Quick Strikes: Come preview the Lightning’s potential roster with us!

The Lightning

What might the Tampa Bay Lightning look like this October? How strong will that Lightning be? Matt made his predictions for us yesterday.

Now, someone is probably going to nitpick that I have the top two lines situated the way I do. Both top lines are going to be getting roughly equal amounts of ice time so don’t worry about who is line one and who is line two. Given their absurd projected WAR entering 2019-2020, it’s safe to assume that the Lightning will have one of the most deadly top two lines in the league. That said, a rookie bursting into the lineup during camp isn’t out of the question. Nor is the fact that Jon Cooper might want to mix and match the lines to see what other combinations can work.

-The Lightning’s mascot paid a special visit to a small Tampa Bay fan who is currently receiving treatment for Leukemia.

The Crunch

-Syracuse Crunch forward Brady Brassart, who was on an AHL contract last season, has signed overseas and will not return to the team.

The Others

-Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander announced via Twitter yesterday that he is changing his number.

-The Ottawa Senators signed forward Michael Carcone to a two-year, two-way contract yesterday.

The first year of the contract will carry an annual value of $700,000 in the National Hockey League and $85,000 in the American Hockey League while the second year carries annual values of $700,000 in the NHL and $115,000 in the AHL.

Carcone, aged 23, was acquired by the Senators from the Toronto Maple Leafs on July 1 as part of a six-player trade which also saw Ottawa receive defenceman Nikita Zaitsev and forward Connor Brown.

-The Columbus Blue Jackets announced yesterday that restricted free agent left wing Sonny Milano has accepted the club’s qualifying offer.

Milano, 23, has recorded 15 goals and nine assists for 24 points with 10 penalty minutes in 70 career NHL games with the Blue Jackets since making his league debut in 2015-16. He tallied 1-0-1 in eight contests with the club in 2018-19.

-The Athletic took a look at the NHL’s Atlantic Division and where each team stands, with a Buffalo Sabres-flavor. (pay-walled)

-Kevin Dineen has been named head coach of the San Diego Gulls, AHL club of the Anaheim Ducks.

-Suspended former Los Angeles King defenseman Slava Voynov has chosen to wait out his NHL suspension in the KHL.

The Kings terminated Voynov’s $25 million contract in 2015 but retain his rights as he is on the voluntary retired list. The team announced in May, however, that Voynov will not play for the franchise again.

-Brazil has a hockey team, and you can learn about it in a documentary!