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3 burning Lightning questions entering 2026-27 NHL season
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The Tampa Bay Lightning are bringing back the core for another run at the Stanley Cup. Victor Hedman, Nikita Kucherov , and the rest are coming back for another crack at it. And they are returning on the heels of a stinging defeat in last year's playoffs.
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It's hard to find a better performance from a losing team in a playoff game than the Lightning had last season. Tampa Bay held the Montreal Canadiens to nine shots on goal in Game 7 of their first-round series. In the end, though, they were only able to score one goal. The Canadiens got the two they needed to win.
This summer, the Lightning did some restructuring to its roster. They traded the rights of defenseman Darren Raddysh to the Toronto Maple Leafs. In response, they signed veteran defenseman John Carlson to a two-year contract.
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Tampa Bay arguably has an older roster now than it did before the summer began. But in the quest for a Stanley Cup, patience for development is not all that high. With the 2026-27 season closing in, here are three important questions facing the Lightning before the new season.
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Can Victor Hedman be elite again?
Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
It's been a slow and steady decline for veteran defenseman Victor Hedman over the last couple seasons. He has shown the ability to play at a high level. However, he has not given that elite performance that fans are accustomed to at this point.
Hedman had a less-than-stellar season last year. He struggled with injuries, and he took a step away from the game to care for his mental well-being. The Lightning captain is healthy and motivated to make an impact in 2026-27.
What performance can Hedman bring to the table this coming season? Can he be the No. 1 defenseman the Lightning need him to be? Or will he need to figure out a new role to play on the blueline for Tampa Bay?
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How much does John Carlson have in the tank?
As mentioned, the Lightning signed John Carlson in NHL free agency this summer. He failed to agree to terms with the Carolina Hurricanes, allowing him to test the open market in July. At this time, Carlson figures to be a direct replacement for Raddysh.
It makes a ton of sense as to why the Lightning believes he has something left to give. In 2025-26, he scored 14 goals and 60 points split between the Washington Capitals and Anaheim Ducks. He is the greatest defenseman in Capitals history, and likely has a spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame when things are said and done.
Still, he is up there in age. Carlson will be 37 years old in January. He has a lot of mileage on his body through the Stanley Cup chases and playoff runs. Can he hold up for Tampa Bay and continue producing at his usual rate? Or will his journey to Central Florida be the beginning of the decline for the veteran defenseman?
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Will there be a new contract for Nikita Kucherov?
The wording of this question is quite intentional. Many likely assume that a contract for Nikita Kucherov is coming. Why wouldn't the Lightning sign a player who has four-straight 100+ point seasons in the middle of a contention window?
Well, the Lightning are not a franchise who are ruled by emotion. Tampa Bay played this game with Steven Stamkos in 2023-24. Despite Stamkos producing a point-per-game season, they let him walk in NHL free agency.
Now, Kucherov faces free agency next summer . Just like Stamkos, he could hit the open market at the age of 34 and have teams lining up for him. Kucherov is a better player, but could the Lightning let him take the same path?
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Tampa Bay certainly needs a player like Kucherov around. However, they have allowed a franchise legend and its captain at the time to leave for another team. Could they let Kucherov walk next summer, or will the two sides agree to a new contract that keeps the future Hall of Famer in a Lightning sweater for good?
