The 2018 NHL Draft is a few weeks away, and right now the Tampa Bay Lightning have seven picks to work with. What they don’t have (yet, anyway) is a first rounder, as that went to the Rangers in the trade for Ryan McDonagh and JT Miller.
So, we’ll begin in the second round, with the #59 pick.
- Round 2 – 59th overall
seldo’s preferred pick: Nando Eggenberger (W), HC Davos, NLA – 36GP – 3G – 2A – 5Pts – 2PM/
The Lightning have never picked at #59 before.
I picked Eggenberger because of his name, really. (Editor’s note: Alex approves) He seems like a good pick on the ice, as well.
- Round 3 – 90th overall
seldo’s preferred pick: Riley Sutter (RW), Everett Silvertips, WHL – 68GP – 25G – 28A – 53Pts – 70PM/
The Lightning have never picked at #90 before.
Sutter was an excellent power forward on the Silvertips’ run to the WHL Final this season. He should play an even bigger role next year, be it with Everett or another team in the WHL. He’s the billionth Sutter to be drafted into the NHL.
- Round 4 – 121st overall
seldo’s preferred pick: Anthony Popovich (G), Guelph Storm, OHL – 60GP – 3.44GAA – .902sv%/
Previous Lightning picks:
1998 – Curtis Rich (D) – Never played in the NHL
Rich played out his WHL career, and played one pro season in the ECHL before taking 2001-02 off. He played for the University of Alberta on and off before hanging up his skates.
- Round 5 – 152nd overall
seldo’s preferred pick: Jack Deboer (C), USNTDP – 61GP – 7G – 15A – 22Pts – 44PM/
Previous Lightning picks:
2008 – Mark Barberio (D) – Bolts stats: 103GP – 6G – 11A – 17Pts
1996 – Nikolai Ignatov (D) – Never played in the NHL
Barberio won the 2012 Calder Cup with the Norfolk Admirals and helped get the Syracuse Crunch to the championship round in 2013 before joining the Lightning. His time with the team ended after the 2015 run to the Stanley Cup Finals. In the off-season he signed with the Montreal Canadiens. He is currently playing for the Colorado Avalanche.
Nikolai Ignatov never left Russia, and retired after the 2010-11 season.
- Round 6 – 183rd overall
seldo’s preferred pick: Isaac Nurse (RW), Hamilton Bulldogs, OHL – 68GP – 17G – 13A – 30Pts-16PM/
Previous Lightning picks:
2009 – Kirill Gotovets (D) – Never played in the NHL
2007 – Torrie Jung (G) – Never played in the NHL
2002 – Paul Ranger (D) – Bolts stats: 270GP – 18G – 74A – 92Pts
Paul Ranger played five seasons with Tampa Bay before taking two years off of hockey. He re-emerged in Toronto for two years (one in the AHL, one in the NHL) and retired after one season in Switzerland.
Torrie Jung re-entered the 2009 draft after not being signed by the Lightning. He went undrafted and played five seasons in the Central Hockey League.
Kirill Gotovets graduated from Cornell and become a free agent. He bounced around the minors in North America and teams in Europe. Last season he played with the AHL Manitoba Moose, and next season he’s signed with Dinamo Minsk of the KHL.
- Round 7 – 206th overall
seldo’s preferred pick: Justin MacPherson, D, Niagara IceDogs, OHL – 66GP – 0G – 17A – 17Pts – 24PM/
Previous Lightning picks:
2016 – Otto Somppi (C) – Has not played in the NHL yet
Somppi most recently played with the Syracuse Crunch, and is heading back there in the fall.
- Round 7 – 214th overall
seldo’s preferred pick: Anton Sundin, D, Frolunda Jr, Sweden-Jr – 45GP – 0G – 4A – 4Pts – 65PM/
The Lightning have never picked at #214 before
The Lightning have seven picks in six rounds. They could add more as we head into the draft, but it most likely won’t be a first rounder. Then again, you never know what Steve’s up to.
