The Lightning’s preseason picture got a little clearer this week, and not in the way the team wanted. Yanni Gourde and Dominic James will not be available when the season opens, giving Tampa Bay an early hole to patch at forward and, at the same time, a chance for younger players to make their case before the games start counting.
General manager Julien BriseBois said Gourde is expected to be out until December, while James will miss the first several weeks of the season. Those absences come at a time when the Lightning are already trying to sort through a different kind of uncertainty: there still doesn’t appear to be any real movement on a Nikita Kucherov extension, and BriseBois’ comments over the last few days haven’t done much to calm the concern around that situation.
With the forward depth thinned out, BriseBois reached back to an old familiar face by giving Luke Glendening a call for a professional tryout contract. Glendening last played for the Lightning from 2023-25.
Tampa Bay also rolled out its usual stadium giveaway plans, while mixing in some special ticket package nights with exclusive items. Among the offerings: a pirate boat themed gravy boat.
Elsewhere around the league, one of the loudest stories of the past few days came out of Winnipeg, where Connor Hellebuyck did not report to training camp. The Jets responded by suspending the disgruntled goaltender.
In Florida, Brad Marchand is set to miss at least the end of October with an injury. The 38-year-old is in the second year of a six-year deal.
In Other News...
Kucherov's Next Lightning Deal Just Became A Much Bigger Question
Nikita Kucherovs next contract with the Lightning was already going to be one of the biggest storylines in Tampa Bay, but the market around him just shifted in a way that could change the entire conversation. His current deal runs through the upcoming season, and the new collective bargaining agreement has tightened the range of long-term options teams can use, making this negotiation feel even more consequential for both sides.
Reports now have Kucherov operating in a territory far above his current $9.5 million average annual value, with a price tag that reflects how quickly the salary landscape has moved. For the Lightning, the challenge is no longer just keeping their star winger in the fold, but figuring out how to do it in a market where elite players are resetting expectations and the next step could determine just how far this relationship can stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Lightning Preseason Opener Brings An Early Roster Battle Into Focus
The Lightning are using their 2026-27 preseason opener against the Nashville Predators to get a first real look at how the roster is taking shape. Morning skate offered the first clues about the forward groups and defensive pairings, while Andrei Vasilevskiy and Mads Sogaard are lined up to handle the goaltending duties as Tampa Bay eases into exhibition play with a veteran-heavy group.
Even with camp still sorting itself out, the roster picture is already beginning to tighten. Tampa Bay has trimmed three players from try-out contracts, a reminder that the evaluation phase is moving quickly as rookies and bubble players keep competing for attention, ice time and a longer look before the preseason schedule gets deeper. [Read more 🡒]