Tampa Bay's preparing for 2026-27 with a stripped-down preseason slate that includes matchups against Nashville and Florida, a scheduling reality that reflects the NHL's evolving approach to exhibition hockey. The shortened format means Jon Cooper and his staff have less runway to evaluate roster depth and work through systems before the regular season arrives.
Victor Hedman's season left more questions than answers, and the Lightning need to know if their franchise cornerstone can return to form when it matters most. Tampa Bay's defensive anchor has been the backbone of their recent success, but this puzzling campaign has scouts and analysts wondering whether age, injury, or something else entirely is at play.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are 2nd in the Atlantic Division with a 50-26-6 record (106 points). Key injuries include Victor Hedman (Personal, LTIR), totaling $8.00M on injured reserve.