Tampa Bay Lightning make room for stuttering by dealing Sergachev, Jeannot?

TAMPA, Florida – Less than 48 hours after the Lightning’s season ended in Sunrise, general manager Julien BriseBois spoke to the media about the one topic most people care about: the re-signing of Steven Stamkos.

“The goal is for him to continue playing on a competing team with the Tampa Bay Lightning,” BriseBois said. “It’s obviously a priority to see if we can achieve this. I have a lot of hope.

The moves made Saturday seem to indicate the captain will remain in Tampa. In fact, the return of defenseman Ryan McDonagh to Amalie Arena last month seemed like a sign the Lightning were on the verge of another title run. Now.

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Bringing back a member of a core that won two Stanley Cups would seemingly make no sense if the face of the franchise was not to be retained.

On Saturday, the Lightning dealt Mikhail Sergachev and Tanner Jeannot while freeing up more than $11 million in cap space.

Sergachev, 26, who signed an eight-year extension in July 2022 with an $8.5 million salary-cap hit through the end of the 2030-31 term, was sent to Utah (formerly Arizona) for 24-year-old defenseman JJ Moser and 20-year-old forward Connor Geekie.

Moser played in 80 games with the Coyotes last season (26 points), and Geekie, selected in the 11th round by Arizona in 2022, scored 43 goals and recorded 99 points while playing for two NHL Hockey League teams. ‘West. The Lightning also received a seventh-round pick in this weekend’s draft and a fourth-round pick next year.

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Jeannot was sent to Los Angeles in exchange for a fourth-round pick in this weekend’s draft and a second-round pick next year. His cap hit is $2.665 million.

Jeannot was acquired at the 2023 trade deadline in exchange for five draft picks, including a 2025 first-round pick and a 2024 second-round pick, as well as defenseman Cal Foote. Hampered by injuries during his brief stint with the Bolts, Jeannot is coming off a season in which he played 55 games and recorded seven goals and 14 points.

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