The Lightning have claimed forward Nate Thompson from the New York Islanders. The 25 year old Alaskan was originally drafted in 2003 by the Boston Bruins and has played for both the B’s and the Islanders (as well as the Providence Bruins) in his pro career so far.
Hockey’s Future summarizes Thompson as thus:
Thompson is a superb skater who plays a solid game at both ends of the ice, and is often used in penalty killing situations. More of a defensive forward, he does all of the little things to help his team win games, whether it is blocking shots, carrying the puck out of the defensive zone or sticking up for a teammate. Because of his speed he gets many scoring opportunities but needs to improve on his finishing ability. He is an intense competitor and a leader on and off the ice.
Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Tribune, via Twitter, wondered aloud if Brandon Bochenski was going to be placed on waivers and re-assigned as the counter point to this move. We’ll have to wait and see what is in store…
