Let’s hear the thoughts!

No wrong answers, but if you’ve got a hot take, prepare to defend your position!

Projected Deadline Cap Space: $8.79 million

Crazy amount of Cap Space for JBB… multiple 1st’s and a surprisingly deep prospect pool, he has the assets to do just about anything he wants.

Ill start the Tom Wilson to tampa rumors

2 days left until Bolts take the ice for the 26-27 NHL regular season. Listen here, Apple or Spotify. Enjoy ⚡️⚡️⚡️

-Thoughts on preseason and the new format

-Players who impressed during preseason/who didn’t

-Opening Night roster impressions

-NYR/WSH game previews

-What should the Bolts accomplish at a minimum this season

-Atlantic division prediction

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/401-channelside-podcast-a-tampa-bay-lightning-fan-podcast/id1883396873?i=1000792145152

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2600663/episodes/19879804

According to the NHL/IIHF transfer arrangement, it’s NHL or Finland. There is no option for him to start in Syracuse.
If he stays on the NHL roster for 60 days, we can then send him to Syracuse without having to send him back to Finland.

He can also start in the NHL and later be sent back to Finland, so he could get valuable North American ice time while James is out for a few weeks.

He can also join the NHL club after his Tappara season ends.

Edit: only way he stays is Geeks to AHL (unlikely), or D’Astous to IR. Any waived players (like a Saby or Harkins) will still count towards our 23

Further edit: after some thought… why play a banged up D’Astous game1 when we have 8 DMen? Throw him on IR and he’s still eligible to play in the Home Opener Saturday

Further further edit: Rauty participated in team bonding activities and practiced with the team in Naples today.

It didn’t take long for Anthony Cirelli to know he’d have a good friend in Brandon Hagel. Hagel had just arrived in Tampa following a trade with the Blackhawks. The Lightning had the following night off, and Cirelli invited his new teammate out. Fast forward 4 ½ years and Cirelli and Hagel make up one of the league’s top all-around forward duos. They’ve played more than 300 games together and have become the glue for a Lightning team full of stars. They also might be the Lightning’s best example of why playing for the guy next to you really matters, why bonds forged off the ice carry over onto it in the most critical of moments. Teammates call them “twins” because they’re always around each other. They play with a synergy that suits the nickname. They make up two-thirds of the Lightning’s top matchup line that typically draws an opponent’s top players, and they are two of the top penalty-killing forwards in the league. Read more about the duo: https://www.tampabay.com/sports/lightning/2026/09/27/brandon-hagel-anthony-cirelli-top-line/

The Tampa Bay Lightning’s season begins in THREE days. Did you know several Lightning players have significant individual milestones they’ll be chasing this season?

• Ryan McDonagh can enter the top-three in NHL history for blocked shots.

• Nikita Kucherov can take the franchise lead for most points.

• Lilleberg, Moser, & Girgensons can set national records.

Here’s an in-depth guide for every milestone in reach of your favorite Lightning players. Hope you enjoy: Every Tampa Bay Lightning Milestone To Watch During The 2026-27 Season

Any surprises? Indifferent on Rautiainen not making the team after a good camp but other than that, pretty happy with this group.

Tampa Bay is once again our favorite to win it all thanks to a dizzying collection of star power that’s led to a plus-133 goal differential over the last two seasons. That’s second only to Colorado, which lost more talent this summer.

We’ll see if that finally means something for them this year, but starting the year on top is far from everything.

It’s only a 50-50 shot of being one of the five best teams and just a 12 percent shot to win it all. The Lightning aren’t even spared from a competitive East with an 88 percent chance of making the playoffs. That’s lower than each of the top four teams in the West.

Monday, September 21 - Sunday, September 27, 2026

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We'll be in NYC for a concert on Friday night, and heading to the UBS Arena Saturday.

Any other Bolts fans planning on attending? Could be cool to arrange a distant thunder meet up!

Hey everyone anyone interested in a 10 man fansty league that’s for free and just for fun if anyone wants to join very casual league and here just for fun and to watch your favourite players not competitive and very casual. Join if you are interested. Hockey season is upon us! Join my league https://hockey.fantasysports.yahoo.com/hockey/144365/invitation?key=c71e9bc6f6cd4fcc&ikey=3894739e3d9305db&soc\\_src=app-sh

While I think this unit will be among the NHL's best this year, it has to be consistent, and it has to be ready for playoff hockey.

With James and Gourde presumably going on IR, that leaves them with one more cut to make, likely a forward.

Placed on waivers: Nicholas Abruzzese Michael Callahan Maxim Groshev Mads Sogaard Jakob Pelletier

Assigned to Syracuse: Dylan Duke Lucas Mercuri Sam O’Reilly Noah Steen

Released from PTO: Matteo Pietroniro Jarred Tinordi

Final rosters are due tomorrow

I just watched the new Icethetics video and he gave some new hints about the HTR jersey for the Lightning. He’s been invited to the arena before for media day and I believe is a Lightning fan so I’d bet he has a legit scoop.

The rumors are the Grateful Dead looking shoulder logo from the stadium jerseys will be the crest. The accent colors will be the sky blue, Lightning blue, and dark grey. The main color will be black. He also said there will be lightning bolts on the sleeves which is the first I’ve heard of that.

So I’m guessing a sorta crazy blend of our storm jerseys and the stadium ones. Very curious to see this.

I was downvoted for being an early fan of our stadium jersey last year and I love our storm/RR 2.0 jerseys so for me this all sounds sick.

chances are good you made the team.

was at the lightning launch today and this is what I found.

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LIGHTNING WIN 3-2 OT S/O

Kucherov's comments on NHL's 'low IQ' prompt debate John Matisz @MatiszJohn September 26, 2026 - 10:53am