Lightning, Moser avoid arbitration on 2-year deal

The Tampa Bay Lightning and restricted free-agent defenseman J.J. Moser avoided arbitration on a two-year pact with a $3.375-million cap hit, the team announced Thursday.

The first year of his deal carries a salary of $2.7 million and he'll earn $4.05 million in the second campaign, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

Moser was one of 14 players to file for salary arbitration by last Friday's deadline. Hearings are scheduled to take place from July 20 to Aug. 4.

The 24-year-old will once again be an RFA with arbitration rights when his new deal expires. He'll be due a qualifying offer worth $4.05 million, according to PuckPedia.

Tampa Bay acquired Moser as part of the trade that sent blue-liner Mikhail Sergachev to Utah during Day 2 of the 2024 NHL Draft.

The Switzerland native registered five goals and 26 points in 80 games this past season with the Arizona Coyotes while averaging 20:34 minutes per contest. He spent the bulk of his ice time on the top pair with Sean Durzi.

Moser is a left-handed shot and will likely get pushed behind Victor Hedman and the recently reacquired Ryan McDonagh if the Lightning play him on that side. Tampa Bay's blue line could shape up like this in 2024-25:

The Coyotes selected Moser in the second round of the 2021 NHL Draft. He has accumulated 72 points in 205 career games.