Everything seems to be lining up for the Tampa Bay Lightning this off-season. Just as it all appeared to be going downhill — and fast — captain and franchise cornerstone Steven Stamkos signed an eight-year contract extension just days before he was slated to become an unrestricted free agent.
Shortly thereafter, Victor Hedman signed a long-term extension, followed by top six forward Alex Killorn. Additionally, Jonathan Drouin rescinded his trade request, expressing a desire and a commitment to stay in Tampa.
Needless to say, the Lightning have had a fantastic summer, but it gets even better — their prospect pipeline is full of future difference-makers.
Brayden Point
Moose Jaw Warriors center Brayden Point was the talk of the Western Hockey League this past season. He scored 88 points (35G, 53A) in 48 games as captain of the Moose Jaw Warriors for the second straight year. He missed a lot of WHL action because he took part in the U20 World Junior Tournament for a second consecutive season, this time as the captain of Team Canada; he scored a goal and four assists in five games before returning to his junior club.
But his real offensive breakout of the year came in the postseason, when he notched 16 points in 10 games. His performance this past season proved that he was an absolute steal in the third round of the 2014 NHL Draft, and it also proves that teams were likely reluctant to select him because of his size.
That won’t be an issue, though, because his work ethic is just as impressive as his offensive skills.
A pure playmaking forward, he will make a case for cracking the Lightning roster this coming season, but he will most likely start the season in Syracuse, where he already took part in nine games last season – he scored four points in that short AHL stint, so expectations will be high in 2016-17.
Nikita Gusev
Hampered mostly by the fact that he is just 5’9″ during the 2012 draft, Nikita Gusev fell to the seventh round where the Lightning took a chance on him. Four years later, he has become nearly forgotten outside of Russian hockey.
Having gotten off to a slow start with his KHL club, the Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk in 2015-16, he was dealt to SKA St. Petersburg midway through the season. He took off once with his new team, finishing strong with 35 points (13G, 22A) in 33 regular season games and 14 points in 15 playoff games.
Entering his fourth season in the KHL, Gusev isn’t getting any younger — the left-winger just turned 24 years old, and if he is going to make it in the NHL, he’s got to make the leap soon. It is unclear why the offensive dynamo and elite skater has yet to sign a professional contract with the Lightning, but time is running out for him to prove he can translate his game to the small ice here in North America.
(Photo by John Crouch/Icon Sportswire.)
Brett Howden
The brother of former cross-state rival Florida Panthers forward Quinton Howden, Brett was Point’s teammate in Moose Jaw this past season. Wearing the ‘A’ on his sweater, he proved to be an effective leader like his fellow Tampa prospect, but he also proved to be offensively brilliant with 64 points (24G, 40A) in 68 regular season games. He also exploded for 15 points in 10 playoff contests.
Howden was Tampa’s first round pick in last month’s 2016 draft, so he has a lot more junior hockey to play. But his track record suggests that he will soon be one of the WHL’s elite top scorers. And at 6’2″ and 192 pounds, the talented centerman isn’t afraid to get physical and he plays an all-around two-way game.
Dennis Yan
Shawinigan Cataractes forward Dennis Yan has exceeded expectations the past two seasons. With 133 points in 121 games over that two-year span, the natural left-winger has established himself as an elite offensive presence, specifically a goal-scorer, in the QMJHL. He scored 32 goals this season and 33 goals last season; plus, 10 of his 15 points in the 2016 playoffs were goals.
Perhaps the most underrated, underappreciated player among Tampa prospects, his speed and skill are undeniable, however his defensive game has come a long way and he still has a lot to work on on that front.
Adam Erne
Had he lived up to expectations last season, Adam Erne would probably be the top prospect on this list. Instead, he has fallen to fifth because of his incredibly underwhelming rookie professional season in the AHL.
The 21 year-old power forward only managed 14 goals and 15 assists in 59 games during 2015-16, making him nearly a non-factor for Tampa’s minor-league affiliate in the 2015-16 season. It was very disappointing since he was coming off an 86-point campaign (including 41 goals) in the 2014-15 QMJHL season, having added 30 points (21G, 9A) in 22 postseason games.
A rebound season is definitely in order if Erne is to become the top-six winger he was once supposed to be for Tampa Bay.
Honorable Mentions: Anthony Cirelli, Taylor Raddysh
The post Looking at the Lightning’s top five prospects appeared first on Todays SlapShot.