We all love overhyping our favorite team’s prospects. While national media might throw some water on our dreams of the youngsters becoming future all-stars (more on that down below), to us they are the future of the organization. So, every year, it’s always fun to watch them in training camp and, in some cases, the rookie showcase that gets under way shortly before camp opens.
For me, the prospect that I’ll be keeping an eye on this September will be Niko Huuhtanen. The 20 year-old forward was a seventh round pick in the 2021 draft and spent last season with Jukurit in the Liiga where he put up 17 goals and 13 assists in 48 games. Not only did he lead the team in goals, but he was named the rookie of the year for the league. Pretty good for a teenager playing in a top-level league.
He may not be the smoothest skater on the ice, but he has a big shot and a knack for scoring goals. He’s also not afraid to mix things up as he racked up 72 penalty minutes last season.
The Lightning need some finishers in their prospect pool and Huuhtanen is one of the few that profiles as such. He will likely spend one more season with Jukurit before coming over to play North American hockey, but it will still be fun to see how he does against his fellow prospects this fall.
Lightning / NHL News
Lightning History Class: An Absolute Disaster [Raw Charge]
We’re used to a well-run organization these days. In the days of yore, things weren’t always that way. A quick look at a sale that didn’t quite happen.
AMA: Calvin de Haan [Tampa Bay Lightning Twitter]
The new guy on defense likes Fuzzy Peaches, Trailer Park Boys, and not having to play against Nikita Kucherov for at least one season.
Tampa Bay Ranks 31st in prospects for 2023 [The Athletic]
They’re not last! Look, we know that the Lightning prospect pool is as deep as a puddle, but that’s the cost of hanging banners. Corey Pronman put Ethan Gauthier, Niko Huuhtanen, Jack Finley, and Isaac Howard at the top of the heap.
Duke determined to be part of winning culture with Lightning [NHL.com]
While the rising junior is focused on winning a national championship with Michigan this year, his thoughts are starting to wander to the NHL. After spending some time in development camp this summer, and watching Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point train, the center knows what he has to do to reach the next level.
Alex Killorn is off the market [Instagram]
It’s been a bit of a summer for Alex Killorn. First he left the only organization he’s ever known. Second he did it by moving all the way across the country. Now, it looks like the 33 year-old has found his life partner as he proposed on a beach!
Joining Kris Letang’s legendary workout [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]
“Work out like a NHL superstar!” articles are always fun (you may remember Joe Smith’s attempt at the Lightning’s “strong-man” workouts back in 2019. This time it’s PPG beat reporter Matt Vensel working out with the ageless Kris Letang in Montreal.
Alex Galchenyuk pleads guilty to misdemeanor [Katie Strang Twitter]
Following his arrest in July for disorderly conduct, hit and run, failure to obey, resisting arrest, and threatening or intimidating, Galchenyuk was sentenced to 30 days of jail time, 27 of which were suspended on the condition of completing an alcohol recovery program.
Jonathan Bernier retires [Caledonian Record]
A veteran of fourteen seasons (and a Puckdoku All-Star with six franchises under his belt), Bernier retires with a 165-163-40 record. In his career he went 6-6-2 against the Lightning with a .919 SV% and 2.79 GAA.
Lightning fans are familiar with the work of Sylvie Marsolais and Alexandre Mathys from their work in designing Andrei Vasilevskiy’s mask. The duo has created another banger with a Miles Morales-themed bucket for Laval Rocket goaltender Jakub Dobes.
