With September approaching, most of this year's unrestricted free agents (UFAs) have been signed to their new contracts. While this is the case, there are still some veterans available for the taking on the market.
One player who became a UFA this summer who is still looking for their new home is former Tampa Bay Lightning forward Tyler Motte.
Motte, 30, spent the 2023-24 season as a member of the Lightning. In 69 games with the Bolts that campaign, he recorded six goals, nine assists, 41 takeaways, and 97 hits. Following his lone season with the Lightning, he signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings this past off-season.
In 55 games during the 2024-25 campaign with the Red Wings, Motte posted four goals, nine points, 72 hits, and a minus-11 rating. Overall, it was a bit of a quiet year from the Michigan native, but it is certainly possible that he could land a professional tryout (PTO) or one-year contract from an NHL club before training camp is here.
While Motte is not the biggest of offensive threats, he is well-known for his solid defensive play and penalty-killing ability. Furthermore, he is also not afraid of the physical side of the game, so he would be a nice pickup for a team looking for help on their fourth line or simply more forward depth. This is especially so when noting that he can play multiple forward positions.
It will be interesting to see what happens with Motte from here, but it would not be too surprising if the former Bolt finds a new home in the near future.
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