With the NHL heading back on the ice following the Christmas break, news here at Last Word On Hockey is beginning to trickle in regarding major moves. In particular, reports that J.J. Moser signs a massive extension with the Tampa Bay Lightning hit the news cycle leading up to today’s game against the rival Florida Panthers.
J.J. Moser Signs Extension with Tampa Bay Lightning
Insider Elliotte Friedman initially reported on Saturday that the Tampa Bay Lightning and defenceman J.J. Moser were close to an eight-year, $54 million extension, with an average annual value of $6.75 million.
Good afternoon…belated Christmas gift in Tampa Bay for JJ Moser, who is having a great season.
Hearing he is closing in on an eight-year, $6.75M AAV extension with the Lightning.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) December 27, 2025
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Various sources later confirmed the signing. According to PuckPedia, the deal comes at $54 million over eight years. Surprisingly, however, there is a lack of trade protection in the deal. J.J. Moser signs this deal without a no-trade clause.
That something that bodes well for the Lightning, should they ever choose to move Moser at some point down the road.
Lightning Made Smart Move in Moser Trade
As J.J. Moser signs, the Lightning made a bold move to lock up the other half of their top pairing. After the Bolts traded Mikhail Sergachev to the Utah Mammoth, the club had apparently been without a defence partner for captain Victor Hedman. But the Bolts really couldn’t do much given cap restrictions.
Fortunately, Sergachev’s replacement came directly in the very same trade. The Lightning seemingly stole Moser away from the Mammoth. The deal has ultimately been a win-win for both sides. The Mammoth got the top-pairing blueliner they wanted. The Lightning, meanwhile, got a fantastic prospect in Moser.
Now that J.J. Moser signs this extension, the former second-round pick from the 2021 NHL Entry Draft will likely remain alongside Hedman for the foreseeable future. Nevertheless, the Lightning may now focus on other cap-clearing trades.
The club has Hedman and Erik Cernak on long-term injured reserve at the moment. So, there might be a need for a cap-clearing move at some point down the line. That move could come this season or potentially next summer.
Main Photo James Guillory-Imagn Images