The Tampa Bay Lightning are now 12 days away from the 2025-26 regular season opener against the Ottawa Senators. With this, they are less than two weeks away from starting their campaign, which is undoubtedly exciting news.
With the Lightning now being 12 days away from the regular season, let's take a look at all six players who have worn No. 12 for the Lightning in their franchise history.
Jock Callander, RW (1992-93)
The first player to wear No. 12 in the history of the Lightning was Jock Callander. The 6-foot-1 forward sported it during his lone season with the Lightning in 1992-93. In eight games with the Lightning during that campaign, the Regina, Saskatchewan native posted one goal, one assist, two points, two penalty minutes, and a minus-5 rating.
Before the 1992-93 season with the Lightning, Callander had not played at the NHL level since the 1989-90 season with the Pittsburgh Penguins. In 109 career NHL games over four seasons split between the Penguins and Lightning, he recorded 22 goals, 29 assists, 51 points, and 116 penalty minutes.
Jim Cummins, RW (1993-94)
Jim Cummins would be the next Lightning player to sport No. 12, as he did during the 1993-94 season. In four games with the Bolts that season after being acquired from the Philadelphia Flyers, he recorded zero points, 13 penalty minutes, and a minus-1 rating.
Cummins also played the 1994-95 season with the Lightning, but he made a number switch for it. This is because Cummins sported No. 27 for the Lightning during his final season with the Atlantic Division club. In 14 games with the Lightning over two seasons, he posted one goal, 54 penalty minutes, and a minus-4. He finished the 1994-95 campaign as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks, however, recording three goals, one assist, and 117 penalty minutes in 27 games.
John Cullen, C (1995-96 to 1998-99)
The next player to wear No. 12 for the Lightning was forward John Cullen. The 5-foot-10 forward sported it during his entire three-year stint with the Lightning. In 150 games with the Bolts over that span, he recorded 34 goals, 71 assists, 105 points, 162 penalty minutes, and a minus-15 rating.
Cullen missed the 1997-98 season after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. However, after beating the disease, Cullen played the final three games of his NHL career with the Lightning in 1998-99. He was also awarded the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy that season, which is given to the NHL player "who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey."
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Ryan Malone, LW (2008-09 to 2009-10 & 2011-12 to 2013-14)
Ryan Malone was the next player to sport No. 12 for the Lightning. However, he also wore No. 6 for the Lightning but only during the 2010-11 season. In 342 games over six seasons with the Lightning, the 6-foot-4 forward recorded 92 goals, 109 assists, 201 points, and 388 penalty minutes.
Following his time with the Lightning, Malone played one more season at the NHL level with the New York Rangers in 2014-15. During that campaign, he recorded zero points and four penalty minutes in six games.
Simon Gagne, LW (2010-11)
Simon Gagne was the next Lightning player to wear No. 12, as he did during his only season as a Bolt in 2010-11. In 63 games that season with the Lightning, the 1998 first-round pick recorded 17 goals, 23 assists, 40 points, and 49 hits.
Following his only season with the Lightning, Gagne signed with the Los Angeles Kings in free agency the following off-season. From there, he played for the Kings, Philadelphia Flyers, and Boston Bruins before playing his final season in the NHL during the 2014-15 campaign.
Alex Barre-Boulet, C (2021-22 to 2023-24)
After wearing No. 60 during his first season with the Lightning in 2020-21, Alex Barre-Boulet switched to No. 12 ahead of the 2021-22 season. From there, Barre-Boulet sported No. 12 for the rest of the time he was a member of the Lightning. In 66 games over four seasons with the Lightning, the Montmagny, Quebec native recorded 12 goals, five assists, 17 points, 44 hits, and a minus-9 rating.
Barre-Boulet left the Lightning organization during the 2024 NHL off-season when he signed with the Montreal Canadiens in free agency. He spent this past season with the Canadiens organization but is now a member of the Colorado Avalanche after signing a one-year deal with the Central Division club this summer.