Stepehens was signed to a two-year extension after being part of the 2020 Stanley Cup championship roster. On October 7, 2020, the Lightning re-signed forwards Mitchell Stephens and Gemel Smith to contract extensions. The Lightning's off-season began after the team captured its second Stanley Cup in franchise history in a 4–2 series win over the Dallas Stars. Tampa Bay would then repeat as champions in five games against the Montreal Canadiens. They went on to defeat the Carolina Hurricanes in five games to earn a spot in the Semifinals, where they defeated the New York Islanders in seven games to reach the Stanley Cup Finals for the second consecutive season. In the first round, the Lightning defeated their in-state rival the Florida Panthers in six games. The Lightning entered the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs as the defending Stanley Cup champions and the third seed in the Central Division. Opponents in each game during the regular season and potentially the first two rounds of the playoffs are from within the new division. The regular season schedule was announced on December 23, 2020. This new configuration retained Chicago, Dallas, and Nashville, while it added Detroit and Florida from the Atlantic Division, as well as Carolina and Columbus from the Metropolitan Division. īecause the COVID-19 pandemic was still ongoing prior to the season, as part of the league's return to play protocols, the divisions were realigned and the Lightning were put into the Central Division. It was reported Decemthat the two parties had tentatively agreed to a 56-game season scheduled to begin on January 13, 2021.

In a joint announcement from the NHL and NHLPA on October 6, 2020, a target date of Januwas set for the start of the season. The Lightning entered the season as the defending Stanley Cup champions. The 2020–21 Tampa Bay Lightning season was the 29th season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on December 16, 1991.

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