Tampa Bay Lightning Signs J.J. Moser to Two-Year Deal

Contract Details

The Lightning have signed J.J. Moser, the top-four defenseman acquired from Utah within the Mikhail Sergachev commerce, to a two-year take care of a median annual worth of $3.38 million.

Moser, who had been Tampa Bay’s solely unsigned restricted free agent, filed for a salary-arbitration listening to. But the Lightning, who haven’t gone to arbitration with a participant since 2007, averted one other with the deal.

Player Background

Moser, 24, will get a large elevate from his earlier three-year, entry-level contract, which carried an AAV of $886,667.

A left-shot defenseman who can play both aspect, he had 5 targets and 26 factors for the Coyotes final season, his third within the NHL.

Moser averaged 20:34 in ice time, enjoying totally on the left aspect of Arizona’s prime pairing. He might change to the appropriate subsequent season, as Victor Hedman and Ryan McDonagh spearhead Tampa Bay’s left. Moser, who’s listed at 6-foot-1, 173 kilos, can also contribute on the penalty kill and energy play.

Impact on the Team

In Sergachev, the Lightning misplaced a 22-minute-per-game defenseman who skated on each special-teams items.

Moser will make $2.7 million subsequent season and $4.05 million in 2025-26, in accordance to PuckPedia. Signing him to a two-year deal permits the Lightning to maintain his restricted free-agent rights for another season, giving them the power to signal him to an extended third contract. That would eat up years of unrestricted free company, which he at the moment reaches after the 2026-27 season.

Salary Cap Considerations

The deal does take up a serious chunk of the Lightning’s remaining salary-cap area. With 20 gamers at the moment on one-way NHL contracts, they’ve simply $2.37 million remaining beneath subsequent season’s $88 million cap.

That doesn’t embrace gamers like left-shot defenseman Emil Lilleberg ($870,000 cap hit) and newly signed ahead Jesse Ylonen ($775,000), each of whom are on two-way offers and solely depend in opposition to the cap when they’re on the NHL roster.

If the Lightning have been to carry each gamers on their roster, it will go away them solely $730,000, which is lower than the $775,000 league minimal. The crew would have to make an extra roster transfer to add one other participant.

Conclusion

The signing of J.J. Moser to a two-year deal is a big transfer for the Tampa Bay Lightning, solidifying their protection and guaranteeing roster stability for the subsequent few seasons.

FAQs

Q: What function does J.J. Moser play on the Lightning?

A: Moser is a top-four defenseman who provides depth and flexibility to the crew’s blue line.

Q: How does Moser’s contract affect the Lightning’s wage cap scenario?

A: Moser’s contract takes up a substantial portion of the crew’s remaining cap area, forcing them to make strategic roster choices to keep compliant.

Q: What are the long-term plans for Moser with the Lightning?

A: By signing him to a two-year deal, the Lightning retain his rights for one more season, permitting them to probably negotiate an extended contract sooner or later.

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