tbl-New Players = New Numbers

Author: Coach Rox

Posted on: July 25, 2026

Raw Charge

Part of the fun of free agency is simply the fact that there are new players on the roster. Especially a team like the Tampa Bay Lightning, that has been together, for the most part, for quite a few seasons. Along with the new faces, there are new jersey numbers to learn and get used to on the ice. With the Bolts announcing, in their own creative way, which numbers the latest crop of free agents will be wearing, we also get a chance to remember some players from the past.

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <div class="embed-x"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">New numbers in town 👀 <a href="https://t.co/Gmd2l6Fenm">pic.twitter.com/Gmd2l6Fenm</a></p>— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) <a href="https://x.com/TBLightning/status/2078209981736702438?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 17, 2026</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div> </div></figure>

<p><strong>John Carlson – Number 74</strong></p>

<p>The big right-shot defensemen is going with the number he’s worn his entire NHL career. Throughout Lightning franchise history, four players have worn it with the most recent being defenseman Sean Day, who sported it for two games in the 2021-22 season. Brantt Myhers was the first to wear it in the 1996-1997 season (after he had sported 27 and 33 in his rookie season) while Nick Tarnasky is the all-time Lightning points leader with that number (11 goals, 9 assists in 169 games).</p>

<p>The most famous Lightning player to wear it was Ondrej Palat, who rocked it in his rookie season of 2012-13 before switching over the more familiar 18 (check out Tyler Johnson’s number as well).</p>

<p><strong>Ilya Mikheyev – 95</strong></p>

<p>The big, fast winger switched to 95 in Chicago after wearing 65 in Toronto and Vancouver. Why the switch? There is a chance that 65 is one of the unofficially “retired” numbers in Chicago as it hasn’t been worn since fan favorite Andrew Shaw sported it from 2012-21. Mikheyev could have switched back to 65 in Tampa as Max Crozier was the last to wear it before changing to 24 last year, but it looks like the Russian is opting to stick with the 95. </p>

<p>It’s been a month of Leap Year Days since a member of the Lightning took to the ice wearing number 95. One has to go all the way back to the 1995-96 season to find clips of a Bolt skating around with that number. Michel Petit, who wore six different numbers during his 827-game career in the NHL, was the only Tampa Bay to wear 95 in franchise history. </p>

<p>Acquired from the Kings in November of 1995, Petit wore it for 45 games, recording 4 goals and 7 assists during that span. By default, he’s the only player to wear it in the playoffs, where he had zero points (but 20 penalty minutes) in 6 games against the Flyers. </p>

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<p><strong>Dennis Hildeby – 35</strong></p>

<p>The towering Swedish netminder (whose name comes up on the latest <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GDzZNAsSBc">Backchecking the Bolts</a> podcast) is keeping the number he wore during his 26-game career in Toronto, 35. Honestly, we’re a bit surprised that this number, which has been worn by nine players in Lightning franchise history, hasn’t been unofficially retired by the Bolts. After all, it was most famously worn by <s>Dieter Kochan</s> Nikolai Khabibuilin when the Lightning raised their first Stanley Cup. </p>

<p>While there was a five-year break after that, it has been worn by four players since, including the Lightning’s back-up for their most recent Stanley Cup, Curtis McElhinney. Come to think of it, the Lightning have never won a Stanley Cup without a goaltender wearing the number 35. So, great choice, Dennis Hildeby!</p>

<p><strong>Jeffrey Viel – 25</strong></p>

<p>Despite only appearing in 99 career NHL games, Viel has racked up a few different sweater numbers. He wore 63 in San Jose, 28 in Winnipeg, 28 and 48 in Boston, before returning to 28 for his brief, but productive, Anaheim career. With Zemgus Girgensons firmly ensconced in that number with the Lightning, Viel is trying out the number 25 for his first season with the Bolts.</p>

<p>Much like Hildeby’s choice, this number has some significant history in the organization as Dave Andreychuck most famously wore it during his tenure with the Bolts from 2002-2006. It was the number on his back when he skated to center ice in 2004 to lift Lord Stanley’s trophy over his head, completing the Lightning’s rise from laughing stocks of the league to champions. </p>

<p>Since then, it has been handed out once, to Matt Carle. The beleaguered defenseman wore it from 2012 to 2016 during his second stint with the Lightning. Other notable players to sport the number 25 were Marc Bergevin and Michael Nylander. </p></p>: <p class="card-text"><a href='https://www.rawcharge.com/new-players-new-numbers-tampa-bay-lightning-john-carlson-ily-mikheyev-dennis-hildeby-jeff-viel/' class="btn btn-secondary">Go to website</a></p>

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