Lightning Round: Tampa Bay Lightning sign Gage Goncalves to Entry Level Contract

On Sunday, the Tampa Bay Lightning signed 2020 second round pick, Gage Goncalves, to a three-year, entry-level contract. Goncalves was cut from Team Canada’ World Juniors camp roster over the weekend so this was a nice gesture to soften the blow of missing out on the premier junior men’s hockey tournament. The center plays in the WHL, on the US-based Everett Silvertips. The league is expected to begin their season this February but nothing is yet to be confirmed. [NHL dot com]

“Goncalves, 19, skated in 60 games for the Everett Silvertips during the 2019-20 regular season, recording 33 goals and 71 points to go along with 44 penalty minutes and a +32 rating. The 6-foot-1, 170-pound forward ranked second on the Silvertips for goals and was third for points last season. Goncalves also ranked tied for fifth in the WHL last season with 14 power-play goals and was tied for 11th for even-strength goals. He set career highs for goals, assists (38) and points during the 2019-20 campaign.”

In other prospect news, 2020 sixth round pick Nick Capone scored his first NCAA goal in the fourth game of his rookie year. Quite impressive hand-eye skills to get it in.

He also ran an opponent away from the puck with a high hit. Forgive my general dislike of hits like that.

Meanwhile in the NCAA...

In World Juniors news, Hugo Alnefelt was officially listed on the Swedish team’s roster. He joins Maxim Groshev, who will play for Russia. You are probably well-aware of the story around Maxim Cajkovic, who was in line to make Team Slovakia, but was kicked off the team for injuring his teammate on the ice. As a result, there are only two teams to watch out for as Bolts fans: Russia and Sweden.

In other WJC news, it’s been a mess for the European teams to make it across the pond. The IIHF arranged three charter planes for the eight teams flying over. But once things started unfolding, the problems arose.

First, the planes were too small to hold all the cargo. That resulted in arguments over whether to squish the players more, breaking team social distancing. That argument was resolved when the IIHF decided to hire a cargo plane to take the equipment separately after the players arrived.

Next issue was the fact that the planes needed to refuel in Iceland. Everyone on board had to stay put, and without any onboard entertainment, teams from Russia and Sweden decided to have a folk singing battle. The horror! That plane has since landed in Canada, with just a six hour drive from Goose Bay to Edmonton to make to get there.

And a final comment on the event itself, now that compromises are being made.