Veteran forward takes paycut to sign with Lightning

The Chicago Blackhawks originally selected Motte in the fourth round (No. 121 overall) of the 2013 NHL Draft. The Port Huron, Michigan, product appeared in 33 games with the Blackhawks during the 2016–17 season before being traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets the following summer as part of the Artemi Panarin/Brandon Saad deal.

Motte lasted less than a year in Columbus before being flipped to the Vancouver Canucks alongside Jussi Jokinen in exchange for Thomas Vanek at the 2018 trade deadline. Despite early reports which characterized the return for Vanek as underwhelming, Motte quickly established himself as a fan favorite in Vancouver and spent parts of five seasons with the Canucks.

After being traded to the Rangers at the 2022 deadline, Motte scored two goals in 15 playoff games to help the team reach the Eastern Conference Final. Despite this, the Rangers elected not to re-sign Motte in the offseason, but they did briefly bring him back in 2023.

Motte has been one of the last notable free agents available on the open market two summers in a row. Perhaps looking to put a stop to that trend, Motte changed his representation in late August from Richard Evans of Wasserman Hockey to Pat Brisson of CAA.

Through 331 career NHL games with the Blackhawks, Blue Jackets, Canucks, Rangers and Senators, Motte has racked up 43 goals and 81 points. He’s added six goals and seven points in 39 playoff contests.

The Lightning needed an additional forward with training camp looming after they moved to terminate Josh Archibald’s contract earlier on Saturday. Archibald, who signed a two-year contract with the Lightning in July, informed the team that he would be taking a step away from hockey in 2023–24.