TAMPA — The Tampa Bay Lightning are ready to get back on the ice.
The team is holding its annual media day on Wednesday, with training camp set to open Thursday at TGH Ice Plex.
Practices are open to the public and are free to attend.
The Lightning’s training camp roster features 63 players, with 36 forwards, 21 defensemen and six goaltenders. Up to 23 players can be on the team’s active roster during the regular season.
Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh speaks to reporters Wednesday during the team’s media day. (Spectrum Sports 360/Katherine Smith)
The Bolts will play their first preseason game on Monday at the Carolina Hurricanes. The first preseason home game will be next Friday, also against the Hurricanes, at the newly-named Benchmark International Arena.
Tampa Bay opens the regular season at home Oct. 9, hosting the Ottawa Senators.
Right winger Nikita Kucherov was the first player at the podium Wednesday, and he talked about what this team needs to do to become a Cup contender again.
“Consistency, man. I think the consistency and the discipline in our game,” he said. “We can’t play one game and then three games where you’re just like, ‘Oh whatever.’ That’s the difference.
The Lightning went 47-27-8 last season, making the postseason but losing in the first round to the Florida Panthers.
Players say the postseason loss is being used to motivate this year’s squad.
“Your season was cut short and you didn’t accomplish our goal,” said Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh. “So you use that as motivation all summer to be as prepared as you can and ready for a good start to the season.”
You can view the training camp roster here.