Vancouver Giants forward James Wright in game seven of the second round of the 2009 WHL playoffs against the Spokane Chiefs. (Credit: Sam Chan, via Wikimedia)

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The most interesting story from the Tampa Bay Lightning's 2009 training camp was 19 year old James Wright.  Drafted in the fourth round (117^th overall) in the 2008 NHL entry draft, Wright came out of nowhere and beat out the likes veterans such as Ryan Craig, Blair Jones, Adam Hall or Paul Szczechura for a roster spot.

For more than half the season, Wright stuck with the club,  bouncing around on the lower lines.  His determination and instincts didn't go un-noticed or unappreciated by Lightning head coach Rick Tocchet, as Wright found himself at times playing on scoring lines with the likes of team captain Vincent Lecavalier and assistant captain Martin St. Louis.

It's been almost a month now since James was sent back to his junior club, the Vancouver Giants of the WHL.  While the Bolts have run hot-and-cold since his re-assignment, James himself has blossomed in his nine games since re-joining the Giants.  As of Monday night (while the Giants game against the Seattle Thunderbirds was still in progress), Wright has 4 goals and 7 assists and is a +5. 

We caught up with Wright to reflect on his time in Tampa, his outlook for the future and a handful of other things.  Sorry, Raw Charge regulars, James didn't know about being nicknamed "Killer"   (inspired by a pre-season incident with the Ottawa Senator's Alex Kovalev).

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Mark Parrish of the Norfolk Admirals, photographed at Scope on Nov. 10, 2009. (Steve Earley | The Virginian-Pilot) Via media.hamptonroads.com

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Mark Parrish, veteran right wing in the NHL, has been biding his time in the AHL, waiting for his next opportunity in the big leagues.  He, like so many other NHL veterans, was the odd-man-out with the last club he was attached to (Vancouver) after the NHL preseason and was left wondering when and where they would play next in the league, if at all.

Parrish was signed by Lightning GM Brian Lawton (Parrish's former agent) on a try-out basis to the Norfolk Admirals - not officially with Tampa Bay but through the Lightning organization none-the-less.  It was to get playing minutes again, and it was to show he still had the fire and the desire to play the game.

And now?  Parrish has been waived, not for release or demotion, but likely to pave the way for his ultimate signing by the Lightning.  

He still may be claimed by any club looking for help, but he may become a very valuable addition to the Lightning for it's playoff push.  All without having to acquire a player of his talent and experience via trade.

We'll know for sure on Tuesday if he clears waivers or not, and what the ultimate actions will be by the club afterward - assign him to Norfolk officially or call him up to replace Brandon Bochenski or someone else on the Lightning roster?

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More photos » Mike Carlson - AP

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The Lightning have announced that first-year-pro goaltender Dustin Tokarski has been returned to Norfolk of the AHL.  The news should tell fans that Mike Smith is ready to come back from his neck injury to at least assume backup duty.

The Lightning also announced this morning that odd-man-out goaltender Riku Helenius has been sent to the Swedish Elite League to play for Sodertalje SK.  This news ha doriginally come out earlier int he week but the team made the move official today.

Both official releases can be found after the jump.

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More photos » Donna McWilliam - AP

Richard Panik's OHL trade was just one of several Lightning prospect and system moves during the last month. (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam)

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This is the third update of Lightning prospects / property that we've conducted thsi season. It's a shallow statistical take on what is going on throughout the Lightning system in regards to production. The listed playersare largely based off of teh attendees of training camp, with a few exceptions.

Below the fold, you'll find a list of players who didn't make the opening night roster for the Lightning and where they are now and just how they are performing in their current location.  Consider this a system update. 

Of course, the more complete place to find updates on Lightning prospects and just how they are producing is over at Bolt Prospects.  You'll find updates on more players in the Lightning system, unsigned draftees, college hockey recruits and those playing abroad on a game-by-game basis.  For the meantime, here's where things stand with some of the top prospects (and depth) in the system on January 13th, 2010:

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Goaltender Jaroslav Janus, drafted by the Lightning during the 2009 NHL draft, has been signed by the Lightning to his standard three-year rookie contract.  Janus is 7-4-2 in 13 games with the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League this season. 

Janus started the season with the Norfolk Admirals (the Lightning's AHL affiliate) on a try-out basis, but with Dustin Tokarski and Riku Helenius in front of him, Janus only appeared in 2 games and was not going to see much playing time with both netminders performing well.

So, Janus found himself returned to juniors and has posted a 2.81 GAA with a .918 save percentage while in net for the Otters. 

Now, I don't want to speculate too wildly here as if there is a deeper meaning to the signing, though it's easy to assume the writing is on the wall with the rumors that surfaced last month about goaltender Mike Smith, but the truth is is the seems to be the standard operating procedure for General Manager Brian Lawton.  After all, he signed Tokarski to his rookie-contract at about the same time a year ago (December 30th, 2008). 

But it's easy to wonder if Lawton is trying to add depth to the system because of an imminent change.  If Smith departs later in the season or after the season, and Antero Niittymaki goes into the unrestricted free agency pool (he is only on a one-year contract, after all)...  Having the system stocked with replacement parts is vital.

and indeed, with Smith's improved play as of late -- his trade value has risen somewhat.  But of course, it's a buyers market for goalies at current as several big names are available.

It's all the more reason to realize this is just a signing and not a precursor to a change in goal.

More photos » Donna McWilliam - AP

Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Jaroslav Janus (37), (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam)

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It's been over a month since our first prospect update. For regular readers, you'll recall that in November we had posted stats for the majority of the players who had been invited to camp over the summer. Fresh draftees, tenured prospects, camp invitees, and (a single) KHL defectees

Below the fold, you'll find a list of players who didn't make the opening night roster for the Lightning and where they are now and just how they are performing in their current location.  Consider this a system update. 

Of course, the more complete place to find updates on Lightning prospects and just how they are producing is over at Bolt Prospects.  You'll find dao;u updates on more players in the Lightning system, unsigned draftees, college hockey recruits and those playing abroad.  For the meantime, here's where things stand with some of the players in the system on December 8th, 2009:

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Lightning prospects and Lethbridge Hurricanes wing Carter Ashton -- via www.whl.ca

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Remember all those people in camp this summer?  Guys who were the-next-big-thing at the Young Guns camp?  Or the gia-normous roster the Tampa Bay Lightning carried with them as they trekked across the continent back in september?

They're still playing hockey.  And the majority of them are still Tampa Bay Lightning property (with a sole exception). 

Below the fold, you'll find a list of players who didn't make the opening night roster for the Lightning and where they are now and just how they are performing in their current location.  Consider this a system update. 

Of course, the more complete place to find updates on Lightning prospects and just how they are producing is over at Bolt Prospects.  You'll find updates on more players in teh Lightning system including prospects over in the KHL (though we've included one here) and in college hockey.  For the meantime, here's where things stand with some of the players in the system on November 3rd, 2009:

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More photos » Elise Amendola - AP

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Some people aren't happy with the cuts that were made yesterday -- two promising prospects and the necessity to trim down the roster.

There are a pair of telling quotes about one of the cuts however.  Damian Cristodero got the following remark from Rick Tocchett regarding Matt Lashoff:

"I don't think he came into camp vying for a job," coach Rick Tocchet said. "He's a good prospect, and I think he's going to be a good defenseman, but I don't know if he had a good camp. I think there's an urgency to his play that has to be shown. I was disappointed in his camp, yeah. I thought he would have been a little bit better prepared knowing the numbers on defense and the competition."

General manager Brian Lawton further drove home the point on Lashoff:

"What happened to him, in some degree, was it was a little overwhelming for some of the younger players in regards to the level of competition," Lawton said. "Matt and I discussed that, and he probably didn't respond the way he needed to find long-term success. But that's part of being a younger player, and he'll be stronger for it."

That tells the tale of one of the two cuts..  A tight roster and a poor camp will get you every time.  But what about Mike Lundin?  Many a fan were rooting for him to make the team.  Coach Tocchet summarizes it as exactly what it was:  The odd man out.  The music stopped and Mike was the one left without a chair.

"A tough one," Tocchet said. "Mike Lundin played really well. ... It's not like Mike Lundin did anything wrong."

Cristodero made another vital point that fans need to remember regarding either player rejoining the team this season: Neither player will face re-call waivers to be promoted back to Tampa Bay. If there were to be injuries, or perhaps roster space created by way of trade, Mike Lundin could find his way to Tampa (in contrast, last season after his demotion, the Bolts would have had to expose Mike to waivers in order to recall him). As for right now, though, he's a Norfolk Admiral.