A week ago, the chances of the Tampa Bay Lightning signing the top name on the free agent market were as likely as finding a real pirate at Gasparilla. Yet, on July 1st, they announced that they signed forward Jake Guentzel to a 7-year contract with an AAV of $9 million. Technically, Guentzel never made it to the free agent market as general manager Julien BriseBois traded a third-round pick for his rights on Sunday.
Jake Guentzel 7 year contract with Tampa Bay:
AAV: $9M
Salary
Yr1: $1,000,000
Yr2: $1,000,000
Yr3: $3,957,895
Yr4: $1,000,000
Yr5: $1,000,000
Yr6: $1,000,000
Yr7: $1,000,000
Signing Bonus
Yr1: $12,263,157
Yr2: $8,947,368
Yr3: $4,000,000
Yr4: $6,957,895
Yr5: $6,957,895
Yr6:…Guentzel, 29-years-old, is expected to fill in on the top line with Steven Stamkos having departed the franchise for free agency.