The NHL recently made a blockbuster announcement: ESPN Jacksonville 690am confirms that the NHL season will be extended from 82 games to 84 games at the start of the 2026-2027 NHL regular season.
For the Tampa Bay Lightning locker room, business will remain as usual: to chase for a Stanley Cup. From a player perspective, the slight difference in NHL games will not make the biggest difference in the world. Hockey is hockey. So long as the game players know and love does not change drastically, the announcement only means more of the same. “Let’s get to work!” players will exclaim.
However, the management perspective of the new announcement is quite different. Tampa Bay will have to remain diligent over the course of the regular season. Maintaining a healthy Lightning squad will only become more important with each passing game.
Given the longer nature of the NHL regular season, prioritizing injury prevention will be critical. More games in an NHL regular season means more opportunities for points, which can dramatically change one’s standing within their own division. Two extra games can provide two regular season wins, or in other words, four points. While it may not seem like much on paper, it can very much make the difference between a divisional and wildcard spot. Consequently, one will surely want their best players on the ice whenever possible.
The Tampa Bay Lightning, as of now, are a playoff contender. Their recent 2024-2025 record of 47-27-8 as per the NHL confirms their status as a top-tier team in the National Hockey League. The Lightning have true potential to make a splash for years to come. Thus, making sure players such as Brayden Point and Andrei Vasilevskiy remain healthy will be critical in order to steal four points in a stacked Atlantic Division.
Look for the Bolts to hopefully make the most of the NHL’s most recent announcement in the future.