
Lightning 2026 Offseason Grades: Carlson & More
From Carlson's arrival to the Nick Paul trade, we grade Tampa's aggressive win-now pivot.
hockey · NHL
The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1992, the team has won two Stanley Cup championships, in 2004 and 2020. The Lightning play their home games at Amalie Arena, a 19,092-seat venue in downtown Tampa. Notable players include Nikita Kucherov, a three-time NHL scoring champion, and Andrei Vasilevskiy, a two-time Vezina Trophy winner. The team is owned by Jeffrey Vinik.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are currently in the midst of the 2025-2026 NHL season, with a strong record and a top spot in the Atlantic Division. Recent results have seen the team win several key games, including a thrilling matchup against the Colorado Avalanche. With stars like Kucherov and Vasilevskiy leading the charge, the Lightning look poised to make a deep playoff run.

From Carlson's arrival to the Nick Paul trade, we grade Tampa's aggressive win-now pivot.

Thirty-six-year-old John Carlson strengthens the Tampa Bay Lightning with a two-year, $17 million contract. His experience and scoring production come at the right time for a team seeking another Stanley Cup.

Tampa Bay bolsters its blue line with a two-year commitment to one of the NHL’s most reliable shutdown rearguards, addressing a long-standing need on the right side.
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| – | Buffalo Sabres | 82 | 50 | – | 23 | +47 | 109 |
| – | Montreal Canadiens | 82 | 48 | – | 24 | +27 | 106 |
| – | Tampa Bay Lightning | 82 | 50 | – | 26 | +59 | 106 |
| – | Columbus Blue Jackets | 82 | 40 | – | 30 | 0 | 92 |
| – | Vegas Golden Knights | 82 | 39 | – | 26 | +15 | 95 |