Lightning Reduce Training Camp Roster, Announce Lineup for Nashville Away Game
By Mike Smith | Thunderstruck Sports
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 following players were assigned:
Ethan Czata - Guelph (OHL)
Aiden Foster - Prince George (WHL)
Oleg Kulebiakin - Halifax (QMJHL)
Stepan Shurygin - Saginaw (OHL)
Cooper Soller - Sioux Falls (USHL)
Grant Spada - Guelph (OHL)
Max Vilen - Moncton (QMJHL)
Czata and Kulebiakin appeared Sunday night in the Lightning's 2-1 win over Nashville at Benchmark International Arena. Czata is a 2025 second-round draft pick and, along with Grant Spata, joins the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League. The Storm are currently 0-2.
Czata played 2025-26 with the Niagara IceDogs, scoring 53 points in 63 games (25 goals, 28 assists). The forward from Brompton, Ontario, also played three games with the Lightning's AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch.
Spata, a fourth-year defenseman with the Storm, had 21 points in 2025-26 (6 goals, 15 assists).
The Lightning drafted Kulebiakin in the second round this year with the 52nd pick. He joins the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League, where he played 68 games in 2025-26 with 75 points (29 goals, 46 assists). The Mooseheads are 1-0-1 after two games.
Lightning Announce Tuesday Night Lineup
Training Camp participants had Monday off to rest after a grueling four days of meetings, drills, and scrimmages. Under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, teams have only 13 days to determine who will make the final roster when the regular season starts next week.
Veterans with more than 100 games played are only permitted to play in a maximum of two of the four postseason games.
Tuesday morning, Tampa Bay announced the participants who will travel to Nashville for Tuesday night's preseason matchup against the Predators.
As expected, those Lightning veterans that played on Sunday night will remain in Tampa for training camp. Gage Goncalves, Charle-Edouard D'Astous, Zemgus Girgensons, Emil Lilleberg, and Pontus Holmberg will see their first action of the preseason.
Conor Geekie, who scored the game-winning goal on Sunday, will also be on the ice tonight.
Jakob Pelletier, a journeyman forward who played five games for the team last season, will also make the trip. Defenseman Steven Santini played in 12 games for Tampa Bay in 2025-26.
Jeffery Viel, who signed a five-year deal with the Lightning this past summer, will also join the team in Nashville.
Newly acquired goalie Dennis Hildeby appears to be the starter for Tuesday night with Olivier Rodrigue at backup.
Lightning propects Sam O'Reilly and Benjamin Rautiainen will see more shifts as part of the travel group. O'Reilly saw 15:11 of ice time on 18 shifts Sunday, earning an assist on Geekie's goal. Rautiainen had 13:00 TOI on 14 shifts. Both could find themselves on the Lightning roster when the team opens up the regular sason on October 1st.
Up Next
The Tampa Bay Lightning face the Nashville Predators in the second of two preseason games between the two teams. Former Bolt Captain Steven Stamkos is expected to play after staying in Nashville on Sunday. Puck drop is at 8 pm at Bridgestone Arena.
Great info and insite