Ahead of their fourth game of the pre-season against the Nashville Predators, the Lightning have released 14 players from training camp as well as placing three additional players on waivers.
Louis Domingue and Mike Condon were placed on waivers yesterday and cleared, and were also assigned to the Syracuse Crunch today. Forwards Cory Conacher and Chris Mueller were placed on waivers, along with goaltender Spencer Martin. All three are expected to clear and be assigned to the Syracuse Crunch tomorrow. Below are some thoughts and comments about these three as well as the 14 players that have been re-assigned to the Crunch.
- Cory Conacher – Conacher may actually stick around in camp for a few more days. While putting him on waivers probably means he hasn’t made the team, we have seen the team be a little tricky with him and waivers. It wouldn’t surprise me if they were just trying to get him through now to see what happened and make a decision later on him.
- Chris Mueller – Mueller was brought in specifically to play at the top of the Crunch’s line up. Not a surprise to see him on waivers. Mueller played in one pre-season game and looked pretty decent.
- Spencer Martin – Likewise, Martin was brought in to be the fourth goaltender behind Scott Wedgewood.
- Peter Abbandonato – Abbandonato is on an AHL contract so he wasn’t going to make the team unless the Lightning signed him to an entry level contract. He did not play in any pre-season games.
- Jimmy Huntington – Huntington played in two pre-season games for the Lightning, which was a little bit of a surprise to me as he is a professional rookie. He was signed to an entry level contract late last season while he was playing an overage junior season. He caught my eye during last night’s game at time and I expect him to fit in well with the Crunch.
- Boris Katchouk – Katchouk was a long shot to make the Lightning roster. The coaching staff gave him a fair look though playing him in two pre-season games. He’s a power forward that still has some work to do in reaching his potential.
- Alexey Lipanov – Lipanov did not develop very well over the last two seasons in the OHL. He spent the end of last season in the ECHL and could be back to Orlando to start this season. He is a player with a lot to prove yet.
- Ryan Lohin – Lohin is a professional rookie after spending the past three seasons in NCAA hockey. He didn’t play in the pre-season and should be playing in the middle six for the Crunch.
- Kevin Lynch – Lynch earned an NHL contract before last season. Unfortunately, multiple injuries completely derailed his season. He was in camp on a PTO as an invitee. He’ll likely be in the Crunch’s camp as a PTO as well.
- Taylor Raddysh – Raddysh played in two pre-season games. He looked good at times, but was overall inconsistent with his play. He’s a second year pro and is a player we’ll watch as he continues to develop in the AHL.
- Mikhail Shalagin – Shalgin is on an AHL contract and did not play in a pre-season game. He’ll be competing for a spot with the Crunch, otherwise, he’ll be headed to Orlando in the ECHL.
- Dennis Yan – Yan only played one pre-season game, the third game of the season. I was overall pleased with his play. His possession numbers weren’t great, but he showed off more speed. He’s dealt with some injuries over his first two years that have slowed his development. Hopefully what we saw last night was a sign that he’s fully healthy and ready to take a big step forward in his development.
- Luc Snuggerud – Snuggerud was an invitee that seemed to be here to mostly be an extra body. He could still go to Crunch camp and try to earn an AHL contract there.
- Oleg Sosunov – Sosunov is still a big (tall?) development project for the Lightning organization. He didn’t play in the pre-season and is still a raw prospect.
- Matt Spencer – Spencer split last season between the AHL and ECHL. He’ll need to show more at the Crunch’s camp to earn a full time spot in Syracuse.
- Nolan Valleau – Valleau was a surprise player last season earning an AHL contract after being signing to a PTO early in the season to fill in for some injuries. He provided a steady blue line presence for the Crunch the prompted the Lightning to exercise the option year in his contract. He actually played in a pre-season game, which is somewhat uncommon for a player on an AHL contract.
- Clint Windsor – Windsor is technically the 8th? goalie in the system, but really his spot is as a #6. He’s signed with the Orlando Solar Bears and will be one of their two goaltenders./
