The Bolts/The Crunch
Yanni Gourde Earned His Tampa Bay Lightning Contract: “Some players like Steven Stamkos or Brayden Point jump straight from Major Junior to the National Hockey League and some take a couple years of grooming in the American Hockey League to make it to the NHL. There are also the guys who never make the NHL. However, there is yet another group of guys who take a little more time to marinate and grow before making their way to the NHL. Yanni Gourde fits into this last category.” [THW]
6 Worst NHL Contracts of 2017: Guess who’s number 3? [THW]
#tblightning sign Slater Koekkoek to one year, one way $800,000 deal. Jake Dotchin signing likely coming soon too.
— Joe Smith (@TBTimes_JSmith) July 3, 2017
Lightning re-sign defenseman Slater Koekkoek to a one-year contract: “Koekkoek is now waiver-eligible, which many have pointed out is complicated by the signing of defenseman Dan Girardi. Most are of the opinion that Koekkoek will not make it through waivers, which will lead to some tough decisions if the Bolts’ blue line continues to be crowded.” [Raw Charge]
Recapping Tampa Bay Lightning’s moves in free agency: “The biggest fish to hit this year’s open market were defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk and Karl Alzner, who landed multi-year deals with the Rangers and Canadiens, respectively, and forward Alexander Radulov, who is supposedly choosing between his most recent team, the Canadiens, and the Dallas Stars.” [Raw Charge]
“He taught me personally how to be a captain, what it meant to lead others.”
Vinny on Andy | #HHOF pic.twitter.com/Sprkqdffjz
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) July 3, 2017
The Game
Zettler Again Part of Sharks Coaching Staff: “Most recently, Zettler was the head coach of the Syracuse Crunch (AHL) from late in the 2012-13 season through 2015-16. He posted a 108-90-41 record with Syracuse, the primary affiliate of the Tampa Bay Lightning.” [NBC]
Rob Zettler Named Sharks Assistant Coach: “San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) General Manager Doug Wilson and Head Coach Peter DeBoer announced today that Rob Zettler (@robzettler) has been named an assistant coach with the San Jose Sharks. Zettler replaces Bob Boughner, who became head coach of the Florida Panthers.” [NHL.com]
NHL: Florida Panthers release future Hall of Famer Jaromir Jagr: “The future Hall of Famer turned 45 in February and is no longer the scoring threat he was in his prime. Jagr ranks third in NHL history with 765 goals and second with 1,914 points.” [UPI.com]
Stars sign Radulov to richest free agent deal of off-season: “Radulov on Monday became the richest player in a restrained market by signing a $31.25 million, five-year deal with the Dallas Stars. The 30-year-old Russian winger left the Canadiens for a contract that’s worth almost $5 million more than Kevin Shattenkirk’s with the New York Rangers and ties Karl Alzner’s with Montreal for the longest signed by an unrestricted free agent this off-season.” [Canadian Press]
