2024 Tampa Bay Lightning Top 25 Under 25: #15 Hugo Alnefelt

Our first (and only) goaltender to appear on the list is Hugo Alnefelt. The Swedish netminder hasn’t had the smoothest developmental path in a career that sees him heading back to European hockey for the immediate future.

At this point last year, Hugo Alnefelt’s progression through the Lightning organization seemed to be back on track. He would split time with free agent signee Matt Tomkins early in the season and then gradually take over as the undisputed number one in the AHL. The next season would be spent as the Crunch’s number one with the possible call-up from time to time if Andrei Vasilevskiy or Jonas Johansson was injured or sick. Then, in 2025-26 he would likely be Vasy’s back-up, and then he would build his NHL experience before taking over the number one spot in 2028-29. It was all so simple.

Now, it seems life and hockey have chosen a different path for the Swedish netminder. This summer, the restricted free agent signed a three-year contract with HV71, the club he played for prior to coming over to North America in 2021. The Lightning did retain his rights by sending him an offer sheet, so if he does come back to the AHL or NHL, they have a shot to re-sign him. If he plays out the full contract, he would be 26-years-old and still in line for a productive NHL career.

Will that happen? Who knows? Moving back to Sweden to play in the SHL isn’t that big of a drop-off in competition compared to the AHL. He’ll still be playing against solid talent, with the benefit of being back in his home country. Vasilevskiy will still be the Lightning’s number-one goaltender after the next three seasons, so it’s not like Alnefelt is losing out on a NHL gig. Plus he’s probably pocketing a few more dollars on his SHL contract than he would on a two-way NHL/AHL deal.

The fact that a 23-year-old goaltender who peaced out from the Lightning’s AHL team is still considered a top-15 prospect in the organization says a lot more about the state of the farm system than it does Alnefelt. Spoiler alert – he’s still the top-ranked goaltender prospect in the system as well. Right now, aside from Alnefelt, the Lightning’s depth chart is: