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.

Key Additions

John Carlson (D) – Signed a two-year, $17 million deal ($8.5 million AAV) on July 1st. The 36-year-old scored 14 goals and 46 assists in 71 games last season with Anaheim and Washington, bringing power-play quarterbacking, offensive upside, and top-four minutes.

Ilya Mikheyev (LW) – Signed a four-year, $15.4 million deal ($3.85 million AAV) on July 1st. The 31-year-old scored 18 goals and 18 assists in 77 games last season with Chicago, bringing speed, two-way play, and middle-six depth. He’s expected to play a third-line role.

Dennis Hildeby (G) – Acquired from Toronto on July 1st in exchange for Nick Paul, a 2027 fourth-round pick, and a 2028 third. The 24-year-old brings youth, athleticism, and a .914 save percentage in 20 games last season. He’s expected to serve as the backup behind Andrei Vasilevskiy.

Jeffrey Viel (LW) – Signed a five-year, $12.5 million deal ($2.5 million AAV) on July 1st. The 29-year-old brings physicality, grit, and bottom-six depth, expected to play a fourth-line role.

Jansen Harkins (C) – Signed a one-year deal on July 1st. The 29-year-old brings two-way play, versatility, and middle-six depth, expected to play a third-line role.

Key Subtractions

Darren Raddysh (D) – Signed an eight-year, $68 million deal with Toronto on July 1st. The 27-year-old scored 22 goals and 48 assists in 73 games last season, a significant loss of top-four offense and power-play production.

Nick Paul (LW) – Traded to Toronto in the Hildeby deal. The 31-year-old had 10 goals and 18 points in 68 games, removing grit and depth from the bottom six.

Oliver Bjorkstrand (LW) – Signed a one-year deal with New York on July 1st. The 31-year-old had 12 goals and 20 assists in 80 games, a loss of veteran depth and scoring.

Corey Perry (RW) – Signed a one-year deal with Los Angeles on July 1st. The 41-year-old had 10 goals and 18 points in 68 games, removing veteran presence and physicality from the bottom six.

Declan Carlile (D) – Signed a one-year deal with Pittsburgh on July 1st. The 24-year-old left-shot defenseman had five assists in 68 games, a loss of youth and depth.

Impact on 2026–27

The Lightning’s offseason moves signal a clear push toward remaining competitive in the Atlantic Division. Carlson adds elite offensive upside and power-play quarterbacking to the top four, while Mikheyev and Viel bolster forward depth and physicality. The departures of Raddysh, Paul, and Bjorkstrand remove veteran presence and scoring. Expect the Lightning to be in the playoff hunt, pushing for another deep playoff run.

Salary Cap Situation

Projected cap hit – $100,771,666
Roster – 23/23
Projected cap space – $3,228,334
Deadline cap space – $14,911,828

Tampa Bay Lightning Depth Chart