The Tampa Bay Lightning added eight players to the organization on Saturday through the NHL Draft. This year’s class is comprised of five forwards, two defensemen and a goalie.
Without a first-round pick for the third straight year, the Lightning made their first pick in the second round early Saturday afternoon, selecting forward Ethan Czata from the Niagara Ice Dogs of the Ontario Hockey League. Czata was the Ice Dogs’ fourth-leading scorer with 21 goals last season. Adding his 34 assists, he finished the season with 55 points in 68 games.
“I’m kind of happy that it’s going to be hot all around. I’m a big hot-over-cold weather guy,” the 18-year-old Ontario native said.
The Lightning traded their 2026 fourth-round pick to the Boston Bruins to move up in this year’s fourth round to select forward Benjamin Rautiainen from Tappara of the Finnish Liiga. The 20-year-old forward represented his home country, playing for Team Finland in the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship. He recorded two goals and four points in the tournament.
Later in the fourth round, Tampa Bay drafted forward Aiden Foster from the Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League.
Tampa Lightning 2025 Draft Class:
Round 2 – 56 overall — Forward Ethan Czata
Round 4 – 108 overall — Forward Benjamin Rautiainen
Round 4 – 127 overall — Forward Aiden Foster
Round 5 – 151 overall — Defenseman Everett Baldwin
Round 7 – 193 overall — Goaltender Caleb Heil
Round 7 – 206 overall — Forward Roman Luttsev
Round 7 – 212 overall — Defenseman Grant Spada
Round 7 – 215 overall — Forward Marco Mignosa
“We are going to give them resources and support. Hopefully, they put in the work. When it works really well, we end up with future NHL players,” general manager Julien BriseBois said after the draft.
Each drafted player will take part in the Lightning’s development camp later this summer.
