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Lightning Round: Finding the former Bolts at the Spengler Cup

Posted on by Hardev

Yesterday, Team Canada announced their Spengler Cup roster, equipped with a myriad of former NHL and AHL players. The other five rosters, club teams from around Europe, also have a fair number of former Tampa Bay Lightning, Syracuse Crunch, and Norfolk Admirals players on them. It’s a real trip down memory lane.

Hockey Canada selects 22 players for 2019 Spengler Cup
Elite Prospects – Spengler Cup

Zach Fucale (Canada)

Not a former player, but Fucale is currently on an AHL contract with the Crunch and on the Orlando Solar Bears. He was loaned to Team Canada to play in the Spengler Cup. In 15 games, the former Montreal Canadiens draft pick and Halifax Mooseheads phenom has a .927 for the Solar Bears.

Syracuse Crunch Sign Goaltender Zachary Fucale to AHL Contract

Lukas Krajicek (HC Ocelari Trinec)

This is definitely a throwback. Originally in the Roberto Luongo trade from Florida to Vancouver, Krajicek was flipped from the Canucks to the Lightning in the Shane O’Brien deal (Juraj Simek joining Krajicek, while Michel Ouellet headed to Vancouver). In 94 NHL games for the Bolts, the defenseman scored 20 points in two seasons before being sent to Norfolk, then Philly.

Considering how people talked about Krajicek, I wonder how he would have fared in this era of NHL hockey.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have re-signed defenseman Lukas Krajicek (LOO-cuss CRY-check) to a one-year contract today, Executive Vice President and General Manager Brian Lawton announced. “Lukas is one of the elite skating defensemen in the NHL and he played admirably for us last season in a difficult blueline situation,” said Lawton. “We are pleased to sign him for the 2009-10 season and we look forward to seeing for training camp.”

Lightning Re-Sign Defenseman Lukas Krajicek

Chris DiDomenico (Canada)

Remember that month in 2017-18 when the Lightning and Ottawa Senators were in a Waiver War? Fun times.

Tampa Bay Lightning claim Chris DiDomenico off waivers
Tampa Bay Lightning loans Chris DiDomenico to the Syracuse Crunch for conditioning
Chris Didomenico re-claimed off waivers by Ottawa from Tampa Bay Lightning

Artyom Sergeyev (Salavat Yulaev Ufa)

After signing an AHL deal with the Syracuse Crunch in 2013 out of the QMJHL, Sergeyev spent a successful season on the Florida Everblades before heading to the KHL for five seasons. Igor found a report over the summer that hinted at the possibility of a possible return to the Crunch or Lightning! That would be a nice full circle story.

Defenseman Artem Sergeev joins Crunch
Report: The Tampa Bay Lightning are interested in Russian defenceman Artyom Sergeyev

Maxim Mayorov (Salavat Yulaev Ufa)

Mayorov never played in the Lightning organization, but he was on the Syracuse Crunch back when they were the Columbus Blue Jackets affiliate. Mayorov had some great AHL seasons for the Crunch, and even got a cup of coffee in the NHL for a while, but eventually saw his contract not renewed and joined the KHL.

“However, he instead put up 16 goals and 16 assists for 32 points in 39 games with the Crunch. He was named the team’s Rookie of the Year. He dressed for his first three NHL games with the Blue Jackets this year. By all accounts, he had a very respectable first year in North America, and should only be improving.”

The CBJ Prospect Everyone Forgot About

Sean Burke (Canada)

Burke is the GM of Team Canada for the Spengler Cup, but he was an NHL goalie for a long while before joining Hockey Canada. He spent the end of his career with the Lightning, signing with the team on a two-year deal following the 2004-05 lockout. Burke played 35 games in 2005-06, sporting the team’s best save percentage (.895) out of all four goaltenders on the team. He played three of the five playoff games before the Bolts were knocked out in the first round. Burke was later sent to Norfolk before being claimed by the LA Kings in re-entry waivers (back when they were a thing).

LIGHTNING SIGN VETERAN GOALTENDER SEAN BURKE

  • We’ll have more coverage later this morning if you missed the game last night, you can check out the quickcap. [Raw Charge]
  • ESPN compiled their top-100 players of the decade. There are five Bolts on the list. [ESPN]
  • Isobel Cup Champion Alyssa Gagliardi has joined the Carolina Hurricanes as a girls’ and women’s hockey specialist. [Canes Country]
  • CapFriendly has a new trade feature that will be lots of fun over the next few months!/

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