Kucherov has missed Tampa Bay's previous two games due to an illness, but he will likely draw back into the lineup on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The NHL's Art Ross Trophy winner from a season ago is yet to find his stride in 2025-26, recording three points (2G / 1A) and a -8 plus/minus through four games.
James has enjoyed an electric start in Syracuse (AHL) with five points in four games played and earned himself his first career promotion to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday. The 23-year-old forward is a former sixth-round pick (173rd overall) and will make his NHL debut after spending the last four seasons at the University of Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA).
James has enjoyed an electric start in Syracuse (AHL) with five points in four games played and earned himself his first career promotion to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday. The 23-year-old forward is a former sixth-round pick (173rd overall) and will be hopeful to make his NHL debut after spending the last four seasons at the University of Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA).
Girgensons suffered an undisclosed injury in Tampa Bay's preseason finale and has been sidelined since. The 31-year-old Girgensons played all 82 games in his first season with Tampa Bay in 2024-25, tallying six points (2G / 4A).
Geekie made his NHL debut last season, scoring 14 points (8G / 6A) in 52 games with Tampa Bay. The 21-year-old, the 11th-overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, has been assigned to Syracuse (AHL) after starting the 2025-26 campaign in the NHL, scoring one point (0G / 1A) in six games.
D'Astous is an undrafted 27-year-old defenseman that has yet to ply an NHL game. He spent the entirety of the 2024-25 season with Brynas IF Gavle (SweHL), where he scored 39 points (12G / 27A) in 49 games.
Finley will appear in his second game of the season and just third of his NHL career. He is yet to register a point. Finley was a late addition to Tampa Bay's lineup after Nikita Kucherov was a surprise scratch due to an illness.
Kucherov was a surprise scratch on Friday, with the team not announcing his absence until the start of warmups. We should get an update on his status ahead of Tampa Bay's game in Columbus on Saturday.
Tampa Bay is off to a disappointing 1-2-1 start to the 2025-26 season and will turn to Vasilevskiy on Friday against the Detroit Red Wings as he searches for his first win this season. The 31-year-old Vasilevskiy has an ugly 4.08 GAA and .870 SV% in three games (0-2-1), but he played well in his most recent outing, saving 25 of 28 shots (.893 SV%) in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals. Tampa Bay enters Friday's contest as -151 road favorites against a Red Wings team outscoring their opposition 13-6 during a three-game winning streak.
Sabourin is an undrafted 33-year-old forward with eight points (2G / 6A) in 47 career NHL games. He spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL, where he scored 25 points (10G / 15A) in 68 games with the San Jose Barracuda.
Tampa Bay is off to a disappointing 1-2-1 start to the 2025-26 season and will turn to Vasilevskiy on Friday against the Detroit Red Wings as he searches for his first win this season. The 31-year-old Vasilevskiy has an ugly 4.08 GAA and .870 SV% in three games (0-2-1), but he played well in his most recent outing, saving 25 of 28 shots (.893 SV%) in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals. Tampa Bay enters Friday's contest as -151 road favorites against a Red Wings team outscoring their opposition 13-6 during a three-game winning streak.
Santini has had short stints in the NHL in nine of the last 10 seasons, but he has never been able to establish himself as a permanent fixture, limited to only 124 career games. The 30-year-old defenseman spent most of the 2024-25 season in the AHL with the Syracuse Crunch, where he scored 17 points (6G / 11A).
Crozier exited Tuesday's game against the Washington Capitals due to an undisclosed injury and will be sidelined week-to-week, beginning with Friday's contest against the Minnesota Wild. The 25-year-old Crozier was off to a hot start in 2025-26, scoring three points (0G / 3A) in four games.
Finley was Tampa Bay's 57th-overall pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft and is coming off his second career game. The 23-year-old forward will head to the press box on Monday, allowing Curtis Douglas to re-enter the lineup.
