The press sure is hot these days, as the news breakers are on full alert, and what do we have here, a trade. In a major move, the Tampa Bay Lightning trade Mikhail Sergachev to the Utah Hockey Club. Furthermore, in return, the Lightning will receive J.J. Moser, Conor Geekie, a 2025 second-round pick, and the 199th selection in this year’s NHL Entry Draft. One interesting part of this deal, is despite Sergachev’s monster $8.5 million annual price tag that runs until the end of the 2030-31 season, the Lightning and General Manager Julien BriseBois were able to convince Utah not to retain any salary. Therefore, let the rumours fly if this is freeing up cap space to re-sign Lightning legend Steven Stamkos.
Tampa trades Mikhail Sergachev to Utah 😳
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 29, 2024
The Tampa Bay Lightning Trade Defenceman Mikhail Sergachev to Utah
In acquiring Sergachev, you are adding a top-line, NHL defenceman. Yes, there are always question marks around players, but one can’t deny Sergachev’s awesome 2022-23 season with the Lightning. In 79 games played, at almost 24 minutes a night, he amassed ten goals and added 54 assists for 64 points. Moreover, he was likely to somewhat duplicate that production with 19 points in 34 games, but injury slowed the left-shot defenceman in 2023-24. Sergachev battled injuries throughout, until a bad left leg injury shut him down for the remainder of the season.
However, with all this rest, Utah will be more than excited to have him in the lineup for opening night in 2024-25. This is beginning a journey for the Utah club to bring this organization back to relevance. Their time in Arizona had stalled the club’s progression, but now new owners Ryan and Ashley Smith look to change that rhetoric.
The @utahhockeyclub makes a big splash and acquires Mikhail Sergachev from Tampa Bay! #UtahHC | #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/aOOnOUYkhY
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) June 29, 2024
What Does this Trade Mean in the Tampa Area?
As for Tampa, as mentioned, perhaps this is the sign of another big move to come. Maybe this is just the GM freeing up salary cap room in order to keep a Lightning lifer, Steven Stamkos around. Also, it was known with Victor Hedman still performing at a high-level, that Sergachev and his skills kind of clashed. This should open things up. But for what exactly? That is to be seen throughout the offseason free agent frenzy.
Main photo credit: Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports
