Tampa Bay Lightning acquire Nick Paul from Ottawa Senators for Mathieu Joseph, pick
The rich keep getting richer.
The Tampa Bay Lightning acquired forward Nick Paul from the Ottawa Senators Sunday, Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reported, in a move further loading Tampa up for the playoffs. Seravalli reported the return is forward Mathieu Joseph and a fourth-round pick.
Details:
To #GoBolts: Nick Paul
To #Sens: Mathieu Joseph, 4th round pick
Paul, 27, has appeared in 59 games this year, notching 18 points. A UFA at the end of the year, Paul had turned down a four-year deal with an AAV of $2.5 million, according to the Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch.
Paul, reported Garrioch, was seeking a deal paying him an AAV closer to $3.25 million.
Paul was taken in the fourth round of the 2013 draft. His underlying numbers have been nothing to write home about this year. With him on the ice at 5 on 5, the Senators controlled 48.94 percent of the shot attempts, 40.32 percent of the goals scored and 47.58 percent of the expected goal share.
He had a low on-ice shooting percentage of 6.23, so there’s good reason to suspect that will increase on a deeper, much stronger offensive team like the Lightning.
His on-ice impacts largely come in the defensive zone, according to hockeyviz.com. At even-strength, his isolated impact offensively is 11 percent below league average while his defensive isolated impact is six percent above league average. Paul also plays a physical game, laying 4.77 hits per 60.
Joseph, 25, was taken by the Lightning in the fourth round of the 2015 draft. He’s appeared in 221 games for the Bolts over the last four seasons, amassing 37 goals and 70 points. He’s been able to slide up and down the lineup throughout his career and will be looked to as a versatile forward in Ottawa.
Be sure to check out our Trade Tracker for up-to-date information on all of the deals made on NHL Trade Deadline Day.
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.