Overview

• The third annual breakdown ranks every NHL team’s top 10 prospects under uniform criteria on age and NHL experience.
• Tampa Bay’s installment highlights middling top-end talent and minimal organizational depth compared with other franchises.
• The Lightning traded Hobey Baker winner Isaac Howard to Edmonton for two-way center Sam O’Reilly to address immediate roster needs.
• Despite a slim pipeline, Tampa Bay leans on its Syracuse Crunch affiliate and development staff’s track record of producing NHL role players.
• The series continues through August with daily team profiles, offering a consistent benchmark ahead of the 2025–26 season.