BREAKING: Jake Guentzel Trade Completed As Hurricanes Trade His Signing Rights

The Tampa Bay Lightning now have sole negotiating rights to Jake Guentzel until Monday's deadline after swinging a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes.

#GoBolts acquire the rights to Jake Guentzel from #Canes in exchange for a 2025 3rd Rd Pick.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) June 30, 2024

The Canes receive Tampa's 2025 third-round pick.

The clock is now ticking on the Bolts to get a deal done with the star forward before free agency opens tomorrow. Per CapFriendly, they can offer him a maximum 7-year deal.

Latest addition coming to Tampa! ⚡️

We have acquired forward Jake Guentzel from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

📝: https://t.co/BikEioWds1 pic.twitter.com/jG228tSAqA
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) June 30, 2024

The Hurricanes had offered up Guentzel's negotiating rights for a mid-round pick a couple of weeks back when they lost faith in being able to work out an extension.

But then it was only two days ago that the team apparently circled back and agreed to the Guentzel camp's earlier ask of an 8-year, $8 million AAV deal. But that offer, according to insider Elliotte Friedman, was now getting stale, as the player was getting a better sense of what was out there for him from other teams. Hence, no deal was hammered out.

Now, it's up to the Bolts to get an agreement done.

What this means for longtime Lightning legend Steven Stamkos' future in Tampa is uncertain.

Guentzel had a huge impact in Raleigh in the short time he was there, recording 25 points in 17 regular season games, and another nine points in 11 playoff outings.