The Tampa Bay Lightning are set to host their annual NHL Prospect Tournament at AdventHealth Center Ice in Wesley Chapel from September 12-15. This year's event will feature prospect teams from the Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, and Nashville Predators. All four teams will face each other once during the four-day tournament. Admission to the tournament is free and open to the public.

Tournament Format and Eligibility

The tournament games will consist of three 20-minute periods, adhering to standard NHL regulations. Teams will dress 18 skaters and two goaltenders. If a game is tied after regulation, a five-minute, three-on-three overtime period will be played to determine a winner. Regardless of whether the score is tied after overtime, all games will conclude with a five-player shootout.

Any skater or goaltender on an entry-level contract (or less) is eligible to participate, provided they are 24 years old or younger and have played fewer than 20 NHL games. Exceptions to this rule may be permitted with the approval of all participating teams.

Lightning's Roster Highlights

The Lightning's roster includes several of the organization's top prospects. Fans will get their first look at forward Sam O'Reilly in a Lightning uniform. O'Reilly was acquired from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Isaac Howard. Ethan Czata, Tampa Bay's second-round pick from the 2025 NHL Draft, will also participate. Other 2025 draft picks on the roster include F Aiden Foster, D Everett Baldwin, G Caleb Heil, D Grant Spada, and F Marco Mignosa. Dylan Duke, who made his NHL debut with the Lightning last season, is also expected to participate.

The Lightning's roster also includes Tristan Allard, Cooper Flinton, Ethan Gauthier, Niko Huuhtanen, Lucas Mercuri, Kaden Pitre, Milo Roelens, Gabriel Szturc, Dyllan Gill, Jan Golicic, Maxim Groshev, Maddox Labre, Roman Schmidt, Harrison Meneghin and Anders Miller.

Players to Watch

• Sam O'Reilly: The newly acquired forward is a highly regarded prospect known for his two-way abilities and hockey sense. He had 71 points in 62 games for the London Knights of the OHL last season.
• Ethan Czata: The Lightning's top pick in the 2025 draft is a skilled and competitive two-way forward. He recorded 55 points in 68 games with the Niagara IceDogs of the OHL last season.
• Dylan Duke: After making his NHL debut last season, Duke will look to build on that experience and showcase his skills at the tournament. He scored his first NHL goal in his first game against Detroit on February 8, 2025.
• Ethan Gauthier: The 2023 second-round pick has developed well within the Lightning system. He is a hard-working, two-way forward who played his first AHL games last season.
• Harrison Meneghin: The goaltender is also one of the players to watch at the tournament.

Tournament Schedule

• Friday, Sept. 12: Carolina Hurricanes vs. Florida Panthers (2 p.m.); Nashville Predators vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (5 p.m.).
• Saturday, Sept. 13: Nashville Predators vs. Carolina Hurricanes (2 p.m.); Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (5 p.m.).
• Monday, Sept. 15: Florida Panthers vs. Nashville Predators (12 p.m.); Carolina Hurricanes vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (3 p.m.).

Broadcast Information

All Lightning games will be broadcast live on The Spot – Tampa Bay 66 (WXPX-TV) and streamed on www.TampaBayLightning.com.

The prospect tournament provides an opportunity for fans to see the Lightning's future stars and assess the organization's depth. It also allows the coaching staff and management to evaluate the prospects and determine their readiness for the next level.