2024–25 Tampa Bay Lightning season

The 2024–25 Tampa Bay Lightning season is the 33rd season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on December 16, 1991. This will be their first season since 2007–08 without Steven Stamkos, as he signed with the Nashville Predators.

April
The Lightning's off-season began after losing to the Florida Panthers in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs in five games.

May
On May 16, 2024, the Lightning re-signed forward Mitchell Chaffee two-year contract extension that has an annual cap hit of $800k. Chaffee skated in 30 games with the Lightning this past season, recording 4 goals and 7 points. Chaffee also appeared in all five of the Lightning's playoff games in the first round series with the Florida Panthers.

The following day the Lightning re-signed forward Niko Huuhtanen to a three-year entry-level contract. Niko has played the last two seasons with Jukurit of the Liiga. Niko has recorded 36 goals and 40 assists over 100 games. He was also named the Liiga's top rookie during the 2022–23 season. This past season he also appeared in six games with the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League on an ATO, recording 3 assists over 6 games.

On May 21, 2024, the Lightning reacquired Ryan McDonagh and a 4th round pick in the 2024 NHL entry draft from the Nashville Predators in exchange for 7th round pick in 2024, and a 2nd round pick in the 2025 NHL entry draft. McDonagh was previously traded to the Predators after winning back-to-back cups with the Lightning due to cap constraints. In the prior season McDonagh appeared in 74 games, recording 29 assists. McDonagh has two years remaining on his contract and will carry a cap hit of $6.75 million. On May 25, 2024, the Lightning placed forward prospect Ilya Usau on unconditional waivers for purposes of mutual contract termination. Usau appeared in 42 games with the Syracuse Crunch last season, recording 7 goals and 14 points. The prior season he had 4 goals and 16 points over 57 games with the Crunch. The following day Usua cleared waivers and had his contract terminated with the team.

June
On June 6, 2024, the Lightning re-signed defenseman Declan Carlile to a two-year contract extension. Carlile made his NHL debut last season in a game against the Minnesota Wild. The majority of the season was spent with the Crunch. Carlile skated in 61 games, recording 7 goals and 27 points.

On June 10, 2024, Lightning forward Waltteri Merela signed a one-year contract with SC Bern of the National League in Switzerland. Merela appeared in 19 games with the Lightning, recording one goal. Merela also skated in 55 games with the Crunch, recording 15 goals and 34 points. Merela still could be issued a qualifying offer if the team wishes to retain his rights since he is a restricted free agent.

On June 17, 2024, the Lightning re-signed forward Gabriel Fortier to a one-year contract extension. Fortier has appeared in 11 games with the Lightning since being drafted in 2018. Fortier has primarily appeared with the Syracuse Crunch thus far in his career. He skated in 62 games, recording 13 goals and 26 points this past season. Overall he has appeared in 235 games with the Crunch, posting 44 goals and 100 points.

On June 21, 2024, the Lightning re-signed forward Gage Goncalves to a one-year contract extension. Goncalves made two appearances with the Lightning this past season. Goncavles also appeared in 69 games with the Syracuse Crunch, recording 13 goals and 58 points.

On June 29, 2024, the Lightning traded defenseman Mikhail Sergachev to the Utah Hockey Club in exchange for defenseman J.J. Moser, center prospect Conor Geekie, a 2nd-round pick in the 2025 NHL entry draft and a 7th-round pick in the 2024 NHL entry draft. Sergachev appeared 34 games, recording 19 points, prior to missing the remainder of the regular season due to injury. Sergachev was originally acquired by the Lightning from the Montreal Canadiens in 2017. Sergachev played 7-seasons with the team, recording 48 goals and 257 points. Sergachev played in 100 playoff games and helped the team win back-to-back championships in 2020 and 2021. Sergachev finishes his tenure with the team second amongst defensemen in assists (209), points (257) and blocked shots (670).

The same day, the Lightning also traded forward Tanner Jeannot to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a 2nd-round pick in 2025 and a 4th-round pick in 2024. Jeannot skated in 55 games with the Lightning this past season, recording 14 points.

On June 30, 2024, the Lightning traded a 3rd-round draft pick to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for the negotiating rights to forward Jake Guentzel. Guentzel recorded 30 goals last season between his time with the Hurricanes and the Pittsburgh Penguins. This was Guentzel's fourth time reaching the 30 goal mark, which includes him hitting 40 goals twice.

The Lightning also made another trade this day. The Lightning traded forward Bennett MacArthur to the Penguins for Lukas Svejkovsky. Svejkovsky split time the past two seasons between the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League and the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL. Svejkovsky comes into the upcoming season on the last year of his three-year entry-level contract.

July
On July 1, 2024, the Lightning reached an agreement with forward Jake Guentzel prior to the start of free agency. Guentzel agreed to a 7-year contract that carries a cap hit of $9m a season. Guentzel was considered to be one of the more coveted forwards heading into the free agency period.

The Lightning were involved in following player signings on the first day of free agency.

The Lightning signed defensemen Tobie Paquette-Bisson to a one-year contract. Paquette-Bisson played in 69 games with Laval Rocket the past season. In that stretch he recorded 27 points. Paquette-Bisson has recorded 69 points over 214 games in the AHL. He also has skated in 132 ECHL games, recording 50 points.

The Lightning signed defenseman Derrick Pouliot to a one-year contract. This past season Pouliot appeared in 64 games with the Texas Stars, recording 9 goals and 37 assists for 46 points. Pouliot also played in 5 games with the Dallas Stars. Pouliot has appeared in 226 NHL career games across his career thus far.

The Lightning signed defensemen Steven Santini to a one-year contract. Santini spent the past season with the Ontario Reign. Santini recorded 5 goals and 15 assists in his time with the Reign. Santini previously has suited up in games with the New Jersey Devils, St. Louis Blues and Nashville Predators.

The Lightning signed forward Jesse Ylonen to a one-year contract. The contract will carry a cap hit of $775k at the NHL level. Ylonen appeared in 59 games with the Montreal Canadiens, recording 4 goals and 4 assists. Ylonen was originally second round pick of the Canadiens in 2018. Over his career he has appeared in 111 games with the Canadiens, recording 12 goals and 17 assists.

The Lightning signed forward Zemgus Girgensons to a three-year contract that carries an annual cap hit of $2.55M. Girgensons had spent his entire career playing with the Buffalo Sabres. Over that time Girgensons appeared in 688 games with the Sabres, recording 188 points.

The biggest news of the day was that Captain Steven Stamkos left the organization as a free agent to sign with the Nashville Predators. Stamkos signed a four-year contract that carries a cap hit of $8M a season. Stamkos was originally drafted by the Lightning in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. Stamkos captained the team to back-to-back championships in 2020 and 2021. Stamkos also collected the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy (2X) and the Mark Messier Leadership Award. Stamkos finishes his career as the team's all time leader in games played (1,082), goals (555) and points (1,137).

On July 2, 2024, the Lightning signed forward Cam Atkinson to a one-year contract that carries a $900k cap hit. Atkinson became a free agent after the Philadelphia Flyers opted to buy out the remainder of his contract prior to the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. Atkinson played his first full season after missing the prior season due to a back injury. He skated in 70 games, recording 13 goals and 28 points.

The same day the Lightning extended two members of their defensive core. First, the Lightning re-signed Victor Hedman to a four-year contract extension that will carry a $8M cap hit when it goes into effect the following season. Hedman joined the Lightning after being drafted first overall in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Since that time Hedman has helped the Lightning win back-to-back cups in 2020 and 2021. During the 2020 championship Hedman won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He is only one of eleven defensemen to achieve the feet thus far. In the regular season Hedman has won the James Norris Memorial Trophy and been named to four NHL All Star games. Hedman is also only third player in franchise history to appear in over 1000 games with the team. Hedman holds most of the teams records on defense, which includes games played (1052), goals (156), assists (572) and points (728), plus/minus, even-strength goals, even-strength points, power-play points, shorthanded points, overtime goals, game winning goals, hits and blocked shots.

Second, the Lightning re-signed defenseman Emil Lilleberg to a two-year contract extension that has a cap hit of $800k. Lilleberg made his NHL debut with the Lightning his past season. He recorded five assists in 37 games after making his debut. Lilleberg also appeared in 38 games with the Syracuse Crunch, recording 2 goals and 15 points.

On July 11, 2024, the Lightning reached a two-year contract extension with defenseman J.J. Moser that will carry a $3.375M cap hit. By doing so the Lightning avoid going to salary arbitration with Moser. Moser joined the Lightning in the off season as part of the trade that sent Mikhail Sergachev to Utah. Moser skated in 80 games with the Arizona Coyotes the past season prior to their relocation. Moser recorded 5 goals and 21 assists in that season. Moser also had 16 goals and 56 assists over three seasons with the Coyotes.

Preseason

 * Lightning score listed first;
 * Lightning score listed first;

Regular season













 * Lightning score listed first;
 * Lightning score listed first;

Transactions
The Lightning have been involved in the following transactions during the 2024–25 season.

Signings
Key:

Contract is entry-level.

Draft picks
Below are the Tampa Bay Lightning's selections at the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, which was held on June 28 and 29, 2024, at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Notes:
 * 1) Tampa Bay previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on March 18, 2022, that sent Boris Katchouk, Taylor Raddysh, a conditional first-round pick in 2023 and 2024 to Chicago in exchange for Brandon Hagel, a fourth-round pick in 2022 and this pick.
 * 2) The Edmonton Oilers' fourth-round pick went to the Tampa Bay Lightning as the result of a trade on May 21, 2024, that sent a seventh-round pick in 2024 and a second-round pick in 2025 to Nashville in exchange for Ryan McDonagh and this pick.
 * 3) The Chicago Blackhawks' seventh-round pick went to the Lightning as the result of a trade on June 29, 2023, that sent Corey Perry to Chicago in exchange for this pick.
 * 4) The Utah Hockey Club's seventh-round pick went to the Lightning as the result of a trade on June 29, 2024, that sent Mikhail Sergachev to Utah in exchange for Conor Geekie, J. J. Moser, Toronto's second-round pick in 2025, and this pick.
 * 5) The Minnesota Wild's seventh-round pick went to the Lightning as the result of a trade on July 2, 2023, that sent Patrick Maroon and Maxim Cajkovic to Minnesota in exchange for this pick.