Cirelli’s Complete Game: Tampa Bay’s Quiet Leader Poised for Selke Glory

By Ernie Norquist | ThunderstruckSports.com | October 2025

TAMPA, Fla. — Since his NHL debut in Dallas on that Thursday night back in 2018, Anthony Cirelli has been quietly building one of the most respected two-way games in hockey. That debut was no ordinary night for the young forward. He recorded two points, including his first NHL goal, becoming just the fourth player in Lightning history to notch a multi-point game in his first outing.

That moment was a glimpse of what was to come. Two years later, Cirelli scored one of the defining goals of the Lightning’s modern era: the Game 6 overtime winner in the 2020 Eastern Conference Final, ultimately sending Tampa Bay to its second Stanley Cup title. It was the kind of goal that not only lifted a team but also cemented a player’s legacy.

No one confuses Cirelli with Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, or Brandon Hagel when it comes to highlight reels and point totals. But since the day he joined the Lightning, Cirelli has been essential in his own way. His game is built on responsibility, forechecking pressure, and elite positioning, hallmarks of a 200-foot player who quietly drives winning hockey.

“He’s got an engine that never stops, and he’s just got a tremendous work ethic,” Point said. “He does all the little things right. He’s just a massive heart for our team.”

Last season, the rest of the league finally noticed what Tampa Bay fans have known for years. Cirelli earned 29 first-place votes and finished third overall in the Frank J. Selke Trophy voting, the NHL’s award for best defensive forward. His recognition marked a turning point for a player long considered the team’s engine without the accolades to show it.

With last year’s winner, Sasha Barkov, sidelined for the season, the 28-year-old center is in a strong position to claim the award. Now entering his eighth NHL season, Cirelli seems ready to make more history. A Selke victory this year would make him the first Lightning player ever to earn the honor, highlighting both his personal growth and his importance to Tampa Bay’s ongoing success. His leadership and consistency could help restore the Lightning’s place among the Eastern Conference’s elite and return Lord Stanley’s summer residence to the Tampa Bay area.

Cirelli has long been recognized within the organization for his discipline and relentless two-way play. This season offers a rare opportunity to showcase that work on a national stage. With Barkov out and the defensive forward field wide open, Cirelli’s blend of shutdown defense, leadership, and timely scoring could finally push him past the runner-up tier into the league’s elite.

His consecutive 20-plus goal seasons complement Tampa Bay’s top players. While the Lightning’s first line of Kucherov, Point, and Jake Guentzel will handle most of the scoring, it is Cirelli’s consistency that could anchor another deep postseason run. The Lightning’s stars may score, but Cirelli’s all-around game, his defense, his faceoffs, his penalty killing, and his relentless pace could be what keeps Tampa Bay’s playoff streak alive.

From his OHL days, where he captained the Oshawa Generals, to his rise on the NHL stage, Anthony Cirelli has built a career around one thing: winning. He has missed the playoffs only three times, but never as an NHL player. Each season his game sharpens, his leadership grows, and his presence speaks louder than words.

The teenager who once debuted with something to prove has become the heartbeat of a veteran locker room, the player teammates look to when the game tightens and the stakes rise. Cirelli embodies the kind of hockey Tampa Bay has built its legacy on: smart, relentless, and unshakably dedicated.

Now, with the Selke within reach and another postseason push on the horizon, Cirelli’s story feels far from finished. He is no longer just the quiet conscience of a championship franchise; he is its heartbeat, driving the Lightning toward another shot at glory and perhaps another banner hanging in the rafters at Benchmark International Arena.

The teenager who once debuted with something to prove has become the heartbeat of a veteran locker room, the player teammates look to when the game tightens and the stakes rise. Cirelli embodies the kind of hockey Tampa Bay has built its legacy on: smart, relentless, and unshakably dedicated.