Tampa Bay Lightning sign Cole Koepke to one-year extension

The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed winger Cole Koepke to a one-year, two-way contract extension.

Koepke is coming off a two-year deal with a cap hit of $842,500. The 25-year-old was set to become a restricted free agent on July 1.

The Two Harbors, Minnesota native made his NHL debut this season, scoring his first career goal on Nov. 13 against the Washington Capitals. It was his lone point during his 17-game run.

Drafted 183rd overall by the Lightning in 2018, Koepke had 19 points in 52 games with the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch this year. In 130 games, the 6-foot-1, 196-pound winger has 61 points with Syracuse over parts of three seasons.

Prior to turning pro, Koepke spent three years with the University of Minnesota-Duluth. He had 75 points in 104 games over three years, which started off with a national title in 2019.

The Bolts have been busy this offseason, signing Michael Eyssimont, Emil Martinsen Lilleberg, Waltteri Merelä, Sean Day and goaltender Matt Tomkins to new deals. Outside of Eyssimont, all the players are depth signings, giving the team some extra punch in Syracuse. None should factor into the team’s NHL plans in any meaningful capacity next year.

According to Cap Friendly, the Lightning have $450,000 in projected cap space in 2023-24. Pending UFAs include Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, Alex Killorn, Corey Perry and Ian Cole, as well as 38-year-old backup goaltender Brian Elliott. Ross Colton and Tanner Jeannot are set to become RFAs, as well.

The Bolts were eliminated in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs by the Toronto Maple Leafs. Tampa Bay won the championship in 2020 and 2021 before falling just short against Colorado last season.