Tampa Bay Lightning: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

How much pressure are the Lightning under?

The Tampa Bay Lightning are off to a rough start in 2026-27, after falling 5-1 to the New York Rangers to open their season on Thursday night. While the team still has lofty resumes, the average age is creeping higher as management looks to stretch the team’s contention window as long as possible.

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Lightning chase 'pushback' in home opener against Capitals

The Lightning stumbled to a season-opening 5-1 road loss against the New York Rangers on Thursday, far below Tampa Bay's standard but an October occurrence the club has seen before.

NHL News / Tampa Bay Lightning On SI / October 2

How a Slow Start Doomed the Lightning Against New York

The Tampa Bay Lightning opened the 2026-27 season on the big stage at Madison Square Garden, against a Rangers squad looking to rebound after being shutout to open the season in Boston.

NHL News / Daily Faceoff / October 2

Jon Cooper rips Lightning for poor performance: 'It was almost like the game was an inconvenience to play'

Jon Cooper did not hold back with his thoughts on the Tampa Bay Lightning‘s performance in their season opener.

Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin scores first career goal

The 10 worst value contracts in the NHL for 2026-27

The '2003-04 Tampa Bay Lightning' quiz

Carolina Hurricanes News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The '2026-27 NHL captains' quiz

Can you name the players chosen as team captain for each NHL franchise in 2026-27?

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Tampa Bay Lightning News / Tampa Bay Lightning On SI / October 1

Tampa Bay Lightning Dominated by Rangers in Season Opener

The Tampa Bay Lightning opened up their 2026/27 season on the road in Madison Square Garden against the New York Rangers and it didn't end well for the Bolts.

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.

NHL News / Yardbarker / October 1

Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin scores first career goal

New York Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin is the 18th different goaltender to score a goal,

Jack Hughes confused by awkward joke about extensive injury history

Devils score season-opening win over Flyers on Hughes' OT goal

Kraken, Flyers pull off player-for-player trade early in season

Ducks sign Tristan Luneau to six-year extension

Oilers' Zach Hyman out for two weeks with undisclosed injury

Victor Hedman News / ESPN / October 1

Lightning captain Hedman returns to ice 'energized' after lost season

Lightning captain Victor Hedman played in his first NHL game Thursday since stepping away in March to address his mental health.

Tampa Bay Lightning News / Tampa Bay Lightning On SI / October 1

Tampa Bay Lightning 2026/27 Season Predictions

The Tampa Bay Lightning season officially begins in New York against the Rangers. The expectations remain the same for Julien BriseBois and the Jon Cooper led Bolts, to hoist the Stanley Cup Trophy yet again.

Nikita Kucherov News / NHL Rumors / September 30

Should There Be Concern That Nikita Kucherov Doesn’t Have a Contract Extension?

TSN: Reigning Hart Trophy recipient Nikita Kucherov is entering the final year of his contract and is without a contract. Pierre LeBurn wonders how much of gong show that would be if he was in a Canadian market.

Nikita Kucherov News / NHL Trade Talk / September 28

Is Tampa Bay Nearing an Ultimatum Scenario With Nikita Kucherov?

The Tampa Bay Lightning and Nikita Kucherov still don’t have a contract extension done, and Elliotte Friedman thinks the clock may matter more than it seems.

Nikita Kucherov News / Tampa Bay Lightning On SI / September 28

Nikita Kucherov Ranked as NHL's Third Best Player as Contract Negotiations Stall

The Tampa Bay Lightning return to the ice this week and the NHL Network has finished their rankings of the top-50 players in the National Hockey League.

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 / Tampa Bay Lightning On SI / September 27

Tampa Bay Lightning Power Play Must Have a Bounce Back Year

The best teams in the National Hockey League often have one thing in common. Their special teams is amongst the top in the NHL. When they have a man advantage, they get the job done, when they are down a man, they don't let the puck in the net.

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Jonas Johansson News / NHL Trade Talk / September 25

Senators Acquire Goaltender Jonas Johansson from Lightning

The Ottawa Senators have acquired goaltender Jonas Johansson from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for future considerations, both clubs announced. Tampa Bay general manager Julien Brisebois confirmed the move.

Jonas Johansson News / Daily Faceoff / September 25

Senators acquire Jonas Johansson from Lightning

The Ottawa Senators filled a newly created need on Friday night when they swung a trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning to acquire goalie Jonas Johansson in exchange for future considerations.

Jonas Johansson News / Pro Hockey Rumors / September 25

Lightning Trade Jonas Johansson To Senators

The Lightning have traded goaltender Jonas Johansson to the Senators in exchange for future considerations. The move ends a months-long effort by Tampa Bay to find Johansson a new home.

NHL News / Yardbarker / September 25

Four NHL teams under most pressure to win the Stanley Cup this season

Let's take a look at four NHL teams that are going to be facing the most pressure to win during the 2026-27 season.

Mark Messier torches Oilers for controversial Mike Babcock hiring

Zach Hyman invites Messier to visit Oilers after Babcock comments

Sharks name Macklin Celebrini 14th captain in franchise history

Is the NHL cooling down on expansion a good thing?

Five NHL rookies who have stood out the most during 2026-27 preseason

Tampa Bay Lightning News / Tampa Bay Lightning On SI / September 24

The Tampa Bay Lightning Lineup for Preseason Game 3 vs. Florida

In Tampa's third game of the preseason, they will take on their rival Florida Panthers. The two teams have ruled the National Hockey League for the better part of this decade and look to continue this chapter of their storied rivalry.

Tampa Bay Lightning News / Tampa Bay Lightning On SI / September 23

Tampa Bay Lightning Look to Have Found Their Backup Goalie

In the National Hockey League, your starting goalie doesn't play all 82 games (84 now), it would be impossible. Typically they get time off and the nights where the backup goalies are in become uber important for the offense and defense to make sure you don't drop a game without your top goalie.

Tampa Bay Lightning News / The Hockey Writers / September 23

3 Takeaways From Lightning’s First 2 Preseason Games

The Tampa Bay Lightning have their preseason underway, getting loosened up for when the games actually matter in a little over a week. So far, two games are in the books, splitting a home and away preseason series against the Nashville Predators.

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.

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.

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.

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.