The Tampa Bay Lightning signed forward Tyler Motte to a one-year deal, while Josh Archibald plans to step aside from playing hockey for the time being.
Tyler MotteThe Tampa Bay Lightning announced today they signed forward Tyler Motte to a one-year contract worth $800,000 while placing forward Josh Archibald on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract.
"Yesterday, I was informed by Josh’s agent, and by Josh himself in a subsequent conversation, that he was not planning on playing hockey for the time being and that he would not be reporting to training camp," Lightning GM Julien BriseBois said in a statement. "Consequently, Josh was placed on unconditional waivers earlier today for the purpose of terminating his contract. We wish Josh, his wife Bailey, and their entire family the very best in their future endeavors."
The Lightning originally signed Archibald to a two-year deal worth $800,000 annually on July 1. The 30-year-old played 62 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins last season, putting up six goals and six assists for 12 points while averaging 9:58 in ice time per game.
Since the Penguins drafted him 174th overall in 2011, the Regina, Sask., native has 305 career regular-season games with 45 goals, 38 assists and 83 points split between Pittsburgh, the Arizona Coyotes and Edmonton Oilers. Archibald also appeared in four games during the Penguins' run to the Stanley Cup in 2016-17.
Motte now comes in on the same cap hit that Tampa Bay was set to give Archibald, albeit on a one-year deal instead of two. Motte, 28, played 62 games last season between the Ottawa Senators and New York Rangers, recording eight goals and 11 assists for 19 points. Motte also played in every game of the Rangers' seven-game series loss to the New Jersey Devils but was held to no points.
The St-Clair, Mich., native had the fourth-highest hit rate per 60 minutes (10.27) and highest block rate per 60 (5.01) among Senators forwards before being traded to the Rangers on Feb. 19. Then, in the Big Apple, Motte ranked second among regular Rangers forwards in hits per 60 (6.77) and blocks per 60 (3.84).
The Lightning are just under $6.58 million over the salary cap. However, defenseman Brent Seabrook and his $6.875-million cap hit are expected to go on the long-term injured reserve, which would create an LTIR pool of cap space for the Lightning to exceed the salary cap by.