Right wing's Lightning tenure is over before it even began

Josh Archibald’s Tampa Bay Lightning tenure is over before it even started. The crash-and-bang right winger, 30, signed a one-year, $800 contract as an unrestricted free agent on July 1, but the Lightning revealed Saturday that they have placed him on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract, as announced by Bolts vice-president and GM Julien BriseBois.

“[Fri]day, I was informed by Josh’s agent, and by Josh himself in a subsequent conversation, that he was not planning on playing hockey for the time being and that he would not be reporting to training camp,” BriseBois said in a statement issued by the team. “Consequently, Josh was placed on unconditional waivers earlier [Satur]day for the purpose of terminating his contract.

“We wish Josh, his wife Bailey, and their entire family the very best in their future endeavors.”

Archibald played in 60 games for the Pittsburgh Penguins last season, chipping in six goals and 12 points and adding his customary physical presence, delivering 195 hits. When he joined the Pens as a UFA in the summer of 2022, he was signing up for a second tenure with the team. 

They originally drafted him 174^th overall in 2011, and he debuted for them in 2015-16. Archibald has played 305 games over the past eight seasons, split between the Penguins, Arizona Coyotes, Edmonton Oilers and Penguins a second time. His best stretch came in 2018-19 and 2019-20 when he delivered consecutive 12-goal seasons. Since his debut in 2015-16, he averages a robust 13.66 hits per 60, ranking 28th among 640 forwards who have played at least 100 games over that span, placing him in the 96^th percentile.

The Lightning wasted no time replacing Archibald, announcing on Saturday that they’d signed free-agent right winger Tyler Motte to a one-year deal with an $800,000 cap hit to match Archibald’s.