The Tampa Bay Lightning have already been active this offseason, but the roster still looks like it could use one more jolt before the season starts. One name that jumps off the board as a possible fit is Vancouver Canucks forward Jake DeBrusk.
DeBrusk checks a lot of boxes for Tampa Bay. The Lightning are looking for another skilled winger who can help deepen the top six, and he would bring exactly that kind of offense. On paper, he also fits neatly into a second-line role alongside Anthony Cirelli and Brandon Hagel, while giving Tampa Bay another weapon for the power play because of his scoring touch.
There’s also the matter of his contract, which makes him more than just a short-term rental. DeBrusk carries a $5.5 million cap hit through the 2030-31 season, giving any acquiring team a long runway with him.
The production has been there, too. In 81 games this past season, DeBrusk led the Canucks with 23 goals and finished with 42 points. That came on the heels of a career year in 2024-25, when he scored 28 goals and totaled 48 points in 82 games for Vancouver.
His future in Vancouver has been a talking point since before the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline, and that uncertainty only adds to the appeal if Tampa Bay decides to make a push. With the Canucks in a full rebuild and having already moved on from multiple veteran players, DeBrusk stands out as one of the more intriguing names for the Lightning to consider.
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Lightning National TV Slate Puts Big Rivalries Front And Center
The Lightnings 2026-27 schedule will once again put a spotlight on the leagues biggest stages, with 14 national TV games spread across TNT, ESPN, ABC and ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu. For a team that consistently draws attention, the slate is built around the kinds of matchups that tend to define a season, with familiar Eastern Conference opponents and plenty of late-season relevance baked in.
Boston and Florida sit near the center of that spotlight, and the broadcast calendar also includes a rematch with Montreal, giving Tampa Bay no shortage of high-profile dates before the full grind of the schedule settles in. The rest of the games will land locally on The Spot Tampa Bay 66 and through the Lightning app, so fans still have a clear path to follow the team whether they are tuning in nationally or watching closer to home. [Read more 🡒]
Lightning Fans Should Keep An Eye On This Under-The-Radar Forward
Marco Mignosa is the kind of late-round pickup that can get overlooked on a busy draft weekend, but Tampa Bay has at least given itself a player worth tracking. The forward was selected in the seventh round of the 2025 NHL Draft after building a strong junior rsum in the OHL, where his playmaking instincts and scoring touch stood out enough to put him on the Lightnings radar.
His next step is expected to come at Penn State in the 2026-27 season, where the focus will shift from production to refinement. Mignosa will be aiming to sharpen his defensive game while adding strength and speed, and if that transition goes well, he could put himself in position to sign an entry-level contract after a season in the NCAA. [Read more 🡒]
Victor Hedman Opens Up As Lightning Wait On His Return
Victor Hedmans absence from the Lightning lineup had lingered as one of the more unusual storylines of the season, and now there is a clearer picture of why he stepped away. The veteran defenseman said the time away was tied to performance anxiety, with the pressure building to a point where mistakes were hard to shake and the weight of it all became overwhelming.
Hedman says he is feeling better and ready to return, but the Lightning still have reason to be patient as he works his way back into game shape. He has not played since March 19, and even with the off-ice piece improving, he expects it will take some time to rediscover his rhythm once he is back in the lineup. [Read more 🡒]