NICK PAUL NEWS

First goal in six games Paul scored a goal Thursday in an 8-4 win over the Devils.

Impact Paul put the Bolts up 1-0 with a snap shot from the left hashmarks at 2:57 of the first period. It was his first goal in six games. Paul is hopping the boards as Tampa's 4C, but his value goes up because of his job on PP2. Overall, he has three goals, four assists and 20 shots in 12 games this season.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Lightning chase Jacob Markstrom on the way to routing the Devils 8-4

Nick Paul, Darren Raddysh and Pontus Holmberg each scored in the opening eight minutes to chase Jacob Markstrom, and the injury-depleted Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the New Jersey...

1 DAY AGO • Associated Press

Three-game, three-point streak Paul scored a goal in Saturday's 4-1 win over the Rangers.

Impact It was a bit of an easy gimme -- Paul was camped out in the slot, and Nikita Kucherov, who was below the goal line on the right side, found his tape and all Paul needed to do was redirect it in. The big forward is on a three-game, three-point scoring streak (one goal, two assists, six shots).

NOVEMBER 29 • ROTOWIRE

Hagel scores twice as Lightning beat Rangers 4-1 and extend winning streak to 7 games

Brandon Hagel scored twice and Jonas Johansson made 12 saves as the Tampa Bay Lighting beat the New York Rangers 4-1 to extend their winning streak to seven games

NOVEMBER 29 • Associated Press

Scores in season debut Paul scored a goal on three shots and added four hits in Thursday's 2-1 overtime win over the Oilers.

Impact Paul had missed the first 19 games of the season while recovering from an upper-body surgery. The 30-year-old was plugged right back into the middle of the Lightning's lineup, posting 15:21 of ice time in his season debut. Paul is a valuable middle-six forward who can play in all situations, so he may occasionally score enough to provide decent returns in fantasy, especially if he continues to play with a physical edge. He's topped the 40-point mark in each of the last two regular seasons, though he'd need a career-best pace to get to that mark in 2025-26 with all the time he's missed.

NOVEMBER 21 • ROTOWIRE

Guentzel scores in OT to give Lightning 2-1 win over Oilers

Jake Guentzel scored 1:43 into overtime to give the Tampa Bay Lightning a 2-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers

NOVEMBER 21 • Associated Press

Activated from injured reserve The Lightning activated Paul (upper body) from injured reserve Thursday, per Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times.

Impact Paul will get his first start of the season, as he underwent surgery at the beginning of training camp. The 30-year-old will see time as a top-six forward, playing alongside Jake Guentzel and Brayden Point against Edmonton on Thursday. The Lightning placed Victor Hedman (undisclosed) on injured reserve in a corresponding move.

NOVEMBER 20 • ROTOWIRE

Expected to play Thursday Paul (upper body) is expected to make his season debut versus the Oilers on Thursday, according to Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times.

Impact Paul was on the top line at morning skate, alongside Jake Guentzel and Brayden Point. Point underwent surgery at the start of training camp and was expected to be out until early November, so his return was delayed by a couple of weeks. Paul had 22 goals, 19 assists, 141 shots on goal and 66 hits over 76 regular-season games last season. He should see time on the second power play against Edmonton. Paul needs to be activated from injured reserve ahead of Thursday's tilt.

NOVEMBER 20 • ROTOWIRE

Still not ready to play Paul (upper body) is still slightly more than day-to-day according to head coach Jon Cooper, Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site reports Tuesday.

Impact Paul was on the ice with his teammates for Tuesday's practice session, so it appears he is at least trending in the right direction. With injuries piling up for the Bolts, they could certainly use Paul's offensive upside. Considering the team has a back-to-back coming up, it seems more likely Paul will target a return versus the Devils on Nov. 18, though no official date for his return has been announced.

NOVEMBER 11 • ROTOWIRE

Out at least another week Paul (upper body) will accompany the team on their upcoming three-game road trip, but will not play, Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site reports Friday.

Impact Head coach Jon Cooper said Friday that Paul will become day-to-day once the Lightning return from their road trip. The Lightning return Nov. 8 and play the Capitals, the first time that Paul could return to action. He had 22 goals and 19 helpers across 76 regular-season games last season.

OCTOBER 31 • ROTOWIRE

Wearing non-contact jersey Paul (upper body) returned to practice Thursday in a non-contact jersey, Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site reports.

Impact Paul is on long-term injured reserve and is not eligible to return to the lineup until Sunday at the earliest, after undergoing surgery at the beginning of training camp. Paul had 22 goals and 19 assists while averaging 16:27 of action over 76 regular-season games in 2024-25. He will be a middle-six forward upon his return to the lineup.

OCTOBER 30 • ROTOWIRE

Put on LTIR Paul (upper body) was placed on long-term injured reserve Monday.

Impact Paul won't be available to return from offseason surgery until early November. He accounted for 22 goals, 41 points, 141 shots on net and 66 hits across 76 regular-season appearances in 2024-25. Once he's healthy, he will be in the mix for a middle-six role and could see time on the second power-play unit.

OCTOBER 6 • ROTOWIRE

Out until November Paul underwent surgery to address an upper-body injury and will be out until early November, Erik Erlendsson of LightningInsider.com reports Wednesday.

Impact Paul had been dealing with this injury last season. He initially tried rehab before ultimately settling for surgery. The 30-year-old had 22 goals and 41 points across 76 regular-season appearances in 2024-25, which made it his second straight campaign of at least 20 goals and 40 points. While Paul is out, Zemgus Girgensons might be moved up to the third line, which creates an opening on the fourth unit. Jakob Pelletier, Boris Katchouk and Mitchell Chaffee should be among those competing for that vacancy with Chaffee being the most likely to win the job.

SEPTEMBER 17 • ROTOWIRE

Deposits goal in Game 5 loss Paul scored a goal on five shots and added two hits in Wednesday's 6-3 loss to the Panthers in Game 5.

Impact Paul put up two goals over the last three games, but his tally Wednesday wasn't enough to help extend the Lightning's season. The 30-year-old forward added 12 shots on net, 18 hits and a minus-4 rating over five playoff contests. He's signed for four more years at an affordable $3.15 million cap hit. Expect Paul to continue in his usual middle-six role in 2025-26 after a strong 41-point effort over 76 regular-season games in 2024-25.

MAY 1 • ROTOWIRE

Panthers advance to the second round after defeating Tampa Bay in 5 games

Eetu Luostarinen had a goal and three assists to lead the Florida Panthers to a 6-3 victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning and advance Florida to the second round of the Eastern C...

MAY 1 • Associated Press

Fires winner in Game 3 Paul scored a goal in Saturday's 5-1 win over Florida in Game 3.

Impact Paul fired a wrist shot from the right circle, and it clipped the inside of Sergei Bobrovsky's skate and in for the game-winner. It was a bit of a weak goal, but it gave the Bolts a lead for the first time in the series. It was Paul's first point this postseason and his 13th in 37 playoff outings. However, he has contributed in other ways, earning 14 hits and winning 62.1 percent of his faceoffs.

APRIL 27 • ROTOWIRE

Vasilevskiy makes 33 saves as Lightning beat Panthers 5-1 to cut Florida's series lead to 2-1

Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 33 shots and the Tampa Bay Lightning came back to beat the Florida Panthers 5-1 to cut their deficit in the first-round series to 2-1

APRIL 26 • Associated Press

Registers helper in win Paul logged an assist and three shots on goal in Sunday's 7-4 win over the Sabres.

Impact Paul ended a five-game point drought with the helper on a Conor Geekie tally in the second period. With a couple of injuries to forwards, Paul could be leaned on in more of a defensive role leading up to and early in the playoffs, as the Lightning are missing shutdown center Luke Glendening (upper body) and two-way winger Oliver Bjorkstrand (lower body). Paul is at 41 points, 138 shots on net, 64 hits, 31 blocked shots and a plus-14 rating over 74 appearances and can fill a variety of roles, primarily as a middle-six option.

APRIL 14 • ROTOWIRE

Registers helper in win Paul logged an assist and three shots on goal in Sunday's 7-4 win over the Sabres.

Impact Paul ended a five-game point drought with the helper on a Conor Geekie tally in the second period. The versatile Paul could be leaned on in more of a defensive role leading up to and early in the playoffs, as the Lightning are missing shutdown center Luke Glendening (upper body) and two-way winger Oliver Bjorkstrand (lower body). Paul is at 41 points, 138 shots on net, 64 hits, 31 blocked shots and a plus-14 rating over 74 appearances and can fill a variety of roles, primarily as a middle-six option.

APRIL 14 • ROTOWIRE

Second straight 40-point season Paul scored a goal Tuesday in a 4-1 win over the Islanders.

Impact It was his 22nd goal and 40th point of the season. Paul has put up 40 points in two consecutive seasons in Tampa Bay. This season, he's done it with just five power-play points; last season, he put up 14. Paul has just 62 hits in 68 games, a drop from three-straight 100-plus seasons, but he still offers a touch of secondary scoring. And his 357 face-off wins (50.0 percent) can help.

APRIL 2 • ROTOWIRE

Guentzel, Vasilevskiy help Lightning beat Islanders 4-1 for 4th straight win

Jake Guentzel had a goal and an assist, Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 28 shots, and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the New York Islanders 4-1 for their fourth straight win to inch close...

APRIL 2 • Associated Press

Spoils shutout bid Paul scored a goal on four shots and added two hits in Sunday's 4-2 loss to the Golden Knights.

Impact Paul got the Lightning on the board late in the second period, ending a shutout bid for Ilya Samsonov. This hasn't been Paul's strongest month, but he's managed three goals and three assists over 12 outings in March. All of that production has come with a shrinking role on the second power-play unit. The 30-year-old has been decent this year with 38 points, 119 shots on net, 58 hits and a plus-9 rating over 64 appearances. He's running out of time to challenge his career-best 46 points from the 2023-24 regular season, but a return to the 40-point mark is still within reach.

MARCH 24 • ROTOWIRE