Tampa Bay Lightning announces the list of opening nights on 2025-26 – The Hockey Writers – Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Chargers announced a roster for the 2025-26 season opening night. The lineup consists of stars familiar to many fans, as well as some new faces.
Several notable additions are prospect forward Jack Finley and free agent rookie Pontus Holmeberg. Forward Curtis Douglas was recently added as a waiver. Defensive Max Crozier, who has played 18 professional NHL games for the Chargers over the past two seasons, also made the roster and started it all.
It is worth noting that the Chargers will also have a third goalkeeper on the roster. Fionix Copley received a waiver last week, and he could help fill the gap where starting goalkeeper Andrei Vasilevski might need extra rest.
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As previously reported, Nick Paul will be out of the first month of the season. They will also lose Zemgus Gilgens.
Here are the details of the lineup, and the Chargers not only hope to make the Stanley Cup playoffs for the ninth straight season, but also make it through the first round since reaching the Stanley Cup final in 2022.
Lightning 2025-26 Opening Night List
Forward (13): Oliver Boxtland, Mitchell Chaffey, Anthony Cialley, Curtis Douglas, Jack Finley, Connor Gickey, Gage Gentalves, Yani Goode, Jack Gunzel, Banden Hager, Pontus Holberg, Nikita Kucherov, Braden Point
Defensive Player (7): Eric Chernak, Max Croze, Victor Heidman, Emil Lillberg, Ryan McDonald, J.J. Moser, Darren Radish
Goalkeeper (3): Fionix Copley, Jonas Johnson, Andrei Wasseylevsky
Injured and/or not on the list: Zemgus Girgensons (IR), Niko Huuhtanen (IR/NR), Nick Paul (IR)
Those new players will work to give the Chargers the depth they lacked in the past few seasons, especially in the last six. The Chargers will kick off the season on Thursday, October 9, when they will face the Ottawa Senators at the newly named Benchmark International Arena. The ice hockey landing time is set at 7 p.m.
