When the Tampa Bay Lightning took to the ice for practice on Monday, two notable faces weren’t there. Veteran Nikita Kucherov and rookie Conor Geekie did not take regular rushes with their teammates.
#GoBolts lines today with no Kucherov/Geekie and JJ Moser the *forward*: Guentzel-Point-Atkinson Hagel-Cirelli-Moser Girgensons-Paul-Goncalves Chaffee-Glendening-Eyssimont Hedman-Raddysh McDonagh-Cernak Lilleberg-Perbix Vasilevskiy Halverson
— Benjamin Pierce (@boltsben.bsky.social) February 3, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Geekie did come out at the end of the practice for some solo work according to Benjamin Pierce, but it is worth noting that he left the game early on Saturday after landing on his arm awkwardly. Geekie has had an up-and-down rookie year, posting 12 points (6 goals, 6 assists) in 49 games. The 6’4″ forward has used his size to land 86 hits on the season, which ranks fifth among rookies.
He’ll likely be a game-time decision for the Bolts tonight.
Lightning News
Tampa Bay signs Brandon Halverson to two-year deal [Raw Charge]
It’s always good to have goaltenders under contract. Can’t wait to see him in action at the NHL level.
Lightning made it right by bringing Ryan McDonagh back [Bolts Blogs]
Jay Reacher talks about the return of the Mac Truck to Tampa.
Lightning face a week of reckoning against Atlantic Division Foes [Tampa Bay Times]
It would be a good week to get things right for the Tampa Bay Lightning. One solid stretch of days would get them back into a prime playoff position.
Seven prospects who could be on the move [The Athletic]
A familiar name makes the list as The Athletic lists Isaac Howard as one of the possible prospects that could change organizations prior to the trade deadline this March.
Hockey News
Ryan Hartman suspended for 10 games [Minneapolis Star Tribune]
The Department of Player Safety swung the largest ban-hammer of the season as Minnesota’s Ryan Hartman was nailed with a ten-game suspension for slamming Tim Stutzle’s head to the ice on Saturday. He does have time to file an appeal to Commissioner (and hall-of-famer) Gary Bettman, but Uncle Gary has, for the most part, upheld DoPS’ decisions.
Sammy Walker traded to Utah Hockey Club organization [Tucson Roadrunners]
The former Lightning prospect is on the move as the Minnesota traded him to UHC for future considerations. Walker, a seventh-round pick by the Bolts back in 2017, had two goals and nine assists on the season with Iowa and will report to Tucson of the AHL.
Potential logos for Utah’s name change leaked [KSL News]
The folks in Salt Lake City had hopes for keeping their potential new logos under wraps while the fans voted. That didn’t last long. If we had to guess, it’ll be Outlaws.
Panthers visit Oval Office [NHL.com]
Florida visited with the president on Monday and received a tour of The White House.
Boston College advances to Beanpot Final [BC Interruption]
It’ll be Boston College vs. Boston University in the final next week as BC ripped Northeastern, 8-2. Former Lightning prospect Eamon Powell had a goal and an assist. BU also had an easy night as they defeated Harvard 7-1. Current Lightning prospect Jack Harvey scored his seventh goal of the season in the victory.