No, it’s not the time of year when everyone in Florida is keeping an eye on Jim Cantore’s whereabouts, but an eye on where all of your favorite hockey players are as they start trickling back into their respective cities with training camp right around the corner. All joking aside, make sure y’all are prepared for that storm brewing off of the coast.
We know Sergachev (and his buzz cut) are in Tampa. Stamkos has been in town, but also hanging out with some old friends. A host of players were spotted in the ice last week as well.
Nothing says hockey is almost here like seeing players back on the ice
Lightning / NHL News
An inside look at the Lightning [NHL.com]
The team was able to take a rest. That seems to be the narrative we’re approaching the season with this summer. After three long runs, things were cut short last year so the silver lining is that the veteran-heavy team has a chance to relax a bit and recharge the batteries.
Three questions for the Lightning [NHL.com]
Did they replace the depth they lost and what will Andrei Vasilevskiy’s workload be like are valid questions. Will a long offseason help the Lightning kind of answers its own question. Of course it will.
Top Prospects for the Tampa Bay Lightning [NHL.com]
It’s an intriguing list, that’s for sure. The top five are respectable, the only problem is that they’re a couple of seasons away from helping out.
Four Lightning prospects in the CHL [CHL.ca]
A look at four prospects that will be playing in the CHL leagues this fall.
Hot seat radar: Tampa Bay Lightning [The Hockey News]
Tanner Jeannot takes the hottest seat according to THN with Victor Hedman’s seat listed as “warm”. Personally, I think the hottest seat goes to Mikhail Sergachev. The Lightning need him to continue the progress he showed last year. If he does, then he’s likely their number one defender. If he doesn’t, or if he regresses, that $8.5 million contract looks dicey.
EP Rinkside: Lightning prospect pool is ranked 32nd [Elite Prospects]
Old friend Lauren Kelly has the task of writing about the Bolts prospect pool for EP. It is a premium article so you will need a subscription.
Michael Andlauer approved by NHL executive committee [The Ottawa Sun]
The sale of the Ottawa Senators to a consortium led by Michael Andlauer seems to be progressing smoothly as he was approved by the executive committee. The next step in the process is to garner approval from 2/3 of the league’s board of governors, which appears to be a formality at this point.
Connor Bedard highlights 2023 Rookie Showcase [FC Hockey]
Some of the top prospects in the game will join Bedard at the MedStar Capitals Iceplex in Virgina on September 5th. A total of 35 potential rookies will take to the ice to run through some drills (and allow co-sponsor Upper Deck a chance to get some photos of them in their uniforms for potential rookie cards). The Lightning do not have any players participating.
Seven players on the trading block [Bleacher Report]
There are no Lightning players on this list either, but there could be a couple of names Julien BriseBois might be interested in at the trade deadline.
