While the Tampa Bay Lightning is staying relatively quiet this offseason and preparing the ground for upcoming moves, let’s take a quick look at several players in the Lightning organization who is already playing hockey.
Forwards
Maxim Cajkovic – Bratislava Capitals – ICEHL
3 games: 1 goal, 2 assists
Cajkovic had a pretty successful start of the season in the Austrian multinational hockey league. Unfortunately some of the team’s games were postponed due to positive COVID-19 tests of several players and Cajkovic has seen the ice in just three games so far. Last night he recorded two points, including a game-winning goal against the Steinbach Black Wings from Linz, Austria.
Maxim Groshev – Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk – KHL
15 games: 0 goals, 2 assists
This 18 year-old third-rounder doesn’t see a lot of ice time, playing around 12 minutes per game, however he appeared in almost every game of this season for his team and recorded two assists in those games. Groshev also earned a spot on the Team Russia roster for upcoming Karjala Cup, which is considered the preparation for the World Juniors on the Russian side.
Mikhail Shalagin – Khimik Voskresensk – VHL
5 games: 1 goal, 0 assists
After returning to Russia, Shalagin had been loaned to the VHL – the second highest league in Russia. His “no-shot“ shootout goal has been so far the brightest highlight of his performance this season. Shalagin also missed a couple of the latest games and is reportedly injured.
Gabriel Fortier – Moncton Wildcats – QMJHL
5 games: 1 goal, 0 assists
Gabriel Fortier is the only Lightning prospect who’s currently playing in North America, in the only functioning junior league – QMJHL. His team has just returned from quarantine this weekend, but Fortier wasn’t able to add some points to his total.
Alexei Lipanov – Dynamo Krasnogorsk – VHL
1 game: 0 goals, 0 assists
Another player who has been recently loaned to Russia. His career trajectory went downhill during last seasons and honestly wouldn’t be surprised if he will stay in Russia when the season starts in North America. Lipanov so far appeared in one game for his team and didn’t record any point.
Defensemen
Andreas Borgman – Ässät – Liiga
9 games: 2 goals, 4 assists
Andreas Borgman has been a great addition for his team so far. He’s currently a top-10 defenceman in the league by points and one of the most noticeable players on his team. Ässät have some other addition from the NHL, including Jesperi Kotkaniemi, who made his debut yesterday.
Dominik Masin – Amur Khabarovsk – KHL
4 games: 0 goals, 3 assits
Masin has played in just four games in the KHL so far, recording three assists and averaging 25 minutes in those games. He hasn’t played couple of weeks, which could be an indication that a Czech defenceman tested positive with COVID-19.
Radim Salda – HK Hradec Kralove – Czech Extraliga
5 games: 0 goals, 0 assits
The Czech Extraliga is on hold due to the National lockdown. Given the exponential rise of COVID-19 cases in the country, it’s very doubtful that the season will resume in near future. Before the lockdown Salda appeared in five games for HK Hradec Kralove without recording any points.
Goaltenders
Amir Miftakhov – Ak Bars – KHL
5 games: 1.82 GAA, 0.929 SV%
Just a week later after making his first appearance of the season in the KHL, Miftakhov had been named one of the top players of the week in the KHL after a shutout, an overall 121 minutes without allowing a goal and .979 save percentage. A week after was rough for a Lightning prospect though: he allowed six goals against HC Amur Khabarovsk, starting the game after replacing his teammate Artur Akhtyamov, who was pulled off just five minute into the game. However, Miftakhov was able to recover after such a big loss and recorded his third win of the season just two days later, making 23 saves on 24 shots.
Hugo Alnefelt – HV71 – SHL
4 games: 3.82 GAA, 0.873 SV%
The slow start of the season continues for Alnefelt. Most recently he started against the Djurgården – one of the worst teams in the league. In this game he allowed five goals on 33 shots, recording his third loss in four games. Alnefelt also recently received an invitation to the Sweden national team for an upcoming U20 tournament against Finland in November.
The Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays have tied the score in the World Series after another exciting game last night against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Lightning players have also spent the night rooting for the Rays
and we’re just supposed to go to sleep now????
WOW @RAYSBASEBALL WOW
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) October 25, 2020
Jersey looks 🔥. Let’s go @RaysBaseball #RaysUp #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/c0J9g3XD7k
— Steven Stamkos (@RealStamkos91) October 25, 2020
What a great interview with Phillips ! Moments like that are what make sports amazing . Still can’t believe that final play. What a win for @RaysBaseball
— Steven Stamkos (@RealStamkos91) October 25, 2020
Let’s go @RaysBaseball Wow!!
— Mitchell Stephens (@Stephens2727) October 25, 2020
Wow, what a game! @RaysBaseball
— Blake Coleman (@BColes25) October 25, 2020
Around the League
The Calgary Flames continue collecting former Vancouver Canucks players: yesterday they signed forward Josh Leivo to a one-year contract
The #Flames have signed forward Josh Leivo to a one-year contract with an AAV of $875,000.
Welcome to the #CofRed, @jleivo17! https://t.co/WEnBUBZmlf
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) October 24, 2020
The Buffalo Sabres goaltender Linus Ulmark had an arbitration hearings yesterday: a players asks for $4.1M AAV, while the team is offering $1.8M AAV
Arbitration filing for Linus Ullmark (BUF): team is $1.8M; player is $4.1M
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) October 24, 2020
Alex Barkov is apparently considering a loan to Tappara of the Finnish league until the NHL season starts.
Prospects News & Rumors: Lambert, Barkov, Rossi & More#THW #Hockeyhttps://t.co/uOwbs97mBf
— The Hockey Writers (@TheHockeyWriter) October 24, 2020
