The 2025-2026 NHL season is finally almost upon us, and teams are ramping up as we head towards training camp and preseason. The Tampa Bay Lightning have several players who should be able to look back proudly on their effort from the past season. Others who will surely strive for more.
Now is the time of the year for bubble players to secure their spots in the lineup. Let’s look at some of the most likely candidates on the Lighting to have a breakout season this year in terms of ice time and overall impact.
Pontus Holmberg
Changes of scenery sometimes do strange things. Holmberg has shown over his years of play to be a reliable depth option. He can be used in larger roles in a pinch. Meanwhile, Holmberg has shown glimpses of higher end skill. He has the offensive awareness to make plays or keep the puck alive in the offensive zone.
Holmberg won’t suddenly turn into a top six forward. However, it’s very feasible to become a regular in the lineup. Holmberg needs to provide a dependable presence among Tampa’s bottom six. He’s someone who Jon Cooper can rely on in a multitude of situations.
Jakob Pelletier
Pelletier showed promise in Calgary. In Philadelphia, former head coach John Tortorella hardly gave him a chance to play. However, once Tortorella was gone, Pelletier played quite well under Brad Shaw. Nevertheless, the Flyers did not tender Pelletier a qualifying offer. The very next day, the Lightning snapped him up as an unrestricted free agent.
Right now, Pelletier does not have a starting spot locked up in Tampa. Nevertheless, the speedy forward has the tools to be a regular top nine forward. Thus far, he been a “quadruple A” player. He’s clearly better than the typical AHL player. He’s shown hints that he belongs in the NHL. However, the smallish winger has not yet figured out how to maintain his NHL spot. If Pelletier can use his speed consistently, the Lightning may have a surprise breakout candidate.
Emil Lilleberg
Emil Lilleberg had himself somewhat of a breakout season last year. He played in 76 games and recorded 19 points. Later, he dressed in all five of Tampa’s playoff games. Lilleberg has shown he can be a reliable defender, who can play the body and get in front of shots. However, Tampa Bay’s defensive core is getting older, especially on the left side.
Regression from players like Hedman and McDonagh may not happen right away but it is an inevitability. Meanwhile, Lilleberg has an opportunity to prove he is capable of moving up that left side. Lilleberg can do all the little things right, he just needs to show he can do them right all the time. As well, notching a few more goals won’t hurt his cause at all.
Gage Goncalves
We all got a sneak preview in that back half of last season as to the kind of player Gage Goncalves can be. His speed and hockey sense got him to be in the right spots at the right time, and allowed him to show he can be a dangerous shooting threat.
What Gage needs to worry about now is picking up where he left off. He has some seriously tough competition. Meanwhile, if he wants to play with the big boys, he has to show that he can assert himself on a consistent basis.
Conor Geekie
The former first round 11th overall pick just capped off his rookie season last year and is undoubtedly ready for more. Geekie has the tools, he has the size, and he has the smarts to be a top six player in this league. A big body with a blinding shot, and someone who is hard on attackers using his size and reach to close off lanes and take away options, Geekie is an imposing player on both ends of the ice. Geekie found the back of the net eight times last season. However, he’s capable of more.
At 6’ 4”, 207 lbs, Geekie can use his size to drive the middle of the ice, and use his hands in close to fire off shots with unexpected power and accuracy. Moreover, Geekie is only 21 years old, and now has another year of growth and offseason training under his belt. A hot start for Geekie could see him moving up the Lightning lineup quickly this season.
