History of Tampa Bay Lightning in Timeline
The Tampa Bay Lightning are an NHL ice hockey team located in Tampa, Florida, competing in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. They play at Amalie Arena. Jeffrey Vinik owns the franchise, Julien BriseBois is the general manager, and Jon Cooper is the head coach, holding the distinction of being the longest-tenured active head coach in the NHL.
7 hours ago : Pat Maroon plans Tampa coaching, gives back as Greenville faces 'No Kings' protest.
Pat Maroon is planning to coach girls' hockey in Tampa after retirement and giving back to the Tampa community. Meanwhile, Greenville, South Carolina, is seeing a 'No Kings' protest.
1989: Terry Crisp's Stanley Cup Win with Calgary Flames
In 1989, Terry Crisp, who later became the first head coach for the Tampa Bay Lightning, coached the Calgary Flames to a Stanley Cup victory.
December 6, 1990: Lightning Founded
On December 6, 1990, the Tampa Bay Lightning were founded as an expansion team.
1991: Angus Montagu's Investment Plans
In 1991, Angus Montagu announced investment plans that were unsuccessful and led to his conviction for wire fraud.
September 1992: Manon Rhéaume First Woman in NHL
In September 1992, Manon Rhéaume became the first woman to play in an NHL game, playing for the Lightning against the St. Louis Blues.
October 7, 1992: First Regular Season Game
On October 7, 1992, the Tampa Bay Lightning played their first regular season game against the Chicago Blackhawks, winning 7-3.
1992: Stylized Block Font for Player Names
In 1992, the Lightning used a stylized block font for player names with gaps in the upper loops of letters, and standard block numbers with drop shadows.
1992: Begin play in the NHL
In 1992, the Tampa Bay Lightnings began playing in the NHL.
1993: Bobby "The Chief" Taylor served as the team's color commentator
In 1993, Bobby "The Chief" Taylor served as the Tampa Bay Lightning's color commentator.
1993: Jacques Demers helms Stanley Cup
In 1993, Jacques Demers helmed a Stanley Cup run with the Montreal Canadiens.
1993: Shift to Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division
In 1993, the Lightning shifted to the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division.
1994: IRS Investigation
In 1994, the Internal Revenue Service investigated the Tampa Bay Lightning.
1994: Finished last in Atlantic Division
In 1994, the Lightning finished last in the Atlantic Division.
1995: Rick Peckham became the television play-by-play announcer
In 1995, Rick Peckham became the television play-by-play announcer for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
1995: Tied for regular season wins
In 1995, the Detroit Red Wings tied the all-time record for regular season wins.
1995: IRS Investigation
In 1995, the Internal Revenue Service investigated the Tampa Bay Lightning.
1995: Playoff Qualification
In 1995, the Lightning qualified for the playoffs, posting a 38–32–12 record.
1996: Uniform Design Used for Reverse Retro
In 1996, a certain uniform design was used. That design was then used for the reverse retro uniform in 2022.
1996: Addition of Third Jersey
In 1996, the Lightning added a third jersey, which was primarily blue with a wave and rain design, lightning bolts down the sleeves, a silver-gray shoulder yoke, and black gussets.
1996: "Electrified" Number Font Used
In 1996, the Lightning began using an "electrified" number font on jerseys.
1996: Move to Ice Palace and Dino Ciccarelli acquisition
In 1996, the Lightning moved into the Ice Palace and acquired Dino Ciccarelli from the Detroit Red Wings.
1997: Financial Nightmare
In 1997, Forbes called the Lightning a financial nightmare.
1997: Terry Crisp fired
In 1997, Terry Crisp was fired and replaced by Jacques Demers.
1997: Earning more than 60 points
In 1997, the Lightning showed signs of life, earning more than 60 points.
1998: Art Williams Buys Team
In 1998, Art Williams bought the Tampa Bay Lightning.
1998: "Electrified" Number Font
In 1998, an "electrified" number font was used on the blue alternate jersey.
1998: NHL Considering Taking Control
In 1998, rumors surfaced that the NHL was considering taking control of the Lightning due to financial concerns.
1998: Losing 55 games
In 1998, the Lightning ended up losing 55 games, a franchise record.
1998: Ten Game Losing Streak
In 1998, the Lightning lost ten games in a row.
1998: Third Jersey Retirement
In 1998, the Lightning's third jersey which was added in 1996 was retired after the 1998-99 season.
December 1999: Brian Bradley Retirement
In December 1999, Brian Bradley retired from hockey.
1999: Sale to William Davidson
In 1999, Art Williams sold the Tampa Bay Lightning to William Davidson.
1999: Uniform Design Used for Reverse Retro
In 1999, a certain uniform design was used. That design was then used for the reverse retro uniform in 2022.
2001: Uniform Design Used for Reverse Retro
In 2001, a certain uniform design was used. That design was then used for the reverse retro uniform in 2020.
2001: Traditional Block Letters and Numbers
In 2001, the Lightning replaced the old fonts with traditional block letters and numbers, and darkened their shades of blue to a speed blue.
2003: Largest crowd for an NHL game
In 2003, the record was broken at the Heritage Classic in Edmonton for the largest crowd for an NHL game.
June 7, 2004: Lightning win Stanley Cup
On June 7, 2004, the Tampa Bay Lightning won the Stanley Cup, defeating the Calgary Flames 2-1 in Game 7, with Ruslan Fedotenko scoring both goals. Brad Richards won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the playoffs, while the Lightning won all 31 games in which he scored during the season.
2004: Stanley Cup Championship
In 2004, the Tampa Bay Lightning won the Stanley Cup championship.
2006: Team Record
In 2006, the team record for goals was broken. It had stood since 1992.
2006: Greg Wolf as In-Game Host
Since the 2006 season, Greg Wolf has been the Lightning's in-game host.
March 16, 2007: Vincent Lecavalier breaks franchise record
On March 16, 2007, Vincent Lecavalier broke the Tampa Bay Lightning franchise record for most points in a season with 95 points, eventually finishing with 108. Lecavalier also broke the franchise's goal-scoring record, finishing with a league-leading 52 goals during the 2006-2007 season.
April 6, 2007: Lightning lose to Panthers, Thrashers clinch division
On April 6, 2007, the Tampa Bay Lightning lost to the Florida Panthers, and the Atlanta Thrashers defeated the Carolina Hurricanes, clinching the Southeast Division. The Lightning secured the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference with a final record of 44–33–5.
August 7, 2007: Absolute Hockey Enterprises announces purchase agreement
On August 7, 2007, Absolute Hockey Enterprises, led by Doug MacLean, announced an agreement to purchase the Tampa Bay Lightning and the leasehold on the St. Pete Times Forum. The deal, however, collapsed during the 2007-2008 season.
August 25, 2007: Unveiling of New Logo
On August 25, 2007, the Lightning unveiled their new logo, which was similar to the inaugural one but with a more modern look. The words "Tampa Bay" appeared across the top with tall capital initials, and the word "Lightning" no longer appeared on the bottom of the logo.
2007: Uniform Design Used for Reverse Retro
In 2007, a certain uniform design was used. That design was then used for the reverse retro uniform in 2020.
2007: Debut of Reebok "Rbk Edge" Jerseys
In 2007, the Lightning debuted in new Reebok "Rbk Edge" jerseys, as did all NHL teams. The Lightning also updated their team logo.
July 4, 2008: Dan Boyle Traded to San Jose Sharks
On July 4, 2008, Dan Boyle and Brad Lukowich were traded to the San Jose Sharks for Matt Carle, Ty Wishart, a first-round draft pick in 2009, and a fourth-round pick in 2010. Dan Boyle called the team ownership "liars" following the trade.
July 29, 2008: Steven Stamkos signs entry-level contract
On July 29, 2008, Steven Stamkos signed an entry-level contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning, potentially earning up to $8.55 million in performance bonuses.
October 21, 2008: Barry Melrose records first win as head coach
On October 21, 2008, Barry Melrose recorded his first win as a head coach in over 13 years, with the Tampa Bay Lightning defeating the Atlanta Thrashers 3–2.
2008: Debut of New Alternate Jersey
In 2008, the Lightning debuted a new "alternate" or "third" jersey. The jersey features a dominant "electric blue" color, with black and silver accents at the end of the sleeves, and the word "BOLTS" emblazoned across the front.
April 12, 2010: Firing of Rick Tocchet and Brian Lawton
On April 12, 2010, one day after the season ended, Lightning owner Jeffrey Vinik fired head coach Rick Tocchet and general manager Brian Lawton.
July 1, 2010: Lightning's Off-Season Moves
On July 1, 2010, the Tampa Bay Lightning traded Andrej Meszaros to the Philadelphia Flyers for a second-round pick in 2011. They also signed Martin St. Louis to a four-year contract extension worth $22.5 million, effective July 1, 2011.
2010: Lightning Colors and Logo since 2010
Since 2010, the Lightning's colors have been blue, black, and white, and their logo has been a stylized lightning bolt.
January 23, 2011: Paperwork Filed to Change Logo and Colors
On January 23, 2011, it was reported that the Lightning had filed paperwork with the NHL to change their logo and colors, beginning with the 2011–12 season.
January 31, 2011: Unveiling of New Logo and Jerseys
On January 31, 2011, the Lightning unveiled their new logo and home and away jerseys at a press conference at the St. Pete Times Forum.
February 4, 2011: Integration of New Logo
On February 4, 2011, the Lightning began to integrate the new logo onto center ice and distributed free T-shirts with the simplified logo, while still using the old logo and uniforms.
July 1, 2011: Martin St. Louis' Contract Extension Takes Effect
On July 1, 2011, the four-year, $22.5 million contract extension signed by Martin St. Louis on July 1, 2010, came into effect.
2011: Conference Finals Appearance
In 2011, the Tampa Bay Lightning went to the conference finals.
2012: Introduction of New Uniforms
In 2012, the Lightning's new uniforms, made in a traditional hockey sweater design, were introduced with blue and white colors and black trim. The previous third jersey was retained, with the new simplified logo replacing the old logo in the shoulders prior to the 2012–13 season.
March 2013: Jon Cooper Named Head Coach
In March 2013, Jon Cooper became the head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
March 25, 2013: Dismissal of Guy Boucher and Appointment of Jon Cooper
On March 25, 2013, the Tampa Bay Lightning dismissed head coach Guy Boucher due to a poor record, and Jon Cooper was announced as the new head coach.
June 27, 2013: Compliance Buyout of Vincent Lecavalier
On June 27, 2013, the Tampa Bay Lightning announced they would exercise a compliance buyout on captain Vincent Lecavalier due to salary cap considerations, making him a free agent on July 5.
November 11, 2013: Steven Stamkos Suffers Broken Tibia
On November 11, 2013, Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightning suffered a broken right tibia during a game against the Boston Bruins, causing him to miss 45 games.
2013: Sonya Bryson-Kirksey Sings US National Anthem
In 2013, Sonya Bryson-Kirksey started singing the US national anthem for the team at home games.
January 2014: Yzerman's Olympic Roster Decisions and St. Louis Trade Request
In January 2014, Steve Yzerman initially didn't name Martin St. Louis to Canada's Olympic roster, opting for the injured Stamkos. Later, St. Louis was added as an injury replacement. It was also reported that St. Louis had requested a trade in January 2014.
March 5, 2014: Stamkos Cleared to Play, St. Louis Traded
On March 5, 2014, Steven Stamkos was cleared to play after recovering from a broken tibia. Also on March 5, 2014, Martin St. Louis was traded to the New York Rangers.
June 25, 2014: Callahan Extension, Malone Buyout
On June 25, 2014, Ryan Callahan signed a six-year contract extension with the Tampa Bay Lightning. On the same day, Ryan Malone was bought out due to declining performance and off-ice issues.
September 27, 2014: Unveiling of New Black Third Sweater
On September 27, 2014, the Lightning unveiled a new black third sweater that replaced the existing "BOLTS" sweaters. It retained the "BOLTS" wordmark, added white accents, and featured the secondary roundel logo on the sleeves, and the metro name enscripted on the collar.
December 10, 2014: Bobby "The Chief" Taylor announced his retirement
On December 10, 2014, Bobby "The Chief" Taylor announced his retirement from the broadcast booth at the end of the 2014–15 season as color commentator.
August 11, 2015: Brian Engblom replaced Bobby "The Chief" Taylor on color commentary
On August 11, 2015, Fox Sports Sun announced Brian Engblom as Bobby "The Chief" Taylor's replacement on color commentary for the 2015–16 season.
2015: Chicago Blackhawks win Stanley Cup against the Lightning
In 2015, the Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup against the Lightning in their own arena.
2015: Stanley Cup Finals Appearance
In 2015, the Tampa Bay Lightning played in the Stanley Cup Finals.
March 5, 2016: Lightning set franchise record with nine consecutive wins
On March 5, 2016, the Tampa Bay Lightning secured their ninth consecutive win, setting a new franchise record. Alex Killorn scored the game-winning goal with 42.5 seconds remaining in overtime, leading to a 4–3 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes at Amalie Arena.
March 26, 2016: Anton Stralman suffers fractured leg
On March 26, 2016, Anton Stralman, a key defenseman for the Tampa Bay Lightning, suffered a fractured leg during a home game against the New York Islanders.
2016: Eastern Conference Finals Appearance
In 2016, the Tampa Bay Lightning made an appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals.
2017: Third Sweater Not Used
In 2017, a third sweater was not used by the team.
2017: Minor Tweaks to Uniforms with Adidas as Provider
In 2017, the Lightning made some minor tweaks to their current uniform set following the NHL's move to Adidas as its uniform provider. The most notable change was the removal of the "TAMPA BAY" wordmark on the white away sweaters.
September 11, 2018: Steve Yzerman resigns as general manager
On September 11, 2018, Steve Yzerman resigned from his position as general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Julien BriseBois, the longtime assistant general manager, was announced as his replacement.
2018: Third Sweater Not Used
In 2018, a third sweater was not used by the team.
2018: Eastern Conference Finals Appearance
In 2018, the Tampa Bay Lightning made an appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals.
March 18, 2019: Lightning clinch Presidents' Trophy and division title
On March 18, 2019, the Tampa Bay Lightning secured their first Presidents' Trophy and their second consecutive division title with a 4–1 victory over the Arizona Coyotes.
2019: Patrick Maroon Wins Stanley Cup with St. Louis Blues
In 2019, Patrick Maroon won the Stanley Cup with his hometown team, the St. Louis Blues.
2019: Rick Peckham announced his retirement
In 2019, Rick Peckham announced that he would be retiring following the 2019–20 season as television play-by-play announcer.
2019: Lightning fail to advance to Stanley Cup Finals
In 2019, The Lightning failed to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals.
2019: Lightning Girls performed at all home games and community events
In 2019, the Lightning Girls, the official dance team, performed at all Tampa Bay Lightning home games and community events. These dancers entertained fans in the stands.
2019: Presidents' Trophy Win
In 2019, the Tampa Bay Lightning won the Presidents' Trophy, tying the then all-time record for regular season wins.
2019: Unveiling of New Black Uniform
On February 7, 2019, the Lightning unveiled a new black uniform, lacking any blue and white elements and featuring sublimated black and grey patterns on the sleeves, socks, and back numbers.
February 16, 2020: Lightning acquire Blake Coleman
On February 16, 2020, the Tampa Bay Lightning acquired forward Blake Coleman from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for prospect Nolan Foote and a 2020 first-round pick.
March 12, 2020: NHL suspends season due to COVID-19
On March 12, 2020, the NHL suspended the season due to concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, the Tampa Bay Lightning had played 70 games and held a record of 43–21–6, placing them second in their conference.
December 2020: Nikita Kucherov Hip Surgery
In December 2020, Nikita Kucherov underwent hip surgery, causing him to miss the entire regular season.
2020: Release of "Reverse Retro" Uniform
For the 2020-21 season, the Lightning released a "Reverse Retro" uniform, using the design they wore from 2001 to 2007, but with blue as the base color and black as trim.
2020: Rick Peckham retired and Dave Randorf was named his replacement
In 2020, Rick Peckham retired as the television play-by-play announcer for the Tampa Bay Lightning after his final game during the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs. Dave Randorf was subsequently named as his replacement prior to the 2020–21 season.
2020: Sonya Bryson-Kirksey Sings Canadian National Anthem
In 2020, Sonya Bryson-Kirksey started singing the Canadian national anthem for the team at home games, accompanied by organist Krystof Srebrakowski.
2020: Stanley Cup Finals against Dallas
In 2020, the Lightning played in the Stanley Cup Finals against Dallas, where they continued a playoff series clinching shutout streak.
2020: Stanley Cup Championship
In 2020, the Tampa Bay Lightning won the Stanley Cup championship.
2021: Lightning win Stanley Cup
In 2021, the Lightning won the Stanley Cup, defeating the Montreal Canadiens in game 5, with Ross Colton scoring the single goal. Andrei Vasilevskiy won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP, and Patrick Maroon won his third consecutive Stanley Cup. He dropped and dented the Stanley Cup at a celebration on July 12, 2021.
2021: Stanley Cup Championship
In 2021, the Tampa Bay Lightning won the Stanley Cup championship.
February 26, 2022: Lightning play first outdoor game
On February 26, 2022, the Lightning played their first outdoor game in franchise history, winning against the Nashville Predators 3–2 in the 2022 NHL Stadium Series at Nissan Stadium, with Steven Stamkos receiving first star.
April 14, 2022: Lightning clinch playoff berth
On April 14, 2022, the Lightning clinched a playoff berth after a 4–3 overtime win against the Anaheim Ducks.
2022: Release of "Reverse Retro" Uniform
For the 2022-23 season, the Lightning's "Reverse Retro" uniform used the design of the third jersey from 1996 to 1999, but with a white base.
2022: WHPT replaced WFLA as the Lightning's flagship radio outlet
In 2022, WHPT became the Tampa Bay Lightning's flagship radio outlet, replacing WFLA. Dave Mishkin serves as play-by-play announcer, with Phil Esposito as color commentator for home games and Greg Lenelli as the pregame and intermission host.
2022: Unveiling of Uniform for NHL Stadium Series
In 2022, for the NHL Stadium Series, the Lightning unveiled a white uniform with a stylized blue stripe shaped like a thunderbolt at the bottom, an updated rendition of the "BOLTS" wordmark, and numbers with pointed accents.
2022: Lightning finish third in Atlantic Division
In 2022, the Lightning finished in third place in the Atlantic Division and sixth in the Eastern Conference.
2022: Stanley Cup Finals Appearance
In 2022, the Tampa Bay Lightning played in the Stanley Cup Finals.
2023: Lightning lose to Maple Leafs in first round of playoffs
In 2023, the Lightning were eliminated by the Toronto Maple Leafs 4–2 in the first round of the playoffs, marking the first time since 2019 that the Lightning failed to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals.
2023: Lightning finish fourth in Atlantic Division
In the 2023 season, the Lightning finished in fourth place in the Atlantic Division.
2023: Unveiling of New Black Alternate Uniform
In the 2023-24 season, the Lightning unveiled a new black alternate uniform, putting the roundel logo as the main crest and bringing back the "victory stripes" on the sleeves. The design was inspired by the team's first uniforms.
2024: Steven Stamkos signs with Nashville Predators, Victor Hedman named Captain
In the 2024 off-season, Steven Stamkos signed with the Nashville Predators on the first day of free agency after failing to reach a contract extension agreement with the Lightning. Victor Hedman was subsequently named the next captain.
2024: Lightning lose to Panthers in first round of playoffs
In the 2024 season, the Lightning placed second in the Atlantic Division and lost to the Florida Panthers 4-1 in the first round of the playoffs. During game 4, Brandon Hagel was concussed by Aaron Ekblad.
May 14, 2025: Scripps Sports acquired the regional rights to the Lightning
On May 14, 2025, it was announced that Scripps Sports had acquired the regional rights to the Lightning after Main Street Sports Group invoked an exit clause in its contract. Games will be carried over the air on WXPX, and a subscription streaming platform will also be available.
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