We’ve tackled the defense already. Now it’s time to look for offense. In the seven drafts where Julien BriseBois has been the final voice, the Tampa Bay Lightning have picked a forward with their top selection. The two times he went with defense was Jan Golicic in the fourth round of the 2024 draft and Roman Schmidt in the third round of the 2021 draft. So, when he’s had a pick in the top two rounds, he’s gone on the offensive. Will history repeat itself this year?
In all likelihood, yes. Keeping the puck out of the net is really nice, but in the end, a team has to be able to put the puck into the net to actually win a game. Having young scoring talent under cost-controlled contracts (especially for a team like the Lightning with an aging core) is a fantastic way to build a roster. In a draft like this one, it’s going to be tough to get a true game-breaker if the pick isn’t in the top ten, let alone the top fifty. At this point the diamonds are going to be a little flawed, but there is also the chance that one might just need to be shined up a little.
The Lightning have a type, especially when it comes to selecting forwards. Two-way players that have a good sense of what to do with the puck. They’ll sacrifice skating speed for defensive skill, and don’t mind a player that will finish a check or two. Occasionally they will take a chance on players that don’t quite fit that mold, but those risks tend to come with their fourth-round or lower picks.
Scanning the players that are projected to go in the Lightning’s range shows quite a few players that fit their profile, and honestly, the chances of these players having similar professional careers is quite likely. It’s always interesting to see how some players that we’ve speculated the Bolts might draft end up faring in the NHL. Reflection is fun, but right now we’re focused on the future. Time to take a look at a few forward prospects:
Zac Olsen
Right-shot forward, Colorado College, 6’1″, 203 lbs.
Regular Season (Saskatoon): 57 games, 18 goals, 16 assists
Playoffs (Saskatoon): 10 games, 2 goals, 4 assists
Good skater, tireless worker, pesky forechecker, responsible defender. It’s like Zac Olsen was drawn up in the Tampa Bay Lightning prospect lab. After two seasons with the Saskatoon Blades, Olsen is heading to Colorado College (where Klavs Veinbergs has been holed up for the past few seasons). He’ll bring a very direct style of play to the NCAA level. He has the speed to drive defenders back upon entries, but tends to excel in using that skating to track down the puck on dump-ins.
He doesn’t play a complicated game, but relies on simple direct passes to his teammates, or, if nothing else is open, just ripping the puck on net. According to scouts, his playmaking has improved a bit, but likely won’t every be a strong point of his game. Defensively, he has the size to just take players out, but the physical play can wax and wane depending on the night. While he’s not going to crack the top-six in a NHL line-up, he will bring a lot of energy and hard work to a bottom-six and penalty-killing unit.
Thomas Vandenberg
Left-shot center, Providence College, 6’0″, 181 lbs.
Regular Season (Ottawa 67’s): 59 games, 25 goals, 25 assists
Playoffs (Ottawa 67’s): 9 games, 4 goals, 3 assists
While his skating isn’t as strong as Olsen’s, he checks off a lot of the same boxes, and possess a better shot. Vandenberg has no problem playing in front of the net, but will have to increase his strength to remain successful in the college and pro levels. He’s relatively young (won’t turn 18 until September) so there is a little bit more of a runway for him to develop his skills.
As we mentioned above, the Lightning won’t kick a player to the curb because of rough skating, especially if he excels at other aspects. Vandenberg is extremely adept at reading plays and closing off options for opposing puck carriers. He isn’t going to dictate play on his own, but has shown to be an excellent support option for his linemates. The ability to find his own space and snap off a NHL-caliber shot is one of his strongest attributes in the offensive zone. He’s not going to wow a lot of fans with his skills, but he’s also not going to make a ton of mistakes on the ice.
Ryder Cali
Left-shot center, Providence College, 6’2″, 218 lbs.
Regular Season (North Bay Battalion): 47 games, 16 goals, 20 assists
Playoffs (North Bay Battalion): 10 games, 1 goal, 3 assists
Cali, who holds Swiss and Canadian eligibility, is the leveled-up version of what the Lightning desire in their forwards. It would probably take a mixture of luck and possibly the Lightning moving up in order for him to join the organization as he’s projected in the early second round right now, but Cali would fit in with some of the selections they made last season.
He has the hands and intelligence of a playmaker, but the style of a bottom-six grinder. In a NHL that likes a player that can score, but also knock a player off of the puck in a scrum and then take it to the net, Cali has the potential to thrive in that role. Like Vandenberg, he has a September birthday so he is on the youngish side. His skating needs work, with one prospect guide referring to his mechanics as “janky”, but again the Lightning have the development team that can help with that.
Cali is a high-energy forward that doesn’t mind getting into the dirty areas to win battles. He can also use his size to create space to get his shot off or open up lanes for passes to his teammates. The ability to process plays and find the weak points has already developed in his game. With more time available to train and work out in the college system, there is the distinct possibility that he can get stronger and heavier to play against, which will bode well for him in the AHL and pro-levels. If he can develop his scoring touch a little more, there is nothing preventing him from being a solid middle-six player at the NHL level.
