Lightning deal defenseman Zach Bogosian to Wild for draft pick

TAMPA — The Lightning dealt veteran defenseman Zach Bogosian to the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday, acquiring another draft pick to add to their late-round stockpile.

They received a seventh-round pick in 2025 for Bogosian, whose departure also clears $850,000 in cap space. The Lightning now have five seventh-round picks in the upcoming two drafts.

Bogosian, in the final season of his three-year contract, had essentially become a blue-line depth piece. Any team could have added him when he went on waivers before the season opener, but he cleared and eventually returned to the active roster.

But Bogosian played in just four of the Lightning’s first 13 games, averaging 11:57 of ice time, the lowest of his 16-year career.

The 33-year-old didn’t record a point this season and though it was a short sample size, he hadn’t shown his trademark physicality, with just two hits in four games. Also, just five of Bogosian’s 15 shot attempts reached the net, his 33.3% shot-through percentage also the lowest of his career.

Given the lack of flexibility on the roster, the team might have had to place Bogosian on waivers again. Instead of potentially losing him, Tampa Bay gained an asset.

In recent years, the Lightning dealt many of their first-rounders to get trade-deadline upgrades. Their 2023 and 2024 first-rounders went to Chicago in the Brandon Hagel trade, and the 2025 first-rounder went to Nashville in the Tanner Jeannot trade.

But the Lightning brass has faith in drafting and developing late-round selections, and they have shed veteran contracts to stockpile more picks. This past offseason, they acquired a 2024 seventh-rounder from Chicago for Corey Perry’s rights and a 2024 seventh-rounder from Minnesota for Pat Maroon.

Bogosian had a partial no-trade clause, able to submit a list of 21 teams the Lightning couldn’t move him to. In Minnesota, he is not only reunited with his good friend Maroon, but also his brother, Aaron, who works in the Wild’s front office.

• • •

Sign up for the Sports Today newsletter to get daily updates on the Bucs, Rays, Lightning and college football across Florida.

Never miss out on the latest with your favorite Tampa Bay sports teams. Follow our coverage on Instagram, X and Facebook.