Lightning activate Nick Paul from LTIR, will return vs. Oilers

The Tampa Bay Lightning will bring Nick Paul back into the lineup and off the Long Term Injured Reserve on Thursday as they take on the Edmonton Oilers on home ice, the team confirmed. 

In a corresponding move, they have also shifted top defenseman Victor Hedman to the injured reserve with an injury that has held him out of action for nearly two weeks. Paul, meanwhile, will make his season debut. 

Paul, 30, was on Tampa Bay’s top line for morning skate, playing alongside Jake Guentzel and Brayden Point. Paul had wrist surgery at the start of training camp, and initial recovery timelines had him returning in early November, making his actual return slightly delayed. 

Last season, he netted 22 goals and 41 points in 76 regular-season games, and could potentially get time on one of the Lightning’s power-play units in his first game back from recovery. 

“The wrist feels great,” he told reporters after morning skate. “I’ve never had this before, when you’re coming in 20 games into the season, so I’ll take it simple to start, trust the process and go out there and just have a clear mind.”

In his career, Paul has 97 going and 199 points through 486 games. He is expected to hit both the 200-point and 500-game milestones this season. 

Hedman, meanwhile, is expected to miss a few more weeks, according to head coach Jon Cooper. 

Without Paul in the lineup, the Lightning have amassed a record of 10-7-2 and 22 points, good for fourth in the Atlantic Division behind the Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens. 

After Thursday’s game, the Lightning look ahead to a Saturday night clash against the Washington Capitals on the road at Capital One Arena, before returning to home ice and the friendly confines of Benchmark Interantional Arena for a Monday meeting with the Philadelphia Flyers.