Lightning fans certainly had mixed feelings seeing their in-state rival the Florida Panthers win the Stanley Cup in back-to-back years. However despite the variable feelings of Bolts fans, all can agree on one common point: it is nice to see a former Bolt win the Stanley Cup.
Carter Verhaeghe was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning from the New York Islanders in 2017. From there, Verhaeghe entered the National Hockey League as a rookie during the 2019-2020 NHL season. Verhaeghe’s rookie campaign saw him score nine goals and four assists for 13 points in 52 games. Despite finally being able to play at the highest level of hockey in the world, Verhaeghe had his rookie season cut short.
The 2019-2020 NHL season was abruptly put to a halt due to the ongoing threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the NHL playoffs were reformatted to prevent further spread of the new virus. Verhaeghe’s Tampa Bay Lightning managed to capture a playoff berth and make a deep playoff run. To end his inaugural season as a professional athlete, Verhaeghe won his first Stanley Cup as a member of the Bolts.
Verhaeghe’s tenure as a Bolt was rather short, as he made the decision to travel across the great state of Florida during 2020 free agency to join the Florida Panthers. From there, the rest is history.
The influence of Carter Verhaeghe on the Florida Panthers cannot be understated. Since arriving in Sunrise, Florida, Carter Verhaeghe has managed to blow all expectations out of the water and show fans across the NHL why deserves to be taken seriously. The forward became a consistent offensive threat for the Panthers and blossomed into one of the most hidden gems in the National Hockey League. Verhaeghe’s underappreciated scoring touch has helped lead Florida towards back-to-back Stanley Cup rings. If Verhaeghe were not on the Panthers, one could begin to question if Florida would still be champions they are today.
The rise of Verhaeghe as a star in the National Hockey League is truly a testament to the Tampa Bay Lightning’s scouting department. Tampa managed to find talent in Verhaeghe and bring him to the organization. The Lightning are no strangers to finding raw talent. Look at players such as Brayden Point, Nikita Kucherov, and Yanni Gourde. These current Lightning players were looked over and underrated at the beginning of their careers. Tampa saw opportunity in these players and hit the ground running. The sheer quality of scouting in Tampa Bay has set a golden standard for other hockey clubs throughout the National Hockey League. Although Tampa did not manage to keep Verhaeghe as a long-term Bolt, the rise of Verhaeghe is a great story for Tampa fans.
Now, Carter Verhaeghe is a three-time Stanley Cup champion. In his six seasons as an NHL forward, he has won the Stanley Cup three times. Not too shabby Carter! Verhaeghe is definitely looking at taking his Panthers to the Stanley Cup once again. However, he will have to get past his former team in Tampa Bay before planning any further parades. When the time comes, the 2025-2026 Bolts will be ready to strike.
All Carter Verhaeghe stats, accolades, and information provided by NHL.com