By The Tampa Bay Lightning did not have a first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. The Lightning’s first-round selection was traded to the Seattle Kraken as part of the deal that brought forwards Oliver Bjorkstrand and Yanni Gourde to the Lightning before the 2025 trade deadline.
Tampa Bay made its first selection with the 52nd overall pick, selecting forward Oleg Kulebiakin.
While he may not have been a household name entering the draft, the Lightning believe that they have acquired a player with significant upside, rather than simply relying on consensus rankings.
The core of the Tampa Bay Lightning’s offensive talent on the current roster was taken outside of the first round.
Superstars such as Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli were all selected after the opening round, proving that elite scouting and player development can often outweigh draft position.
Kulebiakin brings a combination of offensive skill, hockey sense, and competitiveness that fits the style Tampa Bay values.
Kulebiakin is one of the most skilled puck-handlers in the 2026 draft class. He also possesses the ability to create scoring chances with his vision and puck skills while also playing with the work ethic coaches like Jon Cooper demand.
Scouts also praise his:
- Excellent hands and puck control
- High-end hockey IQ and vision
- Ability to create offense off the rush
- Playmaking ability and creativity in tight spaces
The biggest area for improvement is his skating. Scouts believe that adding explosiveness and improving his first few strides will be key to maximizing his NHL potential.
The Lightning employs one of the best skating coaches in the business, Barbara Underhill, whose official title is Skating Coach Consultant, and will be working with Kulebiakin at some point.
Several Lightning stars have credited Underhill with improving their skating, including Brayden Point, Nikita Kucherov, Anthony Cirelli, and Victor Hedman.
Like many Lightning draft picks before him, he is not expected to make an immediate jump to the NHL. Instead, the organization will allow him time to continue developing his game before challenging for a roster spot.
With the 90th overall pick in the third round, Tampa Bay selected Slovak defenseman Tomas Kralovic.
A smooth-skating blueliner, Kralovic has earned praise for his puck-moving ability, strong vision, and calm decision-making under pressure.
At 6-foot-2, he possesses the size NHL teams covet while also displaying the mobility needed in today’s fast-paced game. The Lightning believe his offensive instincts and defensive awareness give him the potential to develop into a reliable two-way defenseman.
The Lightning continued to add forward depth in the fifth round by selecting Swedish center Morgan Anderberg with the overall 134th selection. Anderberg is known for his high hockey IQ, responsible two-way play, and relentless work ethic.
While he may not possess elite offensive numbers, he consistently makes smart decisions with the puck and projects as a dependable player in all phases of the game.
Also in the fifth round, right before the Lightning selected Anderberg, the Lightning selected American center Cooper Soller with the 133rd pick.
Soller is another player whose game is built around high hockey IQ and competitiveness. Soller has developed into a dependable two-way forward in the USHL, showing leadership qualities and a willingness to play in difficult situations.
The Lightning have had tremendous success developing players with similar skill sets, making Soller another intriguing long-term project.
In the sixth round, the Lightning addressed their organizational depth in goal by selecting Stepan Shurygin.
Goaltenders often require the longest development timeline, and the Lightning have consistently demonstrated patience with young netminders.
Shurygin possesses solid athleticism, quick reflexes, and the size teams look for in modern NHL goaltenders.
He will enter the organization’s development system with an opportunity to refine his game over the next several seasons.
Shurygin played 59 games last season with Saginaw in the OHL, posting 24 wins with a 3.79 GAA and a save percentage of .888.
Shurygin measures 6-foot-3 and 207 pounds, giving him excellent NHL size.
The Lightning have a strong track record of developing goaltenders, and Shurygin fits that model well.
His numbers may not jump off the page because of the heavy workload he faced in Saginaw, but scouts think he has legitimate NHL potential. With several years of development ahead, Tampa Bay hopes he can become another successful goaltending prospect in its pipeline.
The Lightning selected defenseman Max Vilen in the sixth round with the 186th pick. Vilen brings physicality, mobility, and a willingness to play a hard defensive game.
The Lightning concluded the draft by selecting forward Matej Pekar with the 218th pick.
While seventh-round selections often face long odds of reaching the NHL, the Lightning have built their reputation by uncovering overlooked talent and allowing prospects the time necessary to develop at their own pace.
Only time will determine which of these prospects reaches the NHL, but history suggests the Lightning deserve the benefit of the doubt. The franchise has repeatedly found quality players outside the first round, and the 2026 draft class could eventually produce another hidden gem.
As these prospects head to development camp and begin their professional journeys, the Lightning can feel confident they have once again strengthened the foundation for future success.
