# Lightning’s Defense and Power Play Crisis

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/nhl-news-today-2-min-news-the-daily-news-now-7438203/lightning-s-defense-and-power-play-crisis
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/nhl-news-today-2-min-news-the-daily-news-now-7438203/lightning-s-defense-and-power-play-crisis.md
Podcast: [NHL News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now!](https://stenobird.com/podcast/nhl-news-today-2-min-news-the-daily-news-now-7438203)
Published: 2026-06-18T16:45:38+00:00
Episode link: https://api.fastcast.ai/audio/40aeeda3-9666-483d-96f5-9c09b499f467.mp3
Audio file: https://api.fastcast.ai/audio/40aeeda3-9666-483d-96f5-9c09b499f467.mp3
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Duration seconds: 102

## Resource

The Tampa Bay Lightning face critical offseason decisions as they prepare for the 2026-27 season, with defense and the power play at the top of their priority list. With only three defensemen logging 70+ games last year and key players like Darren Raddysh potentially leaving in free agency, adding depth on the blue line is non-negotiable. Their forward-heavy prospect pipeline makes this move even more urgent. Meanwhile, their once-dominant power play has plummeted from first to seventeenth in the league, with just one player hitting double-digit goals last season. Backup goalie Jonas Johansson’s inconsistency and lack of ready alternatives behind Andrei Vasilevskiy add pressure, though that’s a lower-priority fix. If they nail defense and power play upgrades, the Lightning can build a more resilient team primed for another deep playoff run. Support the show: Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN: advertise@thednn.ai This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting. Report issues to feedback@thednn.ai. View sources & latest updates: https://sources.thednn.ai/a97d5ad806dcc6b3

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## Transcript

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