Top 7 Lightning Free Agent Signings of All Time

By Michael Wax

The 2026 draft is over, and free agency is now upon us. After looking at some potential targets for this year, we wanted to take a look at who some of the biggest impact free agent signings in Tampa Bay Lightning history have been. Some of these were hugely important signings the day they took place, while others went under the radar until they couldn't be ignored any longer.

1. Martin St. Louis (2000)

   
   

(Stats: 972 GP, 365 G, 588 A, 953 P)

Even after all these years, Martin St. Louis remains the gold standard for free agent signings. Originally undrafted and cut by Calgary, St. Louis signed with the Lightning in the summer of 2000 to very little fanfare.

St Louis would go on to put together the best career of any non-drafted player of all time, setting records for the lightning of 953 points and 28 short-handed goals. He won two Art Ross scoring titles, three Lady Byng awards, one Pearson, one Hart, and was a five-time All-Star. St. Louis was a major player in the Lightning’s 2004 Stanley Cup and recently went into the Hall of Fame for his efforts.

In a way, St Louis’ pathway led to the signings of other small, undrafted free agents that have made impacts for the Lightning: Tyler Johnson, Yanni Gourde, Dominic James, Alex Barre-Boulet, and others.The gold standard, and arguably the best free-agent signing in NHL history, not just Lightning history. Calgary cut him loose, Tampa signed an undrafted 5-foot-8 winger, and he turned into a Hall of Famer, an Art Ross and Hart winner, and the engine of the 2004 Cup team. Nothing else is close to this.

2. Dave Andreychuk (2001) 

   
   

(Stats: 278 GP, 78 G, 66 A, 144 P)

Sometimes, it isn’t just about the points. At 37 years old, the future Hockey Hall of Famer signed with a very bad, 24-win Lightning team because he believed in the foundation to get him a Stanley Cup for the first time in his career. 

Andreychuk didn’t just put up points, with three 20+ goal seasons. He provided direction, stability, and leadership to a young team. Andreychuk’s bet paid off with the 2004 championship.

3. Anton Stralman (2014)

   
   

(Stats: 355 GP, 29 G, 101 A, 130 P)

Stralman’s signing in 2014 was the sign that the Lightning were no longer just an upstart surprise; they were there to win. A staple on the top pairing with Victor Hedman, he served as the shield to Hedman’s sword, providing steady defensive play. Stralman is 11th all-time in +/-, averaging nearly 22 minutes a night for over half a decade.

Which he left right before the Bolts’ dynasty run, his impact was felt through players like Erik Cernak and Mikhail Sergachev.

4. Corey Sillman (2004) 

(Stats: 80 GP, 25 G, 55 A, 80 P)

A one-season stint, but what a season it was. Stillman signed with the Lightning have stops in Calgary and St. Louis, and found instant chemistry with Vincent Lecavalier and Ruslan Fedotenko. Stillman’s 80 points were second on the Lightning that season, only to Martin St. Louis’ 94. He led the Lightning in power play goals (11) and even strength assists (40), 

While his playoff numbers took a significant drop (7 points in 21 games), the Lightning certainly benefited from a career season from Stillman.

5. Valtteri Filppula (2013) 

(Stats: 292 GP, 52 G, 119 A, 171 P)

A former teammate of then-GM Steve Yzerman, Valtteri Filppula brought a steady center presence to the young Bolts. Fillpulla scored a career-high 25 goals in his first season in Bolts blue, and continued an excellent two-way game during his four seasons with the Lightning.

Putting up nearly half a point per game in the playoffs for Tampa, Fillpulla was the perfect bridge between the St. Louis and Stamkos eras.

6. Pat Maroon (2019)

   
   

(Stats: 280 GP, 29 G, 53 A, 82 P) 

Coming off a Stanley Cup with his hometown Blues, Pat Maroon came to a Lightning team fresh off a devastating sweep to Columbus. The locker room presence was immediate, as Maroon didn’t score much but provided a genuine identity for the shell-shocked Bolts and led them to back-to-back Stanley Cups and three straight Stanley Cup Final appearances.

7. Kevin Shattenkirk (2020)

   
   

(Stats: 70 GP, 8 G, 26 A, 34 P)

Another signing after the 2019 sweep, Shattenkirk was a buyout from the New York Rangers, and was looking for a career rebound. Boy, did he find one. 

Shattenkirk would put up the most points in a season since he was a Blue, and was a +22, the highest plus/minus of his career. The key to his success was a reduction in playing time; the Lightning had a stacked defense and, in turn, played Shattenkirk at a career-low 18:54 per game.

Shattenkirk remained productive in the playoffs, with 13 games in 25 games on the way to a championship. 

Like Stillman, Shattenkirk wasn’t there for the long haul. But he saved some of his best for Bolts blue.