Anthony Cirelli

Cirelli had his best season as a pro in 2024-25, as the 27-year-old notched a career-high 27 goals and 59 points and continued to flex his defensive prowess with a plus-30 rating. The end of the season was tough on Cirelli, who scored just two goals in the final 16 games, including the postseason. Brayden Point is entrenched as Tampa’s No. 1 center, so Cirelli won’t benefit from playing with guys like Nikita Kucherov and Jake Guentzel. He should still see time on the second power play, but when fully healthy, the Lightning’s first unit is set, meaning that most of Cirelli’s production must come at five-on-five or shorthanded. While it seems like there’s another level to the offensive game for the two-way center, his expected role on the Lightning as a shutdown center in 2025-26 will likely keep him from maxing out his offensive potential. Read Past Outlooks