The Bolts
The Tampa Bay Lightning have taken another step forward in replacing last year’s coaching staff (save for Coop) as they have hired Derek Lalonde to be an assistant coach for the team. [Raw Charge]
One thing that is clear from Lalonde’s career is that he is a winner. Everywhere he has been, he has helped his teams find success. Much like Jon Cooper’s rise through the coaching ranks. Lalonde will bring a different voice to the coaching staff and a different perspective that can help push this group further.
Things are lookin’ good in Tampa. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/vj1JXhfYsI
— Green Bay Gamblers (@GamblersHockey) July 12, 2018
New furniture, a fresh coat of paint, and a couple giant scissors to tie it all together. Renovations to the practice facility in Brandon is complete!
Our practice facility in Brandon has a brand new look. 🤩#GoBolts pic.twitter.com/hNalP1ylz1
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) July 12, 2018
Tom Hunter’s crowning achievement for Raw Charge this past season was a special one. He allegedly wrote stuff too. The Secret Santa Series continues! [Raw Charge]
It wasn’t easy finding something from Tom Hunter for the Lightning this season. For some reason he decided to take the reigns of Mile High Hockey and has had his hands full corralling their stable of writers and upsetting their fan base. Yet he still found some time to keep us updated on some of the Lightning prospects as well as hazard some well thought out guesses as to whom the Lightning might draft.
Tyler Dellow asks a controversial question in his latest article: Erik Karlsson would be an upgrade and an incredible addition to an already special roster, but is he worth all of the assets and dollars needed to get him? Is defense really the team’s biggest need? [The Athletic]
For the purposes of this piece, we’ll stipulate that Karlsson is good on the power play, results notwithstanding. Blame his coaches and teammates. Whatever. Here’s the problem: Tampa’s power play is awesome. Both units. The heart of Tampa’s power play is Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov and Victor Hedman. The Lightning played just under 200 minutes with all three of those players on the ice and scored 10.5 GF/60 on 114.8 CF/60. That’s a fantastic number — the league average power play scored a hair below 7.0 GF/60 last year.
Never forget “ you cover him” 😂 pic.twitter.com/LlO0mgIMQx
— The Hockey Hangout (@HockeyHangout) July 12, 2018
The Prospects
The Top 25 Under 25 continues. Jonne Tammela is a Syracuse Crunch centerman who struggled with injuries all season (and the year before), resulting in a somewhat stalled development curve. [Raw Charge]
Tammela was drafted by the Lightning in the fourth round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. Post-draft, Tammela decided to play one more season in Finland, where he put up put up 13 points in 37 games for KalPa Kuopio. The following season, Tammela began the transition to North America with the Peterborough Petes of the OHL.
Unfortunately, Tammela only got in two games with the Petes during the 2016-17 season. Those games were right at the start of the season before he was sidelined by not one, not two, but three knee surgeries.
The Game
The Arizona Coyotes have once again made use of their cap space, acquiring Vinnie Hinostroza, Jordan Oesterle, and a third-round pick for also taking on Marian Hossa’s contract from the Chicago Blackhawks. Marcus Kruger goes back to Chicago in the deal along with some other pieces. [Sportsnet]
It’s worth noting that Marian Hossa’s contract is insured for 80% of it’s value.
Meaning that the $1,000,000 in base salary that Hossa is due in each of the next 3 seasons will only cost the #Coyotes $200,000 pic.twitter.com/XLN1OlOKji
— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) July 12, 2018
Arizona was well above the Salary Cap floor before this move, so acquiring two capable NHL players (a center and a defenseman) along with Hossa looks like a very smart move on their part. [Arizona Sports]
People get mad about the Warriors building a super team but the Coyotes have now been able to land Chris Pronger, Pavel Datsyuk and Marian Hossa
— Dimitri Filipovic (@DimFilipovic) July 12, 2018
For Chicago, they free up $4.65 million in cap space. That’s enough for a Justin Faulk, Max Pacioretty, or Jeff Skinner. All three of whom have been heavily linked to Illinois since the Draft in Dallas. [Second City Hockey]
Marc Antonine Godin of The Athletic reported Tuesday that Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin has informed Pacioretty that the team doesn’t plan to negotiate a contract extension this summer and that “his intention is to trade Pacioretty as soon as possible.”
Connor Hellebuyck has signed a six-year extension with the Winnipeg Jets. The pending RFA will be paid $6.167 million for his age-25 to age-31 seasons. Hellebuyck was scheduled for arbitration on July 27th in case the two sides couldn’t come to a deal. [Sportsnet]
The 25-year-old from Commerce, Mich., was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goalie last season after appearing in a career-high 67 games, setting single-season franchise records for wins (44), shutouts (six), and save percentage (.924).
In 149 career NHL regular-season games, Hellebuyck has an 83-41-14 record with 12 shutouts, a 2.55 GAA, and .917 save percentage. His 70 wins over the last two seasons are eighth most in the NHL.
