The Tampa Bay Lightning have answered the cross-state-rival and defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers’ first couple of additions ahead of the NHL trade deadline with a big move of their own.

Four of the past five Stanley Cup champions are based in a place with no state income tax, and the flood of talent to those locales continued in NHL free agency.

The Tampa Bay Lightning got a head start on free agency by acquiring the rights to high-scoring winger Jake Guentzel.

Steven Stamkos is still on course to become a free agent even after the Tampa Bay Lightning cleared significant salary cap space with trades made at the NHL draft.

The Tampa Bay Lightning and Washington Capitals each made multiple trades on a busy second day of action at the NHL draft.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed forward Brandon Hagel to an eight-year extension worth $52 million.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired forward Sam Lafferty and defenseman Jake McCabe from the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche have brought back defenseman Josh Manson with a four-year deal worth $18 million.

Executives around the NHL expect plenty of movement before free agency opens Wednesday.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed Jon Cooper to a three-year extension through the 2024-25 season, rewarding their coach after the team won consecutive Stanley Cup titles.

Montreal Canadiens forward Joel Armia has been placed in the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol.

(Stu Forster/Pool via AP)The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___The seventh-ranked Arizona women’s basketball game at Washington scheduled for Friday has been postponed due to COVID-19 issues within the Huskies program. ___The Patriot League men’s basketball games between American and Lehigh scheduled for Saturday and Sunday have been postponed due to a positive COVID-19 test within the American men’s basketball program’s Tier 1 personnel. 3 UConn women's basketball team has had another game postponed because of coronavirus-related issues. The switch gives St. Pete promoters hope that more spectators will be permitted to attend the popular street festival as pandemic restrictions loosen. That move opened room on the schedule for St. Pete to request a later race date.

Stamkos will be limited at the start of Tampa training camp because of a new lower-body injury, general manager Julien BriseBois said Saturday, July 11, 2020. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)Captain Steven Stamkos will be limited at the start of Tampa Bay Lightning training camp because of a new lower-body injury. Stamkos is expected to be ready for the start of the NHL's expanded 24-team Stanley Cup playoffs in early August. Hes here, hes skating, hes been getting treatment, hes been coming to Amalie (Arena) doing his dry land work. But he will not be a full participant on Day One of training camp."