Confirmed Signing with Link: [TBL] Lightning re-sign F Nick Paul (7 years, $3.15M AAV)

[CDJ]

He took the security, good for him. Good signing for Tampa imo

 

[DFC]

The deal come with a a Tampa Special No Trade Clause starting in 2026.

That's pretty team-friendly, really. It allows us to dump the contract if we need to during what might be the rest of our window. Gives us a pretty good idea of what we have, and also allows us to make a big move if the deal turns out to be a bargain and we need to address other areas -- like, say, defense. If Paul starts scoring 40+ points, but we REALLY need a defenseman? This helps us acquire one.

 

[abo9]

Good for Paul. Seems like his camp was able to leverage Tampa's cap crunch to get extra job security.

Reminds me of the Eller deal with the Caps.

 

[missionAvs]

Wow. That's a fantastic deal. Congrats Bolts. He was one of their best players these playoffs IMO.

 

[Cogburn]

This is a solid signing for the Lightning, but this might be the slowest July 1st I've ever been off to enjoy. /s

 

[HoseEmDown]

Why would his skating ever improve? He's 27yrs old. lol

And? Why did his skating improve from when he was 22 to when he was 26? He clearly was a finished product so no need to work on anything, it's all downhill from your early 20's on.

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

Cheap deal for a game breaker.

This is a solid signing for the Lightning, but this might be the slowest July 1st I've ever been off to enjoy. /s

TSN said the other day that free agency day is mid July this year.

 

[Bolt32]

Love it. By the time the contract plays out the cap should be damn near 100 million with the TV deals kicked in. Players like Nick are what you need to win. Another JBB special.

Honest to god we need like 2 or 3 more of him. Get us some scoring depth for the playoffs. Relying on one line...almost bounced us out vs Toronto and got us done in by the Avs. Paul was the exception to that rule. He was fantastic.

 

[Mickey Marner]

Crazy deal.

 

[CupsOverCash]

Wow nice deal

 

[Luck 6]

Crazy term for a player like Paul! But, if it keeps the cap hit down, and doesn’t go much beyond prime years, then who cares? Looks like a good deal for both sides to me.

 

[TK 421]

Good for him, dude was a beast in the SCF.

 

[innitfam]

Great deal for both sides. Paul could've went more short term at a higher AAV but went with 7 year security with NTC.

If the Bolts can move Killorn and shuffle some other deck chairs to keep Palat, that would be a very successful off-season for them.

However, with Sergachev, Cirelli and Cernak all coming up for extension next year it may be hard to commit too much money to Palat though, unless they can move McD and get a serviceable replacement for a decent amount less.

 

[Cogburn]

Cheap deal for a game breaker.



TSN said the other day that free agency day is mid July this year.

Just making a joke, the /s is meant to imply sarcasm.

 

[Sergei Shirokov]

Good for Paul to get the security. Similar to Brandon Tanev I guess but Paul is a better player.

3.1M for a legit good 3C with size & versatility, they sacrificed term but that's a real solid number.

 

[TheShape]

I've never understood giving bottom 6 players max term, rarely ends well. But for the first half of this deal it's a good value for the cap hit.

 

[Maelmoor]

Happy to keep him! Any offensive production is just a bonus, he brings a lot in the physical, defensive and PK department.

 

[Go19]

So he'll go straight from this contract to collecting Social Security?

 

[A1LeafNation]

This is like when Toronto gave Matt Martin 2m per. In no way was that a good deal and 3m for 7 years is worse.

34 career goals for a 4th liner for majority of this deal.

 

[KevinRedkey]

And? Why did his skating improve from when he was 22 to when he was 26? He clearly was a finished product so no need to work on anything, it's all downhill from your early 20's on.

Might as well aim for 50 goals as well, right? lol

 

[Mark Stones Spleen]

A year for every inch of Paul's dong.

Good deal

7 inches is when he comes out of the pool.

 

[Oddbob]

Never a big fan of giving that long of term to depth guys. He obviously fit in well, but 7 years is long time to lock into someone who isn't a key guy. I think depth guys can also get a little too comfortable now that they don't have to worry about playing for a deal.

 

[Five Alarm Fire]

This is like when Toronto gave Matt Martin 2m per. In no way was that a good deal and 3m for 7 years is worse.

34 career goals for a 4th liner for majority of this deal.

Brutal comparison.

 

[A1LeafNation]

Brutal comparison.

Yeah I know Matt Martin has 70 career goals. Paul won't reach that.

 

[Five Alarm Fire]

Yeah I know Matt Martin has 70 career goals. Paul won't reach that.

Solid logic. Paul will average twice the ice time the Leafs played Martin over the course of his contract.