Tampa Bay Lightning News

Guentzel had 36 goals, 37 assists, 244 SOG, 46 PIMs and a +2 plus/minus through 78 games with Pittsburgh in 2022-23 and will now miss the next three months and start of the season as he recovers from a successful Ankle surgery. The 28-year-old elite scoring left-winger is expected to be re-evaluated in 12 weeks which means he will miss at least the Penguins' first seven games. It is a massive loss for the Penguins early as Guentzel has scored 99 goals in the previous three seasons.

Abruzzese had two assists, two SOG, and a +1 plus/minus through a short two-game showing with Toronto in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year, two-way extension worth $1.55 million ($775,000 AAV). The 24-year-old centre was Toronto's 2019 4th round draft pick (124th overall) and has a goal, two assists, and two PIMs through 11 career NHL games.

Mitchell had a goal, seven assists, 25 SOG, eight PIMs and a -8 plus/minus through 35 games with Chicago in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, $775,000 AAV contract as a pre-arbitration agreement with Boston. The 24-year-old defenseman had his rights acquired by the Bruins as a part of the deal that saw Taylor Hall head to Chicago. He has four goals and 16 points across 82 career NHL games played.

Chaffee had five goals, two assists, eight PIMs and a +8 plus/minus in a short 10 games showing with Iowa (AHL) in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 AAV with Tampa Bay. The 25-year-old right-winger made his NHL debut in 2021-22 with Minnesota, where he failed to pick up a point in two games.

Santini had an assist, two PIMs and five SOG through four games with St.Louis in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 AAV with Los Angeles. The 28-year-old defenseman was drafted by New Jersey in the second-round of the 2013 draft (42nd overall) and brings five goals, 23 points and 57 PIMs across 123 career NHL games played to the Kings.

Sabourin had 16 goals, 17 assists, 177 PIMs and a +7 plus/minus through 51 games played with Belleville (AHL) in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 AAV with San Jose. The 30-year-old right-winger last played in the NHL in 2021-22 and has appeared in 43 career NHL games with two goals, eight points and 49 PIMs.

It was long rumoured that Jonas Johansson would be returning to Europe following a few disappointing seasons in the NHL but he signed a two-year contract worth $1.55 million ($775K AAV). The 27-year-old goaltender saw limited action with Colorado in 2022-23, posting an impressive 2-0-0 record with a 2.10 GAA and .932 SV%. He brings 35 games of NHL experience to the Lightning and should make a servicable third goaltender.

Perry's rights were traded to the Blackhawks' earlier Thursday for a seventh round draft pick from Tampa Bay and he has signed a one-year, $4 million contract with Chicago. The 38-year-old had 12 goals, 13 assists, 116 SOG, 95 PIMs and a -28 plus/minus through 81 games with Tampa Bay in 2022-23. The veteran right-winger will begin his 19th NHL season in 2023-24, representing his fifth team with the Blackhawks.

Chicago continues to acquire veteran leadership to help them through this transition period. Perry spent the last two seasons in Tampa, where he had 31 goals and 34 assists (65 points) in 163 games. Perry is a pending UFA, so the Blackhawks must get him under contract before Saturday.

Holmberg had five goals, 13 points, 27 SOG, and 18 PIMs through 37 games with Toronto in 2022-23 and has signed a wo-year, $1.6 Million extension ($800,000 AAV). The 24-year-old was Toronto's 2018 sixth round pick (156th overall) and made his NHL debut as a rookie last season.

Mitchell had a goal, seven assists, 25 SOG, eight PIMs and a -8 plus/minus through 35 games with Chicago in 2022-23 and has had his rights traded to Boston alongside Alec Regula for Taylor Hall and Nick Foligno. The 24-year-old has appeared in 82 games across three seasons with Chicago, collecting four goals and 16 points.

GIrgensons had 10 goals, eight assists, 114 SOG, 14 PIMs and a -5 plus/minus through 80 games in 2022-23 with the Sabres and has signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract extension through the 2023-24 season. The 29-year-old left-winger is entering his 10th NHL season with Buffalo, having picked up 174 points (81G/93A) across 625 games.

Martinsen-Lilleberg was originally drafted in the fourth round of the 2021 NHL Draft by the Coyotes. He signed a two-year deal with the Lightning after recording 11 points (3G / 8A) in 46 games with Oskarshamn IK (SHL).

Merela was an undrafted free agent out of Finland, who has spent the last four seasons in Finland's top-tier. In 2023, he had 33 points (15G / 18A) in 41 games with Tappara Tampere (Liiga).

The Lightning selected Groshev in the third round (No.85 overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft. The 21-year-old winger had six points (4G / 2A) in 34 games with St. Petersburg SKA (KHL) in 2023.

Point took a hard hit from Morgan Reilly in Game 3 which caused him to miss a period of the second period and will now be a game-time decision for Game 4 but is expected to play as a whole. The 27-year-old has two goals, three points, 13 SOG, two PIMs and a -1 plus/minus through three games in the Lightning's opening series.