June The Lightning's off-season began after losing to the
Colorado Avalanche in game six of the
2022 Stanley Cup Final. Despite their playoff shortcomings, the 2021-22 Tampa Bay Lightning became the first NHL team in the
post-salary cap era and the first NHL team in nearly four decades to clinch three consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances, a feat not achieved since the
1983-
1985 Edmonton Oilers. On June 30, 2022, the Lightning announced that
Darren Raddysh had been re-signed to a 2-year contract extension. Raddysh made his NHL debut last season with the Lightning, and appeared in four games. That same day it was announced that assistant coach
Derek Lalonde was hired by the
Detroit Red Wings to be their new head coach. Lalonde had served as an assistant to
Jon Cooper since 2018, and was a member of the 2020 and 2021 championships.
July On July 1, 2022, the Lightning announced the re-signing of
Nick Paul to a 7-year contract extension valued at $22.05 million. Paul was acquired by the Lightning from the
Ottawa Senators prior to the NHL trade deadline. Paul appeared in 23 post season games on their trip to the Stanley Cup Finals, recording five goals and four assists. That same day the Lightning placed goalie prospect Amir Miftakhov on unconditional waivers or the purpose of a buyout. Miftakhov was drafted in the sixth-round of the
2020 NHL entry draft. Miftakhov spent time with the
Orlando Solar Bears of the
ECHL and the
Syracuse Crunch of the
American Hockey League. Miftakhov has two years remaining on his entry-level contract. Miftakhov cleared waivers the following day. On July 3, 2022, the Lightning traded defenseman
Ryan McDonagh to the
Nashville Predators in exchange for defenseman
Philippe Myers and forward Grant Mismash. McDonagh spent the past five seasons with the lightning after coming over in a trade from the
New York Rangers. McDonagh appeared in 267 regular season games with the Lightning, recording 20 goals and 99 points. McDonagh ranks third all time amongst Lightning defensemen in the playoffs in games (89), assists (21) and points (23). McDonagh also helped the team capture two Stanley Cup Championships and appear in three consecutive finals. The main purpose of the trade for the Lightning was to help obtain salary cap relief both the upcoming season and going forward. After the trade the Lightning had 6.75m in cap that they can use to try and re-sign players or use in free agency. On July 7, 2022, the Lightning selected forward
Isaac Howard from the
U.S. National Development Program with the 31st pick in the
2022 NHL entry draft. This was the Lightning's first time selecting in the first-round since
2019. Howard recorded 82 points in 60 games this past season. Howard is committed to play colligate hockey for the
University of Minnesota Duluth. The following day the Lightning selected forwards Lucas Edmonds, Connor Kurth, Klavs Veinbergs, goaltender Nick Malik and defenseman Dyllan Gill. On July 11, 2022, the Lightning re-signed goaltender
Maxime Lagace to a 1-year contract extension. Lagace played in two games with the Lightning this past season, going 1–1–0. Lagace spent most of the season with the
Syracuse Crunch, posting a 23–9–2 record. The same day the Lightning declined to issue qualifying offers to Tye Felhaber, Otto Somppi, Odeen Tufto, Alex Green and Alexei Melnichuk. All of these players became unrestricted free agents on July 13, 2022. On July 12, 2022, the Lightning announced the signing of
Jeff Blashill as an assistant coach. Blashill had served as the head coach of the
Detroit Red Wings over the past seven seasons.
Free Agency July 13, 2022, was the first day of NHL
free agency. The Lightning were involved in the following signings and player departures: Forward Felix Robert was signed to a 2-year entry-level contract. Robert spent the past two seasons with the
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL. Roberts has skated in 90 games, recording 22 goals and 47 points. Roberts originally signed with the
Pittsburgh Penguins as an undrafted free agent from the
Sherbrooke Phoenix of the
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Roberts is expected to join the Lightning's AHL affiliate in Syracuse. Defenseman
Ian Cole was signed to a 1-year deal, valued at $3 million. Cole skated in 75 games with the
Carolina Hurricanes this past season, recording two goals and 17 assists. Cole has appeared in 670 games over his 12 seasons NHL career. He was also a member of the Penguins' back to back championship teams in 2016 and 2017. Forward
Vladislav Namestnikov was signed to a 1-year contract, valued at $2.5 million. Namestnikov appeared in 75 games this past season between the
Detroit Red Wings and
Dallas Stars. He recorded 16 goals and 30 points over that stretch. Namestnikov was originally drafted by the Lightning in the first round of
2011 NHL entry draft. Namestnikov also made his NHL debut with the club during the
2013–14 season. Namestnikov was eventually part of the trade package that brought over
Ryan McDonagh and
J. T. Miller from the
New York Rangers. Defenseman
Haydn Fleury was signed to a 2-year contract that carries an annual cap hit of 762k. Fleury skated in 36 games this past season with the
Seattle Kraken, recording two goals and four points. Fleury has appeared in 215 career NHL games between Seattle,
Anaheim Ducks and
Carolina Hurricanes. Fleury was part of Seattle's inaugural season after being claimed in the
2021 NHL expansion draft. Fleury was available to the Lightning after not receiving a qualifying offer from Seattle. The Lightning lost the following players in initial period free agency: Forward
Charles Hudon signed a on-year contract with the
Colorado Avalanche. Hudon appeared in 66 games with the Syracuse Crunch last season, recording 30 goals, 27 assists and 57 points. Hudon did not appear in any games with the Lightning last season. Forward
Anthony Richard signed a 1-year contract with the
Montreal Canadiens. Richard played 71 games in the AHL last season, between the
Milwaukee Admirals and Syracuse Crunch. Defenseman
Jan Rutta signed a 3-year contract with the
Pittsburgh Penguins. The contract is worth $8.25 million, and carries an annual cap hit of $2.75 million. Rutta played for the Lightning over the past four seasons, and helped the team win two Stanley Cup championships. Forward
Ondrej Palat signed a 5-year contract with the
New Jersey Devils. The contract carries an annual cap hit of $6 million. Palat had spent his entire 10-year NHL career with the Lightning. Palat finished his career with the Lightning with 143 goals, 280 assists and 423 points. Palat also helped the Lightning to capture two Stanley Cup championships and appear in four Stanley Cup Finals.
Re-signings On the first day of free agency the Lightning re-signed the following players: Defenseman
Mikhail Sergachev was signed to an 8-year contract extension valued at $68 million. Sergachev was former 9th overall pick that came over via trade for
Jonathan Drouin from the
Montreal Canadiens prior to the 2017–18 season. Sergachev saw his role gradually increase to the Lightning during the team's run to two Stanley Cups, and is expected to take on a regular top-4 role. Forward
Anthony Cirelli was signed to an 8-year contract extension valued at $50 million. Defenseman
Erik Cernak was signed to an 8-year contract extension valued at $41.6 million.
Post Free Agency Frenzy On July 22, 2022, the Lightning signed forward Lucas Edmonds to a three-year entry-level contract. Edmonds joined the organization via the
2022 NHL entry draft in the third-round. Edmonds played most of his juniors career in Sweden before moving to the
Ontario Hockey League with the
Kingston Frontenacs this past season. He recorded 34 goals, 79 assists and 113 points in 68 games with the Frontenacs. On July 25, 2022, the Lightning signed defensemen
Trevor Carrick to a 1-year contract. Carrick was with the
San Diego Gulls of the AHL this past season. Carrick appeared in 61 games, recording 10 goals, 20 assists and 30 points.
August On August 17, 2022, former Lightning prospect Cole Guttman signed as a free agent out of college with the
Chicago Blackhawks. Guttman was originally drafted in the 6th-round by the Lightning in the
2017 NHL entry draft. Guttman became a free agent after not signing with the Lightning after the August 15th deadline this year. Guttman played last season with the
University of Denver. Guttman captained the team to the
2022 NCAA Hockey Championship. On August 18, 2022, former Lightning prospect Sammy Walker signed as a free agent out of college with the
Minnesota Wild. Walker was originally a 7th-round draft pick by the Lightning in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. Walker was a made a free agent after not signing with the Lightning after the August 15th deadline this year. Walker spent the previous four years at the
University of Minnesota.
September On September 13, 2022, the Lightning announced its 30th anniversary celebration for the season. As part of this announcement the team will create a Lightning Hockey Hall of Fame. The first class will be inducted during a home game in the spring. The exact date and members to be inducted is to be determined at a later date. ==Training camp==