Mikheyev In, Paul Out as Lightning Open Free Agency
In true Julien BriseBois fashion on Wednesday, the Tampa Bay Lightning general manager didn’t emphasize winning any press conferences, as the first day of free agency within the National Hockey League got underway.
As has been his custom, BriseBois tried to go out and add players that he thinks can incrementally improve his franchise.
“You’re looking for opportunities to have a pipeline of players,” BriseBois said this spring of constructing a roster, “whether it’s via trades, free agents, or organically developed players, who can come in, step in, and play a role for many years to come.”
The Lightning added several players to its 2026-27 roster, while simultaneously watching several players leave.
In terms of departures, the Lightning were already struck hard last month when BriseBois traded defenseman Darren Raddysh to Toronto. On Wednesday, he also sent veteran center Nick Paul to the Maple Leafs in exchange for 24-year-old goaltender Dennis Hildeby, a 2027 fourth-round pick, as well as a 2028 third-round pick.
“The reality is,” BriseBois continued, “when you are building your puzzle, you have, essentially, let’s call it 22 spots on the roster. When I’m looking at my puzzle, it has every season going forward.”
Moving Paul, who was Tampa Bay’s top face-off guy, was interesting, given the fact that the team wasn’t very good in the circle last season.
At this point, that places more pressure on Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli, who are the Lightning’s top face-off guys today.
Additionally, veteran Yanni Gourde can also assist in this regard.
The acquisition of Hildeby was also intriguing.
The young goalie played well in limited time with Toronto. He played in 20 games and had a 5-7-4 record with a 2.86 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage.
Hildeby led all Toronto goaltenders with 20 or more games played for goals-against average and save percentage.
Late Wednesday, BriseBois told NHL.com that he plans to trade veteran back-up Jonas Johansson and make Hildeby the No. 2 goaltender behind the 2026 Vezina Trophy winner, Andrei Vasilevskiy.
Not only was improving the team’s face-off percentage a priority of the Bolts Nation (if not BriseBois) following this past season, which wasn’t helped on Wednesday, but so has been improving the team’s depth scoring, and that absolutely was addressed.
BriseBois inked former Chicago Blackhawk wing Ilya Mikheyev to a four-year contract worth $3,850,000 annually.
The 31-year-old can play either wing spot and suited up in 77 games for Chicago this past season.
Mikheyev enjoyed the most productive season of his career in 2025-26 by totaling 36 points (18 goals).
The Blackhawks utilized him over 17 minutes per night, and Mikheyev was tied for the team lead with a plus-2 rating.
The Omsk, Russia native has played in 427 career NHL games with Chicago, the Vancouver Canucks, and the Toronto Maple Leafs, amassing 98 goals and 201 points. He has scored 20 goals or more in a season twice in his career.
Mikheyev could be placed by Lightning coach Jon Cooper in several different places among his four lines. Cooper could have him battle with Gage Goncalves for the right wing spot on the second line, or he could have Mikheyev be the top threat on the fourth line.
All of that is contingent on Cooper keeping the 2025-26 successful third line of Gourde, Pontus Holmberg, and Zemgus Girgensons together, which may or may not happen.
Another fourth-line candidate is veteran wing Jeffrey Viel, whom BriseBois signed to a five-year deal worth $2,500,000 annually after he played for both Boston and Anaheim this past season.
Viel does not bring much offensive production to the ice (he totaled 10 points in 35 games with the Ducks), but that isn’t why BriseBois signed Viel.
Viel brings a physical presence (this year’s Curtis Douglas). He has racked up over 230 penalty minutes in 99 NHL games throughout his career.
It remains to be seen who centers a potential fourth line with Mikheyev and Viel, and it remains to be seen if Viel is only used on occasion, where toughness is in much demand.
Second-year player Dominic James could guide that fourth line, as could third-year player Conor Geekie.
Another possibility could be heralded prospect, Sam O’Reilly.
These signings create a logjam of talent and potential among the bottom two lines, which could also see Jakob Pelletier, Dylan Duke, and Scott Sabourin vying for ice time.
“A player who can help me win for four years is more valuable than a player who can only help me for one year,” BriseBois said. “Obviously, when we have those young guys, we can count on them for many years.
“They are extremely valuable, and we are trying to get as many of them into the fold as possible.”
With that comment in mind, it is worth mentioning that Holmberg, Goncalves, Girgensons, James, and Geekie are all free agents (some restricted, some not) 12 months from today.
The Lightning also signed goaltenders Olivier Rodrigue and Mads Sogaard, as well as defenseman Michael Callahan, to one-year, two-way deals.
As far as departures went on Wednesday, Tampa Bay lost some familiar faces.
Young defenseman Ethan Samson signed with Montreal, while defenseman Declan Carlisle (two years, $3 million total) went to Pittsburgh, forward Oliver Bjorkstrand (one year, $4.5 million) signed with the New York Rangers, and Corey Perry (one year, $1 million) returned to the Los Angeles Kings.
“If you look at the trades that we have done over the years,” BriseBois said, “we’ve usually tried to get players who are under team control (salary-wise) and were either not yet achieving and not yet at their peak, still in development, there was still untapped potential, or players who were in their prime that we knew would be in their prime for years to come.
“We are continually on the lookout for that.”
Editor’s Note: After this article was published, BriseBois made one more significant move signing veteran defenseman John Carlson to a two-year, $17 million deal. The 36-year-old posted 60 points in 71 games last season split between Washington and Anaheim.
