The Bolts
The Tampa Bay Lightning are potentially going to have a different alternate jersey for 2018-19 and they want to know what the fans want it to look like. Give them your feedback and maybe you’ll win a Bolts jersey at the end of it! [Tampa Bay Lightning]
We know it’s a hot topic around here, so we’re asking you for your opinions on a potential 2018-19 third jersey.
🗣 https://t.co/EqJHZjO2IA pic.twitter.com/WnYlsY8dca
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) July 25, 2017
Manon Rheaume was the first woman to ever dress in a men’s professional hockey league, AT THE AGE OF 20. Read her story in the link below: “I had a big bouquet of flowers from a Quebec radio station and a card saying ‘you can do this, we’re all behind you.’ It made me feel great. I had my parent’s support and my friend’s support but to have my home town sending me this and telling me that they are behind me, it made me feel better and helped take the nerves away.” [TheScore]
1992-93 Revisited: Manon Rheaume suits up for the Tampa Bay Lightning. https://t.co/xB54hm0Qlb pic.twitter.com/iGrD3OGJb4
— theScore (@theScore) July 25, 2017
In Auston Matthews fashion, Lightning forward Chris Kontos recorded 4 goals in the first game in Tampa Bay Lightning history. Not a bad start. [TheScore]
1992-93 Revisited: Chris Kontos recalls his historic night in Lightning opener. https://t.co/kQFnCvPN2n pic.twitter.com/ngisVpdKDO
— theScore (@theScore) July 25, 2017
Also, these graphics are amazing!
Happy (belated) Birthday to our young puckstopper!
Happy birthday, Vasy!
Can’t wait to see what this year brings. ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/fneLzzQKJT
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) July 25, 2017
The Prospects
The Syracuse Crunch have a new promo going on. The “Defenders of the North” ticket package gets you a ticket for the first home game against each of the Crunch’s North Division rivals. [Syracuse Crunch]
Winter is coming.
Help your reigning King of the North defend our claim against North Division rivals.
🎟 → https://t.co/oQ7nLz8WGx pic.twitter.com/FM5ExjukGv
— Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) July 25, 2017
Huge thank you goes out to TVA Sports for finding this amazing picture of Mathieu Joseph with a full afro. The story about Joseph growing up was also very lovely: “We arrived like unknown people here. Incognito. We worked with my father at the beginning because it was he who was training us,” explains Mathieu. “We’ve always been hockey players, but we started with figure skating, both of them.” [TVA Sports]
À VOIR | À qui appartient cette glorieuse chevelure? @AndyMPressoir a rencontré cet espoir chez lui: https://t.co/ZI6xWfYoG3 pic.twitter.com/x1qdweBGso
— TVA Sports (@TVASports) July 25, 2017
Top 25 Under 25
#6: Lightning defenseman Slater Koekkoek has all the tools and potential to be a great young player for the Bolts but we haven’t seen it from him yet. After signing a one year $800k contract, its time for Koekkoek to show us who he really is. “Clearly the members of our panel feel that Koekkoek’s potential goes way beyond what he has been able to show so far. What will be crucial for Koekkoek’s position in the organization this up coming season is that he gets the chance to show it.” [Raw Charge]
#7: The Tampa Bay Lightning have yet another center clogging up the pipeline for them. Brett Howden will be looking to dominate the WHL after the offensive explosion he had in his post-draft season. “At 6’3”, 192 pounds, Howden still has time to fill out his frame. He will have one more year to do so in Moose Jaw of the WHL before transitioning to the pro ranks in the fall of 2018.” [Raw Charge]
#8: Matthew Peca is aiming to make the Lightning this fall — “He was a break-even player in terms of his impact on shots and looked capable of playing at the speed of an NHL game. That experience will serve him well as he looks to take the next step this year and find some consistent minutes in Tampa.” [Raw Charge]
The Game
Mika Zibanejad and the New York Rangers have come together and agreed to a 5 year contract, avoiding arbitration. The deal will pay Zibanejad $5.35 million per year, and will expire when he’s 29 years old. “Zibanejad earned this deal because he is a promising young center with production that suggests the best is yet to come. He has appeared in 337 games to date, scoring 78 goals while adding 110 assists for 188 points. His splits include 0.23 goals, 0.33 assists and 0.56 points per games.” [Blue Shirt Banter]
No surprise Mika has lockout protection in his deal
League source: Zibanejad contract details:
17-18: $5.000 + $1.000 SB
18-19: $5.500
19-20: $5.350
20-21: $2.650 + $2.500 SB
21-22: $4.750— Craig Morgan (@craigsmorgan) July 25, 2017
The Buffalo Sabres have given goalie Robin Lehner a one year “show me” deal worth $4 million. Lehner will be a RFA again next summer. “The 26-year-old Swede showed he could stay healthy last season, setting career highs with 59 games played, 23 wins and two shutouts. He ranked third in the NHL with 1,758 saves and finished with a .920 save percentage and 2.68 goals-against average.” [Sportsnet]
The Montreal Canadiens have signed defenseman Mark Streit to a one year deal with a base salary of $700k that could increase to $1 million if he reaches some performance bonuses. All things considered, this is a pretty low risk signing by the Habs. “Even at 39 years old, Mark Streit is very good at generating offence from his position on the blue line. Compared to his peers he’s more than above average, and even if he isn’t playing on the second pair he can bring an infusion of offence to a team that desperately needs secondary scoring.” [Habs Eyes on the Prize]
Kris Letang of the Pittsburgh Penguins has been posting some great highlights of his offseason work-out routine. This edition saw him getting absolutely embarrassed by 6-time Pro-Bowl wide-reciever Terrell Owens in a sprint-off.
When @terrellowens breaks you ankles pic.twitter.com/1oySzEtXLR
— Kristopher Letang (@Letang_58) July 25, 2017
