On Monday, the Tampa Bay Lightning announced the prospects that will be participating in the upcoming prospect camp and Southeast Rookie Showcase that also features young players from the Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, and Nashville Predators. The showcase will take place in Estero and run from September 15th to the 18th.
There will be 24 skaters and 2 goaltenders representing the Lightning at the tournament.
At first glance, one thing you will notice is that a few of the top prospects for the Lightning aren’t on the roster. Most notably Isaac Howard and Dylan Duke. In fact, none of the college hockey players are heading down to Estero for the showcase. We can all thank the NCAA and their weird restrictions for their absence. The players like Duke or Alex Gagne could technically attend the showcase, however, they would have to pay their own way (including lodging and transportation) and cannot miss any classes. Since school is in session, it would be pretty tough for them to not miss a class.
But wait! How are they allowed to attend the rookie development camp, but not the showcase? We turn to College Hockey, Inc. for the answer:
“There is an opportunity…to have an NHL team pay a portion of a player’s stay at development camp on a one-time-per-team basis. The 48-hour period begins when you arrive at the team’s facility and ends exactly 48 hours later. While in attendance the team can supply you with expenses that include travel, hotel, food, equipment, and all costs associated with practice and off-ice training. A player would have to cover all costs after that 48-hour period, including return transportation home.”
There ya go. One of the drawbacks of having so many prospects going through the college system is that they have limited opportunities to see them play. The same goes for the players whose seasons or training camps are already underway in Europe.
Still, there will be a chance to see recent draft pick, and highly touted prospect, Ethan Gauthier play against other NHL prospects, so that will be fun. Most of the roster is comprised of players who will likely be battling for spots on the Syracuse Crunch this season, so it will give new Crunch head coach Joel Bouchard and his staff a look at how some of his players look in game action before training camp starts.
As usual there are a couple of invitees who don’t currently have contracts with the team. Ben Gaudreau is a 20-year-old goaltender who was drafted in the third round of the 2021 draft by the San Jose Sharks, but was not signed and re-entered the draft this past summer where he was not selected. It looks like he will likely head back to the Sarnia Sting for another season after posting a 24-12-3 record with a 3.07 GAA and .889 SV% last season. He also appeared in 2 games for Team Canada at the U20 World Junior Championships.
Scott Walford is a 24-year-old defenseman who was drafted in the third round of the 2017 draft by the Montreal Canadiens. After his career in the WHL with Victoria and Saskatoon, he played at McGill University the last three seasons. Gabriel Szturc is a Chechia-born 19-year-old that put up 79 points (24 goals, 55 assists) in 56 games for the Kelowna Rockets last season.
The showcase provides the coaching and scouting staff a chance to see some of the younger players in competition with other potential NHL prospects from outside organizations, which provides a different perspective than the scrimmages at the rookie development camp that takes place right after the draft.
It also gives the players a chance to maybe catch a coach’s eye before training camp starts. It’s very, very unlikely that anyone in this tournament will make the Lightning’s opening day roster, but if Felix Robert, Gage Goncalves, or Lucas Edmonds has a really good showcase, it might shine a little more light on them in training camp. Cole Koepke and Nick Perbix were at the 2022 rookie showcase and they found their way onto the Lightning’s roster last year, so it’s not out of the realm of possibility.
If you want to follow along here is is the schedule for the upcoming games (the Lightning games will be streamed on the team’s website).
Friday, Sept. 15
4 p.m. – Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Nashville Predators
7 p.m. – Carolina Hurricanes vs. Florida Panthers
Saturday, Sept. 16
3 p.m. – Carolina Hurricanes vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
6 p.m. – Florida Panthers vs. Nashville Predators
Sunday, Sept. 17
Practice Day
Monday, Sept. 18
10 a.m. – Nashville Predators vs. Carolina Hurricanes
1 p.m. – Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Florida Panthers
Lightning / NHL News
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