Lightning Reload for Another Run: Tampa Bay’s Projected 2025-26 Lineup Balances Veteran Leadership and Emerging Talent

The Tampa Bay Lightning are entering the 2025-26 season with a familiar goal: competing for another Stanley Cup. While the core that has made Tampa Bay one of the NHL’s premier franchises remains intact, General Manager Julien BriseBois has made several key roster changes designed to keep the team among the league’s elite.

The biggest addition comes on the blue line, where veteran defenseman John Carlson joins the Lightning on a two-year contract worth $8.5 million per season. Tampa Bay also bolstered its depth by adding forward Ilya Mikheyev, physical winger Jeffrey Viel, and promoting goaltending prospect Dennis Hildeby into the NHL picture.

At the same time, the organization has said goodbye to several familiar faces, including Nick Paul, Corey Perry, Darren Raddysh, Declan Carlile, and Oliver Bjorkstrand.

Carlson Headlines Defensive Improvements

The marquee addition is undoubtedly John Carlson.

One of the NHL’s most accomplished offensive defensemen, Carlson brings over a decade of top-pairing experience, elite puck-moving ability, and Stanley Cup-winning pedigree. His arrival gives Tampa Bay another player capable of logging heavy minutes in every situation while easing some of the workload on Victor Hedman.

A defense featuring Hedman, Carlson, Ryan McDonagh, Janis Moser, Erik Cernak, Emil Lilleberg, Maxwell Crozier, and Charle-Édouard D’Astous provides the Lightning with one of the deepest blue lines they’ve iced in recent years.

Familiar Stars Continue to Lead the Way

Despite the offseason changes, Tampa Bay’s championship core remains intact.

Jake Guentzel, Brayden Point, Nikita Kucherov, Anthony Cirelli, Brandon Hagel, Victor Hedman, and Andrei Vasilevskiy continue to form one of the strongest foundations in the NHL.

The Lightning are also expecting continued development from young forwards Dominic James, Gage Goncalves, Conor Geekie, and Sam O’Reilly as they look to establish themselves as everyday NHL contributors.

Filling the Departures

Replacing several veteran contributors won’t be easy.

Nick Paul was a dependable two-way forward capable of playing in every situation, while Corey Perry brought invaluable leadership and playoff experience. Oliver Bjorkstrand did not pan out the way the Bolts hoped when they acquired him from the Seattle Kraken in 2024-2025. Darren Raddysh stepped up in a huge way this past season when the Lightning saw a lot of their premium defenseman go down with injuries and Declan Carlile provided important defensive depth throughout the year.

Rather than replacing those players with one blockbuster move, Tampa Bay is counting on internal growth and targeted additions.

Jeffrey Viel adds physicality and toughness to the bottom six, while Ilya Mikheyev brings speed, penalty-killing ability, and defensive responsibility. Meanwhile, younger players are expected to take on larger roles throughout the lineup.

Hildeby Set to Become Vasilevskiy’s Backup

One of the most notable developments comes in goal.

General Manager Julien BriseBois has indicated that the organization expects Dennis Hildeby to enter the season as Andrei Vasilevskiy’s backup after gaining Hildeby in the trade that saw Nick Paul head north of the boarder to Toronto.

With Hildeby ready for a full-time NHL opportunity, BriseBois has also acknowledged that the club is actively exploring options to move veteran goaltender Jonas Johansson, creating additional cap flexibility while clearing the way for Hildeby to establish himself at the NHL level.

The organization believes Hildeby’s size, athleticism, and continued improvement make him ready for the next step in his career.

Outlook

This projected Lightning roster doesn’t represent a complete overhaul—it represents a retool.

Tampa Bay continues to build around one of hockey’s elite cores while strategically adding experienced veterans and trusting its pipeline of young talent to fill important roles.

The addition of John Carlson gives the Lightning another elite presence on the blue line, while Mikheyev and Viel strengthen the team’s depth. If prospects like Conor Geekie, Sam O’Reilly, Dominic James, and Gage Goncalves continue their development, Tampa Bay could once again have one of the deepest lineups in the Eastern Conference.

With Vasilevskiy anchoring the crease, Hedman and Carlson leading the defense, and Kucherov and Point driving the offense, the Lightning appear poised for another run at the Stanley Cup—even after an offseason that saw several respected veterans depart.