EDMONTON — John Carlson of the Washington Capitals in action against the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place on January 24, 2026, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Leila Devlin/Getty Images)
The email arrived as the clock struck midnight and as the end of the July 1 free agency frenzy turned into a new day, one that many teams hope signals the dawn of a new era.
It may not be that dramatic for general manager Julien BriseBois and the Tampa Bay Lightning, who have averaged 101 points the past four seasons and are coming off a 50-win campaign. Alas, the Bolts expired in the first round of the playoff derby each year, an empty-feeling stretch following a memorable run to three straight final rounds and a pair of Cups.
Indeed, work needed to be done and as Wednesday melted into Thursday it was known that John Carlson was on his way to 401 Channelside Drive. The signing (two years, $8.5 million per) of the 36-year-old defenseman followed agreeing to terms with a pair of forwards earlier in the day: 31-year-old Ilya Mikheyev (four years, $3.85 AAV) and 29-year-old Jeffrey Viel (five years, $2.5 AAV).
BriseBois also dealt forward Nick Paul to Toronto for 24-year-old goaltender Dennis Hildeby and draft picks each of the next two years. While battling the injury bug last season and recording a minus-15 in 51 games, it was evident Paul’s role was decreasing. The Mississauga, Ont. native heads home after playing all or part of the last five seasons with the Lightning.
The email arrived as the clock struck midnight and as the end of the July 1 free agency frenzy turned into a new day, one that many teams hope signals the dawn of a new era.
It may not be that dramatic for general manager Julien BriseBois and the Tampa Bay Lightning, who have averaged 101 points the past four seasons and are coming off a 50-win campaign. Alas, the Bolts expired in the first round of the playoff derby each year, an empty-feeling stretch following a memorable run to three straight final rounds and a pair of Cups.
Indeed, work needed to be done and as Wednesday melted into Thursday it was known that John Carlson was on his way to 401 Channelside Drive. The signing (two years, $8.5 million per) of the 36-year-old defenseman followed agreeing to terms with a pair of forwards earlier in the day: 31-year-old Ilya Mikheyev (four years, $3.85 AAV) and 29-year-old Jeffrey Viel (five years, $2.5 AAV).
BriseBois also dealt forward Nick Paul to Toronto for 24-year-old goaltender Dennis Hildeby and draft picks each of the next two years. While battling the injury bug last season and recording a minus-15 in 51 games, it was evident Paul’s role was decreasing. The Mississauga, Ont. native heads home after playing all or part of the last five seasons with the Lightning.
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