Quick Strikes: Jan Rutta signs a new contract

The Lightning

As was announced yesterday, Czech defenceman Jan Rutta has signed a one year, $1.3 million AAV deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning [Raw Charge]

Ondrej Palat gave an interview to the Czech website Hokej.cz and shared his thoughts and emotions after a disappointing loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs [Raw Charge]

V.J.: Could one of the reasons of failure be the fact that you didn’t go through some big slumps during the regular season?

Palat: Yes, we didn’t have any recessions or slumps, that’s true. Unfortunately, it happened in the playoffs and we couldn’t get out of it. This is sport, it happens.

V.J.: Do you have at least some good memories about the regular season?

Palat: Yes, it was fun. We did well, played great hockey. We won a lot of games. So the atmosphere was really amazing. But the playoffs were such a pity.

Jou Smith of the Athletic remembers the 2009 NHL Draft and why the Lightning considered taking Matt Duchene over Victor Hedman [The Athletic, paid content]

With John Tavares going to the Islanders at No. 1, Tampa Bay ultimately went with Swedish defenseman Victor Hedman, which turned out to be a brilliant choice as the Norris Trophy winner is a finalist for the award again this June. But the pick was far from a consensus, as the much-debated decision was sealed during a unique three-way, pre-draft visit the team had with Tavares, Hedman and Duchene.

The Prospects

Unfortunately, the season for the Orlando Solar Bears is over. They’ve lost to the Florida Everblades 1-4 in the South Division Finals.

The Game

The Carolina Hurricanes have advanced to the Eastern Conference Final after sweeping the series against the New York Islanders. In the fourth game, they defeated the Islanders 5-2.

The Dallas Stars have taken a 3-2 lead in ther series against the St. Louis Blues. Former Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop made 38 saves to secure the victory

Meanwhile, the New York Rangers continue to rebuild. Former SKA goalie Igor Shesterkin and former Traktor forward Vitali Kravtsov have signed their entry-level contracts.

Blueshirt Banter published a scouting report on recently signed defenceman Adam Fox [Blueshirt Banter]

As it was announced earlier on Thursday, about 200 NWHL players are going to boycott the upcoming 2019-20 season. The Athletic writes what it means for the Buffalo Beauts [The Athletic, paid content]

The Beauts, run by Pegula Sports and Entertainment, have been considered by many players as the gold standard of the NWHL, particularly because of Kim Pegula’s involvement and influence; Buffalo is the only franchise run independently from the league. The Beauts finished second in attendance in the NWHL last season and goaltender Shannon Szabados led all individual players in jersey sales. Szabados told ESPN in March she considered the club the best run women’s team “in the entire world.”

The American Hockey League’s San Diego Gulls mourns the victims of the synagogue shooting in Poway [The Athletic, paid content]

The Gulls are in their hockey bubble, and they have little direct connection to Chabad of Poway, which sits on a ridge on the northern side of town. But the actions of a gunman at the synagogue on the final day of Passover punctured that bubble on April 27. An individual’s act of hate and the tragic consequences — the death of worshipper Lori Gilbert-Kaye and injury of three others, including Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein — touched a hockey team that has made Poway its second home.

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are going to announce their location for the 2019-20 season on Monday [Pensburgh]

As covered extensively by our very own WBS writer David on the site over the past season, the biggest question mark for the Baby Pens heading into their offseason was if the team would continue hosting their home games at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre Township, or if a contract extension with the Pittsburgh Penguins organization and the Luzerne County Arena Authority Board would ultimately fizzle out and the team would be forced to move.

Earlier this week, the Springfield Thunderbirds’ Anthony Greco and his parents lost their home in a fire. The Thunderbirds will be hosting an auction in support of them.

Offer sheet compensations have been revealed for the upcoming offseason.

The Nikita Kucherov “no shot” goal is known across many different leagues.