We’re all over the map today with the news round up. Plenty of rankings came out yesterday with most of them putting the Bolts in the bottom third of the league. Harsh, but fair. Hopefully, next week’s rankings will be better.
Record night for Stamkos highlights value to Lightning [NHL.com]
Look folks, we’re not going to get any news about a contract until after the season (yes, this is a reverse jinx) but he’s also not likely to get traded either. That would be tough to take.
Avery Winslow acquired by Solar Bears [Orlando Solar Bears Twitter]
The St. Pete Beach native is returning to play hockey in his home state as the Orlando Solar Bears acquired him for future considerations. The defenseman attended the Lightning’s rookie camp back in 2021 before heading back to the North Bay Battalion in the OHL. He signed his first pro contract this summer with the Wheeling Nailers and had 1 goal in 5 games prior to the trade to Orlando.
Updated NHL Fun Rankings [Bleacher Report]
Charles Bukowski references in a hockey post? My liberal arts-educated heart weeps in joy. Can’t disagree with the quote used for the Lightning, “The problem was you had to keep choosing between one evil or another, and no matter what you chose, they sliced a little more off you, until there was nothing left. At the age of 25, most people were finished.”
NHL Power Rankings [ESPN]
The world-wide leader has them ranked 19th (harsh) and points out that they have received 0 points from players 23-and-under this season. Which tracks since they haven’t rostered anyone 23 or younger this season. Price of success, baby!
NHL Power Rankings [The Athletic]
They’re ranked 20th by The Athletic (again, harsh). Sergachev makes their naughty list noting that the Lightning score 1.69 goals per 60 with him on the list while they allow 3.31/60. That ranks him 641st out of 707 players. At least he’s not ranked 707th!
Libor Hajek signs in Czechia [Penguins Twitter]
Old friend Libor Hajek and the Penguins agreed to terminate his contract so that he could sign in his native country. It appears he will continue his season with HC Dynamo Pardubice.
TRAAAAADDDDDEEEE [Davy Jones’ Locker Room]
Tomas Tatar is one his way to Seattle [insert seafood/tartar sauce joke here] while Colorado receives a 5th round pick in return. He’s been on the move the last few years and it wasn’t that long ago that Vegas picked him up for a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round pick. Wait that was 2018? Tempus fugit and all that jazz.
TRRAAAAADDDE Part 2 [NHL.com]
The San Jose Sharks acquired Jack Studnicka from Vancouver for Nick Cicek and a 6th-round pick. Studnicka, a center, has 90 games of NHL action under his belt, and was a 2nd-round pick by the Bruins back in 2017. Not a huge trade, but the 24-year-old could see some playing time in San Jose as they continue their rebuild.
Sources: Valimaki left at Dallas hospital ‘unable to function’ after puck to the face [Daily FaceOff]
First off, the aftermath of a puck to the face sounds terrible. It looks like there was a breakdown somewhere, and it’s being investigated by the NHL and NHLPA to see if any protocols were ignored as Jusso Valimaki was basically told, “sorry, hospital is full” after getting hit in the face on November 14th.
Patrik Laine out six weeks with broken clavicle [The Columbus Dispatch]
The hits keep coming for the Blue Jackets as they had to announce that their Finnish forward will be out for six weeks after suffering a broken clavicle. Since joining Columbus, Laine has turned into a human Operation Game: strained oblique, strained lower back, injured elbow, ankle, and triceps. Earlier this season he missed nine games with a concussion. The dude is going to be walking like he’s 95-years-old before he turns 35.
