer of the Buffalo Sabres makes a save on a shot by Jakob Pelletier of the … More
The 24-year-old Pelletier was 7-12-19 in 49 games with the Flyers and Flames. He signed for three years beginning with a two-way deal for the 2025-26 season prior to the final two years converting to a one-way term. He has played 86 career NHL games and made his debut with Calgary versus the Lightning during the second half of the 2022-23 season.
The Lightning also brought back Boris Katchouk on a one-year, two-way deal. The 27-year-old played his first 38 NHL games with Tampa Bay in 2021-22 prior to being dealt to the Blackhawks at that season’s trade deadline. He was sent to Chicago along with a pair of first-round picks (2023 and 2024) and forward Taylor Raddysh in return for Brandon Hagel. That has worked out pretty well, hasn’t it?
Katchouk, who has played 176 NHL games with the Lightning, ‘Hawks and Senators, spent last season with the Penguins’ AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre-Scranton, scoring 21 goals.
