A former Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman, Mikhail Sergachev, shines in Utah while the Lightning roster lacks depth.
Before the Bolts arrived in Utah on Nov. 2, Mikhail “Sergy” Sergachev, a former Bolt, had logged nine points (two goals) and a +4 rating in 11 games. He added five more points in the next seven games.
The Lightning acquired the Russian-born defenseman through a trade in June 2017. He quickly became a fan favorite and enjoyed his ride in the Sunshine State, appearing in 79 contests and logging 40 points in his debut season with the Bolts. Sergachev participated in many community events and praised his teammates and organization in all interviews.
His on-ice performance was as good as his off-ice public image. In his first season in the blue-and-white uniform, Sergy had a breakthrough year, recording 40 points (nine goals), a + 11 rating, and 141 shots in 79 games. In 2021, Sergachev became a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Tampa Bay Lightning. His plus/minus stayed on the good side through six seasons, with a phenomenal performance in 2022-2023 with 64 points in 79 regular-season contests.
Sergachev changed agents, signed a few marketing deals, and extended his contract with the Lightning for eight years, worth $68 million. Things were looking up for a then-24-year-old defenseman. But he sustained a leg injury on February 7, 2024, against the New York Rangers and was taken off the ice on a stretcher. He had to have surgery to repair a fractured tibia and fibula. On April 24, 2024, he unexpectedly returned to the lineup in the first round of the playoffs against the Florida Panthers. Inspired by their teammate, the Bolts avoided elimination that evening. So, the 2023-2024 season was a tough one with 19 points in 34 regular-season meetings and one assist in two playoff games.
His potential and future looked promising until the trade news. Sergachev was finishing construction of a brand-new mansion in the Beach Park neighborhood in Tampa when his family had to rearrange their lifestyle. After seven years with the Lightning, in June of 2024, Sergachev was traded to the Utah Mammoth for J.J. Moser, Conor Geekie, a 7th-round pick in the 2024 Draft, and a 2nd-round pick in 2025. The move was shocking for the fans and left the player with a bittersweet feeling. At first, he expressed his gratitude to the franchise and the Bolts’ fans on his social media. Eventually, he wasn’t shy about sharing his true thoughts with Russian media, highlighting his disappointment with the Tampa Bay Lightning’s management’s sudden move.
But everything happens for the best reason. Sergachev quietly became the leading defenseman on Utah’s lineup. He isn’t compared to or overshadowed by Victor Hedman anymore. There are no talks of his potential. He can be himself and evolve his game. That’s what he does. He plays on both the power play and power play kill, matching the opposition’s top lines, and has the most ice time. His return to Tampa in March 2025 was emotional. Fans still love him. There were handmade banners, a tribute video from the Lightning, and a standing ovation. That matchup was also the 1,000th NHL game for Ryan McDonaugh. The Mammoth lost 8-0.
The strangest thing is that Sergachev is a big-time winner of that trade, with new leadership opportunities and more ice time. He has two Stanley Cup rings as a Bolt so another championship can wait. But the Lightning have been struggling defensively for the second season in a row. They haven’t become sharper or stronger at the back end. Their third and fourth lines aren’t as supportive offensively as they used to be 3-4 years ago.
It took the Bolts three losses to finally find their first home win of the ongoing season, while the Mammoth enjoyed four wins at Delta Center in Salt Lake City.
With Victor Hedman and Ryan McDonagh out of the lineup with injuries, the Lightning’s defense continues to suffer without depth and leadership. As of right now, Erik Cernak is the most experienced blueliner on the Lightning roster with two assists and a plus/minus of -1 in 17 games. The Slovakian player joined the franchise in 2017 via trade, became a regular on the Lightning roster in 2018-2019, and signed an eight-year extension in 2022. He is physical, confident, and experienced. But he is just one man, and he isn’t enough to balance all the defensive structure.
An undrafted Charle-Edouard D’Astous is an excellent addition to the team. The 27-year-old offensive defenseman has five points (one goal) in 10 games in his first NHL season. He was named the 2022 ECHL Defenseman of the Year, collecting 57 points with the Utah Grizzlies. But he is still relatively new to the NHL and needs to prove himself.
J.J. Moser, who was involved in Sergachev’s trade, is in his fifth NHL season. His most productive season was 2022-2023 with the Arizona Coyotes, when he registered 31 points and a plus/minus of -12 in 82 games. He is evolving under pressure. But he isn’t even close to his skills, puck-handling, confidence, or vision as Sergachev was. He had quite a few mishaps during the matchup with the Rangers, including an inability to read his partners’ moves, join counterattacks, or be prepared for a pass.
On Nov. 15, Emil Lillelberg scored against the Florida Panthers in Sunrise, but nowadays he is more associated with fines than goals. He had 105 penalty minutes in 76 games last season and has collected 35 in 17 games this season. He is searching for his on-ice presence and style.
Darren Raddish is another player who is here to execute the tasks. It’s wrong to expect an extraordinary performance from him.
Drafted by the Lightning in 2019 (120th overall), Max Crozier is yet to become a full-time NHL blueliner. He has three assists and a plus/minus of 4 in seven games this season and just 25 NHL contests in less than three years under his belt. Among all newcomers, he looks the most balanced.
It’s not all about the money. When Mikhail Sergachev was offered a massive extension, it looked like a heavy deal with a lot of pressure to succeed and continue the Lightning legacy. When he was traded, it was hard to understand, but fans believed in an open window to sign a new deal with Steven Stamkos. Two years later, with no Sergachev or Stamkos, and with injured veterans, the Lightning look like an average NHL team with a beautiful winning history. What does the future hold?
If the Lightning have another early-exit playoff, what’s next? It’s only mid-November. The problem is that the current roster already has no leverage. It’s a good time to accept reality and start rebuilding the franchise.