Paul, 27, skated in 21 games for the Lightning during the regular season after joining the team prior to the trade deadline and recorded five goals, 14 points and a plus-four rating while winning 56 percent of his face-offs. Making his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut in 2022, Paul played in all 23 postseason games for the Lightning, netting five goals, tied for fifth most on the Bolts, and tallying nine points. He scored his first two career playoff goals in Game 7 of a First Round series against Toronto to pace the Bolts' 2-1 victory and clinch the series. Paul also scored twice in the Stanley Cup Final versus Colorado, including the game-winning goal in Game 3. The 6-foot-3, 224-pound Paul ranked third in the NHL for penalties drawn (9) and tied for fourth among NHL forwards for average shorthanded time on ice (2:57) during the 2022 Playoffs.
The Lightning acquired Paul on March 20, 2022 from Ottawa in exchange for forward Mathieu Joseph and Tampa Bay's own fourth-round selection in the 2024 NHL Draft. Prior to joining Tampa Bay, Paul skated in 59 games for the Senators during the 2021-22 season, recording 11 goals and 18 points, ranking sixth on the Sens for goals. He set career highs for games (80), goals (16), assists (16), scoring (32 pts.), penalty minutes (39), power-play goals (2), shots (166) and blocked shots (56) between Tampa Bay and Ottawa in 2021-22.
Paul, a native of Mississauga, Ontario, was originally selected by Dallas in the fourth round, 101stoverall, at the 2013 NHL Draft. He made his first NHL appearance February 16, 2016 with the Senators and spent parts of seven seasons in Ottawa before being traded to the Lightning. He's notched 34 goals and 80 points in 248 career NHL games.
