In the 26th of a 32 part series leading up to the start of the 2025-26 National Hockey League regular season, we will look at the key off-season transactions made by all NHL organizations with an overall grade. Here are the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Lightning only added one new forward in the off season. Joining Tampa Bay is forward Pontus Holmberg of Vasteras, Sweden. The fact that it was a relatively quiet offseason for the Lightning may surprise some. That is because the Lightning lost in the first round of the 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Finals to their state rival, Florida Panthers.
Pontus Holmberg
Holmberg signed a two-year contract worth $3.1 million on Canada Day. He is set to earn $1.55 million per season. At this time, expect Holmberg to be on the Lightning’s fourth line alongside Zemgus Girgensons of Riga, Latvia and Mitchell Chaffee of Rockford, Michigan. Do not be surprised that Lightning head coach Jon Cooper reshuffles his lines in November when Nick Paul returns to the lineup after his upper-body surgery.
Holmberg in 2024-25
In his first three NHL seasons, Holmberg played with the Toronto Maple Leafs. In 68 games, he had seven goals and 12 assists for 19 points. He was a +4 with 27 penalty minutes, one power-play point, one shorthanded point, 68 shots on goal, 139 faceoff wins, 53 blocked shots, 45 hits, nine takeaways and 26 giveaways.
Holmberg’s Special Team Points
Holmberg’s two special teams points with the Maple Leafs in 2024-25 came in Toronto wins. The shorthanded point was a goal and the power-play point was an assist.
The shorthanded goal came in a 2-1 Maple Leafs overtime win over the New Jersey Devils on December 10. Holmberg tied the game at one at 10:42 of the third period from Connor Dewar of Gilbert Plains, Manitoba and defenseman Chris Tanev of Toronto, Ontario.
The power-play assist came in a 7-3 Maple Leafs win over the Montreal Canadiens on January 18. Holmberg set up Nicholas Robertson of Pasadena, California with one minute and 14 seconds left in the second period.
Projected Offseason Grade
The Lightning did not have to do much as they are a veteran group built to win now. They did win two Stanley Cups earlier this decade over Dallas and Montreal. The addition of Holmberg is significant and is part of a Swedish contingent in Tampa Bay that includes captain blueliner Victor Hedman and backup goaltender Jonas Johnansson. At this time I will give the Lightning an offseason grade of C.
