{"id":474134,"date":"2025-09-26T08:00:46","date_gmt":"2025-09-26T12:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=474134"},"modified":"2025-09-16T21:19:11","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T01:19:11","slug":"2025-26-puck-drop-preview-tampa-bay-lightning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2025\/09\/26\/2025-26-puck-drop-preview-tampa-bay-lightning\/","title":{"rendered":"2025-26 Puck Drop Preview: Tampa Bay Lightning"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last Word on Hockey\u2019s<\/em> Puck Drop Previews are back for the 2024-25 season! As the regular season approaches, Last Word will preview each team\u2019s current outlook and stories to watch for the upcoming year. We\u2019ll also do our best to project how things will go for each team throughout the campaign. Today, we\u2019re previewing the 2024-25 Tampa Bay Lightning.<\/span><\/p>\n

2025-2026 Tampa Bay Lightning<\/h2>\n

2024-25 Season<\/b><\/h3>\n

The Bolts finished third in the Atlantic Division last season and, as usual, made the playoffs. Because let\u2019s face it: what\u2019s spring hockey without Tampa, besides melted ice. Sure, the postseason didn\u2019t end with another parade down Bayshore Boulevard<\/a>, but with all the miles this core has put on the odometer, they\u2019ve earned a pit stop or two. Nikita Kucherov<\/a> casually dropped 121 points. Brayden Point<\/a> notched 42 goals and though Andrei Vasilevskiy<\/a> sometimes looked like he was ready for Early Bird at Sizzler, he continued to make saves that should probably be illegal.<\/p>\n

Puck Drop Previews: <\/b><\/h3>\n

2024- 2025 Off-Season<\/b><\/h3>\n

The offseason wasn\u2019t as dramatic as some in Lightning history (no blockbuster trades, but there was \u201cdid our crosstown rival just win another Cup<\/a>?\u201d hangover), but there were moves to keep the machine humming. Julien BriseBois did some cap gymnastics again, adding depth pieces while keeping the stars in place. He signed Yanni Gourde<\/a> and Gage Goncalves<\/a> to contract extensions to protect scoring depth. He then signed Forwards\u00a0Pontus Holmberg<\/a> and Jakob Pelletier<\/a> and still has remaining cap space: $1,180,001.<\/p>\n

Projected Lineup<\/b><\/h3>\n

Forwards<\/b><\/b><\/h4>\n

Guentzel \u2013 Point \u2013 Kucherov<\/p>\n

Hagel\u2013 Cirelli \u2013 Goncalves<\/p>\n

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Geekie – <\/span>\u00a0Paul<\/span>– Bjorkstrand<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Girgenons – Gorde – Chaffee<\/p>\n

Top Six<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

Good luck to any defense trying to handle both Kucherov\u2019s wizardry and Point\u2019s speed on the same line. They remain as one of the league’s most dangerous line and Point can easily add to his 42 goals from last year. By any division comparisons, the second unit isn\u2019t bad either Hagel’s bagels and Cirelli\u2019s two-way chops are more than enough to put points on the board while the top line rests their ice skates. Cirelli shows all signs of increasing his 27 goal output from the 24-25 campaign.<\/p>\n

Bottom Six<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

Built Lightning-tough: sandpaper, forecheckers, and the occasional surprise goal that makes you check the roster sheet to see who just scored. Gorde still throws checks like they personally offended him, but he will be expected to have a better goal output exceeding last year’s 7, which is not as much a winner as a dice roll in Vegas. Nick Paul<\/a> is legally required to score in every elimination game, but more will be expected from his stick as well.<\/p>\n

Defence<\/b><\/b><\/h4>\n

Top Four<\/h4>\n

Hedman \u2013 Moser<\/p>\n

Cernak\u2013 McDonagh<\/p>\n

Hedman and Moser might just be the NHL\u2019s version of a buddy-cop duo\u2014Hedman brings the veteran swagger and smooth play-making while Moser adds the youthful hustle and a knack for cleaning up the mess. Hedman will continue to anchor the blue line like a guy who\u2019s seen it all, while Moser is the eager sidekick who will make sure the getaway car actually starts. Together, they will continue to give the Lightning a mix of grit and flair that opponents would probably rather not deal with on a nightly basis.<\/p>\n

Bottom Pair<\/h4>\n

Raddysh \u2013 Lilleberg<\/p>\n

Raddysh\u2013Lilleberg have quickly established themselves as a tight defensive pairing, combining steady positioning with just enough edge to frustrate opponents\u2019 top lines. Emil Lilleberg brings a strong shutdown presence and calm puck management, while Darren Raddysh adds mobility and offensive instincts to jumpstart the transition game. Together, they give Tampa Bay a reliable, well-balanced duo that can eat heavy minutes without sacrificing stability.<\/p>\n

Goalies<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n