Lightning's Benjamin Rautiainen: Agrees to entry-level contract
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Rautiainen signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Lightning on Friday.
Rautiainen wasn't taken by Tampa Bay until the No. 108 overall pick of the 2025 NHL Draft. However, Rautiainen took a huge step forward with Tappara of Finland's Liiga in 2025-26, scoring 25 goals and 77 points in 59 regular-season outings. His 77 points were the best in the league and more than double his 33-point total with Tappara during the 2024-25 regular season. The 20-year-old should be in the mix for an Opening Night roster spot during Tampa Bay's training camp.
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Lightning's Scott Sabourin: Inks two-way deal
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Sabourin signed a one-year, two-way contract with Tampa Bay on Saturday.
Sabourin had a goal, five points, 89 PIM and 63 hits in 26 regular-season appearances with Tampa Bay in 2025-26. He also had six goals, eight points and 22 PIM in 24 outings with AHL Syracuse in the 2025-26 regular season. The 33-year-old will compete for an Opening Night roster spot with the Lightning during training camp, but it wouldn't be surprising if he starts the 2026-27 campaign in the minors.
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Lightning's Nick Abruzzese: Re-ups with Tampa Bay
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Abruzzese penned a one-year, two-way contract with the Lightning on Tuesday.
Abruzzese posted 15 goals, 36 points and a plus-11 rating over 56 regular-season games with the Crunch in 2025-26, and he added a goal and three helpers over four postseason contests. The 2019 fourth-round pick will continue to provide organizational depth for Tampa Bay in 2026-27, as he hasn't gotten into an NHL game since the 2022-23 campaign, when he was with the Maple Leafs.
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Lightning's Maxim Groshev: Inks two-year deal
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Groshev agreed to terms on a two-year, two-way contract with Tampa Bay on Tuesday.
Groshev made his NHL debut last season, logging two regular-season games for the Bolts in which he produced one assist, one shot and one block while averaging 11:30 of ice time. The 24-year-old was selected in the third round of the 2020 NHL Draft as a winger before making the switch to defense. While he figures to start the 2026-27 campaign in the minors, Groshev could get a look during the season, given his flexibility and offensive potential.
Lightning's Sam O'Reilly: Three-point effort Sunday
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O'Reilly scored a goal and added two assists in OHL Kitchener's 4-3 double-overtime win over Barrie in Game 3 on Sunday.
O'Reilly did all of his work in regulation, helping Kitchener to take a 3-0 series lead in the OHL Finals. He's been excellent throughout the postseason so far, earning 16 goals and 11 helpers over 17 outings. With one more win, Kitchener will punch its ticket as the OHL representative at the Memorial Cup.
Hedman (personal) was activated from long-term injured reserve Tuesday, per the NHL media site.
Hedman missed the final 15 games of the 2025-26 regular season and all seven of Tampa Bay's playoff outings. He stepped away from the Lightning to focus on his mental health, but he was back skating with his teammates during the postseason.
Lightning's Pontus Holmberg: Recovering from fractured clavicle
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Holmberg sustained a fractured clavicle against Buffalo on April 6, per Evan Closky of 10 Tampa Bay News on Tuesday.
While an exact timeline for Holmberg's return never materialized, this type of injury can take 6-12 weeks to recover from. He has plenty of time to heal now that Tampa Bay has been eliminated from the playoffs, and he should be available for training camp in the fall. Holmberg had 11 goals, 22 points, 90 shots on net and 66 hits across 70 appearances during the 2025-26 regular season.
D'Astous notched a power-play assist and two hits in Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Canadiens in Game 7.
D'Astous missed Games 2-5 in the first round due to an undisclosed injury. The 28-year-old went from a relative unknown to a staple in the Lightning's lineup this year, logging 29 points, 80 shots on net, 96 hits, 74 blocked shots and 112 PIM over 70 regular-season outings. D'Astous signed a one-year contract extension in January, so expect him to be in the Opening Night lineup to begin 2026-27.
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Lightning's Dominic James: Scores in Game 7 loss
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James scored a power-play goal on four shots and added two hits in Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Canadiens in Game 7.
James ended the playoffs on a three-game point streak (two goals, one assist). The 23-year-old added 12 shots on net, 10 hits and a minus-4 rating over seven postseason contests. James put up 15 points across 43 regular-season outings and should be in the mix for bottom-six minutes heading into 2026-27.
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