Nick Paul has closed the book on his run with the Tampa Bay Lightning, posting a farewell message on Instagram a little more than a month after being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs for goaltender Dennis Hildeby.
In his message, Paul thanked the organization for the chance to wear the Bolt and made clear how much the experience meant to him.
“To the Tampa Bay Lightning organization, thank you for the opportunity to wear the Bolt. It was a privilege to compete alongside incredible teammates, coaches and staff, and l’ll always be grateful for the memories we created together.”
He also had words for the city and the fan base that supported him after his arrival.
“To the fans, thank you for incredible support from day one. Your passion for this team, and this city made it an honor to play here. I’ll always be thankful for the way you embraced me and my family.”
Paul had been a steady part of Tampa Bay’s lineup since coming over from the Ottawa Senators during the 2021-22 season. But after injuries slowed him last season, his usage started to shift. His penalty-kill time dipped a bit, and with younger players pressing for more responsibility, his five-on-five minutes were trending downward.
Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois said the move made sense for both sides.
“We could see where the lineup was going, that his role was probably going to diminish within our roster,” said Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois. “Timing was probably right for him to get a change of scenery, and for us to go in a different route with players that maybe complement some of the guys we have.”
Paul now joins former Lightning teammate Darren Raddysh, who was dealt to the Maple Leafs before becoming an unrestricted free agent.
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