NHL trade tracker: Lightning acquire Jake Guentzel's rights before free agency

The Tampa Bay Lightning made clear Sunday what Saturday's big trades were all about.

A day after clearing out cap space by trading two-time Stanley Cup winner Mikhail Sergachev to the Utah Hockey Club and Tanner Jeannot to the Los Angeles Kings , the Lightning acquired the negotiating rights to Jake Guentzel.

They sent the Carolina Hurricanes a third-round pick and can negotiate with the top available player before free agency opens at noon ET on Monday. They'll be able to offer him an eight-year deal.

Guentzel was also the prize of the trade deadline and the Hurricanes gave up Michael Bunting, three prospects and two draft picks to land him. Guentzel, who was Sidney Crosby's linemate in Pittsburgh, is a proven playoff scorer.

A look at the bigger NHL trades since mid-June:

SCOUTING REPORTS: A look at all of the 32 first round picks

WINNERS, LOSERS: Surprise pick has priceless reaction

June 30: Lightning acquire rights to Jake Guentzel

Assuming he signs, he'll give the Lightning an elite scorer who slots in well as a linemate to star players. He's five years younger than Steven Stamkos, who's headed to free agency. The third-round pick gives the Hurricanes something back after they had a big outlay to land Guentzel at the trade deadline.

June 29: Lightning trade Mikhail Sergachev to Utah

The Lightning get back defenseman J.J. Moser, forward Conor Geekie and two draft picks.

This is a shocker because the Lightning in 2022 had signed Sergachev, 26, to an eight-year, $68 million contract extension. But the Lightning are cap-strapped and his no-movement clause would have kicked in next week. He was a key member on their two Stanley Cup teams but suffered two injuries last season and finished with 19 points in 34 games. Moser is 24 and has totaled 57 points over the last two seasons.

Sergachev gives Utah a big-name defenseman. He averages close to 23 minutes a game and had 64 points in 2022-23.

Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois said the team was deep on left side defensemen and he wanted to improve the forward group. He cited Geekie's promise and also said the increased salary cap space gives Tampa Bay opportunities in free agency or further trades.

He also mentioned that he didn't use the extra money to improve his offer to Steven Stamkos. The captain will test free agency on Monday, BriseBois said.

June 29: Lightning trade Tanner Jeannot to Kings

This is acknowledging a mistake. The Lightning gave up five draft picks to land rugged Jeannot from the Nashville Predators. But the one-time 24-goal scorer had eight goals in 75 games in Tampa Bay. The Lightning get back second-round picks in 2024 and 2025 from the Kings.

June 29: Maple Leafs acquire rights to Chris Tanev

Chris Tanev is the best defensive defenseman in the free agent class and the Maple Leafs need to improve their defense. He finished third in blocked shots during the regular season and was first in the playoffs. The assumption is he could be signed before hitting free agency. The Stars, who gave up two prospects and two draft picks at the trade deadline, get American Hockey League winger Max Ellis and a 2026 seventh-round pick in Saturday's deal.

June 29: Capitals acquire Logan Thompson from Golden Knights

Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon said Thompson had requested a trade. The Capitals had a goalie opening after trading Darcy Kuemper. Charlie Lindgren has claimed the No. 1 role in Washington and Thompson will be a good backup who could fill in if there's an injury. The Golden Knights, who are short on draft capital, get two third-round picks.

June 29: Golden Knights, Devils make trade

The Golden Knights acquire forward Alexander Holtz and goalie Akira Schmid and the Devils get forward Paul Cotter and a 2025 third-round pick.

This is a follow-up to the Thompson trade and Schmid will slot in as Adin Hill's backup. He was available because the Devils now have veterans Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen in net. Holtz, 22, is a former first-round pick who cracked the Devils roster this season.

June 29: Utah acquires John Marino from Devils

This move gives Utah two top-four defensemen (Sergachev and Marino) in a manner of minutes. Marino is signed for three more seasons. Three draft picks are included in the move. The trade clears out space if the Devils want to be busy in the free agent market.

June 29: Blues trade Kevin Hayes to Penguins

The Blues also send a second-round to Pittsburgh in exchange for future considerations. Essentially this is a salary cap dump. His cap hit totals more than $14 million over the next two seasons, though the Flyers hold 50% of that from a previous trade.

June 28: Trades on first day of draft

The Edmonton Oilers acquire the 32nd overall pick from the Philadelphia Flyers for a conditional first-round pick in the 2025 draft.

Utah Hockey Club acquires the 24th pick from the Colorado Avalanche for a second-round pick (No. 38) and a third-round pick (No. 71) in the 2024 draft and a second-round pick in the 2025 draft.

Anaheim Ducks acquire the 23rd pick from the Toronto Maple Leafs for the 31st pick and a 2024 second-round pick (No. 58).

Minnesota Wild acquire the 12th pick from the Flyers for the 13th pick and a 2025 third-round pick.

June 28: Montreal Canadiens and Los Angeles Kings swap picks

The Canadiens move up to the 21st pick, giving the Kings the 26th pick, a second-rounder and a seventh-rounder. This is the third trade involving movement in the first round. The San Jose Sharks and Buffalo Sabres also swapped picks, as did the Chicago Blackhawks and New York Islanders.

June 27: Capitals acquire Andew Mangiapane from Flames

T.J. Oshie is dealing with an injury and his future is uncertain. Mangiapane is 28 and scored 35 goals two seasons ago, though his numbers have dropped off. He has a year left on his contract. The Capitals give up a 2025 second-rounder.

June 27: Sharks, Sabres swap first-round picks

The Sharks move up three spots to No. 11 and the Sabres get the 14th overall pick plus a second-rounder. The Sharks have been busy recently. They claimed Barclay Goodrow off waivers and acquired Carl Grundstrom and Ty Dellandrea in trades as they try to build around expected No. 1 pick Macklin Celebrini.

June 24: Senators acquire Linus Ullmark from Bruins

The signing of goaltender Joonas Korpisalo didn't pay off, so the Senators are upgrading their goaltending with a former Vezina Trophy winner. Korpisalo will back up Jeremy Swayman, who's due a big raise. The , Bruins also get forward Mark Kastelic and the 25th overall pick.

June 19: Kings acquire Darcy Kuemper from Capitals

It's a win-win because the Kings upgrade their goaltending with a former Stanley Cup winner and they trade disappointing center Pierre-Luc Dubois. The Capitals are light at center because they traded Evgeny Kuznetsov and Nicklas Backstrom has a long-term injury .

June 19: Devils acquire goalie Jacob Markstrom from Flames

Inconsistent goaltending was the Devils' downfall last season. Now, their tandem is veterans Markstrom and Jake Allen. The Flames get defenseman Kevin Bahl and a 2025 first-round pick.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL trade tracker: Lightning acquire Jake Guentzel's rights before free agency