The Tampa Bay Lightning’s quiet offseason has NHL experts wondering if the team did enough to stay competitive. With tight cap space and no major defensive signings, some analysts think this low-key approach could backfire when the puck drops.
Why Are Experts Concerned About Tampa Bay’s Offseason Strategy?
The Lightning made a few smart moves up front, bringing in forwards Pontus Holmberg and Jakob Pelletier while re-signing Yanni Gourde and Gage Goncalves to keep their scoring depth intact. These additions help the forward group, but Tampa Bay’s blue line is what’s got people talking.
The big concern? The team let defenseman Nick Perbix walk in free agency without bringing in a replacement.
ESPN analyst Kristen Shilton called the lack of defensive moves something that “could be a problem,” especially with training camp right around the corner.
“The Lightning are looking light on the back end, and it could be a problem if BriseBois doesn’t have anything else up his sleeve before training camp,” Shilton wrote. “Right now it doesn’t look as if Tampa Bay is any worse, or better, than it was at season’s end.”
The Athletic’s Shayna Goldman had similar thoughts, pointing to Tampa Bay’s failure to add a “needle-mover” on defense.
“Management didn’t sign a Nick Perbix replacement (or just a seventh defenseman),” Goldman wrote. “And the team hasn’t been able to land any needle-movers, either. Had management been able to move out some salary, maybe the Lightning could have done more.”
With the Lightning’s defensive ambitions still unmet, attention now turns to the practical consequences of losing a key contributor like Perbix.
What Does Losing Nick Perbix Mean for Tampa Bay’s Defense?
While Holmberg and Pelletier are solid pickups who bring bottom-six value with playoff upside, neither fixes the hole left by Perbix’s departure. Holmberg comes over from Toronto with 159 games of NHL experience and a reputation for steady, two-way play. Pelletier, a 24-year-old former first-round pick, brings energy and potential after splitting time between Calgary and Philadelphia last season.
However, neither forward addresses what Tampa Bay lost when Perbix signed with Nashville.
Now wearing a Predators jersey, Perbix was valued for his positioning and ability to move the puck under pressure. The 6-foot-4 defenseman made defense his top priority, and Tampa Bay’s decision not to replace him stands out given how close the team has come in recent playoff runs.
Nick Perbix, signed 2x$2.75M by NSH, is a big defenceman who did underratedly strong work with the puck in a depth role for Tampa Bay. #Preds pic.twitter.com/BY2Wr3RddK
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) July 1, 2025
Tampa Bay’s options are severely limited with just $1.18 million in cap space. Unless general manager Julien BriseBois has something unexpected in the works, the team could be one injury away from serious trouble on the back end.
That said, the Lightning have a track record of finding hidden gems. Pelletier might flourish in Tampa’s structured system, while Holmberg’s playoff experience and international success with Sweden give him solid potential at a team-friendly price.
The bottom line: Tampa Bay is betting on internal development and bargain signings. If the defense holds up, this quiet offseason might look smart. But if it doesn’t, this low-key summer could turn into a very loud problem.
