Lightning Look Ahead to Promising Season
By Mike Smith | Thunderstruck Sports
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.
Tampa Bay finished last season second in the Atlantic Division with a 50-26-6 (106 Points) record. Unfortunately, the Montreal Canadiens saw the Bolts out of the Stanley Cup playoffs in the first round for the fourth straight year.
Not advancing in the playoffs since 2022 has cut deep within the organization. However, it has not diminished expectations in the locker room.
"We believe in here that we have a really good team. For us, go out there and prove that," Bolts center Anthony Cirelli said Wednesday. "Obviously goal number one is to get into the playoffs. We've got 84 games to do that, so we're excited, and we're ready to go."
Under the new CBA that went into effect in September, NHL teams went through a quick, fast-paced two-week training camp with only four preseason games. Time will tell if that hurt teams or helped them.
Tampa Bay remains confident that their effort leading into the season will benefit them.
"We're progressing and gelling as a group, and everyone knows what to expect and what's expected of them, and they know their roles," Lightning captain Victor Hedman said. "We've had some time to work on the chemistry on the lines, so everyone's excited."
"We put in good work during camp," Lightning forward Zemgus Girgensons said. "We've got all the right pieces; it just depends on how we're gonna bring it and how we're gonna execute."
"We believe in this group. We know we can do it, and we want to go further than we did last year."
Cooper Sees Good Things Ahead
Jack Adams Award-winning head coach Jon Cooper returns for his 14th season behind the Lightning bench, and he had praise for his squad entering tonight's opening matchup with the New York Rangers.
"It's hard to predict what's going to happen in the year. What I do know is that I really like this team," Cooper said. "I like the way we came back, I like the shape we're in. I like the focus of our veterans, and I think the new additions have been outstanding."
"In saying all that, we haven't played a game yet...but I'm really, really excited to see what we can do with this group."
Cooper was especially positive on the full-strength return of Bolts center Brayden Point. Point enters the opener looking to rebound from an injury-shortened 2025–26 season where he was limited to 63 games and recorded 18 goals and 32 assists.
"He didn't leave this summer. He stayed here, and he was a regular on the ice five days a week as long as he was here," Cooper remarked of Point. "That alone showed that he was really focused on this year. But listen, Pointer didn't have the year he had because you're so used to seeing him get 40 and 50 goals a year."
"Yeah, he was down last year, and he was hampered by some injuries. But I know he's taken a ton of steps here to make sure that he's ready both physically and mentally, and you've seen it so far."
As the team headed to New York to face the Rangers at Madison Square Garden, Cooper noted that starting the season on the road could be beneficial.
"I feel like we always start at home, but if we're gonna start somewhere, there's nothing like Madison Square Garden," the longtime coach said. "It's a special place. I have a lot of fond memories there in all sorts of sports. But there's nothing like starting in New York, so I know our guys are pretty pumped."
Questions Loom Regarding Kucherov
One issue looming over the season is Hart Trophy winner Kucherov's final-year status. While Lightning General Manager Julien BriseBois has a knack for signing key players before they enter the final year of their contract, talks between Kucherov and the Lightning bogged down over the summer.
"Nikita is a historically great player," BriseBois said at the start of training camp. "Not just one of the best players in the world right now -- maybe the best player in the world right now. He is one of the best players ever. The past three years are the best stretch for a player aged 30-32, for a forward anyway, ever in the history of the league. That's how incredible his performance has been."
"I have every reason to believe that he's going to remain an elite player well into his 30s."
BriseBois said that day that he won't speak on the matter again until an extension is announced, and he hasn't.
As the season gets underway, an awkward silence similar to the one that occurred the season before former Bolts captain Steven Stamkos left for Nashville may grow, and its a silence the Lightning would like to avoid this time around.
"I say the sooner the better, obviously," BriseBois said on getting a deal done. "There's no timeline. If you want to get technical, he won't be a free agent until July 1 of next year. Hopefully it won't get to that point."
Unlike losing Stamkos three seasons ago, Tampa Bay relies too much on the Russian phenomenon to simply let him go next summer. Whereas Stamkos was nearing the end of his prime, Kucherov is at his peak.
Will an agreement come soon? Time will tell, and fans will be on the edge of their seat hoping to see the two-time Hart Trophy winner wear Lightning blue the rest of his career.
Lightning Hope Mix of Veterans and New Additions Pay Off
The Tampa Bay Lightning's core returns to push the team toward its 10th straight playoff appearance.
Along with Kucherov, Point, and Vasilevskiy, familiar faces such as Brandon Hagel, Jake Guentzel, and Ryan McDonagh look to learn from the past few years and move forward.
Hedman, who missed the last half of the season and playoffs due to personal issues surrounding his mental health, is back stronger physically and mentally.
Gage Goncalves, Emil Lilleberg, and Max Crozier will continue to improve their skills as they grow into new roles as future leaders.
New faces such as John Carlson, Ilya Mikheyev, Jeffery Viel, and Jansen Harkins will be working hard to bolster the Bolts' playoff chances.
Dennis Hildeby, acquired in a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs, will join as a solid, experienced goalie, backing up Vezina Trophy-winning Vasilevskiy.
Conor Geekie, who has been back and forth between Tampa and AHL affiliate Syracuse, had a breakout training camp and returns to the Lightning roster much improved.
With all this talent, one thing remains certain: anything less than advancing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2026-27 will be considered a major disappointment. Starting a lineup that relies more on veteran experience than youth, the team cannot ignore father time.
No one is getting any younger, and the clock is ticking...
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