Nov 16, 2024; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Wild left wing Michael Milne (60) during a stoppage in action against the Dallas Stars in the first period at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

After a brief transaction freeze over the holiday break, Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois is closing out his 2025 season with at least one more deal. On Sunday the Lightning announced that they traded Boris Katchouk to the Minnesota Wild for forward Michael Milne.

Milne, 23, was a third-round pick by the Wild in 2022 and has been playing with the Iowa Wild of the AHL for the past few seasons, following his time spent in the WHL with the Winnipeg Ice. With Iowa he’s recorded 65 points (32 goals, 33 assists) in 172 games over four seasons. At 5’10”, 187 lbs, Milne is a high-energy forward that projects out to be a bottom-six forward.

He did make his NHL debut last season, skating 6:34 against the Dallas Stars in a 2-1 Minnesota loss on November 16. On the season he has two goals and three assists in fifteen games with Iowa. He’ll slot in on the Crunch, bringing them another defensive-minded forward that has a high work-rate and is a pain to play against.

Thus ends Katchouk’s second tenure in the Lightning organization. He heads to a Minnesota organization that has had their own share of injuries on the season and could use a little veteran depth after they traded a boatload of prospects for Quinn Hughes. The 27-year-old made it into three games with the Lightning this time around while putting up four goals and six assists in 21 games for the Crunch.

Mr. BriseBois has been quietly adding some youth into the organization over the past couple of seasons, whether it’s through trades like this one or the one for Lucas Mercuri last season, or by signing college free agents like Dominic James. While they aren’t the splashiest deals, they do help the franchise keep their prospect shelves stocked despite not having higher-end draft picks.

Milne will be a restricted free agent after the season and carries a $775,000 cap hit.