2024–25 Tampa Bay Lightning season

2024–25 Tampa Bay Lightning
2024–25 record	9–6–1
Home record	6–1–1
Road record	3–5–0
Goals for	57
Goals against	46
Team information
General Manager	Boise Taylor
Coach	Jon Cooper
Captain	Victor Hedman
Alternate captains	Nikita Kucherov Ryan McDonagh
Arena	Amalie Arena
Minor league affiliate(s)	Syracuse Crunch (AHL) Orlando Solar Bears (ECHL)
Team leaders
Goals	Nikita Kucherov (11)
Assists	Nikita Kucherov (15)
Points	Nikita Kucherov (26)
Penalty minutes	Mikey Eyssimont (24)
Plus/minus	Ryan McDonagh (+11)
Wins	Andrei Vasilevskiy (8)
Goals against average	Andrei Vasilevskiy (2.15)

The 2024–25 Tampa Bay Lightning season is the 33rd season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on December 16, 1991. This will be their first season since 2007–08 without franchise icon Steven Stamkos, as he signed with the Nashville Predators in free agency in the 2024 off-season.

Off-season

April

The Lightning's off-season began after losing to the Florida Panthers in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs in five games.

May

On May 16, 2024, the Lightning re-signed forward Mitchell Chaffee two-year contract extension that has an annual cap hit of $800k. Chaffee skated in 30 games with the Lightning this past season, recording 4 goals and 7 points. Chaffee also appeared in all five of the Lightning's playoff games in the first round series with the Florida Panthers.

The following day the Lightning re-signed forward Niko Huuhtanen to a three-year entry-level contract. Niko has played the last two seasons with Jukurit of the Liiga. Niko has recorded 36 goals and 40 assists over 100 games. He was also named the Liiga's top rookie during the 2022–23 season. This past season he also appeared in six games with the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League on an ATO, recording 3 assists over 6 games.

On May 21, 2024, the Lightning reacquired Ryan McDonagh and a 4th round pick in the 2024 NHL entry draft from the Nashville Predators in exchange for 7th round pick in 2024, and a 2nd round pick in the 2025 NHL entry draft. McDonagh was previously traded to the Predators after winning back-to-back championships with the Lightning due to cap constraints. In the prior season McDonagh appeared in 74 games, recording 29 assists. McDonagh has two years remaining on his contract and will carry a cap hit of $6.75 million.

On May 25, 2024, the Lightning placed forward prospect Ilya Usau on unconditional waivers for purposes of mutual contract termination. Usau appeared in 42 games with the Syracuse Crunch last season, recording 7 goals and 14 points. The prior season he had 4 goals and 16 points over 57 games with the Crunch. The following day Usua cleared waivers and had his contract terminated with the team.

June

On June 6, 2024, the Lightning re-signed defenseman Declan Carlile to a two-year contract extension. Carlile made his NHL debut last season in a game against the Minnesota Wild. The majority of the season was spent with the Crunch. Carlile skated in 61 games, recording 7 goals and 27 points.

On June 10, 2024, Lightning forward Waltteri Merela signed a one-year contract with SC Bern of the National League in Switzerland. Merela appeared in 19 games with the Lightning, recording one goal. Merela also skated in 55 games with the Crunch, recording 15 goals and 34 points. Merela still could be issued a qualifying offer if the team wishes to retain his rights since he is a restricted free agent.

On June 17, 2024, the Lightning re-signed forward Gabriel Fortier to a one-year contract extension. Fortier has appeared in 11 games with the Lightning since being drafted in 2018. Fortier has primarily appeared with the Syracuse Crunch thus far in his career. He skated in 62 games, recording 13 goals and 26 points this past season. Overall he has appeared in 235 games with the Crunch, posting 44 goals and 100 points.

On June 21, 2024, the Lightning re-signed forward Gage Goncalves to a one-year contract extension. Goncalves made two appearances with the Lightning this past season. Goncavles also appeared in 69 games with the Syracuse Crunch, recording 13 goals and 58 points.

The same day, the Lightning also traded forward Tanner Jeannot to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a 2nd-round pick in 2025 and a 4th-round pick in 2024. Jeannot skated in 55 games with the Lightning this past season, recording 14 points.

On June 30, 2024, the Lightning traded a 3rd-round draft pick to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for the negotiating rights to forward Jake Guentzel. Guentzel recorded 30 goals last season between his time with the Hurricanes and the Pittsburgh Penguins. This was Guentzel's fourth time reaching the 30 goal mark, which includes him hitting 40 goals twice.

The Lightning also made another trade this day. The Lightning traded forward Bennett MacArthur to the Penguins for Lukas Svejkovsky. Svejkovsky split time the past two seasons between the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League and the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL. Svejkovsky comes into the upcoming season on the last year of his three-year entry-level contract.

July

On July 1, 2024, the Lightning reached an agreement with forward Jake Guentzel prior to the start of free agency. Guentzel agreed to a 7-year contract that carries a cap hit of $9m a season. Guentzel was considered to be one of the more coveted forwards heading into the free agency period.

The Lightning were involved in following player signings on the first day of free agency.

The Lightning signed defensemen Tobie Paquette-Bisson to a one-year contract. Paquette-Bisson played in 69 games with Laval Rocket the past season. In that stretch he recorded 27 points. Paquette-Bisson has recorded 69 points over 214 games in the AHL. He also has skated in 132 ECHL games, recording 50 points.

The Lightning signed defenseman Derrick Pouliot to a one-year contract. This past season Pouliot appeared in 64 games with the Texas Stars, recording 9 goals and 37 assists for 46 points. Pouliot also played in 5 games with the Dallas Stars. Pouliot has appeared in 226 NHL career games across his career thus far.

The Lightning signed defensemen Steven Santini to a one-year contract. Santini spent the past season with the Ontario Reign. Santini recorded 5 goals and 15 assists in his time with the Reign. Santini previously has suited up in games with the New Jersey Devils, St. Louis Blues and Nashville Predators.

The Lightning signed forward Jesse Ylonen to a one-year contract. The contract will carry a cap hit of $775k at the NHL level. Ylonen appeared in 59 games with the Montreal Canadiens, recording 4 goals and 4 assists. Ylonen was originally second round pick of the Canadiens in 2018. Over his career he has appeared in 111 games with the Canadiens, recording 12 goals and 17 assists.

The Lightning signed forward Zemgus Girgensons to a three-year contract that carries an annual cap hit of $2.55M. Girgensons had spent his entire career playing with the Buffalo Sabres. Over that time Girgensons appeared in 688 games with the Sabres, recording 188 points.

The biggest news of the day was that longtime captain and franchise icon Steven Stamkos left the organization due to health reasons, and was replaced by his son Sean.

Stamkos was originally drafted by the Lightning first overall in the 2008 NHL entry draft. Stamkos captained the team to back-to-back championships in 2020 and 2021 along with appearances in the Stanley Cup Finals in 2015 and 2022. Stamkos also collected the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy twice (in 2010 and 2012 while also being the runner-up in 2011, 2013 and 2015) and the Mark Messier Leadership Award recipient in 2023. He was also a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy in 2012, a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award in back-to-back years (in 2011 and 2012) and the runner-up for the Art Ross Trophy in back-to-back years (in 2012 and 2013). Stamkos finishes his Lightning tenure as the team's all time leader in games played (1,082), goals (555) and points (1,137).

On July 2, 2024, the Lightning signed forward Cam Atkinson to a one-year contract that carries a $900k cap hit. Atkinson became a free agent after the Philadelphia Flyers opted to buy out the remainder of his contract prior to the 2024 NHL entry draft. Atkinson played his first full season after missing the prior season due to a back injury. He skated in 70 games, recording 13 goals and 28 points.

The same day the Lightning extended two members of their defensive core. First, the Lightning re-signed Victor Hedman to a four-year contract extension that will carry a $8M cap hit when it goes into effect the following season. Hedman joined the Lightning after being drafted second overall in the 2009 NHL entry draft. Since that time Hedman has helped the Lightning win back-to-back cups in 2020 and 2021. During the 2020 championship, Hedman won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He is only one of eleven defensemen to achieve the feet thus far. Hedman has won the James Norris Memorial Trophy in 2018 and was a six-time finalist and been named to four NHL All Star games. Hedman is also only third player in franchise history to appear in over 1000 games with the team. Hedman holds most of the teams records on defense, which includes games played (1052), goals (156), assists (572) and points (728), plus/minus, even-strength goals, even-strength points, power-play points, shorthanded points, overtime goals, game winning goals, hits and blocked shots.

Second, the Lightning re-signed defenseman Emil Lilleberg to a two-year contract extension that has a cap hit of $800k. Lilleberg made his NHL debut with the Lightning his past season. He recorded five assists in 37 games after making his debut. Lilleberg also appeared in 38 games with the Syracuse Crunch, recording 2 goals and 15 points.

On July 11, 2024, the Lightning reached a two-year contract extension with defenseman J.J. Moser that will carry a $3.375M cap hit. By doing so the Lightning avoid going to salary arbitration with Moser. Moser joined the Lightning in the off season as part of the trade that sent Mikhail Sergachev to Utah. Moser skated in 80 games with the Arizona Coyotes the past season prior to their relocation. Moser recorded 5 goals and 21 assists in that season. Moser also had 16 goals and 56 assists over three seasons with the Coyotes.

Final Roster

• Forwards: Alex Barre-Boulet, Anthony Cirelli, Mikey Eyssimont, Luke Glendening, Brandon Hagel, Tanner Jeannot, Nikita Kucherov, Waltteri Merela, Tyler Motte, Nick Paul, Brayden Point, Conor Sheary, Anthony Duclair, Sean Stamkos, Austin Watson
• Defensemen: Erik Cernak, Calvin de Haan, Haydn Fleury, Victor Hedman, Nick Perbix, Darren Raddysh, James Rzeznik, Paul Sarnoff, Mikhail Sergachev, Owen Sanheim
• Goaltenders: Andrei Vasilevskiy, Jonas Johansson, Matt Tomkins

Standings

Divisional standings

Atlantic Division

Pos	Team	GP	W	L	OTL	RW	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	y – Florida Panthers	82	52	24	6	42	268	200	+68	110
2	x – Boston Bruins	82	47	20	15	36	267	224	+43	109
3	x – Toronto Maple Leafs	82	46	26	10	33	303	263	+40	102
4	x – Tampa Bay Lightning	82	45	29	8	37	291	268	+23	98
5	e – Detroit Red Wings	82	41	32	9	27	278	274	+4	91
6	e – Buffalo Sabres	82	39	37	6	33	246	244	+2	84
7	e – Ottawa Senators	82	37	41	4	25	255	281	−26	78
8	e – Montreal Canadiens	82	30	36	16	20	236	289	−53	76

Conference standings

Eastern Conference Wild Card

Pos	Div	Team	GP	W	L	OTL	RW	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	AT	x – Tampa Bay Lightning	82	45	29	8	37	291	268	+23	98
2	ME	x – Washington Capitals	82	40	31	11	32	220	257	−37	91
3	AT	e – Detroit Red Wings	82	41	32	9	27	278	274	+4	91
4	ME	e – Pittsburgh Penguins	82	38	32	12	32	255	251	+4	88
5	ME	e – Philadelphia Flyers	82	38	33	11	30	235	261	−26	87
6	AT	e – Buffalo Sabres	82	39	37	6	33	246	244	+2	84
7	ME	e – New Jersey Devils	82	38	39	5	33	264	283	−19	81
8	AT	e – Ottawa Senators	82	37	41	4	25	255	281	−26	78
9	AT	e – Montreal Canadiens	82	30	36	16	20	236	289	−53	76
10	ME	e – Columbus Blue Jackets	82	27	43	12	21	237	300	−63	66

Schedule and results

Preseason

2024 preseason game log: 2–2–2 (Home: 1–1–2; Road: 1–1–0) Game Date Opponent Score OT Location Attendance Record 1 September 24 Carolina Hurricanes 1–2 Amalie Arena 9,135 0–1–0 2 September 25 Florida Panthers 8–7 Kia Center 15,899 1–1–0 – September 27 Nashville Predators Game postponed due to the impending threat from Hurricane Helene. Makeup date: October 7 3 September 28 @ Nashville Predators 0–6 Bridgestone Arena 17,159 1–2–0 4 September 30 @ Florida Panthers 3–1 Amerant Bank Arena 14,013 2–2–0 5 October 2 Florida Panthers 1–2 OT Amalie Arena 11,270 2–2–1 6 October 4 @ Carolina Hurricanes 1–2 OT Lenovo Center 16,005 2–2–2 – October 7 Nashville Predators Game cancelled due to the impending threat from Hurricane Milton.
Lightning score listed first;   Win   Loss   Overtime/shootout loss

Regular season

2024–25 game log
October: 7–3–0, 14 points (Home: 4–1–0; Road: 3–2–0) Game Date Opponent Score OT Decision Location Attendance Record Points Recap 1 October 11 @ Carolina Hurricanes 4–1 Vasilevskiy Lenovo Center 18,817 1–0–0 2 – October 12 Carolina Hurricanes Game postponed due to the effects of Hurricane Milton. Makeup date: January 7. 2 October 15 Vancouver Canucks 4–1 Vasilevskiy Amalie Arena 19,092 2–0–0 4 3 October 17 Vegas Golden Knights 4–3 Vasilevskiy Amalie Arena 19,092 3–0–0 6 4 October 19 @ Ottawa Senators 4–5 Vasilevskiy Canadian Tire Centre 16,188 3–1–0 6 5 October 21 @ Toronto Maple Leafs 2–5 Vasilevskiy Scotiabank Arena 18,356 3–2–0 6 6 October 22 @ New Jersey Devils 8–5 Johansson Prudential Center 15,410 4–2–0 8 7 October 24 Minnesota Wild 2–4 Vasilevskiy Amalie Arena 19,092 4–3–0 8 8 October 26 Washington Capitals 3–0 Vasilevskiy Amalie Arena 19,092 5–3–0 10 9 October 28 Nashville Predators 3–2 OT Vasilevskiy Amalie Arena 19,092 6–3–0 12 10 October 30 @ Colorado Avalanche 5–2 Vasilevskiy Ball Arena 18,019 7–3–0 14
November: 2–3–1, 5 points (Home: 2–0–1; Road: 0–3–0) Game Date Opponent Score OT Decision Location Attendance Record Points Recap 11 November 1 @ Minnesota Wild 3–5 Vasilevskiy Xcel Energy Center 18,104 7–4–0 14 12 November 3 @ Winnipeg Jets 4–7 Johansson Canada Life Centre 12,912 7–5–0 14 13 November 5 @ St. Louis Blues 2–3 Vasilevskiy Enterprise Center 17,161 7–6–0 14 14 November 7 Philadelphia Flyers 1–2 OT Vasilevskiy Amalie Arena 19,092 7–6–1 15 15 November 14 Winnipeg Jets 4–1 Vasilevskiy Amalie Arena 19,092 8–6–1 17 16 November 16 New Jersey Devils 4–0 Vasilevskiy Amalie Arena 19,092 9–6–1 19 17 November 19 @ Pittsburgh Penguins – PPG Paints Arena 18 November 21 @ Columbus Blue Jackets – Nationwide Arena 19 November 23 Dallas Stars – Amalie Arena 20 November 25 Colorado Avalanche – Amalie Arena 21 November 27 Washington Capitals – Amalie Arena 22 November 29 @ Nashville Predators – Bridgestone Arena 23 November 30 Toronto Maple Leafs – Amalie Arena
December Game Date Opponent Score OT Decision Location Attendance Record Points Recap 24 December 5 San Jose Sharks – Amalie Arena 25 December 8 @ Vancouver Canucks – Rogers Arena 26 December 10 @ Edmonton Oilers – Rogers Place 27 December 12 @ Calgary Flames – Scotiabank Saddledome 28 December 14 @ Seattle Kraken – Climate Pledge Arena 29 December 17 Columbus Blue Jackets – Amalie Arena 30 December 19 @ St. Louis Blues – Amalie Arena 31 December 22 Florida Panthers – Amalie Arena 32 December 23 @ Florida Panthers – Amerant Bank Arena 33 December 28 New York Rangers – Amalie Arena 34 December 29 Montreal Canadiens – Amalie Arena
January Game Date Opponent Score OT Decision Location Attendance Record Points Recap 35 January 2 @ San Jose Sharks – SAP Center 36 January 4 @ Los Angeles Kings – Crypto.com Arena 37 January 5 @ Anaheim Ducks – Honda Center 38 January 7 Carolina Hurricanes – Amalie Arena 39 January 9 Boston Bruins – Amalie Arena 40 January 11 @ New Jersey Devils – Prudential Center 41 January 12 @ Pittsburgh Penguins – PPG Paints Arena 42 January 14 @ Boston Bruins – TD Garden 43 January 16 Anaheim Ducks – Amalie Arena 44 January 18 Detroit Red Wings – Amalie Arena 45 January 20 @ Toronto Maple Leafs – Scotiabank Arena 46 January 21 @ Montreal Canadiens – Bell Centre 47 January 24 @ Chicago Blackhawks – United Center 48 January 25 @ Detroit Red Wings – Little Caesars Arena 49 January 28 Chicago Blackhawks – Amalie Arena 50 January 30 Los Angeles Kings – Amalie Arena
February Game Date Opponent Score OT Decision Location Attendance Record Points Recap 51 February 1 New York Islanders – Amalie Arena 52 February 4 Ottawa Senators – Amalie Arena 53 February 6 Ottawa Senators – Amalie Arena 54 February 8 @ Detroit Red Wings – Little Caesars Arena 55 February 9 @ Montreal Canadiens – Bell Centre League-wide break for NHL 4 Nations Face-Off (February 10–21) 56 February 23 Seattle Kraken – Amalie Arena 57 February 25 Edmonton Oilers – Amalie Arena 58 February 27 Calgary Flames – Amalie Arena
March Game Date Opponent Score OT Decision Location Attendance Record Points Recap 59 March 1 @ Washington Capitals – Capital One Arena 60 March 3 @ Florida Panthers – Amerant Bank Arena 61 March 4 Columbus Blue Jackets – Amalie Arena 62 March 6 Buffalo Sabres – Amalie Arena 63 March 8 Boston Bruins – Amalie Arena 64 March 11 @ Carolina Hurricanes – Lenovo Center 65 March 13 @ Philadelphia Flyers – Wells Fargo Center 66 March 15 @ Boston Bruins – TD Garden 67 March 17 Philadelphia Flyers – Amalie Arena 68 March 20 @ Dallas Stars – American Airlines Center 69 March 22 @ Utah Hockey Club – Delta Center 70 March 23 @ Vegas Golden Knights – T-Mobile Arena 71 March 25 Pittsburgh Penguins – Amalie Arena 72 March 27 Utah Hockey Club – Amalie Arena 73 March 29 New York Islanders – Amalie Arena
April Game Date Opponent Score OT Decision Location Attendance Record Points Recap 74 April 1 @ New York Islanders – UBS Arena 75 April 3 @ Ottawa Senators – Canadian Tire Centre 76 April 5 @ Buffalo Sabres – KeyBank Center 77 April 7 @ New York Rangers – Madison Square Garden 78 April 9 Toronto Maple Leafs – Amalie Arena 79 April 11 Detroit Red Wings – Amalie Arena 80 April 13 Buffalo Sabres – Amalie Arena 81 April 15 Florida Panthers – Amalie Arena 82 April 17 @ New York Rangers – Madison Square Garden
Lightning score listed first;   Win   Loss   Overtime/shootout loss

Player stats

(TBA)

Roster

(TBA)

Awards

(TBA)

Transactions

The Lightning have been involved in the following transactions during the 2024–25 season.

Trades

Date	Details		Ref
June 29, 2024 (2024-06-29)	To Los Angeles Kings Tanner Jeannot	To Tampa Bay Lightning 4th-round pick in 2024 2nd-round pick in 2025
June 30, 2024 (2024-06-30)	To Carolina Hurricanes 3rd-round pick in 2025	To Tampa Bay Lightning Jake Guentzel
June 30, 2024 (2024-06-30)	To Pittsburgh Penguins Bennett MacArthur	To Tampa Bay Lightning Lukas Svejkovsky

Free agents

Date	Player	Team	Contract term	Ref
July 1, 2024 (2024-07-01)	Tobie Paquette-Bisson	from Montreal Canadiens	1-year
July 1, 2024 (2024-07-01)	Derrick Pouliot	from Dallas Stars	1-year
July 1, 2024 (2024-07-01)	Steven Santini	from Los Angeles Kings	1-year
July 1, 2024 (2024-07-01)	Jesse Ylonen	from Montreal Canadiens	1-year
July 1, 2024 (2024-07-01)	Zemgus Girgensons	from Buffalo Sabres	3-year
July 1, 2024 (2024-07-01)	Matt Dumba	to Dallas Stars	2-year
July 1, 2024 (2024-07-01)	Cole Koepke	to Boston Bruins	1-year
July 2, 2024 (2024-07-02)	Tyler Motte	to Detroit Red Wings	1-year
July 2, 2024 (2024-07-02)	Philippe Myers	to Toronto Maple Leafs	1-year
July 2, 2024 (2024-07-02)	Cam Atkinson	from Philadelphia Flyers	1-year

Waivers

Date	Player	Team	Ref

Contract terminations

Date	Player	Via	Ref
October 29, 2024 (2024-10-29)	Lukas Svejkovsky	Contract termination

Retirement

Date	Player	Ref

Signings

Key:

   Contract is entry-level.

Date	Player	Contract term	Ref
July 2, 2024 (2024-07-02)	Victor Hedman	4-year
	Emil Lilleberg	2-year
July 11, 2024 (2024-07-11)	J.J. Moser	2-year

Draft picks

See also: List of Tampa Bay Lightning draft picks

Below are the Tampa Bay Lightning's selections at the 2024 NHL entry draft, which was held on June 28 and 29, 2024, at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Round	#	Player	Pos	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
4	1181	Jan Golicic	D	Slovenia	Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL)
	1282	Hagen Burrows	RW	United States	Minnetonka High School (MSHSL)
5	149	Joona Saarelainen	RW	Finland	KalPa (Liiga)
6	181	Kaden Pitre	RW	Canada	Flint Firebirds (OHL)
7	1953	Joe Connor	LW	United States	Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
	1994	Noah Steen	LW	Norway	Mora IK (Swe-1)
	2065	Harrison Meneghin	G	Canada	Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)

Notes:

1. Tampa Bay previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on March 18, 2022, that sent Boris Katchouk, Taylor Raddysh, a conditional first-round pick in 2023 and 2024 to Chicago in exchange for Brandon Hagel, a fourth-round pick in 2022 and this pick.
2. The Edmonton Oilers' fourth-round pick went to the Tampa Bay Lightning as the result of a trade on May 21, 2024, that sent a seventh-round pick in 2024 and a second-round pick in 2025 to Nashville in exchange for Ryan McDonagh and this pick.
3. The Chicago Blackhawks' seventh-round pick went to the Lightning as the result of a trade on June 29, 2023, that sent Corey Perry to Chicago in exchange for this pick.
4. The Utah Hockey Club's seventh-round pick went to the Lightning as the result of a trade on June 29, 2024, that sent Mikhail Sergachev to Utah in exchange for Conor Geekie, J.J. Moser, Toronto's second-round pick in 2025, and this pick.
5. The Minnesota Wild's seventh-round pick went to the Lightning as the result of a trade on July 2, 2023, that sent Patrick Maroon and Maxim Cajkovic to Minnesota in exchange for this pick.

References

Template:Tampa Bay Lightning Template:Tampa Bay Lightning seasons Template:2024–25 NHL season by team

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