The first round of the 2026 NHL Draft took center stage on Friday night, June 26, as teams across the league looked toward the future by selecting the next generation of talent.
The Tampa Bay Lightning will make their first selection in the second round and currently hold seven picks in the 2026 NHL Draft: 58, 90, 133, 134, 154, 186, and 218. The good news is the organization’s star core is already focused on another run at the Stanley Cup.
Veteran Core
On Friday morning, two-time Hart Trophy winner Nikita Kucherov took the ice alongside longtime teammate Brayden Point. The duo worked through drills focusing on passing, stickhandling, puck control, and small-area game situations. The session was led by former Lightning forward Dmitry Afanasenkov, a member of Tampa Bay’s 2004 Stanley Cup-winning team. Kucherov had been practicing with Afanasenkov for years before he moved to Connecticut.
Most NHL players are still enjoying their offseason in late June. But for the two-time Stanley Cup winners, the work never stops.
Kucherov is coming off another spectacular campaign. The Lightning superstar finished the 2025-26 regular season with 44 goals and 130 points in 76 games.
Point’s season was interrupted by injury, but he still recorded 18 goals and 50 points in 63 games. The lower-body injury also forced the two-time Stanley Cup champion to miss the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. Canada earned silver medals. Both seemed in great spirits and rested.
Development
The same day, the franchise made another announcement. The Bolts will host the annual development camp for their prospects and upcoming draft picks next week.
With Lightning training camp still months away, Kucherov and Point have already set the tone for the offseason – one built on preparation, consistency, and the pursuit of another Stanley Cup.