Quick Strikes for Monday, March 28

Slate Koekkoek was recalled with thanks (ugh) to the injury sustained by Anton Stralman and the depletion of depth from the Lightning blue line. The thing is, Koekkoek is seeing a lack of ice time in his recalls, even as a dressed player. Michael Stuart tackles the issue of lack of a role with the Bolts. [The Lightning Lounge]
More on the jarring subject matter that brought about the recall: Anton Stralman being lost to injury rocks Tampa Bay. [Tampa Tribune]
Michael Stuart, before writing his above listed piece, went to bat for Vladislav Namestnikov. [The Lightning Lounge]
Weekly shenanigans of “Nuts & Bolts” (a mix of topics and points) including a Ben Bishop t-shirt out there and NCAA men’s ice hockey stuff. [Tampa Bay Times]
Tyler Johnson is back to living up to his reputation of being Good At The Hockey™. [Tampa Tribune]
Here’s news you may not be aware of, something strange is afoot after a troubling season for the Syracuse Crunch: The club is rolling… Here’s a recap of their 3-1 win from Saturday night against the Rochester Americans. [Bolt Prospects]
After game play and the evening before his recall by Tampa Bay, Slater Koekkoek and another Crunch player (Jake Dotchin) watched the University of Syracuse success in the NCAA tournament and reacted thusly… [Instagram]
Reminder: commence thy bidding for gear from Syracuse Crunch players / Lightning prospects. [Syracuse Crunch]
Former Lightning goalie Mathieu Garon got himself a hot item… so to speak. He found a goalie mask of his own on sale on eBay. [Puck Daddy]
Speaking of former Bolts… Vincent Lecavalier’s career resurrection gets the spotlight. [Today’s Slapshot]
Conacher; you know the name by way of Cory Conacher who now plays in Europe for SC Bern. In this case, his younger brother, Shane Conacher, has joined the Toronto Marlies on an Amateur Tryout. [Pension Plan Puppets]
Reid Boucher needs to be a top-6 scorer for the New Jersey Devils… Consider that a side-story to two upcoming games between the Lightning and Devils. [All about the Jersey]
We touched on this a few days ago but Mike Marson got his time in the spotlight at Verizon Center. The NHL’s second African American player was honored. [The Color of Hockey]
Another topic engaged in with a link last week was Cory Schneider and should the Devils shut him down off the season? Answer has come forward: Conditioning stint. [Fire & Ice]
The Detroit Red Wings had coaching revamped last off-season. Now before the 2015-16 NHL season ends there’s a report assistant Tony Granato is on the way out… To take over the University of Wisconsin’s hockey team. [Wings Nation]
…and the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs will also see their coaching staff hit if reports are true. [Second City Hockey]
An offensive potency has shown through for the St. Louis Blues since the end of February. Can they keep it going and rely on it through the playoffs? [St. Louis Game Time]
Olé to no-way: The collapse of the season is complete as the Montreal Canadiens were mathematically eliminated from 2016 NHL playoff contention over the weekend. [Eyes on the Prize]
Rebuilding, youth movement, the dregs of the NHL… Now the question: Just when were the Vancouver Canucks last like they currently are? [Canucks Army]
NWHL goalie of the year Brittany Ott had a little conversation with Clare Austen. [InGoal Magazine]
And finally… It’s subjective if it’s a negative or a positive but… there’s literally a Cool-FM station out there, and I don’t mean on the airwaves. [Elite Prospects]

Talking Points