Back in January, the Kingston Frontenacs made a couple of huge deals with the Saginaw Spirit. In the end Kingston received three players for two players and a whopping, bring-a-tear-to-Julien-BriseBois’-eye 16 future draft picks. One of those players that went to Kingston was Saginaw’s captain, and Lightning draft pick, Ethan Hay.
The 20-year-old Hay has fit in with his new team, recording 5 goals and 10 assists in 25 games with Kingston. With six games left in the regular season the Frontenacs have locked up a playoff spot as they sit in the fourth spot of the OHL’s Eastern Conference with a ten-point lead over Brampton.
Between his two teams the left-handed center has 28 points (13 goals, 15 assists) which matches the career high he put up in Flint two seasons ago. Drafted in the seventh round by the Lightning in 2023, Hay has been a bit of a project, but is developing into a solid defensive forward.
The Lightning have a decision to make now. Their draft rights expire on June 1, 2025. If he isn’t signed to his entry-level contract by then, he can become a free agent or re-enter the draft as an over-age prospect. Tampa Bay has room to sign him to an ELC as they are currently using 44 of their 50 contract spots. It’s likely they’ll use one on Isaac Howard once his season is over as well.
Hay is the only member of their 2023 draft class that is facing an expiring rights situation. Ethan Gauthier has already signed his ELC while Jack Harvey and Jayson Shaugabay’s rights don’t expire until August of 2028 since they went the college route. While the Lightning have a couple of years to make a decision on those two, they will have to decide on Alex Gagne and newly-acquired Kyle Aucoin by August 15th of this year.
With a depleted prospect pool, it would seem that it’s a no-brainer for the Lightning to sign as many prospects as they can, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the players want to sign with Tampa Bay. Cole Guttman and Sammy Walker allowed their deals to expire and found quicker routes to the NHL with other franchises.
It won’t be the most pressing business the Lightning have over the next couple of months (especially with rumors they are chasing some potential college free agents) but they have a habit of developing late-round draft picks, and Hay could be another one of those players that help them out at some point.
Lightning News:
Kucherov leaves game early, Atkinson recalled [Raw Charge]
The Cameron Atkinson recall could have been unrelated (the Bolts were only carrying 12 forwards) but it does give the Lightning an extra skater if they need one tonight.
Lightning/NHL to air real-time animated program on March 29 [Tampa Bay Lightning]
The game against the Islanders will have a traditional broadcast on FDSNSUN, but an animated broadcast will take place in real time on their website and app.
Blake Coleman joins the Block Party [Bolts TV]
An old friend stops by to chat with the guys on the Block Party.
Building team chemistry after a trade starts with a call [Lightning Insider]
Adjusting on the ice is hard enough, but figuring out how to adjust to a new life off the ice can be just as difficult, so it’s nice when your new teammates offer a helping hand.
Hockey News:
NHL Awards Watch [ESPN]
Not too many Lightning names mentioned in the latest edition of ESPN’s awards check-in. Brayden Point gets a mention for Lady Byng, but that’s about it. Nikita Kucherov also gets a shout-out in the Hart Trophy race, but there are quite a few folks he would have to jump over.
Jonathan Quick signs 1-year extension with Rangers [Blue Shirt Banter]
Players who signed a one-year contract last summer now have the chance to re-sign with their teams. Quick is sticking around for another year in the Big Apple for $1.55 million.
Rasmus Dahlin doesn’t want to leave Buffalo [Buffalo Sabres Twitter]
Things aren’t great in Buffalo, but that doesn’t mean Rasmus Dahlin is asking for a trade (despite reports to the contrary).
Life as a top NHL coaching prospect [The Athletic]
Former Bolt draft pick David Carle is the next hot coaching prospect. He’s taken Team USA to back-to-back World Junior Championships and is getting ready to defend his National Collegiate Championship with the University of Denver. Does he leave “home” or stick with developing the next generation of hockey superstars?
Alex Meruelo sues Arizona Board of Regents for $3.5 million [Arizona Republic]
Apparently $1 billion wasn’t enough to make Alex Meruelo go away. The former owner of the Arizona Coyotes is suing the Arizona Board of Regents for his security deposit back. It’s his belief that it wasn’t his fault that he had to break his three-year lease with Mullett Arena early and he wants his $3.5 million deposit back.
