Lightning season preview: Sergachev needs to step into larger role

The 2022-23 NHL season starts on Oct. 7. With training camps open, NHL.com is taking a look at the three keys, inside scoop on roster questions, and projected lineup for each of the 32 teams. Today, the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Coach: Jon Cooper (11th season)
Last season: 51-23-8, third place in Atlantic Division; lost to Colorado Avalanche in Stanley Cup Final

3 KEYS

1. Overcoming fatigue and injuries
The Lightning played 71 Stanley Cup Playoff games the past three seasons in winning the Stanley Cup in 2020 and 2021 and losing in the Cup Final last season. That's the most playoff games in a three-season span in NHL history. Another short offseason could impact the Lightning during the grind of the regular season. Beginning the season without forward Anthony Cirelli and defenseman Zach Bogosian, who each had offseason shoulder surgery and could miss the first two months, will add to the challenge.
2. Sergachev's play
Mikhail Sergachev will step into a bigger role among Tampa Bay's defensemen following the trade of Ryan McDonagh to the Nashville Predators and Jan Rutta signing with the Pittsburgh Penguins. That means playing regularly in the top four and likely more ice time for the 24-year-old, who averaged 22:08 in 78 games last season, second on the Lightning behind defenseman Victor Hedman (25:05). Tampa Bay clearly believes Sergachev can do more after signing him to an eight-year, $68 million contract extension ($8.5 million average annual value) on July 13.
3. Filling holes on the top two lines
With Ondrej Palat signing with the New Jersey Devils and Cirelli out to start the season, the Lightning will need to replace two top-six forwards. Brandon Hagel likely will take one of the spots. The 24-year-old scored 21 goals in 55 games with the Chicago Blackhawks before being traded to Tampa Bay on March 18; he had four goals in 22 regular-season games and two in 23 playoff games with the Lightning while playing through a broken foot. Nick Paul, who signed a seven-year, $22.05 million contract ($3.15 million AAV) on July 1, is another possibility. The 27-year-old was acquired in a trade with the Ottawa Senators on March 20 to be Tampa Bay's third-line center but played on the second line for much of the last three rounds of the playoffs when Brayden Point was out with a torn quadriceps.

ROSTER RUNDOWN

Making the cut
Versatile veteran forward Vladislav Namestnikov, who returns for his second stint with Tampa Bay (2013-18) after signing a one-year, $2.5 million contract July 13, can be slotted anywhere in the lineup depending on where Hagel and Paul play. That would leave
Alex Barre-Boulet
and rookies
Cole Koepke
and Gabriel Fortier to compete for the other open forward spot. With McDonagh and Rutta gone and Bogosian out for the start of the season, Cal Foote could play on the second defense pair. Philippe Myers (acquired in the trade for McDonagh), and Haydn Fleury (signed two-year contract July 13) likely will compete to play alongside Ian Cole (signed one-year contract July 13) on the third defense pair.
Most intriguing addition
Myers will get a fresh start with the Lightning after a tough season with the Predators. He played 27 games, went unclaimed on waivers and was loaned to Toronto of the American Hockey League for 16 games. The 25-year-old brings size (6-foot-5, 210 pounds) and 142 regular-season games of NHL experience during four seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers and Predators. Playing in Tampa Bay's structured system could help him find more consistency.
Biggest potential surprise
Barre-Boulet led Syracuse of the AHL with 63 points (16 goals, 47 assists) in 58 games and had five points (three goals, two assists) in 14 games with Tampa Bay last season after being reclaimed off waivers from the Seattle Kraken (one assist in two games). If given a chance to play an offensive role, the 25-year-old could help offset some of the production lost with the departure of Palat, who had 49 points (18 goals 31 assists) in 77 games last season.
Ready to break through
If Koepke doesn't make the opening-night roster, he could be one of Tampa Bay's first call-ups if a spot opens. The 24-year-old, a sixth-round pick (No. 183) in the 2018 NHL Draft, had 39 points (20 goals, 19 assists) in 69 AHL games with Syracuse as a first-year pro last season before joining the Lightning to practice with their extra players during the playoffs.
Fantasy sleeper
Nicholas Paul, C/LW (undrafted on average in fantasy) -- He was fourth on the Lightning in 5-on-5 points per 60 minutes (2.65) last season after being acquired in a trade with the Senators and could see a bigger role at even strength and on the power play after the departure of valuable wing Palat. Paul brings strong hits coverage (39 in 21 games with Tampa Bay) and is a deep sleeper from one of the safest fantasy teams. -- Anna Dua

PROJECTED LINEUP

Steven Stamkos -- Brayden Point -- Nikita Kucherov
Alex Killorn -- Nicholas Paul -- Brandon Hagel
Vladislav Namestnikov -- Ross Colton -- Corey Perry
Patrick Maroon -- Pierre-Edouard Bellemare -- Cole Koepke
Victor Hedman -- Erik Cernak
Mikhail Sergachev -- Cal Foote
Ian Cole -- Philippe Myers
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Brian Elliott
Injured:Anthony Cirelli (shoulder), Zach Bogosian (shoulder)