Lightning place depth forward on waivers, likely signalling Kucherov's return is near
According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the Tampa Bay Lightning have placed forward Riley Nash on the waiver wire on Wednesday afternoon.
Nash, 32, was claimed off waivers by Tampa Bay from Winnipeg nearly a month ago. In ten games with the Lightning, Nash didn't record any points, has two penalty minutes and was a minus-one.
According to Erik Erlendsson, this move could indicate that Nikita Kucherov is close to returning to the Lightning lineup. Kucherov has been out since mid-October and had surgery on October 26th for an unspecified lower-body injury.
"#GoBolts have placed C Riley Nash on waivers, per @FriedgeHNIC. This might be the precursor to a Nikita Kucherov activation from injured reserve as Kucherov is expected to be in the day to day category at this point," Erlendsson said in a tweet.
In other related news, Minnesota Wild forward Victor Rask and goaltender Zane McIntyre have cleared waivers this afternoon and have been assigned to the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey League.
Oh for Gods sake, Rask— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) January 5, 2022
#GoBolts have placed C Riley Nash on waivers, per @FriedgeHNIC
This might be the precursor to a Nikita Kucherov activation from injured reserve as Kucherov is expected to be in the day to day category at this point— Lightning Insider (@Erik_Erlendsson) January 5, 2022
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APRIL 26, 2026
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| Viktor Arvidsson | - | - | - | |
| Jonathan Aspirot | - | - | - | |
| Zach Benson | - | - | - | |
| Bowen Byram | - | - | - | |
| Rasmus Dahlin | - | - | - | |
| Josh Doan | - | - | - | |
| Morgan Geekie | - | - | - | |
| Jordan Greenway | - | - | - | |
| Jordan Harris | - | - | - | |
| Tanner Jeannot | - | - | - | |
| Mark Kastelic | - | - | - | |
| Marat Khusnutdinov | - | - | - | |
| Tyson Kozak | - | - | - | |
| Peyton Krebs | - | - | - | |
| Sean Kuraly | - | - | - | |
| Elias Lindholm | - | - | - | |
| Hampus Lindholm | - | - | - | |
| Alex Lyon | - | - | - | |
| Beck Malenstyn | - | - | - | |
| Charlie McAvoy | - | - | - | |
| COMPLETE STATS | ||||
| 2025-2026 NHL STANDINGS | ||||||
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Sabres | 82 | 50 | 23 | 9 | 109 | |
| Lightning | 82 | 50 | 26 | 6 | 106 | |
| Canadiens | 82 | 48 | 24 | 10 | 106 | |
| Bruins | 82 | 45 | 27 | 10 | 100 | |
| Senators | 82 | 44 | 27 | 11 | 99 | |
| Red Wings | 82 | 41 | 31 | 10 | 92 | |
| Panthers | 82 | 40 | 38 | 4 | 84 | |
| Maple Leafs | 82 | 32 | 36 | 14 | 78 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Hurricanes | 82 | 53 | 22 | 7 | 113 | |
| Penguins | 82 | 41 | 25 | 16 | 98 | |
| Flyers | 82 | 43 | 27 | 12 | 98 | |
| Capitals | 82 | 43 | 30 | 9 | 95 | |
| Blue Jackets | 82 | 40 | 30 | 12 | 92 | |
| Islanders | 82 | 43 | 34 | 5 | 91 | |
| Devils | 82 | 42 | 37 | 3 | 87 | |
| Rangers | 82 | 34 | 39 | 9 | 77 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Avalanche | 82 | 55 | 16 | 11 | 121 | |
| Stars | 82 | 50 | 20 | 12 | 112 | |
| Wild | 82 | 46 | 24 | 12 | 104 | |
| Mammoth | 82 | 43 | 33 | 6 | 92 | |
| Blues | 82 | 37 | 33 | 12 | 86 | |
| Predators | 82 | 38 | 34 | 10 | 86 | |
| Jets | 82 | 35 | 35 | 12 | 82 | |
| Blackhawks | 82 | 29 | 39 | 14 | 72 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Golden Knights | 82 | 39 | 26 | 17 | 95 | |
| Oilers | 82 | 41 | 30 | 11 | 93 | |
| Ducks | 82 | 43 | 33 | 6 | 92 | |
| Kings | 82 | 35 | 27 | 20 | 90 | |
| Sharks | 82 | 39 | 35 | 8 | 86 | |
| Kraken | 82 | 34 | 37 | 11 | 79 | |
| Flames | 82 | 34 | 39 | 9 | 77 | |
| Canucks | 82 | 25 | 49 | 8 | 58 | |
COMPLETE STANDINGS | ||||||