# 1992–93 Tampa Bay Lightning season

The 1992–93 Tampa Bay Lightning season was the team's inaugural season in the National Hockey League (NHL). They finished sixth in the Norris Division with a record of 23 wins, 54 losses, and 7 ties for 53 points.

## Offseason

Hockey Hall of Famer Phil Esposito was hired as president and general manager on April 4, 1991.
Terry Crisp was named the team's first head coach on April 23, 1992.

## Preseason

On September 23, 1992, Manon Rheaume became the first woman to play in an NHL exhibition game as the Tampa Bay Lightning played against the St. Louis Blues.

## Regular season

The Lightning finished last in penalty-kill % during the regular season (74.43%).
In the Lightning's very first NHL game on Wednesday, October 7, 1992, Chris Kontos scored the first hat trick in Lightning history as Tampa Bay defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 7-3 (the 7 goals would be the most that the Blackhawks would allow in a regular-season game that year). On Friday, November 13, 1992, Pat Jablonski recorded the first shutout in Lightning history, as Tampa Bay blanked their fellow expansion cousins the Ottawa Senators 1-0 at home.
Although the Lightning finished well out of playoff contention, their 53 points was by far the best inaugural season performance of any of the three expansion teams that joined in the early 1990s. Tampa Bay's 53 points was actually more than the combined totals for that season of the Senators and the San Jose Sharks (who were then in their second season), both of whom recorded only 24 points each.

### Final standings

Norris Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA |
| Chicago Blackhawks | 84 | 47 | 25 | 12 | 106 | 279 | 230 |
| Detroit Red Wings | 84 | 47 | 28 | 9 | 103 | 369 | 280 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 84 | 44 | 29 | 11 | 99 | 288 | 241 |
| St. Louis Blues | 84 | 37 | 36 | 11 | 85 | 282 | 278 |
| Minnesota North Stars | 84 | 36 | 38 | 10 | 82 | 272 | 293 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | 84 | 23 | 54 | 7 | 53 | 245 | 332 |
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

## Schedule and results

1992–93 regular season :
October: 4–7–1 (home: 3–2–0; road: 1–5–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1WOctober 7, 19927–3Chicago Blackhawks (1992–93)1–0–0Recap
2LOctober 10, 19921–2@ Minnesota North Stars (1992–93)1–1–0Recap
3TOctober 11, 19924–4 OT@ Chicago Blackhawks (1992–93)1–1–1Recap
4WOctober 13, 19922–1@ St. Louis Blues (1992–93)2–1–1Recap
5LOctober 15, 19923–5@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1992–93)2–2–1Recap
6LOctober 16, 19924–5 OT@ Buffalo Sabres (1992–93)2–3–1Recap
7WOctober 20, 19926–1Edmonton Oilers (1992–93)3–3–1Recap
8LOctober 22, 19922–5Toronto Maple Leafs (1992–93)3–4–1Recap
9WOctober 24, 19923–2Quebec Nordiques (1992–93)4–4–1Recap
10LOctober 27, 19923–4@ Quebec Nordiques (1992–93)4–5–1Recap
11LOctober 28, 19923–4@ Montreal Canadiens (1992–93)4–6–1Recap
12LOctober 30, 19921–2San Jose Sharks (1992–93)4–7–1Recap :
November: 6–8–1 (home: 3–4–0; road: 3–4–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
13LNovember 1, 19924–5Pittsburgh Penguins (1992–93)4–8–1Recap
14WNovember 3, 19926–4St. Louis Blues (1992–93)5–8–1Recap
15TNovember 6, 19922–2 OT@ Washington Capitals (1992–93)5–8–2Recap
16WNovember 7, 19926–5 OT@ New York Islanders (1992–93)6–8–2Recap
17WNovember 9, 19925–1@ New York Rangers (1992–93)7–8–2Recap
18WNovember 11, 19926–4Detroit Red Wings (1992–93)8–8–2Recap
19WNovember 13, 19921–0Ottawa Senators (1992–93)9–8–2Recap
20LNovember 14, 19923–5Calgary Flames (1992–93)9–9–2Recap
21LNovember 17, 19925–6Winnipeg Jets (1992–93)9–10–2Recap
22LNovember 19, 19921–4Minnesota North Stars (1992–93)9–11–2Recap
23LNovember 21, 19922–4@ St. Louis Blues (1992–93)9–12–2Recap
24LNovember 23, 19925–10@ Detroit Red Wings (1992–93)9–13–2Recap
25WNovember 24, 19923–2@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1992–93)10–13–2Recap
26LNovember 27, 19922–3 OT@ Calgary Flames (1992–93)10–14–2Recap
27LNovember 28, 19923–4 OT@ Edmonton Oilers (1992–93)10–15–2Recap :
December: 4–8–0 (home: 2–4–0; road: 2–4–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
28LDecember 5, 19927–9Detroit Red Wings (1992–93)10–16–2Recap
29LDecember 7, 19921–6New York Islanders (1992–93)10–17–2Recap
30LDecember 9, 19925–6@ New York Rangers (1992–93)10–18–2Recap
31LDecember 11, 19924–5New York Rangers (1992–93)10–19–2Recap
32WDecember 12, 19923–1Edmonton Oilers (1992–93)11–19–2Recap
33WDecember 15, 19923–2@ Los Angeles Kings (1992–93)12–19–2Recap
34WDecember 16, 19925–4 OT@ San Jose Sharks (1992–93)13–19–2Recap
35LDecember 18, 19920–2New Jersey Devils (1992–93)13–20–2Recap
36WDecember 20, 19924–1Philadelphia Flyers (1992–93)14–20–2Recap
37LDecember 22, 19923–5@ Boston Bruins (1992–93)14–21–2Recap
38LDecember 23, 19921–3@ Hartford Whalers (1992–93)14–22–2Recap
39LDecember 31, 19920–5@ Chicago Blackhawks (1992–93)14–23–2Recap :
January: 3–10–1 (home: 1–5–1; road: 2–5–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
40LJanuary 2, 19931–2@ Edmonton Oilers (1992–93)14–24–2Recap
41LJanuary 4, 19930–7@ Vancouver Canucks (1992–93)14–25–2Recap
42WJanuary 6, 19936–3@ Los Angeles Kings (1992–93)15–25–2Recap
43LJanuary 9, 19934–6@ Minnesota North Stars (1992–93)15–26–2Recap
44LJanuary 11, 19932–4@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1992–93)15–27–2Recap
45LJanuary 13, 19933–5@ Detroit Red Wings (1992–93)15–28–2Recap
46LJanuary 16, 19933–5St. Louis Blues (1992–93)15–29–2Recap
47LJanuary 17, 19933–5Washington Capitals (1992–93)15–30–2Recap
48LJanuary 19, 19932–4Minnesota North Stars (1992–93)15–31–2Recap
49LJanuary 21, 19931–6Toronto Maple Leafs (1992–93)15–32–2Recap
50WJanuary 23, 19935–1San Jose Sharks (1992–93)16–32–2Recap
51TJanuary 24, 19932–2 OTMinnesota North Stars (1992–93)16–32–3Recap
52LJanuary 28, 19932–4St. Louis Blues (1992–93)16–33–3Recap
53WJanuary 30, 19934–3@ Minnesota North Stars (1992–93)17–33–3Recap :
February: 2–7–2 (home: 1–4–1; road: 1–3–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
54WFebruary 1, 19935–4@ San Jose Sharks (1992–93)18–33–3Recap
55LFebruary 3, 19932–4@ Vancouver Canucks (1992–93)18–34–3Recap
56WFebruary 9, 19933–1Toronto Maple Leafs (1992–93)19–34–3Recap
57LFebruary 11, 19930–1Minnesota North Stars (1992–93)19–35–3Recap
58TFebruary 14, 19933–3 OTBoston Bruins (1992–93)19–35–4Recap
59LFebruary 17, 19931–3@ Detroit Red Wings (1992–93)19–36–4Recap
60LFebruary 19, 19931–4@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1992–93)19–37–4Recap
61LFebruary 20, 19932–5Quebec Nordiques (1992–93)19–38–4Recap
62LFebruary 22, 19932–5Los Angeles Kings (1992–93)19–39–4Recap
63LFebruary 25, 19931–5Chicago Blackhawks (1992–93)19–40–4Recap
64TFebruary 27, 19933–3 OT@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1992–93)19–40–5Recap :
March: 3–9–0 (home: 2–5–0; road: 1–4–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
65WMarch 3, 19933–1Montreal Canadiens (1992–93)20–40–5Recap
66WMarch 6, 19937–4Calgary Flames (1992–93)21–40–5Recap
67LMarch 9, 19932–4Winnipeg Jets (1992–93)21–41–5Recap
68LMarch 12, 19932–8@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1992–93)21–42–5Recap
69LMarch 14, 19931–3@ Winnipeg Jets (1992–93)21–43–5Recap
70LMarch 16, 19933–4 OTHartford Whalers (1992–93)21–44–5Recap
71LMarch 18, 19932–4Toronto Maple Leafs (1992–93)21–45–5Recap
72LMarch 20, 19931–3Buffalo Sabres (1992–93)21–46–5Recap
73LMarch 21, 19932–3@ Chicago Blackhawks (1992–93)21–47–5Recap
74LMarch 23, 19933–9@ New Jersey Devils (1992–93)21–48–5Recap
75WMarch 25, 19933–2 OT@ Ottawa Senators (1992–93)22–48–5Recap
76LMarch 27, 19933–8Detroit Red Wings (1992–93)22–49–5Recap :
April: 1–5–2 (home: 0–3–1; road: 1–2–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
77LApril 1, 19933–5Vancouver Canucks (1992–93)22–50–5Recap
78LApril 3, 19932–6@ Philadelphia Flyers (1992–93)22–51–5Recap
79TApril 6, 19932–2 OTSt. Louis Blues (1992–93)22–51–6Recap
80LApril 8, 19931–9Detroit Red Wings (1992–93)22–52–6Recap
81LApril 10, 19932–4Chicago Blackhawks (1992–93)22–53–6Recap
82TApril 11, 19933–3 OT@ Chicago Blackhawks (1992–93)22–53–7Recap
83WApril 13, 19935–3@ Winnipeg Jets (1992–93)23–53–7Recap
84LApril 15, 19935–6@ St. Louis Blues (1992–93)23–54–7Recap :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point) :

## Player statistics
### Skaters

Regular season :
| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | +/− | PIM |
| Brian Bradley | 80 | 42 | 44 | 86 | -24 | 92 |
| John Tucker | 78 | 17 | 39 | 56 | -12 | 69 |
| Chris Kontos | 66 | 27 | 24 | 51 | -7 | 12 |
| Rob Zamuner | 84 | 15 | 28 | 43 | -25 | 74 |
| Adam Creighton | 83 | 19 | 20 | 39 | -19 | 110 |
| Shawn Chambers | 55 | 10 | 29 | 39 | -21 | 36 |
| Bob Beers | 64 | 12 | 24 | 36 | -25 | 70 |
| Marc Bureau | 63 | 10 | 21 | 31 | -12 | 111 |
| Doug Crossman ‡ | 40 | 8 | 21 | 29 | -4 | 18 |
| Mikael Andersson | 77 | 16 | 11 | 27 | -14 | 14 |
| Danton Cole | 67 | 12 | 15 | 27 | -2 | 23 |
| Rob DiMaio | 54 | 9 | 15 | 24 | 0 | 62 |
| Roman Hamrlik | 67 | 6 | 15 | 21 | -21 | 71 |
| Steve Maltais | 63 | 7 | 13 | 20 | -20 | 35 |
| Rob Ramage ‡ | 66 | 5 | 12 | 17 | -21 | 138 |
| Marc Bergevin | 78 | 2 | 12 | 14 | -16 | 66 |
| Joe Reekie | 42 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 2 | 69 |
| Ken Hodge Jr. | 25 | 2 | 7 | 9 | -6 | 2 |
| Peter Taglianetti ‡ | 61 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 150 |
| Mike Hartman ‡ | 58 | 4 | 4 | 8 | -7 | 154 |
| Steve Kasper † | 47 | 3 | 4 | 7 | -13 | 18 |
| Tim Bergland | 27 | 3 | 3 | 6 | -5 | 11 |
| Jason Lafreniere | 11 | 3 | 3 | 6 | -6 | 4 |
| Basil McRae ‡ | 14 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -3 | 71 |
| Anatoli Semenov ‡ | 13 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -5 | 4 |
| Chris LiPuma | 15 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 34 |
| Matt Hervey | 17 | 0 | 4 | 4 | -6 | 38 |
| Stan Drulia | 24 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 10 |
| Jock Callander | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -5 | 2 |
| Dave Capuano | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -4 | 2 |
| Michel Mongeau | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -2 | 2 |
| Keith Osborne | 11 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 8 |
| Randy Gilhen † | 11 | 0 | 2 | 2 | -6 | 6 |
| Shawn Rivers | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | -2 | 2 |
| Shayne Stevenson | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -5 | 7 |
| Alain Cote | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 |
| Herb Raglan | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Stephane Richer ‡ | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -3 | 0 |
| Jason Ruff † | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Martin Simard | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 11 |
| Total | Total | 245 | 408 | 653 | — | 1,608 |

### Goaltenders

Regular season :
| Player | GP | GS | TOI | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SA | SV% | SO | G | A | PIM |
| Jean-Claude Bergeron | 21 | 19 | 1,163:10 | 8 | 10 | 1 | 71 | 3.66 | 574 | .876 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Pat Jablonski | 43 | 37 | 2,267:49 | 8 | 24 | 4 | 150 | 3.97 | 1,194 | .874 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 |
| Wendell Young | 31 | 27 | 1,591:29 | 7 | 19 | 2 | 97 | 3.66 | 758 | .872 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| David Littman | 1 | 1 | 45:27 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 9.24 | 21 | .667 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | Total | Total | 5,067:55 | 23 | 54 | 7 | 325 | 3.85 | 2,547 | .872 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 11 |
† Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Lightning. Stats reflect time with the Lightning only. ‡ Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Lightning only.
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes; TOI = Time on ice; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV% = Save percentage;

## Transactions
### Trades

Trades listed are from June 1, 1992 to June 1, 1993.
| Date | Details | Details |
| June 18, 1992 (1992-06-18) | To Montreal CanadiensFrederic Chabot | To Tampa Bay LightningJean-Claude Bergeron |
| June 19, 1992 (1992-06-19) | To Winnipeg JetsFuture considerations | To Tampa Bay LightningDanton Cole |
| June 19, 1992 (1992-06-19) | To Quebec NordiquesTim Hunter | To Tampa Bay LightningFuture considerations (Martin Simard on September 14, 1992) |
| June 19, 1992 (1992-06-19) | To St. Louis Blues1994 4th-round pick (86th overall) 1995 5th-round pick (108th overall) 1996 6th-round pick (152th overall) | To Tampa Bay LightningPat Jablonski Darin Kimble Rob Robinson Steve Tuttle |
| September 4, 1992 (1992-09-04) | To Boston BruinsDarin Kimble Future considerations | To Tampa Bay LightningMatt Hervey Ken Hodge Jr. |
| September 25, 1992 (1992-09-25) | To Edmonton OilersJeff Bloemberg | To Tampa Bay LightningFuture considerations |
| October 4, 1992 (1992-10-04) | To New York Islanders1994 5th-round pick (112th overall) | To Tampa Bay LightningIslanders agree to leave Adam Creighton unprotected in the 1992 waiver draft |
| October 28, 1992 (1992-10-28) | To Boston BruinsStephane Richer | To Tampa Bay LightningBob Beers |
| November 3, 1992 (1992-11-03) | To Vancouver CanucksAnatoli Semenov | To Tampa Bay LightningDave Capuano 1994 4th-round pick (91st overall) |
| December 8, 1992 (1992-12-08) | To Philadelphia FlyersDan Vincelette | To Tampa Bay LightningSteve Kasper |
| January 28, 1993 (1993-01-28) | To St. Louis BluesBasil McRae Doug Crossman 1996 4th-round pick (97th overall) | To Tampa Bay LightningJason Ruff 1994 TB 4th-round pick (86th overall) 1995 TB 5th-round pick (108th overall) 1996 TB 6th-round pick (152th overall) |
| February 12, 1993 (1993-02-12) | To Quebec NordiquesMichel Mongeau Martin Simard Steve Tuttle | To Tampa Bay LightningHerb Raglan |
| March 20, 1993 (1993-03-20) | To Montreal CanadiensRob Ramage | To Tampa Bay LightningEric Charron Alain Cote Future Considerations (Donald Dufresne on June 18, 1993) |
| March 22, 1993 (1993-03-22) | To Pittsburgh PenguinsPeter Taglianetti | To Tampa Bay Lightning1993 3rd-round pick (78th overall) |
| March 22, 1993 (1993-03-22) | To New York RangersMike Hartman | To Tampa Bay LightningRandy Gilhen |

### Additions

| Date | Player | Via | Previous Team |
| June 29, 1992 | Chris LiPuma | Free agency | |
| July 8, 1992 | Mikael Andersson | Free agency | Hartford Whalers |
| July 9, 1992 | Marc Bergevin | Free agency | Hartford Whalers |
| July 13, 1992 | Rob Zamuner | Free agency | New York Rangers |
| July 22, 1992 | Jean Blouin | Free agency | Laval Titan (QMJHL) |
| July 22, 1992 | Chris Kontos | Free agency | Courmaosta HC (ITA) |
| July 22, 1992 | John Tucker | Free agency | Asiago HC (ITA) |
| July 29, 1992 | Jock Callander | Free agency | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| July 29, 1992 | Jason Lafreniere | Free agency | Landshut EV (GER) |
| July 29, 1992 | Mike Greenlay | Free agency | Knoxville Cherokees (ECHL) |
| July 29, 1992 | Stephane Richer | Free agency | Fredericton Canadiens (AHL) |
| August 13, 1992 | Scott Boston | Free agency | Belleville Bulls (OHL) |
| August 13, 1992 | Jeff Buchanan | Free agency | Saskatoon Blades (WHL) |
| August 13, 1992 | Christian Campeau | Free agency | Rouen (FRA) |
| August 13, 1992 | Shawn Rivers | Free agency | Sudbury Wolves (OHL) |
| August 18, 1992 | Mark Green | Free agency | |
| August 21, 1992 | Jim Benning | Free agency | |
| August 27, 1992 | David Littman | Free agency | |
| September 1, 1992 | Stan Drulia | Free agency | New Haven Nighthawks (AHL) |
| September 1, 1992 | Rick Lanz | Free agency | |
| October 4, 1992 | Adam Creighton | Waiver draft | New York Islanders |
| October 16, 1992 | Marc Bureau | Waivers | Minnesota North Stars |

### Departures

| Date | Player | Via | New Team |
| September 9, 1992 | Bob McGill | Waivers | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| January 19, 1993 | Ken Hodge Jr. | Released | New York Rangers |
| February 7, 1993 | Rick Lanz | Retired | |

## Draft picks
### Expansion draft

| # | Player | Position | Drafted from |
| 1 | Wendell Young | G | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| 4 | Frederic Chabot | G | Montreal Canadiens |
| 6 | Joe Reekie | D | New York Islanders |
| 7 | Shawn Chambers | D | Washington Capitals |
| 9 | Peter Taglianetti | D | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| 12 | Bob McGill | D | Detroit Red Wings |
| 14 | Jeff Bloemberg | D | New York Rangers |
| 15 | Doug Crossman | D | Quebec Nordiques |
| 17 | Rob Ramage | D | Minnesota North Stars |
| 19 | Michel Mongeau | C | St. Louis Blues |
| 22 | Anatoli Semenov | C | Edmonton Oilers |
| 24 | Mike Hartman | LW | Winnipeg Jets |
| 26 | Basil McRae | LW | Minnesota North Stars |
| 28 | Rob DiMaio | RW | New York Islanders |
| 30 | Steve Maltais | W | Quebec Nordiques |
| 32 | Dan Vincelette | LW | Chicago Blackhawks |
| 34 | Tim Bergland | RW | Washington Capitals |
| 36 | Brian Bradley | C | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 38 | Keith Osborne | RW | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 40 | Shayne Stevenson | C | Boston Bruins |
| 42 | Tim Hunter | F | Calgary Flames |

### Entry draft

Tampa Bay's draft picks at the 1992 NHL entry draft held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec.
| Round | # | Player | Position | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 1 | Roman Hamrlik | D | Czechoslovakia | ZPS Zlín (Czechoslovakia) |
| 2 | 26 | Drew Bannister | D | Canada | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) |
| 3 | 49 | Brent Gretzky | C | Canada | Belleville Bulls (OHL) |
| 4 | 74 | Aaron Gavey | C | Canada | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) |
| 5 | 97 | Brantt Myhres | LW | Canada | Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL) |
| 6 | 122 | Martin Tanguay | C | Canada | Verdun Collège Français (QMJHL) |
| 7 | 145 | Derek Wilkinson | G | Canada | Detroit Whalers (OHL) |
| 8 | 170 | Dennis Maxwell | C | United States | Niagara Falls Thunder (OHL) |
| 9 | 193 | Andrew Kemper | D | Canada | Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) |
| 10 | 218 | Marc Tardiff | LW | Canada | Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL) |
| 11 | 241 | Tom MacDonald | C | Canada | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) |
| S | 1 | Cory Cross | D | Canada | University of Alberta (CWUAA) |