Nick Paul is a quality depth player for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Going into the 2025-2026 NHL season, Paul will look to continue his steady production.
During his short tenure with the lightning thus far, Nick Paul has been nothing short of consistent. Similar to Anthony Cirelli, Nick Paul can play anywhere in the Lightning lineup. As a result, the 2024-2025 NHL season was another year of Nick Paul doing it all.
Nick Paul had a fairly consistent regular season. In the 76 games he played, Nick Paul recorded 22 goals and 19 assists for 41 points. Additionally while maintaining a positive +13 plus-minus rating, Paul scored five power play points along one shorthanded point.
Paul’s production on the Lightning during the 2024-2025 NHL season lucidly demonstrates his versatility. His strength and puck protection skills allow him to maintain pressure in any situation. As a result, he is capable of being a versatile player. Whether he is on special teams or simply pushing for a goal, Paul maintains consistency.
Per PuckPedia, Paul is signed at a reasonable $3.150 million annual deal until the end of the 2028-2029 NHL season. By locking down Nick Paul, the Lightning have managed to avoid a problem that has plagued the National Hockey League for years. For many teams, keeping quality depth players on their roster is way harder than finding them in the first place. A great example concerning the struggle of maintaining depth in the National Hockey League is our very own Tampa Bay Lightning.
Any avid Lightning fan can tell you about the famous hard working third line from the back-to-back Stanley Cup run. The historic line composed of Yanni Gourde, Blake Coleman, and Barclay Goodrow. Why were they so historic, one may ask? Well, they deftly dominated playoff hockey by playing a gritty and relentless style of play. No matter who their opponent was, they proved to be almost unstoppable. Due to various reasons such as the Seattle Expansion Draft, the Lightning simply could not afford to keep their prized trio in Tampa Bay.
Paul’s spot on the Lightning marks a return to Tampa’s championship days. The Lightning have proved that while some may have counted them out, they are still able to keep with the best of the best. Now with Gourde potentially returning to Tampa long-term, the Lightning are steadily rebuilding their glory days from not so long ago. Although the Panthers series was a poor showing for the Lightning team, the future looks bright.
Should Tampa Bay wish to be a competitive contender for the Stanley Cup once again, they need their depth scorers to be consistent. For Paul, it is practically in his nature. Paul will figure to contribute to the Lightning in any way he can. Look for Paul to continue to provide steady production moving forward.
