The Bolts
The first day of Tampa Bay Lightning training camp composed of media availability, photo day, and medical exams. “The message coming from the team is clear: we are healthy, we are rested, and we aren’t taking the playoffs for granted.” We have a round up of all of yesterday’s coverage over here. [Raw Charge]
After talking to media, Vasilevskiy apologized, asked if anybody could understand him. “I’m trying to be American again,” he joked. #Bolts
— Bryan Burns (@BBurnsNHL) September 14, 2017
The Lightning’s staff spent a nice, hot, summer afternoon in Florida serving food across 10 sites in Tampa for residents affected by Irma. “You’re here for us, & we’re here for you.”
Thank you to the volunteers &donors who helped deliver meals to those affected by #HurricaneIrma! @BobBuckhorn @TBlightning pic.twitter.com/3GsChMfKaz
— City of Tampa (@CityofTampa) September 14, 2017
Joe Smith breaks down some of the pervailing themes that came out of Day 1 of Tampa Bay Lightning training camp. “Steven Stamkos said he’d love to play with Nikita Kucherov and Vladislav Namestnikov, like the trio did early last season.” [Tampa Bay Times]
Happy Birthday Killer! Glad you could celebrate it with all your hockey buddies.
We didn’t forget!
HBD, Killer 🎉 pic.twitter.com/578wD8OnuQ
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) September 14, 2017
The Prospects
It was a good day for Lightning prospects as GM Steve Yzerman and Head Coach Jon Cooper both had high praises for this years potential rookie crop. You can find their interviews in the Media Day article above.
Cooper calls this year’s rookie group the deepest he’s seen in his seven years in the organization. #BoltsCamp
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) September 14, 2017
The Syracuse Crunch season calendars have arrived!
Hot off the press, these beauties are now available in the #SyrCrunch office! Stop by and get yours. pic.twitter.com/XJoGRy1UiT
— Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) September 14, 2017
The Crunch’s on-ice advertisements are being painted on the ice. Hockey is so close!
It was a busy week in the War Memorial Arena getting ready for the 2017-18 season! pic.twitter.com/kVoGdJRcuu
— Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) September 14, 2017
The Game
The 31 Thoughts from this week was filled with yummy hockey news. JustinG. breaks down the main takeaways for us and extends the conversations that came from the original article. “The notion of Subban being traded every off-season is intriguing. He could be a league-wide ambassador for the joy of hockey. Every fanbase should get the chance to root for him on their own team.” [Raw Charge]
David Pastrnak has agreed to a six-year, $40 million deal with the Boston Bruins. “Pasta” will carry a $6.667 million cap hit until his contract ends, at which point he will be a UFA. “The 21-year-old right winger was one of the biggest restricted free agents left to sign this offseason after the Oilers locked up Leon Draisaitl. Pastrnak is coming off a breakout 2016-17 season in which he scored 70 points in 75 games for the Bruins in a bigger role as one of Boston’s top-line wingers.” [SB Nation]
Bryan Little of the Winnipeg Jets has signed a six-year, $23.5 million extension that will begin during the 2018-19 season. Little’s quirky cap hit of $5.291 million is a raise from the $4.7 million he is currently making. “Little scored 21 goals and posted 47 points in 59 games last season. He has missed at least 20 games in each of the previous two seasons due to injury. He will turn 30 on Nov. 12.” [TSN]
Want to see Alex Ovechkin juggle pucks in a russian Papa John’s? Of course you do. [RMNB]
The Minnesota Wild have signed UFA forward Marcus Foligno to a four-year, $11.5 million deal. “The 26-year-old was acquired in June in a trade with Buffalo. He averaged more than 15 minutes per game for the Sabres last season, scoring a career-high 13 goals and 10 assists in 80 games. He had 57 blocked shots, and ranked fifth in the NHL with a career-high 279 hits.” [Sporting News]
Training Camp
The schedule for tomorrow:
Friday, September 15 – Ice Sports Forum
Team Andreychuk
8:30 am – 8:40 am – Meeting / Goalies (South)
8:40 am – 9:40 am – Practice (South)
9:45 am – 10:25 am – Practice (North)
10:35 am – 11:05 am – Workout
Team Lecavalier
10:30 am – 10:40 am – Meeting / Goalies (South)
10:40 am – 11:40 am – Practice (South)
11:55 am – 12:25 pm – Scrimmage (North)
12:35 pm – 1:05 pm – Workout
Team St. Louis
11:45 am – 11:55 am – Warm-Up (North)
11:55 am – 12:25 pm – Scrimmage (North)
12:30 pm – 12:40 pm – Meeting
12:40 pm – 1:40 pm – Practice (South)
1:50 pm – 2:20 pm – Workout
The full schedule for Lightning training camp can be found here.
