Tyler Motte was on the ice for his second straight practice on Sunday. He was skating in a red no-contact jersey, but when asked about how he felt after the practice, he sounded like he is ready to go.
“It’s all good. I’d like to be [playing]. I’d liked to be two weeks ago if I could, but again it’s the doctors and the staffs job to make sure I’m not at risk coming back too early.”
Motte, a free agent signing this summer, started the season-opening game on the second line, but only played 7:55 registering one shot attempt and one blocked shot. It was on that blocked shot that he injured his hand.
Coach Cooper will have some decisions to make once Motte is ready to return. The Bolts are currently carrying the maximum 23 players on the roster with 13 forwards and 8 defensemen. Austin Watson has been a healthy scratch for most of the season while Hayden Fleury and Zach Bogosian have been rotating in on defense.
Watson and Fleury would have to clear waivers if the team decides to send them to Syracuse while Bogosian, who was placed on waivers on October 8th, is still within the 30-day/ 10-games played window where he can be reassigned without having to go through the process again. The only player on the Lightning roster who is waiver exempt is Waltteri Merela. He has played well so far in his rookie year, but if the staff feels he could benefit from more playing time in Syracuse, Merela might be on his way to the Salt City. Not that it matters at this point since Andrei Vasilevskiy is at least a month away from returning, but Merela does actually carry the highest cap hit at $870,000.
Motte will bring a little more speed and defensive focus into the line-up when he returns. Things have improved for the Bolts in the defensive aspect over the last few games, but adding a forward with his skills will only make them tougher to play against.
Lightning / NHL News
Reverse Retro Jersey Auction [Tampa Bay Sports]
Have some extra money in your pocket? Well, after dropping us a dollar or two, head over to Tampa Bay Sports to bid on the Reverse Retro Jerseys from last year. Bidding ends this afternoon. Remember the Rudy Balcers era with a one-of-a-kind collectible.
Former Penguin, Adam Johnson, passes away from freak accident [Pensburgh]
The 29-year-old forward was playing in a game for the Nottingham Panthers when he collided with a player on the ice and a skate blade cut Johnson’s throat. The game was stopped as Johnson received emergency treatment on the ice, but was pronounced dead at Sheffield’s Northern General Hospital. The EIHL postponed play across the league on Sunday as the players and fans dealt with the tragedy.
Joe Thornton officially retires [Fear the Fin]
Former Shark and anti-shirt wearer Joe Thornton officially announced his retirement over the weekend. The former first-round pick of the Boston Bruins played for 4 teams over his 24-year career. Despite appearing in 1714 regular season games and recording 1539 points (430 goals, 1109 assists) he never raised the Stanley Cup. The closest he came was in 2015-16 when the Sharks made it to the Stanley Cup Final, but lost to the Penguins in six games.
