Earlier this off-season, the Tampa Bay Lightning re-signed forward Gage Goncalves to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $1.2 million. This was an important move for the Lightning to make, as Goncalves emerged as a solid part of their roster this past season.
Goncalves proved that he was ready for the NHL in 2024-25, as he posted eight goals, 12 assists, and 20 points in 60 regular-season games. He also record 18 of his points in the team's final 33 regular-season games, so he significantly improved as the campaign rolled on. He also had a goal and four points in five playoff games for Tampa this spring.
With the way Goncalves finished the year for the Lightning, it is hard not to feel optimistic about his future. Now that he has completed his rookie year and is more adjusted to the NHL level, it would not be surprising in the slightest if he hits another new level next season.
If Goncalves takes another step forward in 2025-26, it would only make the Lightning an even more difficult team to go up against. The potential for him to provide more offense in the Lightning's middle six is there, and it will be intriguing to see if he does just that next season from here.
Lightning Made Good Move Signing Ex-Maple Leafs Forward
The Tampa Bay Lightning have had a much quieter off-season this year than they did last summer. It is understandable, as they entered this off-season with limited cap space. However, they still improved their overall depth, which was a clear need.
One intriguing move the Lightning made was signing forward Pontus Holmberg to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $1.55 million. After the Toronto Maple Leafs did not send Holmberg a qualifying offer, he hit the market as an unrestricted free agent (UFA), and the Lightning then scooped him up.
When noting that the Lightning needed to improve their bottom six, bringing in a forward like Holmberg has the potential to be a strong move for them. This is especially so when noting that they signed him at such an affordable cap hit.
Holmberg demonstrated during his days with the Maple Leafs that he can be an impactful bottom-six forward due to his solid defensive play and speed. As a result, he will now provide the Lightning with another interesting option for their penalty kill. Furthermore, he also offers versatility, as he can play both on the wing and down the middle.
When noting that Holmberg is only entering his fourth NHL season and is just 26 years old, there is reason to believe that he still can hit another level. Perhaps joining the Bolts will help him do just that.
Overall, it is hard not to like this low-risk move for the Lightning. It is going to be intriguing to see how much of an impact Holmberg will make in Tampa Bay from here. In 68 games this past season with the Maple Leafs, he scored seven goals and set new career highs with 12 assists and 19 points.
