Reflecting on Nick Paul’s Time with the Tampa Bay Lightning

Following his departure from the team, a former Tampa Bay Lightning fan favorite spoke about his departure. Nick Paul took to social media to say his goodbyes and thank-yous.

“To the Tampa Bay Lightning organization, thank you for the opportunity to wear the Bolt,” Paul said to open his farewell message on Instagram. “It was a privilege to compete alongside incredible teammates, coaches and staff, and I’ll always be grateful for the memories created together.”

Paul was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs at the start of free agency on July 1. The Lightning acquired goalie Dennis Hildeby and a 2027 fourth-round pick and a 2028 third-round pick.

Most would prefer that his final season with the team had ended differently. It would have, had he been healthier and, in turn, been able to make a larger impact. While he heads to a rival, you hope for him personally that he can rekindle what made him an impact player for half a decade in Tampa Bay.

With the farewell message being out there, and some time passing since his departure, it’s time to look back at his time in a Lightning sweater. He was a player who had his share of key moments from the start.

An Electric Arrival to the Lightning

On March 20, 2022, the Lightning capped off a crucial trade deadline by acquiring Paul from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for forward Mathieu Joseph and a fourth-round pick. He and Brandon Hagel, who came over from the Chicago Blackhawks at the same deadline, were poised to help this team go on a run for a three-peat.

His impact in the playoffs was immediately felt. He played in 23 games during the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs, picking up five goals and nine assists for 13 points. Two of those goals were game-winners. His efforts earned him a seven-year, $22.05 million contract extension that offseason.

Apart from his final season with the Lightning, Paul was an everyday player, averaging 79 games between 2022-23 and 2024-25. He provided solid production, giving the team an average of 21 goals and 40 points per season.

For the most part, his postseason production per game was consistent with his first playoff run with the Lightning, with the exception of his final season. Between 2022-23 and 2024-25, he averaged 0.31 points per game compared to 0.39 points per game in 2021-22. In his last season, 2025-26, he never found his way onto the scoresheet over six games. He sat out Game 5 of the first-round matchup against the Montreal Canadiens due to illness.

An Unfortunate Ending

The unfortunate ending to Paul’s time in Tampa Bay began with a procedure he underwent back in September 2025. He was expected to be back in early November, but his return didn’t come until closer to Thanksgiving.

At first, his production was solid with six points in eight games. After that, he had the same number of points over 26 games before going down with another injury. He missed another six weeks, but he stayed healthy the rest of the way after that.

Paul wasn’t alone in having the injury bug. Multiple Lightning stars missed 20 games or more during the 2025-26 season. He was just ultimately the odd man out when resuffling the roster for the 2026-27 season.

Legacy With Lightning

In the long run, we’ll have to see what his lasting legacy is with the team. He gets the honor of being a playoff hero during the golden years. There’s no doubt there.

Outside of that, time will tell. He is only top-10 in one statistical category, according to Hockey Reference, and that’s shooting percentage.

The reality is that he will likely be appreciated mostly by those who remember his time in Tampa Bay. That’s not a bad thing. Plenty of fans wear Nick Paul jerseys and will continue to wear them. Those who see those jerseys years down the line will give those who are wearing them props for having a sick throwback. His name may be a pull, but there will be those who get excited by it.

When fans are saddened and upset by the departure of a player, it’s a sign they did something right. Five seasons in a Lightning sweater and mostly bringing a consistent presence leave a lasting impact on fans. To somebody, he was their favorite player.

That’s something that many other NHL players will never get to claim, and that makes his time with the Lightning special in its own right. Across Benchmark International Arena, there are photos of former Lightning players who had an impact on the team. Paul could very well be one someday.