Seeing players come and going has become a well -known trend for the lightning of Tampa Bay. As soon as they won their first Stanley Cup, the question started to rise about who would leave afterwards. A handful of names in particular stands out who are awaiting free agents. This does not mean that they are guaranteed to go, but because they are prominent players with expiring contracts, they stand out.
Let’s take a look at the four striking free free agents in the team that is the 2025-26 season on their way.
If a comment, to be eligible for this list, a player must have played for lightning last season. Recently signed Boris Katchouk, for example, is a hanging free agent because he has signed a one -year -old deal. He doesn’t count. We also remain unlimited free agents, so JJ Moser, a limited free agent, will also be outside. It is a different situation and therefore a discussion for a different story, another time.
Ryan McDonagh
Even with all the movement back and forth between Tampa Bay and Nashville, Ryan McDonagh is still under the same contract that he inked with lightning in July 2018. That seven -year -old deal has finally reached its end. Lightning was happy to have him back last season. McDonagh also seemed happy to be back. Many would like to see that he would end his career in a lightning sweater.
His status, however, is still a awaiting. Lightning fans don’t want that after Steven Stamkos, but it has already been decided that conversations will be one thing after the season. On the other hand, this is all communicated. According to the Tampa Bay Times’ Eduard EncinaJulien Brisebois has told McDonagh that it is likely plan to discuss an extension after the season.
Oliver Bjorkstrand
I am aware that Oliver Bjorkstrand is hardly eligible for this list. He came to the trade theadline of the Seattle Kraken with Yanni Gourde. Because he was more than just a rent and is expected to return this season and is healthy, he counts.
Related: they were once Tampa Bay Lightning: Tim Taylor
Bjorkstrand took a few games to adapt to playing in the lightning system, but was more than effective when he started. After having had a point in his first seven games with lightning, he rattled four goals and four assists for eight points in his last 11 games of the season.
Bjorkstrand Missed Playoff promotion because of a Rare, serious injury called Compartment SyndromeIn which increased pressure around a muscle limits the correct blood flow. He had to undergo an emergency operation in the Tampa General Hospital to prevent permanent damage. Fortunately for him he is expected to be ready to go this season.
The winger was good for at least 20 goals in six of the last seven seasons and has set twice than 50 points in that period. The expectation, according to Encina in the same report on McDonagh, is that Bjorkstrand will also be viewed for another contract after the season.
By being healthy, it must give a big boost to the attack of lightning they missed in the play -offs.
Mitchell Chaffee
Mitchell Chaffee played a greater role in lightning last season and the team occasionally scored and consistent physicality on the ice. In 66 games he had 12 goals and six assists for 18 points, while he had 133 hits and 21 blocked shots. He could develop into a solid Bottom-Six option, and it will be worth seeing if he is increasing his game again in 2025-26.
His $ 800,000 salary goes up, whether it is the minimum salary in the competition or because of its market value.
Darren Raddysh
The 29-year-old defender has been one of the better success stories about the team in recent years. He was a unsigned free agent and hung four seasons around the American Hockey League (AHL) until he took his way into the lightning system and made his debut during the 2021-22 season.
The following season he saw his first real sample size of the promotion, played in 17 games in the regular season and all six games of the first round loss for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Since then, Darren Raddysh has been an everyday player and has been improved offensively every season. In 2023-24 he had an average of 0.4 points per match and improved to 0.51 points per match in 2024-25.
He must be a wage increase of the $ 975,000 that he will make this season, but it would be worth the lightning to find a contract that keeps him in the neighborhood.
Finding a way to keep all four these guys while they still have cap space to add in 2026-27 would be huge for lightning. For once they would hang on additions or redistribution, in the long term instead of having to scrape the bottom of the barrel for exclusively CAP-restricted options. At least, three of them would hang. Whether they can or want to be decided by how the season and the discussions take place. We will touch this within about 10 or 11 months.
#Lightning #important #players #contract #years #Hockey #Writers #Tampa #Bay #Lightning #Latest #News #Analysis