Quick Strikes: Lightning’s Joseph and Cirelli can play hockey, but can they...draw?

The Lightning

-Hockey players often hide their other talents. Have Anthony Cirelli and Mathieu Joseph been hiding their artist talents under all that hockey mastery? Let’s find out!

-Nikita Kucherov had a season to remember in 2018-19, something reflected in his grades.

His 128-point campaign achieved the following distinctions: highest of the salary cap era passing Joe Thornton’s 125 points in 2005-2006, the first 120+ point campaign since Sidney Crosby’s 120-point year in 2007, the highest single season point total in Tampa Bay Lightning history, the first Lightning player in franchise history with back-to-back 100-point seasons, and the Lightning single season record for assists (87). What we witnessed was an offensive explosion that no player has achieved in the salary cap era.

-Here’s another reminder that Louis Domingue and Andrei Vasilevskiy are up for NHL Fan Choice Awards!

-Domingue continues to make himself known around the Tampa area, this time by working with the children’s cancer center.

-Yesterday was a pretty memorable anniversary in Lightning history:

-The 16-29th pick order for the 2019 NHL Draft has been finalized. The Lightning pick at 27.

-Prior to his trade, Nikita Gusev apparently came away from meetings with the Lightning disappointed in where they saw him in terms of organizational depth.

S-E: Many people were saying that it would be better if you join Nikita Kucherov in the NHL

Gusev: We’re talking very often with Nikita. I’m not sure how to explain it to you. They have a good team in Tampa. At some point they traded me away, because I was only an AHL player according to them and they didn’t want to see me there. And that I only deserve an AHL contract. Probably there was a reason. So it’s not like I’m trying to get back (to Tampa).

The Others

-The New York Rangers officially introduced new team president John Davidson to the media yesterday. Here’s a bit from the recap of his introduction from Blue Shirt Banter:

The most important takeaway from Davidson’s remarks is that they remained in tune with the current rebuild. He mentioned building on the current foundation, being patient, and sticking to the plan that was laid out. But at the same time, he also noted that the current foundation gives them a chance to be aggressive. This summer is going to be a crucial point in the rebuild, and the Rangers certainly have enough money to make things interesting on July 1.

-Shannon Doyle has re-signed with the Connecticut Whale of the NWHL.

Doyle is the first player to sign with an NWHL club this offseason who has chosen not to disclose her salary. She’s also the first player to sign with the Whale and the fourth player to sign a contract since free agency began on May 15.