The Tampa Bay Lightning certainly have some prospects to keep an eye on next season. When looking at their current prospect pool, a few of them have real shots of getting more NHL time next season, just like Gage Goncalves did in 2024-25.
When looking for one specific Lightning prospect who has the potential to break out, there is no question that forward Jack Finley stands out big time.
Finley, 22, has been continuing to make progress with his all-around game at the American Hockey League (AHL) level with the Syracuse Crunch, and this was certainly the case in 2024-25. In 40 games with the Crunch this past campaign, he scored a career-high 14 goals and recorded 28 points. This was after he had 13 goals and 19 assists in 52 games with Syracuse in 2023-24.
Finley's solid play was noticed by the Lightning, as he made his NHL debut for the team in 2024-25 against the Boston Bruins on Jan. 14. When looking at the Lightning's current roster, it is fair to argue that he should get more time at the NHL level next season.
The Lightning have spots to fight for on their NHL roster, and with a strong training camp, Finley could very well earn one. The 6-foot-6 forward has the potential to become a nice part of the Lightning's bottom six, as he offers size and decent offensive upside.
Nevertheless, it is going to be very interesting to see what kind of season Finley can put together in 2025-26. The possibility of him breaking out and cementing himself as a full-time NHL player is certainly there.
Lightning Key Defender Is Prime Extension Candidate
The <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/tampa-bay-lightning">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> have been busy this summer. They notably re-signed forwards Yanni Gourde and Gage Goncalves to new contracts. They also added to their roster in free agency by signing Pontus Holmberg, Jakob Pelletier, and Boris Katchouk.