The 2026–27 Tampa Bay Lightning season is the 35th season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on December 16, 1991.
Off-season
May On May 19, 2026, the Lightning re-signed defenseman Max Groshev to a two year contract. Groshev skated in two games with the Lightning in the prior season, recording one assist.
That same day the Lightning re-signed Nick Abruzzese to a one year contract. Abruzzese appeared in 56 games with the Syracuse Crunch last sesason, recording 16 goals and 36 points. Abruzzese also had 4 points in four games in the playoffs with the Crunch.
On May 23, 2026, the Lightning re-signed Scott Sabourin to a one year contract. Sabourin appeared in 26 games, recording a goal and 4 assists. Sabourin also appeared in two games in the playoffs with the Lightning.
On May 29, 2026, the Lightning signed prospect Benjamin Rautiainen to a three year entry level contract. Rautiainen was selected by the Lightning in the fourth round of the 2025 NHL draft. In the prior season Rautiainen tied Saku Koivu as the youngest players to ever reach 70 points in the Liiga (20 years old). He also was tied for 7th most points in a single season (77 points), and sixth most assists (52) in a single season.
June On June 1, 2026, the Lightning traded a third round pick in the 2027 NHL draft to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for the rights to forward prospect Jack Pridham. Pridham was originally drafted by the Blackhawks in the 2024 NHL draft. Pridham is committed to play college hockey for the upcoming season.
On June 3, 2026, Jon Cooper won the Jack Adams Award for the 2025–26 NHL season. Cooper became the second coach in franchise history to win the award, following John Tortorella (2004). This was also Cooper's third time being a finalist for the award in his career.
On June 6, 2026, Andrei Vasilevskiy won his second career Vezina Trophy after being named a finalist for the sixth time in his career. Vasilevskiy recorded 39 wins in 58 starts in the 2025–26 season, and also became just the sixth goalie in NHL history to record nine 30 win seasons. His nine consecutive 30 win seasons only trails Martin Brodeur (12).
On June 11, 2026, Nikita Kucherov won his second career Hart Memorial Trophy. Kucherov became the third player in NHL history to have gone at least seven years between winning the award, joining Jean Béliveau and Sidney Crosby. Kucherov was also the fifth winger in NHL history to win the award multiple times, joining Alexander Ovechkin, Bill Cowley, Bobby Hull and Guy Lafleur.
On June 19, 2026, Darren Raddysh was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Lightning acquired a fifth round pick in the 2026 NHL entry draft in exchange for the sign and trade for the unrestricted free agent defenseman. Raddysh originally joined team via free agency in 2021.
On June 22, 2026, the Lightning extended their minor league affiliation with the Orlando Solar Bears for two more years. The Lightning have been affiliated with the ECHL's Solar Bears since the 2018–19 season.
July
The Lightning were involved in the following player transactions (signings and trades) on the first day of free agency (July 1st).
The Lightning signed forward Ilya Mikheyev to a 4-year contract with an annual cap hit of $3.85 million. Last season Mikheyev averaged 17:25 minutes of ice time and recorded 18 goals and 36 points with the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Lightning signed forward Jeffrey Viel to a 5-year contract with a $2.5 million cap hit. Viel appeared in 10 games with the Boston Bruins last season prior to being traded to the Anaheim Ducks. Viel skated in 45 games and recorded 10 points and 49 penalty minutes last season. Viel also has appeared in 99 career NHL games, recording 15 points and 232 penalty minutes.
The Lightning announced the signing of goaltenders Mads Søgaard and Olivier Rodrigue, and defenseman Michael Callahan at the same time. All three players were signed to 1-year contracts that carried a cap hit of $850,000.
The Lightning signed defenseman John Carlson to a 2-year contract for $17 million. Carlson record 60 points (14 goals and 46 assists) last season between the Washington Capitals and Anaheim Ducks. Carlson is a former Stanley Cup champion (2018) and has over 700 points in his NHL career.
The Lightning traded forward Nick Paul to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for goaltender Dennis Hildeby, a 3rd-round pick in the 2028 NHL entry draft and a 4th-round pick in the 2027 NHL entry draft. Paul spent four and half seasons with the Lightning, recording two 20-goal seasons and reaching 40-points two times. Hildeby recorded a .914 save percentage and 2.80 save percentage this past season with the Leafs.
On July 3, 2026, the Lightning signed forward Jansen Harkins to a one-year contract. Harkins appeared in 44 games with the ducks last season, recording 3 goals and 8 points. Harkins also has appeared in 305 NHL games, recording 18 goals and 45 points.
That same day the Lightning defensive prospect Tomas Kralovic to a 3-year entry level contract. Kralovic was selected by the Lightning in the 3rd-round of the 2026 NHL entry draft. Last season Kralovic recorded 6 goals and 25 assists in 52 games with HC Slovan Bratislava. He also recorded 4 goals and six points in 17 playoff games.
Training camp
September
On September 11, 2026, the Lightning signed forward Kole Lind to a professional tryout agreement. Lind spent the past season playing for the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League. Lind has 454 career AHL games played, recording 319 points. Lind has also appeared in 31 NHL games, recording 2 goals and 8 points.
On September 16, 2026, the Lightning announced that forward Yanni Gourde underwent hip surgery in the offseason and that Gourde will be out of the lineup until December. The Lightning also announced that forward Dominic James broke his right hand while training in the offseason and that James would miss the first two weeks of the regular season.
That same day the Lightning announced that it had signed forward Luke Glendening to a professional tryout agreement. Glendenning played for the New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia Flyers the prior season. Glendening also previously played two seasons with the Lightning (2023-25), recording 14 goals and 18 points.
On September 21, 2026, the Lightning announced that it had reduced its training camp roster by 7-players. Ethan Czata, Aiden Foster, Oleg Kulebiakin, Stepan Shurygin, Cooper Soller, Grant Spada, and Max Vilen we reassigned to their respective junior hockey clubs.
On September 25, 2026, the Lightning reduced their training camp roster by 21 players. Tristan Allard, Cooper Flinton, Ethan Gauthier, Dyllan Gill, Jonas Johansson, Tomas Kralovic, Connor Kurth, Harrison Meneghin, Milo Roelens and Gabriel Szturc were assigned to the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League.
The Lightning released Clark Bishop, Shawn Element, Brendan Furry, Luke Glendening, Kole Lind, Tommy Miller, and Zach Uens from their PTOs they signed prior to training camp starting.
The Lightning also placed Simon Lundmark, Olivier Rodrigue and Steven Santini on waivers for purposes of assignment to the Syracuse Crunch.
On September 25, 2026, the Lightning traded goaltender Jonas Johansson to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for future considerations. Last season Johansson recorded a 3.29 GAA and a .884 save percentage. Johansson also appeared in 70 games with the Lightning, recording a record of 32-23-10.
On September 27, 2026, the Lightning reduced their training camp roster by 11 players. Dylan Duke, Lucas Mercuri, Sam O'Reilly, Noah Steen were assigned to the Syracuse Crunch. Matteo Pietroniro and Jarred Tinordi were released from their professional tryout agreements. Also, Nick Abruzzese, Max Groshev, and Jakob Pelletier were placed on waivers for purposes of assignment to Syracuse.
On September 28, 2026, the Lightning announced its opening night roster for the 2026–27 season.
Forwards
Anthony Cirelli, Conor Geekie, Zemgus Girgensons, Gage Goncalves, Brandon Hagel, Jake Guentzel, Jansen Harkins, Pontus Holmberg, Nikita Kucherov, Ilya Mikheyev, Brayden Point, Scott Sabourin and Jeffrey Viel.
Defense
John Carlson, Erik Černák, Max Crozier, Charle-Edouard D'Astous, Victor Hedman, Emil Lilleberg, Ryan McDonagh and J.J. Moser
Goaltenders
Andrei Vasilevskiy and Dennis Hildeby
The Lightning also announced that Benjamin Rautiainen has been loaned to Tappara of the Liiga in Finland, and that forwards Yanni Gourde and Dominic James will begin the season on injured reserve.
Standings
Divisional standings
Conference standings
Schedule and results Preseason
| 1 || September 20 || Nashville || 2–1 || || Benchmark International Arena || 13,374 || 1–0–0
| 2 || September 22 || @ Nashville || 2–3 || OT || Bridgestone Arena || 17,690 || 1–1–0
| 3 || September 24 || Florida || 3–5 || || Benchmark International Arena || 14,666 || 1–1–1
| 4 || September 26 || @ Florida || 3–2 || SO || Amerant Bank Arena || 18,494 || 2–1–1
| Lightning score listed first;
Regular season
| 1 || October 1 || @ New York Rangers || 1–5 || || Vasilevsky || Madison Square Garden || 18,006 || 0–1–0 || 0 ||
| 2 || October 3 || Washington Capitals || 3–1 || || Vasilevsky || Benchmark International Arena || 19,092 || 1–1–0 || 2 ||
| 3 || October 5 || Philadelphia Flyers || 4–1 || || Vasilevsky || Benchmark International Arena || 19,092 || 2–1–0 || 4 ||
| 4 || October 8 || Minnesota Wild || – || || || Benchmark International Arena || || 0–0–0 || ||
| 5 || October 10 || @ New York Islanders || – || || || UBS Arena || || 0–0–0 || ||
| 6 || October 13 || @ New York Rangers || – || || || Madison Square Garden || || 0–0–0 || ||
| 7 || October 15 || Seattle Kraken || – || || || Benchmark International Arena || || 0–0–0 || ||
| 8 || October 17 || Vancouver Canucks || – || || || Benchmark International Arena || || 0–0–0 || ||
| 9 || October 20 || @ Vegas Golden Knights || – || || || T-Mobile Arena || || 0–0–0 || ||
| 10 || October 23 || @ Colorado Avalanche || – || || || Ball Arena || || 0–0–0 || ||
| 11 || October 24 || @ Utah Mammoth || – || || || Delta Center || || 0–0–0 || ||
| 12 || October 29 || Winnipeg Jets || – || || || Benchmark International Arena || || 0–0–0 || ||
| 13 || October 31 || @ Nashville Predators || – || || || Bridgestone Arena || || 0–0–0 || ||
| 14 || November 3 || Detroit Red Wings || – || || || Benchmark International Arena || || 0–0–0 || ||
| 15 || November 5 || Chicago Blackhawks || – || || || Benchmark International Arena || || 0–0–0 || ||
| 16 || November 7 || @ Minnesota Wild || – || || || Grand Casino Arena || || 0–0–0 || ||
| 17 || November 8 || @ Winnipeg Jets || – || || || Canada Life Centre || || 0–0–0 || ||
| 18 || November 11 || @ Buffalo Sabres || – || || || KeyBank Center || || 0–0–0 || ||
| 19 || November 12 || @ Columbus Blue Jackets || – || || || Nationwide Arena || || 0–0–0 || ||
| 20 || November 14 || Detroit Red Wings || – || || || Benchmark International Arena || || 0–0–0 || ||
| 21 || November 17 || Washington Capitals || – || || || Benchmark International Arena || || 0–0–0 || ||
| 22 || November 19 || Edmonton Oilers || – || || || Benchmark International Arena || || 0–0–0 || ||
| 23 || November 22 || Buffalo Sabres || – || || || Benchmark International Arena || || 0–0–0 || ||
| 24 || November 25 || Carolina Hurricanes || – || || || Benchmark International Arena || || 0–0–0 || ||
| 25 || November 27 || Ottawa Senators || – || || || Benchmark International Arena || || 0–0–0 || ||
| 26 || November 28 || @ Florida Panthers || – || || || Amerant Bank Arena || || 0–0–0 || ||
| 27 || December 2 || @ Montreal Canadiens || – || || || Bell Centre || || 0–0–0 || ||
| 28 || December 5 || @ Ottawa Senators || – || || || Canadian Tire Centre || || 0–0–0 || ||