Lightning Should Consider Reuniting With Big Forward

One of the Tampa Bay Lightning's top goals this off-season should be to improve their forward depth. Their bottom six could use a bit of a boost, and they will have some interesting options to consider in free agency once it begins at the start of next month. 

When looking at this year's pending unrestricted free agents (UFAs), one player who could make a lot of sense for the Lightning to sign is an old friend, Taylor Raddysh. 

Raddysh, 27, was selected by the Lightning with the 58th overall pick of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. The 6-foot-3 winger was traded by the Lightning to the Chicago Blackhawks during the 2021-22 season in the deal that brought Brandon Hagel to Tampa. Since then, Raddysh has blossomed into a solid bottom-six forward, and it could be worth bringing him back because of it. 

Raddysh spent the 2024-25 season with the Washington Capitals, where he recorded seven goals, 27 points, and 59 hits in 80 games. Overall, it was a solid year for the Caledon, Ontario native, as he gave the Capitals decent secondary offensive production in a bottom-six role. With this, he could do the same for the Lightning if signed. 

Raddysh has also previously shown that he can be a solid goal scorer. During the 2022-23 season with the Blackhawks, he notably scored a career-high 20 goals and recorded 37 points in 78 contests. Thus, he could be a player worth taking a shot on with an affordable, short-term deal. 

It will be intriguing to see if the Lightning end up bringing back Raddysh. It would make for a cool story, as it would reunite the Raddysh brothers in Tampa Bay. 

Lightning Defender Should Generate Big Interest In Free Agency

Now that July 1 is almost here, the start of free agency is right around the corner. Due to this, we will soon see several players end up signing with new clubs.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have a handful of pending unrestricted free agents, and defenseman Nick Perbix is undoubtedly the most notable. It was recently reported by The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta that Perbix will hit the market as an unrestricted free agent (UFA), and the Bolts blueliner should be a popular target. 

When looking at this year's free agency class, there are not too many notable right-shot defensemen. Because of this, teams looking to improve their right side should have Perbix among their top potential targets. 

Another appealing factor about Perbix is that he is only 27 years old. Thus, he is right in his prime, and that could make him a popular target for both playoff and non-playoff teams. In addition, teams will forever value big, right-shot defenseman, and Perbix is just that, standing in at 6-foot-4. 

Perbix has also shown with the Lightning that he can be a serviceable bottom-pairing defenseman when playing at his best. In three seasons in Tampa Bay, he recorded 13 goals, 50 assists, 63 points, 203 hits, and a plus-27 rating. This includes posting six goals, 19 points, and a plus-8 rating in 74 games with the Lightning this season.

Nevertheless, it is going to be very fascinating to see where Perbix ends up landing this off-season. He certainly should have multiple options to choose from.