Tampa Bay Lightning: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

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.

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The Morning Bark

The Quiz of the Day

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.

Nikita Kucherov 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.

Nikita Kucherov 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.

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

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 / 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.

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.

Nikita Kucherov 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.

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.

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 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.

Click here to get Yardbarker's Quiz of the Day emailed to you!

The '10K-yard, 80-TD NFL receivers' quiz

The '5+ rushing-TD NFL seasons' quiz

The 'Most yards through two NFL seasons' quiz

The 'Women's U.S. Open champions' quiz

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 / Pro Hockey Rumors / September 11

Lightning Sign Kole Lind To PTO

The Tampa Bay Lightning are adding some forward depth for training camp. According to a team announcement, the Lightning signed Kole Lind to a professional tryout agreement.

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

Tampa Bay Lightning Season Preview: The Goalies

There is so much that goes into winning a hockey game, and there is a lot more focus defensively than just who is in the net. But having a goalie capable of defending even the best slap shots is a crucial aspect to being a Championship team.

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 / Tampa Bay Lightning On SI / September 9

The Three Members of the Tampa Bay Lightning Most Likely to Win Awards

The Tampa Bay Lightning season is rapidly approaching, and the goal remains the same. The Bolts want to return to the top of the National Hockey League and hoist another Stanley Cup.

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.

Nikita Kucherov News / Pro Hockey Rumors / September 4

Nikita Kucherov Contract Situation Could Define The Lightning’s Next Era

The Tampa Bay Lightning remain in win-now mode, but they are at the tail end of their win-now window. They have won two Stanley Cups since 2020 and reached three Stanley Cup Finals.

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.

NHL News / Daily Faceoff / August 25

Avalanche 'confident' Cale Makar will have new contract before 2026-27 season

The Colorado Avalanche expect to get a deal done with Cale Makar fairly soon.

Report: Sharks ‘all but certain’ to name Macklin Celebrini captain

Leon Draisaitl: Oilers ‘looking to be coached’ by Mike Babcock

Which team will Connor Ingram sign with?

Where else could NHL be headed after expanding to Texas?

NHL's Central Division expects to be a bloodbath

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'

NHL News / Yardbarker / May 11