The 2025–26 Tampa Bay Lightning season was the 34th season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on December 16, 1991.
On April 4, 2026, the Lightning clinched a playoff berth for the ninth consecutive season following a loss by the Detroit Red Wings to the New York Rangers. With the Toronto Maple Leafs missing the playoffs for the first time since 2015–16, the Lightning alongside the Colorado Avalanche now hold the longest active playoff streak in the NHL.
The Lightning were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in seven games, by the Montreal Canadiens.
Off-season
May On May 5, 2025, the Lightning signed defenseman Charle-Edouard D'Astous to a one-year contract for the upcoming season. D'Astous played this past season in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) with Brynäs IF. D'Astous played in 49 games, recording 12 goals and 39 points. D'Astous also was tied for second in goals and points for defensemen in the SHL.
On May 7, 2025, the Lightning re-signed Jonas Johansson to a two-year contract extension worth $2.5 million. Johansson appeared in 19 games last season as backup goaltender to Andrei Vasilevskiy. Johansson also backed-up Vasilevskiy the prior two seasons before signing the extension with the team.
On May 22, 2025, the Chicago Blackhawks hired Lightning assistant coach Jeff Blashill as their 42nd head coach. Blashill spent the past three seasons with the Lightning.
On the same day the Lightning signed free agent forward Wojciech Stachowiak to a one-year contract. Stachowiak played in 52 games this past season with ERC Ingolstadt of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). Stachowiak recorded 10 goals and 30 points in those 52 appearances
On May 23, 2025, the New York Islanders hired Lightning assistant general manager Mathieu Darche as their general manager. Darche has worked in the Lightning's front office since 2019 and was part of the management group that won back-to-back Stanley Cups.
On May 28, 2025, it was reported that Stacy Roest had left the organization. Roest had spent the prior 12-years with the Lightning. Roest primarily oversaw the Lightning's player development department. Roest also served as an assistant general manager with the team after being promoted.
June
On June 2, 2025, the Lightning re-signed forward Yanni Gourde to a six-year contract extension that carries a cap hit of 2.33 million. Gourde was brought back to the Lightning prior to the trade deadline this past season from the Seattle Kraken. Gourde notably was part of the Lightning's back-to-back Stanley Cup championships. Gourde also has appeared in 602 games with the Lightning, recording 133 goals and 214 assists (347 points).
On June 3, 2025, the Lightning re-signed defenseman Steve Santini to a two-year contract extension. Santini appeared in 58 games with the Syracuse Crunch this past season, recording 6 goals and 17 points. Santini also appeared in one game this past season with the Lightning.
On June 4, 2025, Nikita Kucherov won his second Ted Lindsay Award. The award is given every season to the most outstanding player in the NHL as voted on by the National Hockey League Players' Association. Kucherov captured his second straight Art Ross Trophy after leading the NHL in scoring with 37 goals and 84 assists (121 points). He also led the league in power play points (8 goals, 38 assists, 46 points).
On June 6, 2025, the Lightning re-signed defenseman Max Crozier to a 3-year contract extension. Crozier appeared in 52 games with Syracuse this past season, recording 34 points. Crozier also has appeared in 18 games with the Lightning.
That same day the Lightning announced that it had signed Dan Hinote as its new assistant coach. Hinote previously was an assistant coach in the NHL with the Nashville Predators (2020–24). Hinote spent the past season as an associate coach with the Colorado Eagles of the American Hockey League. In addition to his coaching experience, Hinote previously played in 503 regular season games in the NHL and also won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche. Hinote also is a native of Leesburg, Florida.
On June 8, 2025, the Lightning announced it had re-signed forward Jack Finley to a 3-year contract extension. Finley appeared in 40 games with the Syracuse Crunch, recording 14 goals and 28 points. Finley also made his NHL debut this past season with the Lightning in January.
On June 28, 2025, the Lightning made eight selections on the second day of the 2025 NHL entry draft. The Lightning selected Ethan Czata (#56), Benjamin Rautiainen (#121), Aiden Foster (#127), Everett Baldwin (#151), Caleb Heil (#193), Roman Luttsev (#206), Grant Spada (#212) and Marco Migmosa (#215).
On June 29, 2025, the Lightning place Conor Sheary on unconditional waivers to mutually terminate his contract. Sheary appeared in 5 games this past season with the Lightning and spent the majority of the season with the Syracuse Crunch. Sheary has one year remaining on his 3-year contract with the team at the time of being placed on waivers.
July
The Lightning were involved in following player signings on the first day of free agency (July 1).
The Lightning signed forward Nick Abruzzese to a one-year contract. Abruzzese appeared in 71 games with the Toronto Marlies this past season, recording 15 goals, 28 assists and 43 points. He has totaled 143 points over 211 games with the Marlies. He has also appeared in regular season games with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The lightning signed defenseman Simon Lundmark to a two-year contract. Lundmark spent the past four seasons playing for the Winnipeg Jets' American Hockey League affiliate the Manitoba Moose. He was not issued a qualifying offer by the Jets, so he became a free agent on July 1. With the Moose, he recorded 14 points this past season over 66 games. He also has 62 points over 254 games with the Moose.
The Lightning signed Boris Katchouk to a one-year contract. Katchouk spent the past season playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins' affiliate the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Katchouk appeared in 67 games and recorded 21 goals and 49 points. Katchouk also has skated in 176 NHL games between the Lightning, Chicago Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators.
The Lightning signed forward Pontus Holmberg to a two-year contract that carries a $1.55 million cap hit. Holmberg appeared in 68 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs the prior season, recording 7 goals and 19 points. Holmberg also has appeared in 159 games with the Leafs, recording 19 goals and 49 points. Holmberg reached free agency to sign with the Lightning after he was not issued a qualifying offer by the Leafs prior to the July 1 deadline.
The Lightning signed forward Tristan Allard to a two-year entry level contract. Allard appeared in 45 games with the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL this past season, recording 7 goals and 9 assists.
The Lightning signed goaltender Ryan Fanti to a one-year contract. Fanti appeared in 7 games this past season with the Syracuse Crunch, recording 3–1–0 record, 1.45 GAA and .946 save percentage. Fanti also appeared in 37 games with the ECHL Orlando Solar Bears, recording a 18–13–5, 2.71 GAA and .907 save percentage.
Finally, the Lightning re-signed Gage Goncalves to a two-year contract extension. Gonclaves appeared in 60 games this past season with the Lightning, recording 8 goals, 12 assists and 20 points. He also appeared in all 5 of the Lightning's playoff games where he was tied for second in playoff scoring with the team.
On July 2, 2025, the Lightning signed forward Jakob Pelletier to a three-year contract. Pelletier split last season between the Calgary Flames and Philadelphia Flyers. Pelletier appeared in 49 games, recording seven goals and 19 points. Pelletier was originally drafted 26th overall by the Flames in the 2019 NHL draft.
On July 7, 2025, the Lightning hired Jeff Tambellini as the assistant general manager. He will also serve as the general manager of the Lighthing's AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch. This is also Tambellini's third stint with the organization. He originally played for the Lightning in the 2015–16. He then worked for the team as an NCAA pro scout from 2020 to 2022.
On July 8, 2025, the Lightning traded forward Isaac Howard to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for forward Sam O'Reilly. Howard was a former first-round pick of the Lightning in the 2022 NHL draft. Howard finished up his college career at Michigan State University and capturing the Hobey Baker Award prior to the trade. O'Reilly comes to the Lightning after helping the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League win the OHL championship and the Memorial Cup. O'Reilly appeared in 62 games with the Knights, recording 28 goals and 71 points. He recorded 22 points in the post season for the Knights in winning the OHL championship. He also recorded 2 goals and 5 points in five games in the Knights Memorial Cup win. O'Reilly was also a former first-round pick of the Oilers in the 2024 NHL entry draft.
On July 13, 2025, the Lightning signed forward Scott Sabourin to a one-year contract. Sabourin appeared in 68 games with the San Jose Barracuda of the AHL. Sabourin recorded 10 goals and 25 points over those 68 games. He also appeared in one game with the San Jose Sharks. In his career he also has skated in 47 NHL games with the Sharks, Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs.
On July 23, 2025, the Lightning signed forward Ethan Czata to a three-year entry level contract. Czata was originally drafted by the Lightning in the 2nd-round of the 2025 NHL entry draft.
Training camp
September
On September 17, 2025, the Lightning announced that forward Nick Paul underwent surgery to repair an upper-body injury. The injury was something he sustained during the prior season. Paul is expected to be out of the lineup until at least until November.
On September 20, 2025, the Lightning signed forward Dominic James to a two-year entry level contract. James became a free agent after not signing with the Chicago Black Hawks after being drafted by them in 2022 NHL entry draft. James appeared in 111 games with Minnesota Duluth University, recording 30 goals and 77 points. James also finished his career with Minnesota as the team's captain.
On September 24, 2025, the Lightning made their first cut to the training roster to reduce it down to 53 players. The Lightning released the following players back to their junior teams: Everett Baldwin, Ethan Czata, Aiden Foster, Jan Golicic, Caleb Heil, Marco Mignosa, Sam O'Reilly, Kaden Pitre and Grant Spada.
On September 28, 2025, the Lightning made their second round of roster cuts to reduce their training came roster down to 32 players. The following players were assigned to the Syracuse Crunch: Tristan Allard, Cooper Flinton, Brendan Furry, Ethan Gauthier, Niko Huuhtanen, Spencer Kersten, Connor Kurth, Lucas Mercuri, Reece Newkirk, Milo Roelens, Gabriel Szturc, Charle-Edouard D'Astous, Dyllan Gill, Maxim Groshev, Chris Harpur, Tommy Miller, Matteo Pietroniro and Harrison Meneghin. Also, the following players were placed on waivers: Ryan Fanti, Simon Lundmark, Scott Sabourin and Steven Santini. These players will also be assigned to Syracuse for the start of its training camp if they clear waivers.
October
On October 1, 2025, the Lightning made another set of training camp cuts. The lightning assigned Dylan Duke, Scott Sabourin and Wojciech Stachowiak to the Syracuse Crunch. The Lightning also placed Nick Abruzzese, Boris Katchouk and Jakob Pelletier on waivers to be assigned to the Syracuse Crunch.
On October 2, 2025, the Lightning claimed goaltender Pheonix Copley off waivers from the Los Angeles Kings. Copley has appeared in 77 NHL games in his career, recording 44-wins, a .898 save percentage and a 2.84 GAA.