The Tampa Bay Lightning are making another strategic shuffle ahead of the NHL’s All-Star break, placing 23-year-old center Jack Finley on waivers. It’s a notable move for a team that’s been rolling lately, and it signals that the front office is still fine-tuning the bottom of the roster as they gear up for the stretch run.
Finley, a former second-round pick, has been walking the line between NHL and AHL duty all season. He cracked the Lightning’s roster out of training camp and filled in as a depth forward through the early months, rotating in and out of the lineup.
But after a five-game scoring drought in December, Tampa Bay sent him down to the AHL to get his legs back under him-and he responded. Three points in three games later, Finley was back with the big club and even chipped in a two-point performance that helped him carve out a spot on the fourth line.
Still, the spark didn’t last.
Over his last 10 games, Finley has gone quiet again-no points, a minus-one rating, and limited offensive impact. What makes it more glaring is that the Lightning have been on fire during that stretch, going 9-0-1 with a +19 goal differential. In other words, the team has been thriving, but Finley hasn’t quite been able to ride that wave.
That said, he hasn’t been invisible. Finley’s been bringing physicality, averaging the fourth-most hits per game on the roster.
That kind of edge is valuable, especially in a bottom-six role. But on a team like Tampa Bay-where depth scoring has been a key part of their identity during recent playoff runs-physicality alone might not be enough to keep a regular spot.
By placing Finley on waivers, the Lightning are opening the door to send him back to the AHL, where he’s shown he can produce. Over the past two seasons, he’s posted 60 points in 92 games at that level-a solid return for a player still developing his two-way game.
Of course, there’s always the risk that another team sees value in Finley’s size, physical presence, and potential, and claims him. For a club looking to bolster its bottom six with a young, cost-controlled forward, Finley could be an appealing add.
For Tampa Bay, it’s a calculated move. They’ve got a healthy group again, and with the offense clicking, they’re in position to prioritize consistency and production across all four lines. Whether Finley clears waivers or not, this decision underscores just how competitive the margins are on a contending roster.