4 Tampa Bay Lightning Predictions for 2025-26: Lightning Reach Playoffs As a Wild Card Team
In less than two months’ time, the Tampa Bay Lightning will be back on the ice for the regular season. Each season brings new storylines and new milestones. Anything can pop up at any time, but it’s fun to try and pinpoint which ones we could see. We’ll try and do that here.
Here are four predictions for the upcoming 2025-26 season.
Hagel Reaches 100 Points
Brandon Hagel has taken a nice step forward in his production in each season of his career. He reached 90 points last season with career highs in goals (35) and assists (55). Now, it’s time to hit triple digits.
Should the almost 27-year-old forward reach the 100-point mark, it would be the eighth instance in Lightning history, and he would be the fourth Lightning player overall to reach the mark.
Nikita Kucherov owns five of those seven instances, with Steven Stamkos and Martin St. Louis each picking up one. Both of the latter players fell short in other seasons. St. Louis finished with 99 points another time, and Stamkos fell short with 98 and 97.
Funny enough, none of these seasons is when St. Louis won the Art Ross Trophy. He won it with 94 and 60 points.
Crozier Plays in at Least 60 NHL Games
Maybe I’m insane for making this prediction. Ahead of last season, I said we’d see more of Max Crozi er, and he ended up playing fewer NHL games. Let’s try this again. This time, he establishes himself on the Lightning defense.
The 25-year-old defenseman only saw action in five NHL games last season, down from 13 in 2023-24. However, he made the most of his time with the Syracuse Crunch. He saw a substantial increase in his offensive production, going from 21 points in 49 games in 2023-24 to 34 points in 52 games.
That’s a bump from 0.43 points per game to 0.65 points per game. Increased production from a defenseman is always a perk. Adding another level to his game to complement his physicality is going to make him more valuable on a Lightning team looking for more depth and to beef up.
Mark him as the latest late bloomer to join the Lightning roster.
Lightning Reach Playoffs… As a Wild Card Team
Yes, this prediction sees the Lightning take a step back in the standings while still keeping their playoff streak alive. Since their current playoff appearance streak began in 2017-18, they have finished in the top three in each season except the 2023-24 season. They finished fourth in the Atlantic and nabbed the first wild card spot.
To be fair to the Lightning, it’s not because they necessarily got worse. Other teams are getting better. The Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators are on the rise, and, in turn, I’m predicting one of them will land in the top three this season – I’m leaning toward the Canadiens here.
However, ending up in a wild card spot could be a blessing in disguise for this team. Entering the playoffs with a different seed could lead to a more favorable first-round matchup.
Dylan Duke Establishes Himself in NHL This Season
Dylan Duke had a nice first full season in the professional ranks last season. He played 62 games for the American Hockey League’s (AHL) Crunch, putting up 20 goals and 20 assists for 40 points. He had the chance to play a couple of games with the Lightning, too, and he made his chance count by scoring his first career goal.
He won’t start in the NHL. I think he’ll play for a month or so in Syracuse. But he’ll impress, get a shot and never relinquish it. The next generation will start to make their mark. Conor Geekie and Gage Goncalves are already up in the NHL, and Duke will join them soon enough.
All right, now, we sit back, relax, and wait. That’s the fun in predictions. You make them, and all you can do is wait to see if the bragging rights kick in come the spring and summer.
