Tampa Bay Lightning: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

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.

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

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.

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 / 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.

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

Tampa Bay Lightning Well-Represented Among NHL's Top 50

The NHL returns this month, with preseason hockey beginning on the 19th, and September 20th for the Lightning. The regular season also makes it's long awaited return this month.

Tampa Bay Lightning News / The Hockey Writers / August 30

Tampa Bay Lightning’s Best & Worst Contracts of All-Time

Well over three decades into their history, the Tampa Bay Lightning have their share of contracts that have had a chance to sit and develop proper hindsight.

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.

Victor Hedman News / NHL on ClutchPoints / August 26

Lightning’s Victor Hedman makes sobering admission on 2025-26 season

The Tampa Bay Lightning had another successful regular season last year, which saw them return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the ninth straight season.

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 / August 26

The Three Most Intriguing Games for the Lightning This Season

Every NHL season has games that stand out on the schedule, but for the Tampa Bay Lightning, three matchups carry a little more intrigue than the rest. From an emotional home opener to an Eastern Conference showdown and a rivalry game against the Florida Panthers, these are three dates Lightning fans should have circled on their calendars.

Victor Hedman News / The Hockey Writers / August 26

Lightning Star Victor Hedman Fresh, Healthy Ahead of 2026-27 Season

When the Tampa Bay Lightning hit the ice for opening night of the 2026-27 season, they can expect their captain and star defenseman, Victor Hedman, to be back in action.

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The 'NFL's active passing-leaders' quiz

The '2026 NFL Week 1 starting QBs' quiz

The 'Last 1st-round QB by NFL team' quiz

The 'NCAA football national champions' quiz

Tampa Bay Lightning News / Daily Faceoff / August 26

Lightning’s Hedman ‘super fresh, motivated’ ahead of return from mental health leave

A positive outlook for one of the more respected players in the game today. When speaking to Dan Rosen of NHL.com, Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman explained how he’s ready to return to the ice after taking time away from the NHL to deal with his mental health struggles.

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.

Andrei Vasilevskiy News / Daily Faceoff / August 19

Lightning’s Andrei Vasilevskiy named top-rated goaltender in EA Sports NHL 27

After securing the second Vezina Trophy win as the NHL’s best goalie of his career, Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy has had another honor bestowed upon him.

Tampa Bay Lightning News / NHL on ClutchPoints / August 10

Lightning’s perfect trade target amid 2026 NHL Free Agency

The Tampa Bay Lightning made some intriguing moves in NHL Free Agency this summer. Another disappointing postseason exit has forced this team to go back to the drawing board.

Ryan Fanti News / Inside The Rink / July 17

AHL: Hamilton Hammers Sign Ryan Fanti

The Hamilton Hammers, according to Tony Androckitis of InsideAHLHockey, are signing goalie Ryan Fanti to an AHL contract for 2026-27. Fanti played 27 games for Syracuse last season, going 13-12-1 with a 2.41 goals-against average, a .905 save percentage, and two shutouts.

Tampa Bay Lightning News / NHL Trade Talk / July 1

John Carlson Signs a 2-Year Deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning

John Carlson is heading to Tampa. The veteran defenseman has signed a two-year contract with the Lightning worth $17 million total, an $8.5 million average annual value, according to Pierre LeBrun.

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'

Tampa Bay Lightning News / Field Level Media / June 11

Lightning F Nikita Kucherov wins second Hart Trophy

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov won his second Hart Trophy on Thursday, nearly a decade after he won his first. Kucherov previously won the award, given to the player voted most valuable to their team by the Professional Hockey Writers Association, in 2018-19.

NHL News / Yardbarker / June 11