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Ryan S. clarke
JJ Moser became the latest member of tampa bay lightning The club announced the signing of the defenseman to a long-term contract to an eight-year deal worth $6.75 million annually, shortly before the team faced Florida Panthers,
According to Pukpedia, Moser now becomes the fourth defenseman and 10th player on the Lightning’s current roster to be under contract with the franchise for more than three years. This is a list that includes Anthony Cirelli, Jake Guentzelcaptain Victor Hedman And Ryan McDonaghamong others.
Injuries have played a key role in the Lightning winning their fourth Stanley Cup in franchise history and their first consecutive titles in 2021.
Those adjustments have led to Moser becoming one of the most reliable options for Lightning coach John Cooper. The 25-year-old leads the Lightning with an average of 21 minutes, 41 seconds of ice time and has played in 34 of the team’s 36 games on Saturday.
Having a mostly healthy and consistent Moser has provided stability to the defensive structure, allowing the team to be without top four key players like Eric Cernak, Hedman and McDonagh for various parts of this season. It was a trio that also entered Saturday having played less than 20 games.
Moser, who has three goals and 12 points this season, is three points shy of what he had in 54 games in his first campaign with the Lightning last season.
The Lightning acquired Moser as part of a package that led to them parting ways with the star defenseman Mikhail Sergachev in a trade in June 2024 with utah mammothLightning also received further potential conor geekyA 2024 seventh-round pick and a 2025 second-round pick.
Moser’s contributions this season also played a role in why the Lightning (20-13-3) entered Saturday in third place in the Atlantic Division, four points back of first place. detroit red wings While is also tied in points with washington capitals For the first of two Eastern Conference wild-card spots.
His new deal also comes just over a month before Moser heads to the Olympics where he is expected to play for Switzerland. Moser is one of 11 active Swiss players in the NHL this season. This is a group that also features Kevin Fiala, nico hischier, roman josie And Timo Mayer,
