Who are the members of the Tampa Bay Lightning Inaugural Hall of Fame class? 

The Tampa Bay Lightning organization is having a memorable season that’s about to get even more memorable.

Between March 16-18, the Lightning intend to induct three players into their Hall of Fame, the first class. The three inductees will be team founder Phil Esposito and current Montreal Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis and Vincent Lecavalier.

More than 30 Lightning alumni will be present to celebrate the three legends for the weekend. St. Louis and Lecavalier make up the only two players in the history of the organization who have their numbers retired in Tampa Bay.

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Who are the Tampa Bay Lightning Hall of Fame Inductees?

Phil Esposito

Tampa Bay Lightning Victory Rally & Boat Parade

Phil Esposito had a brief but impactful career with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He served as the team's first president and general manager and played a key role in building the franchise from scratch.

Esposito was instrumental in drafting some of the team's top players, including Vincent Lecavalier and Brad Richards. He helped lead the Lightning to their first playoff appearance in just their fourth season. He also played a key role in bringing the NHL All-Star Game to Tampa Bay in 1999.

Martin St. Louis

2022 Upper Deck NHL Draft - Round One

Martin St. Louis is considered one of the greatest players in Tampa Bay Lightning history.

He spent 13 seasons with the Lightning, where he won the Hart Trophy as the NHL's Most Valuable Player in the 2003-04 season, which saw him lead the team to their first Stanley Cup championship. St. Louis is known for his exceptional skills, work ethic and leadership on and off the ice.

He's a six-time All-Star and two-time Art Ross Trophy winner as the NHL's leading scorer. St. Louis ranks second in franchise history in goals, assists and points, and his No. 26 jersey was retired by the team in 2016.

He remains a beloved figure in the Lightning community and is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of his generation.

Vincent Lecavalier

Boston Bruins vs Tampa Bay Lightning - Game Three

Vincent Lecavalier is one of the most iconic players in Tampa Bay Lightning history.

He spent 14 seasons with the team, establishing himself as one of the league's premier power forwards. Lecavalier was a key player on the Lightning's 2004 Stanley Cup-winning team and won the Rocket Richard Trophy as the NHL's leading goal scorer in the 2006-07 season. He was also a four-time All-Star and won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy for his leadership and humanitarian efforts in the community.

Lecavalier ranks first in franchise history in goals, second in assists and points, and his No. 4 was retired by the team in 2018. He remains an important figure in the Tampa Bay community, and his legacy as one of the greatest Lightning players of all time is secure.