Before the first training session on Friday, the Tampa Bay Lightning announced their first cuts from training camp. Forward Ryan Lohin and defenseman Devante Stephens have been assigned to the Orlando Solar Bears. Both players have already played for the team since the start of the ECHL season and most likely will stay there for the rest of the season, given the number of players coming from the Florida Panthers organization to the Syracuse Crunch.
We have reduced our #BoltsCamp roster by two players. https://t.co/d5jidzAaCx
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) January 8, 2021
41 players remain at the camp after the first two cuts. The Lightning will have their second scrimmage game on Sunday at 7 pm EST, the game will be streamed live on TampaBayLightning.com.
Friday’s first session was mostly prospects, however some of them, including Alex Volkov, Mathieu Joseph and Cal Foote, stayed for the second part, which is a clear indication for which players could make the roster this season.
Lines & D rotations for a prospect-heavy first session at #BoltsCamp:
Huntington-Nieves-Witkowski
Katchouk-Goncalves-Walcott
Volkov-Stephens-Raddysh
BarreBoulet-Finley-JosephD-rotations (no set pairs)
Semykin-Foote-Borgman
Day-Green-Thomas#Bolts— Bryan Burns (@BBurnsNHL) January 8, 2021
Meanwhile the Bolts continued trying new combinations on the power-play. At some point of the practice they even tried putting Mikhail Sergachev in Nikita Kucherov’s spot on the first unit.
Lot of different looks for #tblightning PP today, including Sergachev in Kucherov’s spot on first unit, along with Hedman, Killorn, Point, Stamkos
— Joe Smith (@JoeSmithTB) January 8, 2021
Erik Cernak and Jan Rutta finally joined the training camp yesterday, they missed the first days of the camp due to immigration issues. More details and notes about yesterday’s practice session in Bryan Burns article.
From today’s #BoltsCamp practice notebook, Lightning explore more options on the power play, early-season home games against Dallas in peril, Rutta & Cernak make first appearance of camp and Cal Foote’s mentality as he tries to secure a roster spot. #Boltshttps://t.co/obXIRmAXOL
— Bryan Burns (@BBurnsNHL) January 9, 2021
Yesterday the NHL announced that six Dallas Stars players and two staff members tested positive for the COVID-19. The team’s facilities have been closed and the start of the season for the Stars is postponed al least until Jan. 19.
NHL statement on the Dallas Stars. https://t.co/AsYqpL4XK3 pic.twitter.com/r2iT8vYWH0
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 8, 2021
This news is directly impacting the Lightning’s schedule, given that the Bolts were scheduled to play the Stars at Jan. 17 and Jan. 19. The revisited schedule will be released in a few days.
Rescheduling all of Dallas’ games in the current schedule window would mean 56 games played in 110 days. #condensed
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) January 8, 2021
Around Hockey
Following the Dallas Stars announcement, the Columbus Blue Jackets have released the statement that several players players were held out of Friday’s practice due to “an abundance of caution”. Additionally the Blue Jackets also cancelled a practice session for the second group.
In addition, the club will not hold a Group 2 practice scheduled for 1:30 pm today.
— CBJ Public Relations (@BlueJacketsPR) January 8, 2021
Henrik Lundqvist shared his first message after a heart surgery, which forced him to miss the upcoming season
Day 3. Surgery went really well. About 5 hours to get it all taken care of. Really appreciate the great staff here at the Clevland Clinic. Last few days has been pretty crazy but feel like I’m in really good hands. Every day is a step in the right direction 👍🏻 pic.twitter.com/wjMTosFWQy
— Henrik Lundqvist (@hlundqvist35) January 8, 2021
The New Jersey Devils goaltender Corey Crawford has left the team on Friday due to personal reasons.
#NEWS: We have released a statement regarding Corey Crawford: pic.twitter.com/2g6HSVh3kW
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) January 8, 2021
The Carolina Hurricanes announced some changes in their management staff
The #Canes have promoted Eric Tulsky and Darren Yorke to Assistant General Managers and hired Aaron Schwartz as Director of Hockey Operations.https://t.co/dGXS4PtmCh
— Michael Smith (@MSmithCanes) January 8, 2021
The WHL have released a commitment to have a 24-game regular season for 2020-21
— The WHL (@TheWHL) January 9, 2021
