The Bolts
The Tampa Bay Lightning have continued to post their exit interviews. Yesterday’s was with forwards Nikita Kucherov, Ryan Callahan, and Steven Stamkos:
It’s definitely frustrating, there’s not much you can say. Hopefully next year…You never want to lose, but it just makes you stronger.
“You never want to lose, but it makes you stronger.”
2017-18 Exit Interview | Nikita Kucherov: pic.twitter.com/iT3b76eY00
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) May 26, 2018
It’s never easy being in this situation, you wanna be the team celebrating at the end.
“There’s no blueprint of how [to win the Stanley Cup] or when you’re going to win it. You have to make sure that you’re ready for it each year.”
2017-18 Exit Interview | Ryan Callahan: pic.twitter.com/6ZuveaoDRI
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) May 26, 2018
This was one of the tougher ends to a season just based on the quality of players, the quality of persons we had on the team. Just the feeling that this was the year.
“You have to continue to find ways to improve, collectively as a group and as individuals.”
2017-18 Exit Interview | Steven Stamkos: pic.twitter.com/pFupI9sRtL
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) May 26, 2018
Forward Yanni Gourde also posted his end of the season thank you to the Lightning organization and its fans:
Thank you @TBLightning and all our amazing fans for making my first full season with the Lightning an unforgettable one! Looking foward to October ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/tauB73nDA0
— Yanni Gourde (@YanniGourde) May 26, 2018
The Prospects
The Canadian Hockey League announced yesterday that prospect Alex Barré-Boulet has won the Player of the Year award. Alan broke down the expectations for the forward as he looks to make the jump to Syracuse next season:
Barré-Boulet will join the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL this fall. The Lightning have a deep group of forwards in Syracuse and Barré-Boulet will face a big jump in competition. He’ll go from dominating as an overager in the QMJHL to playing against bigger, faster professional hockey players. How he handles that jump will be a key indicator for how high his ceiling is.
He’ll join Mathieu Joseph, Alex Volkov, Mitchell Stephens, Taylor Raddysh, Dennis Yan and others in a group who will be looking to make a long playoff run after overachieving with a roster full of rookies this season.
By the way – check out the trophy:
Introducing our Player of the Year 🏆@TBLightning prospect Alex Barre-Boulet of @ArmadaBLB headlines a list of 10 #CHL award winners for 2017-18 season.
DETAILS: https://t.co/szY58fkaCf pic.twitter.com/wVK0Eb9lS5
— CanadianHockeyLeague (@CHLHockey) May 26, 2018
The ECHL’s Adirondack Thunder was officially affiliated with the New Jersey Devils last season, but, as Tracey explained, thanks to a “handshake deal” with Tampa Bay, the Thunder saw more transactions with the Lightning and Syracuse than with their main partner:
In total, out of the 53 players who skated in at least one contest (that number does not include the cast of many emergency backup goaltenders), 8 players saw time with both the Thunder and Syracuse, for a combined 200 games. In comparison, 7 players spent time in Adirondack and in Binghamton (and 1, goaltender Ken Appleby, actually got playing time in New Jersey), for a total of 134 games.
The game
Learn more about Lehigh Valley Phantoms forward Nicolas Aube-Kubel, the Philadelphia Flyers 2nd round pick. [NHL]
Who is Laurence Gilman, the Toronto Maple Leafs new assistant general manager? Let’s fine out! [Pension Plan Puppets]
Former Syracuse Crunch defenseman and current assistant coach of the AHL’s Hartford Wolfpack Joe Mormina posted a lovely tweet that reminds us all what this weekend is about:
Beautiful morning to teach the kids what the Memorial Day Weekend is all about. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/7EcQZNyuUQ
— JMM82 (@jmormina82) May 26, 2018
