TAMPA, FL – Last season the Tampa Bay Lightning had the second overall pick in the NHL Entry Draft and selected defenseman Victor Hedman. The year before that they had the first overall pick and selected center Steven Stamkos. Now the Lightning sit at number six in this year’s draft and not in as enviable a position but still have a very good shot at claiming another quality player who will help them return to recent glory.
This year the Bolts were 23rd in offense, 27th in defense, 5th in face-offs. 8th on the Power play and 22nd on the penalty kill. The offense was led by Stamkos who had an incredible season with 51 goals and in a short period of time has turned heads in the NHL. Tampa had four other players with over 20 goals and one with 10 in Alex Tanguay. Steve Yzerman has taken over as the team’s GM and looks to add pieces to the puzzle. He will first have to decide what to do with all of the pending free agents he has on the current roster, 12 in all, and next season he will have three of his other top players in terms of payroll also come off the books. But only two could happen as one of those players is Stamkos. Vincent Lecavalier and Ryan Malone are the only two contracts that still have a long way to go before they come off the books. Still, Yzerman might look for a trade partner come draft day if he can get what he wants for either player to give him any payroll flexibility especially because he will have to give Stamkos a long-term contract when his current contract runs out next season.
At the forward position, Lecavalier and Stamkos give the team a solid one-two punch down the middle but the Bolts could add another defensive minded centerman. Jeff Halpern is not bad but could use some help. The wingers are in good shape but as the at the center position once you get past the top two lines things need to improve defensively. That won’t happen through the draft.
In their system, wingers and goaltenders appear to be their strength. Carter Ashton could be a fixture for years to come as well as Richard Panik. The team could use move help on left wing however.
On defense, Kurtis Foster was sixth on the team in scoring and Hedman was eighth. Still, adding another offensive minded d-man would not hurt. You can bet Yzerman will try and add as much offensive talent as possible to the roster. No one on the Bolts roster was a plus except, of all players, Steve Downie who was a plus 14 on a bad defensive team.
In the pipeline, only Dana Tyrell could make the team’s blue line next season especially with at least two of their free agents could be moving on. Foster is also a free agent but look for the Bolts to resign him. You can bet Tampa will look for some D at the draft, but will they use it at number six is the question.
Mike Smith and Antero Niittymaki had solid seasons but Yzerman could use an upgrade since Niittymaki will be a free agent this year and Smith next year. They do have some goaltending prospects they could give a shot such as Dustin Tokarski. Come draft day the Lighting should go for a defenseman or help at center or left wing. According to our mock draft the top two defensive prospects are off the board but Brandon Gormley and Mark Pysyk are still on the board as is Derek Forbort. If they are looking for right wing help Nino Niederreiter could be the answer but Gormley is being compared to Shae Weber and might be the best puck-controlling defenseman in the draft. While the temptation might be to go for offense, Yzerman knows that to win a championship, it takes defense to win it all. With that said expect Yzerman to make the following announcement at the upcoming NHL Entry Draft. “With the number six pick in the NHL Entry Draft, the Tampa Bay Lightning proudly select, from the Moncton Wildcats, defenseman Brandon Gormley.” To learn more about Brandon Gormley click on his name.
Contact the author at Brian.Jennings@prohockeynews.com
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