Raw Charge, a Tampa Bay Lightning community

Another member of the 2009 Tampa Bay Lightning draft class (Brian Lawton's only draft class) has been signed to an entry level contract. Right wing Richard Panik signed officially this morning to a standard entry level deal. With Panik signed, he joins Victor Hedman, Jaroslav Janus, Carter Ashton and Alex Hutchings as players from the Bolts draft class to be signed by the team. The only two draftees from the draft class not under contract with the franchise are currently Kirill Gotovets and goaltender Michael Zador.

Bolt Prospects sent out a link on Twitter to their updated list of Lightning players participating at the World Championships in Germany. They missed Juraj Simek on their list - he was playing for Switzerland as of three days ago in an exhibition game. The opening game of preliminary rounds is today at 2:15 pm Eastern. The USA will faceoff against the host country Germany. It is the only game scheduled today. Belarus - prospect D Kirill Gotovets Canada - C Steven Stamkos & W Steve Downie Latvia - prospect W Martins Karsums Russia - prospect G Vasily Koshechkin Slovakia - D Vladimir Mihalik & prospect C/W Richard Panik Sweden - prospect C/W Johan Harju & D Victor Hedman Switzerland - prospect W Juraj Simek USA - D Mike Lundin

Only the 2nd D-man taken by the Lightning in this years draft, Gotovets has a commitment to Cornell, the Brandon Wheat Kings own his rights in the WHL and the Minsk Dynamo of the KHL own his rights... What to do, what to do...? Smallish puck moving defenseman with finesse...