Tampa Bay Lightning: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

2026-27 NHL team preview: Tampa Bay Lightning

As long as the current core exists, the Tampa Bay Lightning‘s expectations every season is Stanley Cup or bust. But after three consecutive first-round exits and minimal changes in the offseason, there was plenty of concern they were finally over the hill.

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Tampa Bay Lightning Finally Return to the Ice Against Predators

After a long summer, the Tampa Bay Lightning finally return to the ice for a contest against the Nashville Predators. The Lightning begin this season looking

Kyle Konin News / Daily Faceoff / September 18

Kyle Konin to serve as Lightning’s EBUG for 2026-27

A somewhat familiar face might have a more significant role this year. According to Lightning Insider Erik Erlendsson, Kyle Konin is reportedly set to be the Tampa Bay Lightning’s emergency backup goaltender for the 2026-27 season.

Tampa Bay Lightning News / Tampa Bay Lightning On SI / September 17

Tampa Bay Lightning 2026-27 Position Preview: The Forwards

The Tampa Bay Lightning enter the 2026-27 NHL season hoping to put their fourth consecutive first-round playoff exit behind them. After finishing the regular season with 106 points, the Lightning lost an excruciating seven game series in the opening round of the playoffs to the Montreal Canadiens.

San Jose Sharks News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The ''EA NHL,'' covers since 2000' quiz

How many of the players to grace the cover of each EA NHL video game going back to 'NHL 2000?"

The 'First-overall NHL Draft picks' quiz

The 'Conn Smythe Trophy winners' quiz

The 'Most NHL goals all-time' quiz

Nikita Kucherov News / The Hockey Writers / September 17

Why Haven’t the Lightning Signed Nikita Kucherov to an Extension?

The Tampa Bay Lightning have found themselves in an all-too-familiar spot. It’s not quite the same, but being a season out from a star player becoming a free agent is a bridge they’ve arrived at before.

NHL News / Yardbarker

The best and worst NHL free agency deals since 2000

The NHL has had an interesting new millennium. It was a league sans a salary cap when the 2000s started… and then the owners locked the players out for an entire season.

Tampa Bay Lightning News / NHL on ClutchPoints / September 17

Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov gets brutally honest on ‘low IQ’ hockey of today

Nikita Kucherov has never been one to pad an answer. Asked at Lightning media day on Wednesday how hockey has changed over the years, the Tampa Bay star gave a response that spread across the sport within hours.

Tampa Bay Lightning News / NHL Trade Talk / September 16

Kucherov Going Viral For Hilarious Chirp on Today’s NHL Players

Nikita Kucherov often delivers a great mic drop. On Wednesday, he gave media and fans one of the better ones of the offseason. While speaking about how the game has changed over the years, Kucherov had one of the funniest and most unlikely responses.

Tampa Bay Lightning News / NHL Rumors / September 16

NHL Rumors: Nikita Kucherov and Tampa Bay Lightning Will Continue to Talk Contract

The NHL season is underway as training camps are opening and teams begin meeting with the media. One of those teams speaking to the media today is the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Tampa Bay Lightning News / Tampa Bay Lightning On SI / September 16

Tampa Bay Lightning to Be Without Two Key Players to Start the Season

Injuries are a part of the game and in a physical game like hockey, they are bound to happen. Injuries ruin the continuity that rosters form, they change the approach with lines and their changes, and they stunt player development.

Yanni Gourde News / Pro Hockey Rumors / September 16

Lightning’s Yanni Gourde Out Until December Following Hip Surgery

The Tampa Bay Lightning will be without a key bottom-six forward through the first chunk of the 2026-27 season. In his press conference before training camp, General Manager Julien BriseBois announced (via beat writer Benjamin Pierce) that forward Yanni Gourde will be out until December after offseason hip surgery.

NHL News / Yardbarker

The defining figure for every NHL franchise

People will talk about the “Mount Rushmore” for a franchise, which is to say the four people, usually four players, that most define the franchise. Not always the four-best players, but the four that evoke the essence of the franchise.

Tampa Bay Lightning News / Daily Faceoff / September 16

Lightning’s Yanni Gourde out until December; Dominic James to also miss time

The Tampa Bay Lightning will be down a couple forwards to start the season. According to Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois, center Yanni Gourde will be out until December while recovering from offseason hip surgery, and center Dominic James will miss the first few weeks of the season due to a broken hand he suffered during training.

Tampa Bay Lightning News / Daily Faceoff / September 16

Lightning’s Kucherov not focusing on contract extension right now

It has been a busy month in the NHL for player contracts, with several high-profile teams and players beating the buzzer on Tuesday with new contracts that conform to the rules of the league’s current collective bargaining agreement before the new CBA went into effect Wednesday.

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The 'NFL all-time passing leaders' quiz

The 'FBS animal nicknames' quiz

The 'Most lefty-homers in a season' quiz

The 'Active 150-yard NFL rushers' quiz

Brandon Hagel News / Tampa Bay Lightning On SI / September 16

The Tampa Bay Lightning's Best Contract May Also Be the NHL's Best

Brandon Hagel was recently listed by NHL Network as the leagues 47th best player, which was honestly quite a low ranking considering back to back top 15 finishes for the Selke and the playoff campaign that Hagel put together.

Tampa Bay Lightning News / Tampa Bay Lightning On SI / September 15

Tampa Bay Lightning Season Preview: The Defensemen

The Tampa Bay Lightning are set to return to the ice in the coming weeks, looking to finally escape their cycle of first round playoff exits. Much of the Bolt's roster remains the same from the previous seasons.

Tampa Bay Lightning News / The Hockey Writers / September 13

4 Players to Watch in Lightning Prospect Showcase Games

The Tampa Bay Lightning‘s 2026-27 season is slowly approaching. Before the preseason can officially get underway, their prospects will get a chance to shine.

Wyatt McLeod News / Inside The Rink / September 11

ECHL: Wyatt McLeod Goes To Reading in Three-Team Deal

The Reading Royals, Toledo Walleye, and Trois-Riviéres Lions pulled off a three-team deal on Friday that included three players. In the trade, Toledo gets defenseman Carter Schade from Reading, Trois-Rivières gets forward Nathaël Roy, and the Royals get the rights to defenseman Wyatt McLeod.

Kole Lind News / Tampa Bay Lightning On SI / September 11

Lightning Add Veteran AHL Forward Kole Lind on PTO Ahead of Training Camp

The Tampa Bay Lightning are adding another experienced forward to the mix ahead of training camp, signing Kole Lind to a professional tryout agreement.

Tampa Bay Lightning News / The Hockey Writers / September 10

Lightning Player Milestones to Monitor During 2026-27 Season

As we head into the 2026-27 NHL season, some Tampa Bay Lightning stars could hit new benchmarks and milestones worth celebrating. This is a non-exhaustive list; it’s a look at the achievable milestones of the top players on the roster.

Wayne Gretzky News / Yardbarker / September 9

Barry Melrose was one of NHL's biggest personalities, and one of its biggest advocates

Whether you agreed with him, disagreed with him, or followed his career as a coach or player, you knew who Barry Melrose was if you were even a casual hockey fan.

Tampa Bay Lightning News / NHL Rumors / September 9

2026-27 Tampa Bay Lightning Season Preview

The Tampa Bay Lightning enter the 2026–27 season with a reshaped roster after a busy offseason that saw them add veteran stability, defensive depth while parting ways with their leading scorer on the blue line from the past season.

Tampa Bay Lightning News / NHL on ClutchPoints / September 5

3 burning Lightning questions entering 2026-27 NHL season

The Tampa Bay Lightning are bringing back the core for another run at the Stanley Cup. Victor Hedman, Nikita Kucherov, and the rest are coming back for another crack at it.

Victor Hedman News / NHL Trade Talk / August 27

Victor Hedman Opens Up on What Actually Forced Him Away From the Lightning

Victor Hedman has revealed the real reason behind his leave of absence this past season, and it had nothing to do with a physical injury. The Tampa Bay Lightning captain says he was privately battling performance anxiety that became overwhelming as the year went on.

Jon Cooper News / NHL Trade Talk / August 20

Analysts suggest Jon Cooper would chase 'one last great mission' with Maple Leafs

Would Jon Cooper ever leave the Tampa Bay Lightning to join the Toronto Maple Leafs? It certainly doesn’t matter right now, given that Cooper is committed to the Lightning and Jim Hiller was just signed in Toronto as their new coach.

NHL News / Yardbarker / June 19

Maple Leafs' move for Darren Raddysh is first big risk of offseason

Maple Leafs' move for Darren Raddysh is first big risk of NHL offseason

The Toronto Maple Leafs are facing a massive offseason when it comes to the short-term and long-term outlook of their franchise. After shockingly missing

Leafs GM John Chayka speaks out amid Matthew Knies trade rumors

Three-time Stanley Cup champion retires after 16-year NHL career

Red Wings want him back, but Patrick Kane has other plans

Brendan Gallagher situation: Canucks hoping for a sweet deal from Canadiens

Former NHLer: Mike Babcock is 'only guy that has ever made me hate hockey'