Raw Charge
Summary
Lightning News Last night was a rough game to begin the new season. The New York Rangers scored early and often in the season opener for the Tampa Bay Lightning in New York City. It wasn’t all bad, but certainly no fun, and even included an empty-net goalie goal for Igor Shesterkin in the Rangers 5-1 beat down of the Lightning. Gross. [ Raw Charge ] Things were a little more positive on the New York side as the mood has definitely improved following their 3-0 loss against Boston earlier in the week. [ Blueshirt Banter ] Victor Hedman has returned to the Lightning after his leave of absence in March and looks physically leaner and mentally prepared to return to action. It was an injury-plagued and uncharacteristically down season for the Lightning Captain last year. Hedman is feeling excited and energized to get this one started. [ The Score ] The team’s captain is back on the ice, but his role might be slightly different than in years past [ Tampa Bay Times ] Justin put together a list of three things that hopefully carry over from the preseason: Face-offs, Penalty Killing and Bottom 6. The Lightning got obliterated in face-offs winning only 22/57 draws (38.6%), New York scored on their first power-play shot and went 1/2 on the night, and the bottom 6 in TOI (Girgensons, Viel, Harkins, Mikheyev, Goncalves, Geekie) combined for 2 shots on goal. Hopefully it’s a different story in Tampa on Saturday night against Washington. [ Raw Charge ] The Bolts’ Jack Pridham cracks the list of top freshmen to hit college hockey this year. The Athletic has him ranked 34th as he begins his academic career at the University of Denver. [ The Athletic ] The Lightning kicked off the regular season by helping those who help their local communities around Tampa Bay. The Lightning and Benchmark International awarded $25,000 to 12 local non-profit organizations in their “Strikes of Kindness” initiative. The $300k donation was one of the largest single day donations in Tampa Bay Lightning history. [ Lightning ] League News The NHL’s CBA officially began a few weeks and doesn’t expire until 2030, but Commissioner Gary Bettman is already potentially laying down some groundwork for what could be a big fight between the Player’s Association and front offices. Multiple big names like Connor Hellebuyck, Dylan Larkin, Zach Werenski and Brady Tkachuk have used their trade protection as a weapon recently. The Bettman isn’t a fan of the way trade protection is being used currently in the NHL and believes it goes against its original intention. [ ESPN ] Speaking of Dylan Larkin, he isn’t backing down from his trade request out of Detroit but will be out the first several games for the Red Wings. Larkin did not play in the preseason with an upper-body injury but coach Todd McClellan hopes to have Larkin back for game number three. [ Yahoo! ] The salary cap in the NHL is going through one of the craziest transition phases I’ve ever seen a professional sports league go through. The latest surprise comes via the Anaheim Ducks who signed 22-year-old defenseman Tristan Luneau to a 6 year, $43.2 million contract with a cap hit of $7.2 million. Luneau has played in only 14 NHL games across the last three years recording two goals and two assists. He played in one game last year and scored a goal in the final regular season game for Anaheim. [ NHL ] The Detroit Red Wings begin their season tonight at home against the Rangers after the Rangers played Tampa Bay in New York last night. Justin put together a preview of the Red Wings to continue Raw Charge’s 2026-27 Atlantic Division Preview for what could be the most competitive division in the NHL. [ Raw Charge ]