As the NHL and NHLPA continue to work towards putting a season together, it’s a good time to check in on the Tampa Bay Lightning prospects who are actually playing games.
Forwards
8 games: 2 goal, 5 assists – Bratislava Capitals – ICEHL
One of the most productive Lightning prospects currently. While his team is not doing very well in the ICEHL, remaining in the bottom part of the standings, Cajkovic has almost reached a point-per-game pace and became a one of the leaders of his team in points. Recently he also made a preliminary roster of team Slovakia for the World Juniors, where he’s considered as the top player on the team.
Maxim Groshev
17 games: 0 goals, 2 assists – Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk – KHL
1 game: 0 goals, 0 assists – SKA St. Petersburg – KHL
1 game: 0 goals, 0 assists – Reaktor Nizhnekamsk – MHL
1 game: 0 goals, 0 assists – SKA-Neva St. Petersburg – VHL
After playing two months for Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk, Maxim Grosgev has been traded to the one of the strongest teams in current KHL – SKA St. Petersburg. A week ago he already signed an extension with SKA till the end of the 2022-23 KHL season, which means his arrival to North America is postponed. While playing for SKA is obviously a great opportunity for personal growth, he will probably receive less of ice time, due to the greater depth in SKA organization, at least during his first months with the team. Since his trade he played just one game in the KHL and was sent down to the VHL for one game.
8 games: 3 goal, 0 assists – Khimik Voskresensk – VHL
1 game: 0 goals, 0 assists – Gornyak Uchaly – VHL
Shalagin is another Lightning prospect who had been already in the KHL. After starting the season for affiliate of his youth team Spartak Moskva, Mikhail Shalagin was traded to another KHL team – Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg. However his debut in the KHL this season is still delayed, as the young forward was immediately sent down to the VHL. He played so far just one game with his new team and left the ice without recording any points.
13 games: 6 goal, 2 assists – Moncton Wildcats – QMJHL
The QMJHL 2020-21 season has faced a lot of issues at the start of this season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Gabriel Fortier’s Wildcats even spent two weeks in hiatus due to government restrictions in their area. Under these circumstances, Fortier’s productivity has seen a decline from his normal pace. In 13 games he recorded just eight points, which is relatively poor numbers for a 20-year old forward in junior league. Out of this eight points, six were goals, and two goals Fortier scored shorthanded.
7 game: 1 goals, 1 assists – Dynamo Krasnogorsk – VHL
Lipanov is still struggling to find his game in the second-tier Russian league, recording just two points in seven games.
Jaydon Dureau
4 game: 4 goals, 3 assists – Melville Millionaires – SJHL
While waiting for the new WHL season to start, a fifth rounder from the latest draft Jaydon Dureau had been loaned to the SJHL, a Junior A ice hockey in Canada. He has currently seven points in four games and one of the leaders of his team.
Otto Somppi
2 game: 0 goals, 0 assists – Pelicans – Liiga
Otto Somppi had been loaned to the Finnish league early in October, however made his debut just last week. Reportedly he wasn’t able to play due to undisclosed injury.
Defensemen
15 games: 2 goals, 6 assists – Ässät – Liiga
After a hot start, Borgman’s production rate has slowed down a little bit, however he’s still top-10 defenceman in Liiga.
7 games: 0 goals, 3 assists – Amur Khabarovsk – KHL
Dominik Masin finally returned to action after missing around a month due to undisclosed injury. Hopefully he will see more ice time in the next games.
7 games: 0 goals, 0 assists – HK Hradec Kralove – Czech Extraliga
The Czech government allowed the Czech Extraliga to restart their season two weeks ago after three week’s pause. Salda is playing mostly as the third-pair defenseman and hasn’t recorded any point this season.
Goaltenders
Amir Miftakhov
7 games: 2.25 GAA, 0.917 SV% – Ak Bars – KHL
4 games: 4.14 GAA, 0.878 SV% – Bars Kazan – VHL
After a very impressive start of the season in the KHL, Amir Miftakhov had been re-assigned back to the VHL. His numbers in the VHL are not very great, however he was recently called back to Ak Bars.
Hugo Alnefelt
7 games: 3.31 GAA, 0.8896 SV% – HV71 – SHL
Alnefelt’s numbers remained pretty low this season, however the whole team is struggling and stays on the edge of playoffs. Alnefelt is still considered as the potential starter for team Sweden at the World Juniors, unless a top 2021 goalie prospect Jesper Wallstedt takes his spot.
Lightning Links
In the new edition of Top 25 Under 25, Hardev takes a deep look at goalie prospect Amir Miftakhov and even compares him to Anton Khudobin [Raw Charge]
Going back to the Lightning picking him this year, I think it was good timing since the organization is pretty bereft of goalie talent past Andrei Vasilevskiy (can you believe he’s already 26?) and a prospect who’s actually younger than Miftakhov in 19-year-old Hugo Alnefelt. Getting an overager who is already 20 fills out the age curve in the pipeline a little more and gives the team more rounds in the chamber to mix analogies.
A closer look at the details on the new Reverse Retro Lightning jersey, including victory stripes
It’s all about the details ⚡️
🛒➡️ https://t.co/7CsMnUYaIA | #ReverseRetro #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/FJIxj7EZhr
— Tampa Bay Sports (@ShopTBSports) November 17, 2020
Around the Hockey
The whole North Division of the ECHL decided not to participate in the upcoming 2020-21 season. All players under the contracts with affected teams have become free agents and the teams are expected to return for the 2021-22 season.
The 6 teams from the #ECHL North Division have elected to suspend play for the 2020-21 Season under the League’s COVID-19 policy.
MORE ⬇️https://t.co/mS3K5wVJTs
— ECHL (@ECHL) November 18, 2020
Germany announced its preliminary roster for the Worlds Juniors. Some interesting names are on the list.
Germany announces its preliminary roster for the WJC. They’re hopeful Tim Stuetzle (OTT) will be recovered in time for tournament. Lukas Reichel (CHI) and JJ Peterka (BUF) on the list, of course. Moritz Seider (DET), however, is not being made available for WJC per DEB. https://t.co/BpLPo5Eutl
— Chris Peters (@chrismpeters) November 18, 2020
Per Elliotte Friedman, the NHL have asked to consider an additional deferment on 2020-21 salaries during their yesterday’s NHLPA conference call
Quickie blog: due to concerns about revenue, NHL asked players to consider raising “escrow caps” during final three years of new CBA — https://t.co/UdkEmMEVMT
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) November 19, 2020
