25-26 NHL Regular Season Thread

[DavidEng]

10 hours ago, Panthers Fan 69 said:

Jake absolutely wanted to be here. Tulsky waited too late for the contract. Said so in multiple outlets.  

He wanted to go to Tampa Bay according to some sources. I saw an interview with him where imho he heged and reading between the lines I sensed he was ready to leave.

I don’t say “absolutely” though lol.

 

[Panthers Fan 69]

1 hour ago, DavidEng said:

He wanted to go to Tampa Bay according to some sources. I saw an interview with him where imho he heged and reading between the lines I sensed he was ready to leave.

I don’t say “absolutely” though lol.

 

Yeah. If Tulsky gave him that contract two weeks earlier he would have signed. Canes drug their feet to save some money and it was too late. They eventually offered the same contract but Tampa got him because that no income tax thing. Jake seemed to thrive on this team too. Him and Aho were magic. 

[DavidEng]

5 hours ago, Panthers Fan 69 said:

Yeah. If Tulsky gave him that contract two weeks earlier he would have signed. Canes drug their feet to save some money and it was too late. They eventually offered the same contract but Tampa got him because that no income tax thing. Jake seemed to thrive on this team too. Him and Aho were magic. 

Grok AI:

No, there are no credible reports that the Carolina Hurricanes offered Jake Guentzel the same contract terms as Tampa Bay (7 years, $63 million total, $9 million AAV) before he signed with the Lightning.

Reliable sources, including The Athletic, consistently reported that Carolina’s offer during negotiations was an eight-year deal worth $64 million ($8 million AAV). Guentzel did not accept it promptly, leading the Hurricanes to trade his negotiating rights to Tampa Bay on June 30, 2024, for a 2025 third-round pick. He then quickly signed the 7x$9M deal with the Lightning on July 1, 2024.

Guentzel himself later reflected (in 2025 interviews) that staying in Carolina was his initial preference, but negotiations stalled and “didn’t work out,” with Tampa’s opportunity becoming a “no-brainer.” No reports from outlets like ESPN, NHL.com, or insiders (e.g., Elliotte Friedman, Pierre LeBrun, Frank Seravalli) indicate Carolina ever matched or offered the Lightning’s exact terms—total money, AAV, or length. The extra year was Carolina’s key advantage, but they reportedly stuck closer to $8M AAV and moved on when Guentzel explored options.