Meet your Writer - Thompson Brandes

Thompson Brandes: Senior Digital & Brand Editor

Thompson Brandes is a writer and editor with a decade of experience covering sports, entertainment and culture in New York City and the Tampa Bay area. He has been with Vinik Sports Group since 2019 and the Tampa Bay Lightning since 2023, writing for the team’s website, scripted video content, social media and more. As a Tampa native, Brandes’s work touches on topics from player culture and lifestyle to community and fan experience.

Features

Bolts Best Player of the Month: Darren Raddysh

The man behind the many suits of Jon Cooper

Bespoke & Co.'s David Kahn has made a living making guys like Cooper, Ronde Barber, Andrei Vasilevskiy and more look very, very good

15 essentials from the Lightning’s Stadium Series retail drop

'Tis the season for some limited-edition Bolts gear

Bolts Best Player of the Month: Brandon Hagel  

The Lightning forward totaled 19 points in November, leading Tampa Bay to a 10-3 record on the month

The Backcheck: Lightning comeback thwarted by Penguins in dramatic finish

Evgeni Malkin and a controversial call put an end to Tampa Bay's third period rally

Recap: Penguins 4, Lightning 3

Tampa Bay's third period comeback falls short at home on Thursday

Mac Truck Reloaded: Ryan McDonagh signs three-year extension with Bolts

The Lightning defenseman and two-time Stanley Cup champion is proud to call Tampa Bay home

The 15 best deals on Bolts merch for Black Friday & Cyber Monday

Here’s your best chance to save big on Lightning gear this holiday season

Andy & Leah: A Gift of Life and a moment to remember

The story behind a survivor and his donor, who met for the first time at the Lightning's Hockey Fights Cancer night

Two Minutes for Suiting: The Bolts enter a new era of NHL style

The Lightning are looking good in more than just suits this season, and the proof is in the player arrival

Bolts Best Player of the Month: Nikita Kucherov

The Bolts winger made Lightning history in the opening month of October

Creating Nikita Kucherov, one six-sided die at a time

How Florida-based artist Barbara Helman brought Kucherov’s 1,000 point milestone portrait to life

Nikita Kucherov’s storied road to 1000, by the numbers

A look at one of the most historic growing resumes of the NHL’s modern era

The best sights & sounds from the first weekend of Lightning hockey

The Bolts got their first W, Curtis Douglas got his first game and more highlights from the Lightning's first three games

The Lightning Opening Night Pregame Guide

Bolts hockey is back. Here’s everything to look forward to prior to Thursday night’s puck drop on the 2025-26 season.

How to watch the Lightning for the 2025-26 season: TV channel, streaming info and more

Here’s every way the local market can tune into the Bolts game this season

The centerpiece of Downtown Tampa has a new name

Welcome to the era of Benchmark International Arena

The 10 coolest (and weirdest) things you can find at the Lightning Locker Room & Sidewalk Sale

You could be the proud new owner of Andrei Vasilevskiy’s goalie pads—for a good cause

25 Moments That Swung Lightning History 

2,500 games in, a look back at the moves and moments that impacted the universal Bolts timeline

Canada gets revenge in 4 Nations final, downs Team USA in overtime to claim title

Connor McDavid scores the golden goal for the Canadians

A History of the 4 Nations FAQ

The NHL’s latest best-on-best competition may have you intrigued. Help has arrived.

The Tampa Bay Lightning 2024-25 Midseason Awards

Some real, others not so much

Distant Thunder: The Indomitable Spirit of Matt Desilvestro

One Lightning fan's remarkable journey from the Dolomites to Tampa Bay

The Lightning Holiday Gift Guide

Gift ideas and December deals for every kind of Bolts fan in your life

This Day in Lightning History: Victor Hedman scores his first career goal

Turning back the clock for the captain's highlight-worthy inaugural goal