The Tampa Bay Lightning have brought in several new players this offseason, including Jake Guentzel, Zemgus Girgensons, Cam Atkinson, J.J. Moser, and Conor Geekie. They also reunited with veteran defenseman Ryan McDonagh.

While the Lightning have had a busy offseason, they might not be done yet. When looking at their current forward group, it is clear that they could use another option for their middle six. Due to their limited cap space, they would need to go after affordable players if they hope to improve their depth.

One remaining free agent who stands out as a rather interesting target is Mike Hoffman.

Hoffman, 34, is coming off a down season with the San Jose Sharks, recording 10 goals and 23 points in 66 games. While the veteran winger’s offense was lower than expected in 2023-24, there is reason to believe that he could improve his stats if playing on a better team with more help around him. Thus, a team like the Lightning could be a good fit for him.

Just back in 2022-23 with the Montreal Canadiens, Hoffman showed that he can still be a solid middle-six forward, posting 14 goals and 34 points in 67 games. He also had at least 35 points while playing no more than 67 games in his two previous campaigns. Thus, he could bounce back to similar totals in 2024-25 in the right situation.

Due to this, Hoffman stands out as a player the Lightning could sign to a cheap one-year deal or even PTO. He would give them another experienced option for their middle six and power play, so he may be worth taking a flier on.