In this series, we take a look at each team and see what they’ve done over the offseason. Next up is the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Key additions: Pontus Holmberg, Boris Katchouk, Jakob Pelletier, Sam O’Reilly, Scott Sabourin
The Lightning have not made much additions of note this summer. The most notable is prospect Sam O’Reilly, a 2024 1st round pick of the Edmonton Oilers they received in return for Isaac Howard. They also extended glue forward Yanni Gourde to a 6 year deal.
Key subtractions: Isaac Howard, Cam Atkinson, Luke Glendening, Nick Perbix
Tampa’s biggest loss was inevitable, Isaac Howard. The 2025 Hobey Baker winner was traded to Edmonton after relations with the organization came to a standstill over playing time concerns. Otherwise, the Bolts mostly lost some depth pieces and nothing serious.
Highest draft pick: Ethan Czata, 54th overall
Salary cap space: $1.1 million
Staff: GM Julien BriseBois will be bringing back Jon Cooper next season. Cooper is the longest tenured head coach in the NHL, having coached the Bolts for 13 years. He won back to back Stanley Cups with the club in the 2020 and 2021 seasons. The rest of the staff will be a little different with former assistant Jeff Blashill heading to Chicago as their new head coach. They hired Dan Hinote as his replacement.
Other: The Bolts are a cash strapped team that at the moment lack the facilities to pull off further moves. It looks like it will be a quiet summer for them as they look to run it back with this squad and keep the contention window open.
All transactions available via puck pedia
