Stat Hockey’s Tampa Bay Lightning 2023-24 Line Projections

This is a look at the Tampa Bay Lightning 2023-24 line projections. It will cover all forward lines, defense pairings, goaltenders, and scratches.

Projected Lineup

F

Steven Stamkos – Brayden Point – Nikita Kucherov

Brandon Hagel – Anthony Cirelli – Conor Sheary

Alex Barre-Boulet – Nick Paul – Tanner Jeannot

Tyler Motte – Luke Glendenning – Michael Eyssimont

S- Logan Brown

D

Victor Hedman – Nick Perbix

Mikhail Sergachev – Erik Cernak

Calvin De Haan – Darren Raddysh

S- Zach Bogosian, Haydn Fleury

G

Andrei Vasilevskiy

Jonas Johansson

Forwards

While spreading out the wealth in the lineup is something many teams do, the Lightning aren’t one of them. This is true most of the time as Stamkos, Kucherov, and Point are amazing together. The Lightning have good enough depth that they can afford to do this, or at least they did. Alex Killorn is now gone, but I can see the team still trying this a lot this season. It’s nearly impossible to match the skill level of this top line.

The second line therefore isn’t bad by any means. Hagel had a very good season in Tampa Bay, his first full one with the team. Cirelli is a very good two-way centerman and it allows this line to shut down other top lines. On the right we will likely see either Sheary or Jeannot. The latter is more fit for the third line with his physical play. Sheary has also been underrated for much of his career. He can produce offensively and I think he earns the second line spot.

The Lightning will be looking for a better showing from Jeannot after committing to him. Paul is very reliable and will hopefully find some chemistry with Jeannot as well. The Lightning have seen great things from Barre-Boulet in the minors, especially last season. With very little cap space and some opportunity, the team is hoping he can step up, stick around, and produce.

The Lightning will ice a decent fourth line. Motte and Glendening are capable of more than they showed last season, while Eyssimont will continue to be given a shot. Brown should also see some action this season. He is still fairly young and might be able to be a player for them.

Defense

While the defense of the Lightning has also gotten progressively weaker over the years, it will still be strong. Hedman is expected to bounce back offensively. He is still very good overall. Perbix surprised last season and should see increased minutes. There’s options on the right side so Hedman’s partner might change at times.

Sergachev was elite last season and he should get just as much playing time as Hedman. With Cernak beside Sergachev, I can see them even taking over as the top pairing. These two will also be very tough to play against.

Related: Stat Hockey’s St. Louis Blues 2023-24 Line Projections

The Lightning definitely have some options for their bottom pairing. De Haan is expected to be a pretty big part of that, as will Raddysh. He stepped up last season after dominating the AHL. Bogosian will surely see some time in the lineup as well.

Goaltending

There’s nothing to worry about in net for the Lightning while Vasilevskiy is around. He is still widely regarded as the best goalie in the NHL. He will play a ton and after a first round exit, is a little less fatigued. The Lightning’s cap situation still limits them from having any backup who can take more pressure off of him. Johansson will have to do to start the season. He has limited NHL experience, but it is a change from the late 30-year-olds the team is used to.