Apr 26, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Nick Paul (20) celebrates with center Jake Guentzel (59) after scoring a goal against the Florida Panthers in the second period during game three of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Lightning HC Gives Unfortunate Injury Update on Center

Originally posted on Breakaway on SI | By Tyler Miller | Last updated Sep 18, 2025 1:00 PM ET

It was the day before most NHL training camps were set to open and that means rosters of players participating in camp were set to come out. But with training camp rosters, comes players that coaches have to announce have injuries or have surgery for said injuries that will make them miss training camp or longer into the start of the regular season.

That was unfortunately the case for Tampa Bay Lightning center Nick Paul. As his head coach Jon Cooper took the stand at NHL Media Days, he announced that Paul had to have surgery on his wrist and will be out until the beginning of November.

Here's what #TBLightning GM Julien BriseBois had to say about the Nick Paul injury

Upper body injury, surgery last Friday, out until first part of November

As @Erik_Erlendsson just researched, JBB told us he had a tear in his left wrist during exit interviews a couple months… pic.twitter.com/15OMbaMVlr
— Jay Recher (@jayRecher) September 17, 2025

Missing the first month of the season is a bummer for the veteran forward, as Paul is one of the mainstays on the Lightning roster. He not only centers their third line for the most part, he also can play in the top six if called upon.

Paul is also somebody that is super versatile when it comes to special teams. He can really help out on the team's second powerplay unit and he can also kill penalties when it is needed. Paul finished the 2024-25 season tallying 24 goals and 19 assists in 76 regular season games played.

Paul is one that really helps out on the scoresheet outside of the usual players putting up points like Jake Guentzel, Nikita Kucherov, and Brayden Point among others. Not having Paul out there for the first month of the season for the Lightning is really going to hurt them. The Lightning last season had an issue with finding consistency at center outside of Point and Paul.

So, they are going to have a tough time finding somebody that can really step up and step into his role and put up points while he recovers from his surgery. The Lightning will open the 2025-26 season hosting the first two games of their season at home against two playoff teams from the previous season.

They host the Ottawa Senators on October 9 and the New Jersey Devils on October 11. Those are two tough matchups right out of the gate, especially without the services of Paul.

This article first appeared on Breakaway on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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