The 2024-2025 season saw an offensively capable Lightning team led by the brilliant play of star forward Nikita Kucherov. Despite the talent, the Lightning were kicked out of the first round of the NHL playoffs by their in-state rivals the Florida Panthers.
For the third consecutive season, the Lightning exited early from the NHL playoffs.
In 2023, the Toronto Maple Leafs crushed playoff hopes of the Bolts and advanced in the playoffs.
In 2024, the Florida Panthers went on to win the Stanley Cup by winning four playoff series in a row. In the first round, the Panthers vanquished the Tampa Bay Lightning.
In 2025, Bolts fans know the story all too well.
While the Bolts certainly did not have as much pressure to compete as organizations such as the Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers, the pressure in Tampa Bay exists. The pressure has continually built for the Bolts over the last few years. Given the overall quality of the roster, current state of the Lightning core, and salary cap situation, the team should be seeing more success than it currently is.
The 2025 free agency period will be crucial for the Tampa Bay Lightning to improve their roster. PuckPedia states the Bolts have $5,481,001 in cap space. General Manager Julien BriseBois will be very busy over the next few days. BriseBois will have to act quickly in order to snag his targets before other teams around the National Hockey League do.
Stanley Cups are won during the offseason. It is only during the offseason in which a team can truly step back and examine their roster without any deterring factors. There have been plenty of opportunities to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the Tampa Bay Lightning after they exited the first round of the NHL playoffs. Thankfully, there will be more opportunities to improve the squad. When it is all said and done, hopefully General Manager Julien BriseBois can deliver Tampa Bay fans a deadly Tampa Bay Lightning time once again.
Look for the Lightning to be active players during NHL free agency.