The Bolts
Joe Smith asked Ryan Callahan whether the team has asked him to waive his no-move clause for the expansion draft. The answer is, not yet. “Things could change and Tampa Bay could still ask him, but one would think with the team’s protection list due in nine days, this would have been an option already explored.” [Tampa Bay Times]
Jeff Vinik invests in Los Angeles esports company aXiomatic. “Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik has been investing in real estate, development and startups lately. Now he’s back to investing in sports — esports that is. aXiomatic, a Los Angeles-based gaming and esports company, announced Vinik as an investor and co-chair Thursday.” [TBO.com] and here’s the [Bizjournals] piece.
Mr. Vinik is also bailing out the Hillsborough Museum of Science and Industry. Not sure if there’s a better owner in hockey. “Key to the financial rescue is Vinik, who has offered to split the cost of the debt with the county in hopes of keeping the museum afloat as it awaits relocation to his downtown Tampa redevelopment project. His share would be about $1 million.” [Tampa Bay Times]
Want the preseason schedule? It’s over here. [Raw Charge]
Saima transcribed Jon Cooper’s recent video from Fox Sports. “There was a core group of guys there that grew. Brayden Point was one of them. Alex Killorn was another one. Jake Dotchin was another one. These guys that really helped elevate us to where we know we can be.” Maybe Cooper meant “intangibles”? [Raw Charge]
Our guy Matt was…a little annoyed with TBL’s record against Colorado. “To put it bluntly this series hurt Tampa Bay. Yes, Tampa Bay did win in February to gain two points, but not securing four points from the worst team in the NHL is a bold strategy that Cotton and I were really interested to see play out (HINT: IT DIDN’T). The Lightning missed the playoffs by one game. ONE ****ING GAME!” [Raw Charge]
Praise-hands dot gif:
Luckily he cut his hair before the draft. pic.twitter.com/WJ7t4Ifmr1
— Jen (@NHLhistorygirl) June 8, 2017
Select Tampa Bay Lightning jerseys are up for auction!
Hey #Bolts fans! Select #TBLightning game-worn jerseys are up for auction right now at https://t.co/aVJA8X8ZZY! pic.twitter.com/6pqqdAW0X7
— Lightning Foundation (@LightningFDN) June 6, 2017
The Crunch
The AHL totally stole our headline for their game 3 recap and nobody will be able to tell me otherwise. [theAHL.com] [Here’s ours]
Looking for more Calder Cup coverage and factoids? We got you, fam. [AHL Morning Skate 6.8.17]
Do you need a smile? Check out these hugs. They’ll make you smile:
#HockeyHugs don’t get much better than this. #FIN15H pic.twitter.com/0SEc2aIwXT
— Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) June 8, 2017
The Crunch is throwing a block party before tonight’s game. [Syracuse.com]
Speaking of tonight, it might already be too late to get a ticket if needed: the team was just 47 tickets shy of a sellout over 12 hours ago. [Syracuse.com]
Just what, exactly, do players who have never been to the charming history capsule that is the Onondaga County War Memorial think of place? [Syracuse.com]
Crunch goalie Mike McKenna has an adorable family:
Kenlin & her cousins Karis & Breck were happy to see Crunchman out canvasing the town this morning! #PhotogenicKids pic.twitter.com/udM4kMfNXw
— Mike McKenna (@MikeMcKenna56) June 8, 2017
The Prospects
Anthony Cirelli is making a name for himself while playing with the Crunch in the Calder Cup Finals. [NHL.com]
The Game
What does the Philadelphia Flyers’ roster situation mean for Lehigh Valley in the AHL? [Highland Park Hockey]
So the Penguins won last night, making Game 5 possible elimination for Nashville. “The Penguins score early and often en route to a big 6-0 win in a pivotal 6-0 win on Thursday night in Pittsburgh. The series shifts back to Pittsburgh with a chance to win the Stanley Cup on Sunday night.” [Pensburgh]
Wojtek Wolski used to play in the NHL. Next season he is going to play for Kunlan Red Star in the KHL (Phil Esposito is part of the Red Star’s International Advisory Board). This goes a little bit deeper than “former NHL player hangs on to dream in an odd part of the world”. Eight months ago Wolski, while playing for Metallurg in the KHL, fractured two vertebrae in his neck. Pretty impressive [NBC Sports]
Down Goes Brown looks at the 10 best teams of the salary cap era. The Lightning did not make it. A lot of Western Conference teams did. [Sportsnet]
Craig Anderson is the one getting torched by Mitch Maner in NHL18’s new trailer. Nicolle Anderson has her husband’s back
My husband said he would never be out of position like that! Lol @CraigAnderson41 https://t.co/GNNDoNBzl4
— Nicholle Anderson (@xonichollexo) June 8, 2017
