As the Tampa Bay Lightning head to Tennessee to take on the Nashville Predators this Halloween, the team and fans found themselves in a nightmare scenario when contract talks with Nikita Kucherov collapsed Friday night. After a meeting with Lightning GM Julien Brisebois on Friday, Kucherov told teammates on the flight to Nashville that he will not re-sign and is requesting a trade before his contract expires next summer.

Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov has requested a trade after contract talks stalled, sources close to the situation say. Photo Credit: Alyssa Shimko | Thunderstruck Sports By MIke Smith | Thunderstruck Sports Nikita Kucherov told the Tampa Bay Lightning he won't re-sign with the team and is requesting a trade, according to multiple sources Friday evening. Kucherov is in the final year of a seven-year, $9.5M AVV deal with the Lightning, and the team has been unable to reach a

The Tampa Bay Lightning open the regular season tonight on a mission: to overcome past mistakes and build on their experiences. Considered one of the favorites to win a competitive Atlantic Division, the Bolts know time is precious. As the team opens with a visit to New York to face the Rangers, hope and excitement certainly wear Tampa Bay blue and white.

The new CBA gave the Tampa Bay Lightning an offer no other team can make, and the reigning MVP has every reason to take it: Seven years. Only one team can offer Nikita Kucherov that seventh year.

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced the club’s season-opening roster for the 2026-27 NHL season today. Tampa Bay’s roster includes 15 forwards, eight defensemen, and two goaltenders. Bolts Vice President and General Manager Julien BriseBois also announced that forward Benjamin Rautiainen has been loaned to Tappara of the Finnish Liiga.

The Tampa Bay Lightning cut their training camp roster by 11 on Sunday afternoon, effectively setting their regular season roster. General Manager Julien BriseBois announced the lineup of 16 forwards, eight defensemen, and two goalies.

Benjamin Rautiainen scored a power play goal, then scored the game-winning shootout goal as the Tampa Bay Lightning came back to defeat the Florida Panthers, 3-2. Lucas Mercuri added a goal in his first appearance with the Bolts.

The Tampa Bay Lightning wrapped up their final preseason warm-up Saturday morning before heading to South Florida to face the Florida Panthers. The game will cap a grueling two weeks of training camp, where 67 players vied for a spot on the team's 23-player roster.

The Tampa Bay Lightning spent Wednesday's training camp session preparing for another round of the Battle of Florida against the Panthers. While the Bolts expect to play most of their veterans Thursday night, Florida will bring a roster of prospects to Tampa. The Lightning also waived backup goalie Johan Johanssen.

The Tampa Bay Lightning assigned seven players to their respective lower-level teams on Monday, reducing the training camp roster to 58. General Manager Julien BriseBois announced the moves a day ahead of Tuesday night's preseason matchup against the Nashville Predators. The team also announced the players traveling to Nashville Tuesday.

The Tampa Bay Lightning opened the 2026-27 season with an invigorating first day of training camp Thursday. As 67 players ran drills and shook off the rust, the Bolts entered the Brandon TGH Ice Plex with renewed hope that the playoff demon that has plagued them for the past four seasons could be exorcised this year.

Nikita Kucherov and the Tampa Bay Lightning continue to discuss a new contract extension as training camp begins, with Bolts General Manager Julien BriseBois expecting the elite forward to remain with the organization for "many years to come." When that deal will be inked and what it will entail remain a mystery.

After six hours of speculation, deals, and trades, the night looked to be over for the Tampa Bay Lightning on the first day of free agency on Wednesday. Then, literally at the twelfth hour, as the clock neared midnight and many fans had gone to bed, the Bolts secured one last move: Signing veteran defenseman John Carlson to a two-year, $17 million deal. A deal that can be the difference as the team looks for a deep playoff run next season.

The Tampa Bay Lightning had an active first day of free agency as the 2026-27 season got underway on Wednesday, right up until the clock struck midnight. The Bolts signed two forwards, one huge late-night signing in defenseman John Carlson, and a new backup goalie.

Darren Raddysh bid farewell to Tampa as the Lightning traded the defenseman to the Toronto Maple Leafs in a sign-and-trade deal on Friday. The Lightning acquire a 2026 fifth-round pick.

Tampa Bay Head Coach Jon Cooper is the longest-serving coach in the NHL, having joined the Lightning in March 2013. In January, the two-time Stanley Cup champion became the third-fastest coach to reach 500 wins, and the quickest to do so with one franchise. Despite four consecutive first-round playoff exits leading to murmurs from dissatisfied fans, the team has a response for those advocating for a coaching change behind the Bolts' bench: "Coop" isn't going anywhere.

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh had a breakthrough year in 2025-26. Scoring 22 goals, Raddysh broke the team record for most goals scored by a defenseman. He also grounded a Tampa Bay defense mired by injuries, and found his niche on the Bolts' power play unit. Raddysh has also quickly become a fan favorite. As he enters free agency this offseason, one question remains: Will he stay in Tampa Bay, or will he find fortune elsewhere?