TAMPA BAY - The Tampa Bay Lightning announced today the club’s season opening roster for the 2026-27 NHL season. Tampa Bay’s roster is comprised of 15 forwards, eight defensemen and two goaltenders. Two of the Lightning’s forwards (Yanni Gourde and Dominic James) will be unavailable on Opening Night due to injury.
In addition to unveiling the club’s roster, vice president and general manager Julien BriseBois announced that forward Benjamin Rautiainen has been loaned to Tappara of the Finnish Liiga.
To view Tampa Bay’s season opening roster, please see below or click here.
Lightning announce 2026-27 opening night roster
15 forwards, 8 defensemen and 2 goaltenders make up the Lightning's 2026-27 Opening Night roster
Forwards (15)
No. |
Name |
HT |
WT |
DOB |
Born |
Acquired |
2025-26 Club |
71 |
CIRELLI, Anthony |
6'1" |
190 |
07/15/1997 |
Etobicoke, ON |
15 Draft (3rd Rd) |
Tampa Bay (NHL) |
94 |
GEEKIE, Conor |
6’5” |
220 |
5/5/04 |
Strathclair, MB |
Trade w/ UTA (6/24) |
Tampa Bay (NHL) / Syracuse (AHL) |
28 |
GIRGENSONS, Zemgus |
6'3" |
200 |
1/5/94 |
Riga, LAT |
FA (7/24) |
Tampa Bay (NHL) |
93 |
GONCALVES, Gage |
6'2" |
193 |
1/16/01 |
Mission, BC |
20 Draft (2nd Rd) |
Tampa Bay (NHL) |
*37 |
GOURDE, Yanni |
5'10" |
175 |
12/15/91 |
Saint-Narcisse, QC |
Trade w/ DET (3/25) |
Tampa Bay (NHL) |
59 |
GUENTZEL, Jake |
5'11" |
176 |
10/6/94 |
Omaha, NE |
Trade w/ CAR (6/24) |
Tampa Bay (NHL) |
38 |
HAGEL, Brandon |
6'2" |
185 |
8/27/98 |
Saskatoon, SK |
Trade w/ CHI (3/22) |
Tampa Bay (NHL) |
10 |
HARKINS, Jansen |
6'2" |
199 |
5/23/97 |
Cleveland, OH |
FA (7/26) |
Anaheim (NHL) |
29 |
HOLMBERG, Pontus |
6'0" |
198 |
3/9/99 |
Vasteras, SWE |
FA (7/25) |
Tampa Bay (NHL) |
*17 |
JAMES, Dominic |
6'0" |
190 |
7/3/02 |
Plymouth, MI |
FA (9/25) |
Tampa Bay (NHL) / Syracuse (AHL) |
86 |
KUCHEROV, Nikita |
5'11" |
172 |
6/17/93 |
Maykop, RUS |
11 Draft (2nd Rd) |
Tampa Bay (NHL) |
95 |
MIKHEYEV, Ilya |
6'2" |
200 |
10/10/94 |
Omsk, RUS |
FA (7/26) |
Chicago (NHL) |
21 |
POINT, Brayden |
5'11" |
174 |
3/13/96 |
Calgary, AB |
14 Draft (3rd Rd) |
Tampa Bay (NHL) |
49 |
SABOURIN, Scott |
6'3" |
210 |
7/30/92 |
Orleans, ON |
FA (7/25) |
Tampa Bay (NHL) / Syracuse (AHL) |
25 |
VIEL, Jeffrey |
6'0" |
218 |
1/28/97 |
Rimouski, QC |
FA (7/26) |
Anaheim (NHL) / Boston (NHL) |
Defensemen (8)
No. |
Name |
HT |
WT |
DOB |
Born |
Acquired |
2025-26 Club |
74 |
CARLSON, John |
6'3" |
225 |
1/10/90 |
Natick, MA |
FA (7/26) |
Washington (NHL) / Anaheim (NHL) |
81 |
CERNAK, Erik |
6'4" |
232 |
5/28/97 |
Kosice, SVK |
Trade w/ LAK (2/17) |
Tampa Bay (NHL) |
24 |
CROZIER, Max |
6'3" |
207 |
4/19/00 |
Calgary, AB |
19 Draft (4th Rd) |
Tampa Bay (NHL) |
51 |
D'ASTOUS, Charle-Edouard |
6'2" |
213 |
4/21/98 |
Rimouski, QC |
FA (5/25) |
Tampa Bay (NHL) / Syracuse (AHL) |
77 |
HEDMAN, Victor |
6'7" |
229 |
12/18/90 |
Ornskoldsvik, SWE |
09 Draft (1st Rd) |
Tampa Bay (NHL) |
78 |
LILLEBERG, Emil |
6'3" |
210 |
2/2/01 |
Sarpsborg, NOR |
FA (6/23) |
Tampa Bay (NHL) |
27 |
McDONAGH, Ryan |
6'1" |
218 |
6/13/89 |
St. Paul, MN |
Trade w/ NSH (5/24) |
Tampa Bay (NHL) |
90 |
MOSER, JJ |
6'2" |
182 |
6/6/00 |
Biel, CHE |
Trade w/ UTA (6/24) |
Tampa Bay (NHL) |
GOALTENDERS (2)
No. |
Name |
HT |
WT |
DOB |
Born |
Acquired |
2025-26 Club |
35 |
HILDEBY, Dennis |
6'6" |
227 |
8/19/01 |
Jarfalla, SWE |
Trade w/ TOR (7/26) |
Toronto (NHL) / Toronto (AHL) |
88 |
VASILEVSKIY, Andrei |
6'4" |
220 |
7/25/94 |
Tyumen, RUS |
12 Draft (1st Rd) |
Tampa Bay (NHL) |
