Lightning 2025–26: 5 Best Returners and the Best New Faces

Tampa Bay enters 2025–26 with the identity that wins in spring: elite skill at the top, a lighthouse on the back end, and a big-game goalie. The upgrade comes in the middle of the lineup, where management added pace, detail, and penalty-kill bite. Here’s the scouting-packet read—five best returners who define the ceiling, followed by the best new faces who raise the floor. Each section ends with a clean Stat to Watch so you know what matters early.

1 of 9: Nikita Kucherov, RW — Returner
Why he’ll matter: Kucherov is still the pace car and the power-play professor. On the half wall he manipulates lanes, disguises touch passes, and turns coverage into knots. Even on a “quiet” night, his gravity creates seams everyone else cashes.
Stat to watch: Primary assists and power-play touches—if shot quality stays high on PP1, the Bolts’ offense hums like a contender.

2 of 9: Brayden Point, C — Returner
Why he’ll matter: Point slices through the middle with control, flips defensive-zone draws into exits, and exits into slot looks. When games tighten, his carry-ins and give-and-go timing separate one-and-done shots from real pressure.
Stat to watch: Controlled entries per 60 and high-danger goals at 5-on-5.

3 of 9: Victor Hedman, D (Captain) — Returner
Why he’ll matter: The lighthouse. Hedman kills rushes early, makes the first right touch, and calms chaos. Wearing the “C” only formalized what the room already knew—when his retrieval is clean, the breakout hums and the ice tilts.
Stat to watch: Zone-exit success and on-ice shot share against top competition.

4 of 9: Andrei Vasilevskiy, G — Returner
Why he’ll matter: The safety net and the launchpad. His first save stabilizes structure; his routine nights prove the system is working. He still steals points when legs aren’t there, and that trust lets skaters play on their toes.
Stat to watch: Goals Saved Above Expected in back-to-backs and vs. top-10 offenses—the “steal factor.”

5 of 9: Jake Guentzel, LW — Returner
Why he’ll matter: Year two should pop. Guentzel’s off-puck reads and one-touch release fit Tampa’s touch-and-go rhythm. He extends possessions with quick bumps and retrievals—quiet plays that lead to loud goals.
Stat to watch: High-danger goals and one-touch attempts with Point/Kucherov at 5-on-5 and on the PP.

6 of 9: Yanni Gourde, C/W — New Face
Why he’ll matter: The heartbeat is back. Gourde’s pace, forecheck angles, and PK bite raise the team’s floor. He drags lines into the fight, wins 50/50s, and flips momentum with one relentless shift. Tampa didn’t just trade for vibes; they extended him because the identity fit is perfect.
Stat to watch: Defensive-zone start share and short-handed expected goals—if both tick up without caving shot quality, that’s Gourde’s edge.

7 of 9: Oliver Bjorkstrand, RW — New Face
Why he’ll matter: Detail-driven play-driver. Bjorkstrand wins walls, finds inside ice, and gives PP2 a right-shot wrinkle. He also helps on the transition hinge—more carry-ins usually mean longer zone time and better looks.
Stat to watch: 5-on-5 expected-goals share with his line; if he pushes the middle six above water, the nightly math gets easy.

8 of 9: Pontus Holmberg, F — New Face
Why he’ll matter: A clean two-way connector who keeps pucks moving north and helps linemates touch the puck in good ice. He can ride shotgun with skill or glue a checking line without breaking structure—quiet good that banks points over 82.
Stat to watch: On-ice expected goals against per 60 vs. middle-six matchups—low against, steady for.

9 of 9: Jakob Pelletier, LW — New Face
Why he’ll matter: Fresh start, real pace. Pelletier darts into space, reads off the puck, and adds transition punch to the third line. On a modest cap hit with upside, he’s the depth add that shows up in back-to-backs and the dog days.
Stat to watch: Entry assists (the pass before the entry) and rebound chances created—if those climb, the bottom six stops trading chances and starts banking them.

Wrap-Up
The stars still drive; the newcomers make the road less bumpy. If health cooperates and the details stay sharp, Tampa Bay will be a problem when the rink shrinks and the stakes rise. Faith whisper: Play bold, play together—courage beats doubt every time.

Sources

• Gourde, Bjorkstrand to Tampa Bay (three-team trade, Mar. 5–6, 2025). NHL.com; ESPN. NHL+2NHL+2
• Holmberg, Pelletier sign with Lightning (July 2025). NHL.com Free Agent Tracker; The Hockey News recap. NHL+1
• Official roster page (for current list/validation). TampaBayLightning.com. NHL
• Hedman named captain (Sept. 18, 2024). Reuters; NHL.com; Tampa Bay Times. Reuters+2NHL+2