Report: Tampa Bay Lightning going hard after Jake Guentzel

Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois has been busy on Saturday, moving Mikhail Sergachev and Tanner Jeannot in separate trades and now the Lightning have over $16.5 million in cap space with free agency set for Monday. It sounds like the Lightning have a specific target in mind.

According to Elliotte Friedman, the Lightning are very interested in the Carolina Hurricanes forward who will become an unrestricted free agent. The Hurricanes have been trying hard to get an extension done but word is Guentzel rejected their recent eight-year offer.

As for the Lightning, Friedman mentions "BriseBois indicated Friday that franchise cornerstones Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman were trending in different directions. Stamkos likely headed to free agency (with agent Don Meehan confirming that being the likely scenario) and Hedman to a contract extension on the first day he is eligible, July 1. Tampa’s believed priority target is Jake Guentzel, coming off a 30-goal season in Pittsburgh and Carolina."

Guentzel is also expected to receive contract offers from the Vancouver Canucks, Detroit Red Wings, and Nashville Predators. The 29-year-old former third-round pick has appeared in 520 career NHL games, scoring 227 goals and 491 points. Guentzel also has won multiple Stanley Cups with the Penguins and has produced 67 points in 69 career Stanley Cup Playoff games.

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