The Tampa Bay Lightning have traded forward Boris Katchouk to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for forward Michael Milne. The deal also involves the Lightning's AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, acquiring defenseman Wyatt Newpower from the Iowa Wild for future considerations. Milne, a 23-year-old prospect, will report to Syracuse.
On December 28, 2025, the Tampa Bay Lightning announced the acquisition of forward Michael Milne from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for forward Boris Katchouk. Katchouk, 27, will report to the Iowa Wild, the Wild's American Hockey League affiliate. Additionally, the Syracuse Crunch obtained defenseman Wyatt Newpower from Iowa in exchange for future considerations.
Milne, drafted by Minnesota in the third round (89th overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft, has recorded two goals and five points in 15 AHL games with Iowa this season. Over 172 career AHL games, all with Iowa, the Abbotsford, B.C., native has tallied 32 goals and 33 assists for 65 points, along with 104 penalty minutes. He made his NHL debut with Minnesota last season, appearing in one game against Dallas on November 16, 2024.
Katchouk, selected by Tampa Bay in the second round (44th overall) of the 2016 NHL Draft, has skated in three games with the Lightning this season and posted four goals and six assists for 10 points in 21 AHL games with Syracuse. The Vancouver, B.C., native has 36 points (15 goals, 21 assists) and 78 penalty minutes in 179 career NHL games across Tampa Bay, Chicago, and Ottawa. In the AHL, he has 154 points (64 goals, 90 assists) in 261 games with Syracuse, Rockford, and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Katchouk helped Canada win gold at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship with six points in seven games.
Newpower, a sixth-year pro from Hugo, Minn., has three assists in 23 games with Iowa this season. He has 47 points (11 goals, 36 assists) in 235 career AHL games with Iowa, Bridgeport, Grand Rapids, and Cleveland.
This trade provides Tampa Bay with added forward depth in the AHL while Minnesota gains an experienced winger in Katchouk. Both organizations continue to manage their prospect pools ahead of the season's midpoint.