The Tampa Bay Lightning‘s 2026-27 season is slowly approaching. Before the preseason can officially get underway, their prospects will get a chance to shine. The 2026 Prospect Showcase will be…
The Tampa Bay Lightning parted ways with a 2027 third-round pick for a prospect that didn’t seem inclined to sign with the team that drafted him. The last time they picked up a forward that didn’t want to play for the Chicago Blackhawks, it turned out pretty well as Dominic James was one of their best rookies last season. The timeline for Jack Pridham might be a little longer, but the Bolts added an intriguing talent to their prospect pool as the former Kitchener Ranger turned University of Denver Pioneer has a definite set of skills they can use. Name Jack Pridham Position Right Wing Age (as of October 1, 2026) 20 (but turns 21 on October 8) Height/Weight 6’2″, 185 lbs. Expected 2026-27 Team University of Denver Draft – Year, Round 2024, 3rd (92) Previous Rankings Not Applicable JustinG. Ranking 12 Final Rank 7 Stats: Our Thoughts: As we’ve written many times in the past, for a team like the Lightning that aggressively deals their top draft collateral for players that help in the present, the need to secure talent outside of the draft is an absolute necessity. Trading for players who aren’t inclined to sign with the team that drafted them is one avenue to procure that talent. Such is the case with Jack Pridham. After as sensational season with the Kitchener Rangers, it was readily apparent that Pridham wasn’t going to sign with the Chicago Blackhawks, the team that held his draft rights. Either he would re-enter the draft or announce a commitment to a college program. Either way Chicago was over a bit of a barrel, so they were probably more than happy to accept a 2027 third-round pick from the Lightning when Julien BriseBois came a-callin’. The Lightning would have been extremely familiar with Pridham’s play as he was the Butch Cassidy to Sam O’Reilly’s Sundance Kid in Kitchener as the Rangers rampaged their way through the OHL and Memorial Cup playoffs. Pridham finished his age 20 season in Kitchener with a career-high 90 points (46 goals, 44 assists). He added another 17 points (2 goals, 15 assists) in 18 playoff games. If not for O’Reilly’s dominance, a case could have been made for Pridham to finish as a playoff MVP. Shortly after the trade was announced, news dropped that Pridham would be heading to the University of Denver for the 2026-27 season. The Pioneers get a top-scorer in the CHL and Pridham gets to continue to develop with NCAA champions. Not a bad trade-off for both sides. Meanwhile, the Lightning retain his rights while he is in school, which honestly shouldn’t be for too many seasons. Along with his strong two-way play, Pridham ups the skating ability of Lightning prospects. He uses that speed to attack the net off of the rush, but he is also willing to burst into the zone and circle back to find teammates open on the second wave of attack a la Brayden Point. He can distribute the puck as well as he can shoot it and doesn’t mind hanging around the front of the net to bang in rebounds. At 6’2″ he has a long reach and is sturdy on the puck. Pridham can use his size to shield the puck from defenders before skating around them. Defensively, he isn’t going out of his way to hit players, but he also won’t lose too many battles along the boards. The change of organizations should benefit Pridham fairly well. Chicago is loaded with top-end talent at the forward position and there is a good chance that a player with Pridham’s skill could get lost in the shuffle. With the Lightning there should be a lot clearer of a path to the NHL once he decides to turn pro. If he can continue the production he had in Kitchener while he’s in Denver and then eventually in Syracuse, it won’t be a long wait for him to make his Lightning debut. As a right-handed shot who can make use of the minutes on the power play and penalty kill, he would be a very versatile forward for the Bolts. Right now, he is likely a middle-six forward that can score a few goals while playing strong defense and killing penalties. Along with O’Reilly, he was one of the top penalty-killers in the CHL with six short-handed goals in the regular season. For more on his PK prowess, feel free to go back and listen to Andrew Merrigan and Justin Born talk about him on this Backchecking the Bolts podcast from shortly after the Memorial Cup victory by the Rangers. Your Thoughts: His highest ranking was 3rd while the most votes (11.6%) came in at the 5th and 9th spots. There was a wide range of votes from the 4th spot to the 13th. “Excited to see O’Reilly, Pridham, and Czata in action. Starting to lose faith in some of the older prospects” “I like the pickup of Pridham as he played with O’Reilly in Kitchener. Has a good shot and has high motor.” “Pridham has a lot of offensive upside and is a wait and see.” “Obviously Pridham alongside O’Reilly is the most intriguing because he was already putting up impressive numbers, but when you attach him with SOR their tandem is reminiscent of Cirelli/Hagel. It’s hard not to make those comparisons with the Championships won, the penalty kill chemistry, and the numbers they put up.” Highlight Videos: The @OHLRangers lead by a pair after 40 minutes 👀 Jack Pridham makes no mistake on the penalty shot attempt as the @NHLBlackhawks prospect extends Kitchener's lead in Game 6 📽️ #OHLPlayoffs | #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/erhAX85w0P — Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) April 21, 2025 Attack with speed and commit to the move, that’s the best way to score in the shootout and on penalty shots. Pridham didn’t do anything overly fancy, but a nice little wiggle with stick right before the shot had the goaltender committed, leaving room to put the puck past him. Bottle rocket 🚀 Jack Pridham scored the eventual game winning goal for the @OHLRangers last night with a wicked shot, earning him the @deltabingo_ Play of the Night. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/b9VvWlnlWC — Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) May 27, 2026 When you score 40+ goals in a season, no shot is a bad shot. A long-range slapshot from just off the boards usually doesn’t have a high expected goals number, but the shot is really good and the goaltender never saw it. Blackhawks prospect Jack Pridham is absolutely tearing it up at the Memorial Cup! 🐻🔥 He netted TWO massive goals last night to lead Kitchener past Everett and keep them a perfect 2-0 in the tournament. This kid has some potential👀 #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/luMVQDG55q — Just Another Year Chicago: Blackhawks (@JAYChi_Hawks) May 26, 2026 He ended the play with a nice, quick one-timer, but his first shot came off the rush following a turnover. After the goaltender made the save, Pridham circled back to a shooting spot and was ready for the pass from his teammate. Jared Woolley makes it 2-0 off a centring pass from Jack Pridham! #MemorialCup pic.twitter.com/PwbtN16YmC — TSN (@TSN_Sports) May 23, 2026 Not only can he score, but he can set his teammates up as well. Here he demonstrates some nice edge work as he reversed direction behind the net to create a little space before he spied his teammate who had stepped up on the play. MICHIGAN GOAL ALERT⚠️🤯 @NHLBlackhawks prospect Jack Pridham scores his second of the night MICHIGAN STYLE!⭐️ Just like that the @OHLRangers have a 4-1 lead! #OHL | @CHLHockey | #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/bCFv2rzq68 — Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) February 26, 2025 Sure, this was from a couple of seasons ago, but who doesn’t love a good Michigan goal?
As the NHL enters its new bargaining agreement with the players, there was some question in regards to how many teams would be utilizing player try-out contracts in the now shortened preseason. With fewer days and games to evaluate talent, having non-contracted players in camp could be seen as a hindrance. For the Tampa Bay Lightning, that doesn’t seem to be the case as they announced that they had signed 27-year-old forward Kole Lind to a PTO on Friday. The Saskatchewan native was a second-round pick by the Vancouver Canucks in 2017 who played his junior hockey in Kelowna. After a couple of solid seasons in Utica (61 points in 112 games) he made his NHL debut in 2020-21, appearing in seven games for the Canucks. Following that, he was selected by Seattle in their expansion draft and split time between the Kraken and AHL Charlotte Checkers. To date, the 2021-22 season is his best at the NHL level where he appeared in 23 games, recording 2 goals and 6 assists. Since then he’s spent his time in the AHL, not having appeared in the top league since a one-game cameo in the 2023-24 season. Lind has spent the last two seasons with the Texas Stars, where he’s scored 34 goals and added 53 assists in 141 games while racking up 188 penalty minutes. Is the 6’1, 192 lbs. right-shot forward going to crack the Tampa Bay Lightning roster? Probably not. In essence, the Lightning are getting a free look at someone who could be a depth forward in the organization should he choose to sign a two-way contract or AHL-deal with Syracuse. He does have some offensive skill at that level and is a solid forechecker and defender. One thing to note, with the bulk of the Lighting’s prospects participating in either college programs or in Europe, their training camp probably won’t be as crowded as some other organizations, so they have some time and space to try out an extra player or two. It’s also good to have plenty of players in camp just in case one of the regulars comes in not quite ready to go for the start of training camp. There hasn’t been any direct communication that any one on the roster is still recovering from an injury, but with as tight of a ship that the Bolts run, it wouldn’t be unusual to receive that news until camp actually opens.
Introducing The Panthers Lose Their Captain, Kopitar Will Retire After the Season and the Sabres Hope for Goals from Locked On NHL - Daily Podcast On The National Hockey League.Follow the show: Locked On NHL - Daily Podcast On The National Hockey LeagueThe Florida Panthers have lost captain Aleksander Barkov., probably for the entire season. How do the Panthers overcome the loss of one of their top players?Armando Velez of Locked On Florida Panthers joins us to discuss the impact of the injury, who must step up without Barkov in the lineup and what moves the team may make to try to replace some of Barkov's productivity.The Los Angeles Kings look to give Anze Kopitar a fitting sendoff as he announced this would be his final NHL season. We discuss his impact and legacy as he starts his 20th season with the team.Eddie Garcia of Locked On Los Angeles Kings joins us to discuss this plus the latest on the Quinton Byfield negotiations and what it will take for the Kings to go on the playoff run this spring.The Buffalo Sabres hope to find enough offense to end their lengthy absence from the Stanley Cup Playoffs but have they done enough?Joe DiBiase of Locked On Sabres joins us to discuss the Sabres strategy for the season and who needs to step up for them to make the playoffs.All this and more on today's Locked On NHL Podcast with Gil Martin.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Monarch MoneyTake control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNHL at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnhl for 50% off your first year.FanDuelDownload the FanDuel app now by visiting FanDuel.com and win $300 in bonus bets if your first $5 bet wins.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.
Tampa Bay Lightnings preseason buzz heats up as rising prospects Sam OReilly and Benjamin Rautiainen generate excitement among fans. Can these young talents break through and make their mark, or will roster depth leave them waiting in the wings? Jacob Pelletiers NHL readiness sparks debate, while questions about his fit in the crowded forward group loom large. Greg Stephen also takes you Behind Enemy Lines, dissecting the Minnesota Wilds offseason movesincluding the potential Dylan Larkin acquisition and Blake Colemans arrival. Are the Wild set to leap into Cup contender status with a stack of defensive talent led by Quinn Hughes and a hungry Kirill Kaprizov up front? Prediction Corner spotlights Gage Goncalves development and Yanni Gourdes enduring value, projecting their stat lines for the upcoming campaign. With fantasy hockey signups rolling and preseason just days away, Lightning nation has plenty to talk about. 00:00 Preseason Player Watch 13:16 Minnesota Wild Analysis 22:03 Lightning Prediction Corner LINK TO PREDICTIONS SHEET: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-ZW_FUoCN-LzaOBRJiYlNQz0MN-dpkx2UjwDLltM3hM/edit?usp=sharing LINK TO LOCKED ON FANTASY HOCKEY SIGN UPS: https://fantasy.espn.com/hockey/league/join?leagueId=2139063481&inviteId=ca3f7600-1ba8-45fb-a4de-4a744cd311be Watch Locked On Lightning on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@LockedOnLightning Locked On NHL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Prospects & More https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNHL Follow Us on Social Media! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lockedonlightning/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lockedonlightning Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lockedonlightning X: https://x.com/LO_Lightning Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, its time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your teams community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Indeed Now, you can speed up your hiring process with a $75 Sponsored Job Credit. Just go to https://indeed.com/podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply. KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get one-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started Play Your Game. 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon Rugiet Get 15% off your treatment https://rugiet.com/lockedonnhl Rugiet. Performance medicine for men. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
LINK TO PREDICTIONS SHEET: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-ZW_FUoCN-LzaOBRJiYlNQz0MN-dpkx2UjwDLltM3hM/edit?usp=sharing LINK TO LOCKED ON FANTASY HOCKEY SIGN UPS: https://fantasy.espn.com/hockey/league/join?leagueId=2139063481&inviteId=ca3f7600-1ba8-45fb-a4de-4a744cd311be Watch Locked On Lightning on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@LockedOnLightningLocked On NHL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Prospects & More https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNHLFollow Us on Social Media! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lockedonlightning/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lockedonlightningThreads: https://www.threads.com/@lockedonlightningX: https://x.com/LO_LightningEverydayer Club If you never miss an episode, its time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your teams community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Indeed Now, you can speed up your hiring process with a $75 Sponsored Job Credit. Just go to https://indeed.com/podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply. KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get one-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started Play Your Game. 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon Rugiet Get 15% off your treatment https://rugiet.com/lockedonnhl Rugiet. Performance medicine for men. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
The former forward spent his first full season as a defenseman, know it’s time to crack the Tampa Bay Lightning line-up Name Max Groshev Position Defense (Left Shot) Age (as of October 1, 2026) 24 Height/Weight 6’2″, 198 lbs. Expected 2026-27 Team Syracuse Crunch Draft – Year, Round 2020, 3rd, (85) Previous Rankings 15 (2020), 15 (2021), 15 (2022) 15 (2023), 10 (2024), 10 (2024) JustinG. Ranking 11 Final Rank 8 Stats: Our Thoughts: Max Groshev is the oldest prospect in the countdown. Thanks to a December birthday, he snuck one last appearance in the Top 20. Yet, in a way, it’s really just his second year on the list in his new position. After making the switch to defense at the end of the 2024-25 season, Groshev spent an entire year as a blueliner with the Crunch. In 58 games he put up 3 goals and 18 assists, not far off from the 30 points he put up as a forward in his rookie season. Groshev’s top attribute is his skating. He’s a one-man breakout machine who has the ability to get the puck out of his zone before his opponents can catch their breath. He’s also not shy at joining the rush when he doesn’t have the puck, giving forwards another option down low to feed the puck. With a NHL-caliber shot, he can beat goaltenders clean. While there is no denying his offensive talent, there is still some work to do in the defensive end. There was improvement year-over-year, but there is still some issues when it comes to coverage in the zone and he often relies on his skating to overcome some positioning issues. That should improve with more reps as will his breakout passes. At times he forces plays that aren’t there, and while he doesn’t try to skate out every time he has the puck, he still tries to do it a little too often when the safe play might by flipping the puck out of the zone for a clear. The 24-year-old made his NHL debut last season while the Lightning defensive ranks were decimated with injuries, He was able to pick up an assist (ironically enough by flipping it out of the zone instead of carrying it out). Is there a chance he wins a spot on the Lightning roster in training camp? Well, there is always a chance, but it’s not likely. Tampa Bay’s defense is already pretty jammed at the NHL level so it will be tough for him to leap-frog the players already on the roster. That being said, he won’t be far down the call-up list if the injury bug strikes the blueline again. He’ll likely start the season in Syracuse on the top line generating power play minutes while working on his defensive skills. The fact that he signed a two-year extension early in the off-season is a good indication that the organization likes him and he wants to stay here. It will be a big season for Max Groshev, and despite the new deal, it’ll go a long way to determining his future with the Lightning. Expect him to see a lot of playing time in Syracuse, and while he might not be the best defenseman in the system, he might be the most exciting. Your Thoughts: His top ranking was fourth (11.6% of the votes had him in that spot) but after that he was all over the board. “The Bolts have some really solid prospects at forward who should turn into reliable NHL players, but the defense and goaltending prospects definitely lack quality outside of Groshev.” Highlight Videos: Mitchell Chaffee cashes in 💰 pic.twitter.com/dRJ7WHE3BX — Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) April 25, 2026 Max Groshev is not here to mess around. He is here to shoot the puck. In this instance, it took him a moment to get his feet in the right spot, but once he did, Groshev snapped a nice, long-distance wrister that has some pace on it. Most importantly, he got it on net. Tic-Tac-Goal 🚨 pic.twitter.com/fCoA3JSqae — Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) April 4, 2026 Groshev’s speed allows him to jump up on the rush and provide an extra body for defenders to have to deal with. How often do you see a team enter the zone four-wide? The fact that he is able to carry the puck in the zone pulled the defender out wide which left the Crunch with a three-on-one. A little bit of insurance from Chaffee! pic.twitter.com/xklb6Vgr2L — Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) February 8, 2026 The play started in the defensive zone where Groshev used his reach to knock the puck loose. Once the turnover happened, Groshev skated his way into the attack, slowing down just in time to cause a little unintentional intentional obstruction. OH. MY. MAX. GROSHEV. pic.twitter.com/eQqCYE2xZp — Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) December 18, 2025 This is quintessential Max Groshev. He pounced on the loose puck, built speed through his own zone, decked the first line of defense, and then snapped it past the goaltender with a NHL-quality shot. This is the dynamic he can bring to the Lightning if he can improve some of the defensive aspects of his game.
For hockey fans of a certain age, Barry Melrose was quite literally the face of the NHL. Clad in bold suits, with his iconic long hair brushed back, he would provide exuberant commentary on ESPN and the newly-born ESPN2 on a nightly basis. A former player, coach, and broadcaster, the 70-year-old Melrose passed away on Wednesday. There was no mistaking the love he had for the game. While the broadcaster/analyst career might be the role he played for a few generations of fans, prior to that he had an 11-year playing career that spanned the WHA, NHL, and AHL. The former second-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens played 300 games in the NHL with Winnipeg, Toronto, and Detroit before embarking on a coaching career that would culminate with a Stanley Cup appearance behind the bench for the Los Angeles Kings against the Montreal organization that had drafted him back in 1976. He would wrap up his career behind the bench in L.A. following the 1994-95 season and then head for the glamour of the TV studios for the next quarter-century. His time on the TV would be briefly interrupted in 2008, when he returned to coaching as the man in charge of the Tampa Bay Lightning. It wasn’t a long interruption, though. Melrose would be relieved of his duties in November, just five months and 16 games into his tenure. In hindsight, it was a perfect hire for that iteration of the Lightning. The chaos that was OK Hockey needed a media-friendly, recognizable face behind the bench promising a return to an attack-minded offense led by in-their-prime stars Vincent Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis as well as a young kid by the name of Steven Stamkos. And like everything else OK Hockey touched during their ruinous tenure in Tampa, it all fell apart. By all reports Melrose failed to connect with the team despite his reputation as a players’ coach. Reports of locker room tension arose early in the season and led to a few combative meetings between the coach and players. The fact that ownership constantly meddled into hockey affairs didn’t help, and the team’s lackluster 5-7-4 start led to assistant coach Rick Tocchet taking over the coaching duties. The defining quote of Melrose’s time with the Lightning was that Steven Stamkos “is not ready for the NHL”. We’ve already written about the fact that he may have been right from a certain point of view, but the overwhelming sense of the time was that it Melrose who wasn’t ready to return to the NHL. As time wore on, it was water under the bridge, and one of the delightful outcomes of ESPN/Disney reacquiring NHL broadcast rights was the return of Melrose to regular coverage of hockey. His hair may have been a little grayer, but his love of the game remained. We didn’t always agree with his takes or analysis, but we always appreciated the joy he brought to intermissions and hockey segments on ESPN. He was a true ambassador of the game and will be missed. Condolences to his family and friends.
As we head into the 2026-27 NHL season, some Tampa Bay Lightning stars could hit new benchmarks and milestones worth celebrating. This is a non-exhaustive list; it’s a look at…
It’s hard to build a winning team in the NHL. Even if you draft well, it can all be undone by one bad contract. When one of those contracts happens…
Tampa Bay Lightning gear up for the upcoming NHL season with fresh energy and fierce competition on the horizon. Fantasy hockey fans get their chance to join an exclusive Locked On league, while the preseason sparks debate over key matchupsincluding the high-stakes showdowns with the Florida Panthers that could set the tone for the year. Greg Stephen spotlights roster battles, injury risks, and why discipline may be the Bolts secret weapon as the puck drops in just 12 days. Greg Stephen also kicks off the innovative Prediction Corner, offering bold stat forecasts for Jake Guentzel and Brayden Point before opening the challenge to listeners. Plus, a Behind Enemy Lines segment features a deep look at the Chicago Blackhawks, from Connor Bedards injury setback to Patrick Kanes homecoming. Lightning fans eager for insight, fun predictions, and a pulse on preseason drama wont want to miss this episode. 00:00 Lightning Preseason Preview 12:42 Blackhawks Deep Dive 21:38 Prediction Corner Debut Watch Locked On Lightning on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@LockedOnLightning Locked On NHL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Prospects & More https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNHL Follow Us on Social Media! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lockedonlightning/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lockedonlightning Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lockedonlightning X: https://x.com/LO_Lightning Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, its time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your teams community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Indeed Now, you can speed up your hiring process with a $75 Sponsored Job Credit. Just go to https://indeed.com/podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply. KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get one-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started Play Your Game. 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon Rugiet Get 15% off your treatment https://rugiet.com/lockedonnhl Rugiet. Performance medicine for men. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Tampa Bay Lightnings youth movement heats up as Maxim Groshev and Dylan Duke push for preseason breakthroughs. With veterans like Victor Hedman, Erik Karlsson, and Ryan McDonagh facing age-related questions, can these rising talents secure key roles and inject fresh energy into the lineup? Greg Stephen breaks down Groshevs defensive upside, Dukes leadership qualities, and what their performances could mean for the Lightnings Stanley Cup ambitions. The spotlight shifts west as the Colorado Avalanche emerge as the NHLs powerhouseboasting Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and a loaded top-six, but are their goaltenders a weak link? Greg Stephen also delivers fresh season predictions for Nikita Kucherov and Brandon Hagel, examining scoring trends and forecasting point totals. Get the latest insights into Tampa Bays evolving roster, the challenge posed by Western Conference giants, and what to expect as the puck drop nears. 00:00 Lightning Preseason Breakout Picks 13:24 Colorado Avalanche Breakdown 22:40 Lightning Player Predictions LINK TO PREDICTIONS SHEET: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-ZW_FUoCN-LzaOBRJiYlNQz0MN-dpkx2UjwDLltM3hM/edit?usp=sharing LINK TO LOCKED ON FANTASY HOCKEY SIGN UPS: https://fantasy.espn.com/hockey/league/join?leagueId=2139063481&inviteId=ca3f7600-1ba8-45fb-a4de-4a744cd311be Watch Locked On Lightning on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@LockedOnLightning Locked On NHL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Prospects & More https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNHL Follow Us on Social Media! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lockedonlightning/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lockedonlightning Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lockedonlightning X: https://x.com/LO_Lightning Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, its time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your teams community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Indeed Now, you can speed up your hiring process with a $75 Sponsored Job Credit. Just go to https://indeed.com/podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply. KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get one-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started Play Your Game. 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon Rugiet Get 15% off your treatment https://rugiet.com/lockedonnhl Rugiet. Performance medicine for men. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ethan Gauthier had a solid, if somewhat unspectacular, first season with the Syracuse Crunch. Can he build on that and possibly make it to the NHL this season? Name Ethan Gauthier Position Winger Age (as of October 1, 2026) 21 Height/Weight 6’0″, 183 lbs. Expected 2026-27 Team Syracuse Crunch Draft – Year, Round 2023, 2nd (37) Previous Rankings 7 ( 2025 ), 5 ( 2024 ), 4 ( 2023 ) JustinG. Ranking 8 Final Rank 9 Stats: Our Thoughts: For the fourth time in his tenure with the Tampa Bay Lightning organization, Ethan Gauthier has made it into the top ten of the prospect rankings. Unfortunately, for the third time, he’s slipped a little further down the list. Part of that might be prospect fatigue. It is also a sign that the Lightning have been able to add some pretty decent players to their talent pool since Gauthier was drafted in 2023. We’ve mentioned it rankings from previous seasons, but it felt like Gauthier was good enough to join Syracuse for the 2024-25 season, but the agreements at the time wouldn’t allow for it (we may have even floated the possibility of him starting that season in the NHL as a 19-year-old). So he returned to Drummondville and put up decent numbers (62 points in 50 games) but it put off his professional debut another season. In his first season with the Syracuse Crunch, the two-way forward put up a respectable 12 goals and 15 assists. The disappointment came in the fact that he only appeared in 56 games as he was in and out of the line-up throughout the first part of the season. What was nice to see was that he found his groove towards the end of the year, recording 10 points (4 goals, 6 assists) in his final 10 regular season games. This season he should have a chance to improve on those numbers as he should have a top-six role as well as a spot on the power play for the Crunch. If he can stay healthy and consistent, there is no reason he can’t be a 50-point guy at the AHL level. Along with the offense, he is an extremely solid defensive player. There isn’t much that is flashy about his game, but he does a lot of things really well. Gauthier has a solid wrist shot that can beat goaltenders from distance. He processes the game at a high level and has excellent vision on the ice. His skating has improved over the last few seasons, and while it might never be a strength, it’s getting to the point where it’s not going to be a hinderance to his game. Entering the second season of his entry-level deal, Gauthier could be an intriguing option for the Lightning throughout the season. He has a reasonable cap hit and is waivers-exempt. Should they need some help up front, he is the type of player that should be able to slide right into the line-up and give Tampa Bay some solid minutes. Some sexier names may have leap-frogged him on this list, but that doesn’t mean Gauthier’s ceiling as a prospect has dropped. He still projects out as a middle-six forward that can kill penalties and help on the power play (oh, yeah, he’s a right-shot as well). Your Thoughts: Highest rank was 5 with the bulk of votes spread between 6 and 13. It seems folks aren’t quite sure where to put the former second-round pick. No direct mentions of Gauthier in the comments. Highlight Videos: A PP goal right out the gate! pic.twitter.com/73lm5QeZMa — Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) April 18, 2026 The nice thing about this play is that it probably shouldn’t have happened. The routine play would be for Gauthier to swing the pass back to the point (which he does later in the same game and it leads to another power play goal). Still, he managed to thread the pass through two defenders to put it right on his teammate’s stick. The awareness on this play is that he knows Spencer Kersten will be open in the slot once both defenders move towards Gauthier. The patience pays off 💰 pic.twitter.com/6DyfIAxhzs — Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) April 4, 2026 Another nice pass from an awkward position. The goaltender and defense have to respect the fact that he’s in a shooting position, but he saw Ethan Samson break into the slot and the pass it right on the money. Goals in back-to-back games for Gauts! pic.twitter.com/yXdg8Y9cEk — Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) March 29, 2026 He recovered after a tough first touch and snapped a good hard shot to the far post through traffic. Gauthier has a NHL-level shot and the more he uses it, the more ice will be open for his passing. The boys are cooking 👨🍳 pic.twitter.com/URpdJkTEYU — Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) March 21, 2026 C’mon now. You have to enjoy this cheeky little pass. One thing you notice about Gauthier is that he doesn’t rush anything on the ice. He has the ability to stay calm and make plays even when caught up in a goal-mouth scramble.
While growing up Oleg Kulebiakin modeled his game after Nikita Kucherov, now the 2026 draft pick has a chance to skate beside him in the pre-season. Name Oleg Kulebiakin Position Winger Age (as of October 1, 2026) 18 Height/Weight 5’11”, 179 lbs. Expected 2026-27 Team Halifax Mooseheads Draft – Year, Round 2026, 2nd (52) Previous Rankings Not Applicable JustinG. Ranking 17 Final Rank 10 Stats: Our Thoughts: The Tampa Bay Lightning thought enough of Oleg Kulebiakin (most prospect sites have his name spelled as Kulebyakin, but we’ll go with how it’s spelled on the Lightning’s site) to trade up in the second round to draft him this past summer. It might be a few seasons until he puts on the Bolts’ blue and white on a full-time basis, but if and when he does, there is a good chance that his play will remind a lot of fans of the player he idolized growing up – Nikita Kucherov. Look, we know it’s a fool’s game to compare a prospect to one of the greatest players to ever lace up the skates, but there is a lot of similarity in how they process the game. They are both dangerous along the half-wall, constantly skate with their heads up in the offensive zone calculating their options, and are seemingly playing the game one or two steps ahead of their opponents. In his first season in the QMJHL, Kulebiakin finished with 73 points (29 goals, 44 assists) which was good for third among 17-year-olds in the league. He led the Halifax Mooseheads in scoring while finishing 17th in league overall in assists. Not too bad of a debut. While his numbers on a month-to-month basis were pretty consistent (13 points a month in October, November, January, and February) he could be a bit streaky. December was a rough month for him as he had six points in ten games with a stretch of just one point in seven games, but he made up for lost time when he finished the season with a 12-game point streak in which he put up 6 goals and 16 assists. The 18-year-old will look to build on those numbers while providing a little more consistency as he returns to Halifax for another season. After that he’s committed to the University of Massachusetts for the 2027-28 season. After that, it could be time for him to join the professional ranks. It is interesting to note that Julien BriseBois praised Kulebiakin’s skill level in his post-draft interview with the media, but did also make this comment, “The one thing I hope that all our players take from Nikita, if anything, is his work ethic and commitment to excellence and being the best player he can be. So, hopefully, over time here Oleg gets exposed to Nikita, and some of that rubs off of him.” Kulebiakin’s talent got him drafted, but it’s going to take hard work to make it to the NHL. One thing that can be an issue for talented playmakers is that the plays that worked when they were younger don’t work when the talent level they play against rises. In short, he can’t rely on his skill alone. He’s going to have to put the effort in. If he does that, the sky is the limit. Some scouts have mentioned that he does play a bit of a perimeter game and doesn’t necessarily go into the dirtier spots on the ice and can be knocked off of the puck at times. Adding strength will be a big asset to him over the next few seasons. His skating is good, but somewhat opportunistic. As in he gets a lot faster when staring at a breakaway as opposed to a backcheck. That’s not unusual among younger players, and he has time to improve that aspect of his game. One of the more interesting notes about his development came from Elite Prospects ‘ Hadi Kalakeche who wrote , “His dekes looked more pre-planned and efficient in this game; he was solving problems rather than flashing skill for the sake of it.” Showing off stick-handling skills just because a player can is great for practice, but isn’t what coaches want in a game. Many a hot shot hockey player is now selling insurance when they couldn’t get past that tipping point. Kulebiakin will be a fun prospect to keep an eye on over the next couple of years. His playmaking skills and vision are among the best in the prospect pool already, and if he can improve some other aspects of his game he could find a role in the Lightning’s top six down the road. Your Thoughts: Kulebiakin is the first prospect to garner a first-place vote. He also had one of the widest spreads of any of the prospects on the list as he picked up at least one vote in just about every spot except for 2 and 4. “Kulebyakin was a nice pick. Watched him in development camp and his shot is nice.” “I ranked Oleg Kulebyakin as my number 1 prospect. I believe he has all the tools to be a star in the NHL.” “Kulebyakin is another boom or bust offensive player.” “Kulbyakin is a young prospect with a lot of potential (top 6) in my opinion. I’m curious to see how he develops.” “Kulebyakin, if he can be 70% of the player Kuch is, all the more reason to move Kuch.” “Kulebyakin being mentioned in the same sentence as Kucherov is enough to merit attention to his prospective future, but then you couple that with what he was able to show during the prospect camp. It’s hard not to be a little hyped over his future.” Highlight Videos: No sense in showing his highlights one-by-one. This collection shows exactly what he brings to the ice. Excellent vision, good hands, and a sneaky good shot.
Jayson Shaugabay creeps up a few spots in the rankings following a strong collegiate season in 2025-26. Expect another productive season as he returns to the University of Minnesota-Duluth for his third year. Name Jayson Shaugabay Position Center Age (as of October 1, 2026) 21 Height/Weight 5’9″, 165 lbs. Expected 2026-27 Team University of Minnesota-Duluth Draft – Year, Round 2023, 4th (115th) Previous Rankings 17th ( 2023 ), 16th ( 2024 ), 16th ( 2025 ) JustinG. Ranking 10 Final Rank 11 Stats: Our Thoughts: Let it be known this is, has been, and will forever be a pro-Jayson Shaugabay website. In his second season with the University of Minnesota-Duluth, the former Mr. Hockey continues to justify our hockey crush. After a freshman season that saw him produce some decent numbers (26 points in 36 games), Shaugabay increased his production to 43 points (11 goals, 32 assists) in 40 games as a sophomore. Not only that, he worked his way up to the top of the line-up with Hobey Baker Winner (and Red Wings prospect) Max Plante. All the Plante’s (Max has two brothers, Victor and Zam) will be back in Duluth along with Shaugabay, so expect plenty of offense for the Bulldogs, who bowed out in the quarter-finals to Michigan last season. He’ll likely have a big role as a top-six forward and on the number one power play unit as UMD tries to get back into the mix as one of the top college programs in the country. Shaugabay has shown some nice glimpses of his playmaking skills during his brief journeys to Tampa for development camps, where a former teammate gave rave reviews about his play, “Whenever he has the puck, he’s controlling the game,” he [Dominic James] said of Shaugabay. “There’s not a single play that Shaugs can’t see or make. He’s very offensive-oriented, but that takes nothing away from his defensive game. He’s so trustworthy in the D-zone, and not only that, but he’s so strong on the puck…Shaugs is definitely a trustworthy linemate.” James played with Shaugabay back in the 2024-25 season when the Lightning draft pick was a freshman. Even as a first-year player, Shaugabay’s offensive skills were apparent. Make no mistake about it, the 5’9″ forward is a playmaker in every sense of the word. While he does much of his damage from the half-wall on the power play, he can set up his teammates from any spot on the ice. His head is constantly up and he’s scanning the ice for seams to make passes, which usually end up right on the tape of his teammates. Shaugabay will spend the rest of his hockey career having to silence critics due to his relative lack of size. While the game is becoming more and more friendly to forwards under 6 feet tall, it will be a struggle for players like Shaugabay to gain a foothold in the league unless they continue to display exceptional skill with the puck. So far, that hasn’t been a problem for the 2023 fourth-round pick. While he isn’t crashing through the crease like a bowling ball a la Dylan Duke, Shaugabay isn’t a pushover. He knows how to get positioning in terms of rebounds while maintaining a goal-scorer’s knack for creating separation to create offense. Still, adding a little more muscle won’t be a bad idea, and staying in college for the next two seasons should help with that. His skating is fine, but he isn’t going to fly up and down the ice. Besides, he is still very effective at changing his pace of play in the zone to disrupt opponents even if he isn’t a speedster. Much like Nikita Kucherov, deception is more important than speed, and Shaugabay has plenty of shifty moves in his arsenal. His footwork is excellent, and his body control allows him to be deceptive when it comes to shooting or passing the puck (he still needs to shoot a little more). Prior to his selection in 2023, the Lightning didn’t really have anyone that fit his profile in their system, but since then they’ve added Joona Saarelainen and Oleg Kulebiakin, two playmakers that skew to the smaller side physically. They are all skilled players that if they had been three or four inches taller and 20 pounds heavier they probably wouldn’t have been available in the middle rounds. Another strong season from Shaugabay could accelerate his timeline into the professional ranks, but for now it looks like he’s still a few years away from making the leap. When he does, he should bring some fun into the organization. Your Thoughts: His highest ranking was third and he landed several votes in the top 10. His highest percentage of votes came at the 9th spot, but there were a few in the lower teens that dragged him just outside of the top 10. “Shaugabay showed nice potential at development camp.” “Jason Shaugabay I believe is one of the, if not the most underrated prospect in the system. I love everything about his game. Another guy who isn’t too big, but he’s got a ton of skill and hockey sense. I think he’s got tremendous upside and is another player that I think is going to smash through his glass ceiling.” Highlight Videos: SHAUGABAY CLEANS IT UP! pic.twitter.com/jLSmEernOZ — UMD Men's Hockey (@UMDMensHockey) March 15, 2026 At first glance this seems like a pretty easy tap-in off of a juicy rebound for Shaugabay. While that is true in a sense, it’s also an example of how good his hands are. He is in good position for the rebound, but it comes off the pads a little hot and handcuffs him. A lot of players might only get a little bit of the stick on it, but Shaugabay is able to make really good contact to shoot it into the net. Shaugabay scores UMD's first shootout goal! pic.twitter.com/fFVkXOBVOo — UMD Men's Hockey (@UMDMensHockey) March 1, 2026 This is just a fun little shootout move. He took his sweet time getting down the ice, and it seemed like he might be setting up for a little stickhandling show. Instead he snapped a quick, deceptive shot through the five-hole before the goaltender could react. Shaugbay doubles the lead!! pic.twitter.com/0oS6snlYX9 — UMD Men's Hockey (@UMDMensHockey) February 21, 2026 He’s not the fastest skater, but it seems like he picks up a little speed when he needs it. Again, he makes a nice quick move to beat the goaltender (after a friendly bounce). He did a really good job of pulling it to his backhand to make it tougher for the trailing defender to reach around and deflect the puck. A subtle little move, but an effective one. Arnott on the POWER PLAY!! pic.twitter.com/Gmj39Zo9UE — UMD Men's Hockey (@UMDMensHockey) January 11, 2026 Watching his highlights, one thing that stands out is his ability to make passes through traffic. There isn’t a lot of daylight on this one as he circled from behind the net, but the pass it right where it needs to be for the one-timer. Arnott sends it in with help from Shaugabay! pic.twitter.com/47qMeEMyhW — UMD Men's Hockey (@UMDMensHockey) January 3, 2026 His initial move is deflected, but Shaugabay doesn’t stop on the play. He gathered the puck, turned the defender inside out, and took it behind the net knowing that his play was to center it to his teammate. Once again the puck is right on the tape.
The trade deadline and trades overall benefit the team that acquires the best player in the deal. At least that’s the common thought behind most deals in what is known…
The NHL is full of talented young skaters drafted in the first round, with iron sharpening iron constantly. Some have been able to separate themselves from the chaff. However, there…
Tampa Bay Lightnings leadership future sparks debate as Victor Hedman enters his late 30s. Who will wear the C nextBrandon Hagels gritty play and resilience or Anthony Cirellis calm, veteran presence? Nick Morgan and Greg Stephen break down the attributes that define a true captain, question Nikita Kucherovs role in the locker room, and explore why the teams best player doesnt always need to be the official leader.Washington Capitals emerge as serious Eastern Conference contenders with major offseason moves, including the addition of Alex Tuch and Jordan Kyrou to support Alexander Ovechkins quest for another Stanley Cup. The hosts dissect the Capitals upgraded offense, lingering questions on defense, and how goaltending and roster depth may decide their playoff fate. Plus, a bold hot take: Will the Tampa Bay Lightning reclaim the Stanley Cup this season? Join the conversation with confident predictions and critical insights into the Bolts championship potential.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!IndeedNow, you can speed up your hiring process with a $75 Sponsored Job Credit. Just go to https://indeed.com/podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply.FanDuelCollege football Saturdays are already packed with reasons to get excited, and this season, FanDuel is giving fans even more ways to get in on every matchup.Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COMFANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Watch Locked On Lightning on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@LockedOnLightningLocked On NHL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Prospects & More https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNHLFollow Us on Social Media! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lockedonlightning/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lockedonlightningThreads: https://www.threads.com/@lockedonlightningX: https://x.com/LO_LightningEverydayer Club If you never miss an episode, its time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your teams community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Indeed Now, you can speed up your hiring process with a $75 Sponsored Job Credit. Just go to https://indeed.com/podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply. KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get one-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started Play Your Game. 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon Rugiet Get 15% off your treatment https://rugiet.com/lockedonnhl Rugiet. Performance medicine for men. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Ondrej Palat will forever be the prime example of the Tampa Bay Lightning’s ability to find talent in late rounds. Could Noah Steen be the next example? Name Noah Steen Position Forward Age (as of October 1, 2026) 22 Height/Weight 6’1, 194 lbs. Expected 2026-27 Team Syracuse Crunch Draft – Year, Round 2024, 7th (199) Previous Rankings Not Ranked JustinG. Ranking 19 Final Rank 12 Stats: Our Thoughts: Can a career be defined by one play? Especially for a seventh-round pick that has yet to play in the NHL? In the case of Noah Steen, the answer may be yes. That play: NOAH STEEN OT HERO‼️ #MensWorlds #IIHF pic.twitter.com/noVLGvcZu4 — IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 31, 2026 Steen’s overtime goal against Canada in the World Championships locked in Norway’s first medal, a bronze, in the history of that tournament. If nothing else, he’ll always be able to hang his hat on that accomplishment. The goal itself was prototypical of what Steen does on the ice. In his own zone he won a board battle to force a turnover which caught Canada outnumbered. He drove to the net on the ensuing two-on-one and then snapped a shot past the goaltender for the win. He’s a hardworking, pest of a player that skates a little bit better than one imagines and has a little bit more offensive talent than teams may expect. In short, the perfect candidate to be a bottom-six forward that can kill penalties and chip in the occasional goal while getting under the skin of opponents. He’s the type of player that won’t put up gaudy numbers but quietly help his team tilt the ice in their direction. After a 22-point season with Orebro HK of the SHL, the 22-year-old signed his entry-level contract with the Lightning and joined the Syracuse Crunch on an ATO for a brief seven-game stint in the AHL, in which he recorded his first North American goal. Expect him to spend the 2026-27 season with the Crunch as he competes for a spot in their forward group while getting some time on the penalty kill. With things a little crowded in Salt City there could be the possibility he spends a little time in Orlando, but having played 103 regular season games in the SHL over the last two seasons, he likely has a leg up on some of the other prospects competing for a spot in the roster. Like the vast majority of the forwards in the Lightning’s prospect barrel, his path to the NHL isn’t going to be lined with sparkling goals and dazzling assists. Rather it will be pushed forward along the boards and in the dirty areas in front of the net. He does have a strong transition game and can be dangerous off of the rush which could lead to some offense short-handed (honestly, the Lightning penalty kill in 2029 could be really lethal if some of these kids evolve to their expected levels). His skating is good but could use some refinement. He has decent size, and while he isn’t overly aggressive, he’s also not afraid to stick his nose into a scrum or let an opponent taste the outside of an unwashed glove. His ability to play a physical brand of hockey will be tested this year in the AHL, and if he finds success, the NHL could be within the grasp of the seventh-round pick in a couple of seasons. There is a little bit of Yanni Gourde in his game. Gourde might have slightly better offensive instincts, but Steen plays with that same sort of relentless energy that exhausts other teams. Steen’s goal against Canada in the bronze medal game capped off a World Championship tournament that heightened his profile from run-of-the-mill late-round pick to potential diamond-in-the-rough. It was his seventh of the tournament, which tied him for the overall lead with old friend Rudolfs Balcers, and was one more than NHL luminaries Macklin Celebrini and Nico Hischier. Not a bad run of play for a kid drafted 199th overall in 2024. The scoring outburst is a bit atypical of Steen’s career where he has yet to hit the 20-goal mark in any single season, and it might have led to a bit of recency bias for his overall ranking. Or, on the other hand, he is a player that is aging into his game and figuring things out as a 21- and 22-year-old as opposed to someone who does it in junior hockey. After all, he did put up 12 goals in 52 games for Orebro last year. The upcoming season will be an important one for him. If Steen can put up similar production while playing a heavy game in the defensive zone, he’ll be in line for a depth role in the organization. Your Thoughts: Highest ranking was fifth. The spot that he received the most votes for was 15th (16.3%), but he had enough higher spots to bring him up a few notches. “Steen could be the sleeper if can improve his skating dynamics as he already has a nose for scoring against NHL competition.” “Steen had a good tournament last year. Will see what he can do in AHL.” Highlight Videos: Noah Steen received an unsportsmanlike penalty after something he said to Filip Hronek after the final whistle. #MensWorlds pic.twitter.com/efphd3ISP8 — Steven Ellis (@SEllisHockey) May 25, 2026 See. He’s already getting under the skin of NHL players. 🚨 This guy has been unbelievable! Noah Steen (#12 in red) forces the turnover, fights off the backchecker, and rips it home shorthanded for his 2nd goal of the game and his 5th goal of the World Championship! What a tournament he is having. ⚡️ #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/cp4J3OvI9W — Future Bolts (@FutureBolts_) May 24, 2026 This is a really nice play. He made a nice play to get the puck and he pressured a player that was at the end of his shift. The spin move to the inside caught Sweden completely off guard and Steen had the skill to beat the goaltender. It will be interesting to see if Joel Bouchard matches him up with Sam O’Reilly on the penalty kill in Syracuse this season. The first one for Noah Steen! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/I7sBPbtqB2 — Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) April 12, 2026 This likely won’t be the last tip goal for Steen in his professional career. He has the ability and size to play in front of the net.
Tampa Bay Lightnings young core faces a major test: Is this Conor Geekies breakout season, or could a trade be looming? Nick Morgan and Greg Stephen break down Geekies chances of locking in an NHL roster spot, weighing his AHL dominance against fierce competition for ice time. The discussion spotlights how roster depth and coaching decisions could shape Geekies trajectory and the teams future. Plus, the Behind Enemy Lines segment heats up with Pittsburgh Penguins talkhas Sidney Crosbys era reached its final chapter? Comparing roster moves, key acquisitions, and the chances for another Stanley Cup run, Nick and Greg also tackle the ultimate hot take: Sidney Crosby vs. Alexander Ovechkinwho truly stands atop NHL greatness? Dont miss strategic insights, power play chatter, and a look ahead to Lightnings biggest Eastern Conference battles. 00:00 Lightning Youth & Geekie 12:18 Penguins Core Last Hurrah 20:52 Crosby vs Ovechkin Debate Watch Locked On Lightning on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@LockedOnLightning Locked On NHL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Prospects & More https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNHL Follow Us on Social Media! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lockedonlightning/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lockedonlightning Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lockedonlightning X: https://x.com/LO_Lightning Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, its time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your teams community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Indeed Now, you can speed up your hiring process with a $75 Sponsored Job Credit. Just go to https://indeed.com/podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply. KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get one-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started Play Your Game. 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon Rugiet Get 15% off your treatment https://rugiet.com/lockedonnhl Rugiet. Performance medicine for men. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
A right-shot defenseman that has size and is mobile? In the Tampa Bay Lightning system, it might not be long until Tomas Kralovic is making his NHL debut. Name Tomas Kralovic Position Defenseman (Right Shot) Age (as of October 1, 2026) 21 Height/Weight 6’3″, 203 lbs. Expected 2026-27 Team Syracuse Crunch Draft – Year, Round 2026, 3rd (90th) Previous Rankings Not Applicable JustinG. Ranking 9 Final Rank 13 Stats: Our Thoughts: Tomas Kralovic’s summer has been a bit of whirlwind. First getting drafted in the third round by the Lightning (a little bit of a reach for some prognosticators), then, a few days later at Tampa Bay’s development camp, the lanky defender signed his entry-level contract. It was a little shocking that the then 20-year-old inked his deal so quickly as it wouldn’t have been a shock to see him spend at least another season in Slovakia. Instead, he’s coming overseas and will likely start his North American career in Syracuse this fall. In an organization where the defensive depth is about as deep as a puddle in a parking lot after a 15-minute Tampa rainstorm, it might not be long before he’s skating in the NHL. That being said, it’s a long way from the Extraliga to the NHL, and there are definitely some things that Kralovic will have to work on in order to see time with the Lightning. The most intriguing part of his game is his ability to generate offense. As a 20-year-old he put up 31 points (6 goals, 25 assists) in 52 games. That was good for 7th overall in the Extraliga last season, and only Ryan O’Conner put up more points as a defenseman. Only four of his points came on the power play, but it wouldn’t be a shock to see him emerge as one of the Crunch’s more reliable quarterbacks. His biggest strength is his skating ability. Yes, for once we don’t have to add the “improve his skating” cravat to his skill set. Kralovic can move the puck from one zone to another effortlessly and doesn’t mind joining the rush as an extra attacker. Once he’s in the zone he has an effective wrist shot that he can put on net with regularity. With his size he can take opponents out of the play without being overly physical. He can throw a hit and make it count, but he doesn’t go out of his way to bury other players into the ice. The Lightning tend to favor hockey sense over dynamic skill in selecting their prospects, but in this case, the scales may be tipped in the other direction. One of the biggest hurdles he’s going to have to deal with is handling the increased pressure on forechecks from higher-skilled AHL attackers. Can he process the game fast enough to make the right decisions when he’s under pressure. If he can, he has the skill to lead the rush out of the zone and turn defense into offense. Your Thoughts: “Kralovic has the physical traits to get him to NHL quickly especially with Lightning’s lack of organizational depth at D – will be a replacement for Cernak in 2027.” The new defenseman peaked at the five spot on one voter’s rankings while his most popular spot was 11th. Highlight Videos: Tomáš Královič s 3. gólom v tomto finále, viac ich zatiaľ dali len Takáč a Lacka 🏒🚨 Parádna strela od modrej a ako vyzdvihol aj spolukomentátor, nemal oči na puku, ale celý čas hral s hlavou hore pozerajúc na bránu 🥅 🎥JOJšport pic.twitter.com/Gg7ZEDfL9v — Peter Vretenička (@vretenicka) April 26, 2026 What we like about this play is that Kralovic never stops moving his feet in order to get to the slot. A lot of defenders will take a couple of strides and then glide into the area before taking their shot. That gives defenders a chance to slide out and block shots. Kralovic got to where he needed to be and snapped off his shot. 20-ročný Tomáš Královič neprestáva udivovať 😲 V piatkovom derby proti KE dostal šancu v nájazdoch a premenil obidva pokusy, čím zabezpečil pre Slovan výhru 💪 Je jediným obrancom s úspešným nájazdom v tejto sezóne 👀 🎥YT Tipsport liga pic.twitter.com/AN7My9GWx3 — Peter Vretenička (@vretenicka) October 18, 2025 The kid has some hands. The Lightning can always use another skill guy on the shoot-out. He took a nice angle and sold the toe-drag before flipping it over the glove.
The Buffalo Sabres are heading into the 2026-27 season as defending Atlantic Division champions. They recorded 50-plus wins for the third time in franchise history (2006-07 / 2007-08). Now, heading…
Tampa Bay Lightning face a pivotal identity crisis as the NHL season kicks off. Can John Coopers squad finally strike the right balance between gritty physicality and elite skill, or will penalty troubles keep undermining a deep playoff push? Nikita Kucherovs game-breaking talent and the leadership of Andrei Vasilevskiy remain central, but how the Bolts navigate their burning questions could define their Stanley Cup ambitions. Nick Morgan and Greg Stephen debate the reality of the Stanley Cup window and whether Tampa Bays championship hopes are truly closing. The duo also provides a sharp scouting report on the retooled New York Rangerscan Dorofeyevs arrival and Igor Shesterkins dominance make them surprise contenders, or will the Metro Division be too tough to crack this year? Don't miss this incisive look at team identities, coaching strategies, and the shifting balance of NHL power. 00:00 Bolts Burning Question 13:13 Rangers Offseason Deep Dive 21:02 Stanley Cup Window Debate Watch Locked On Lightning on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@LockedOnLightning Locked On NHL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Prospects & More https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNHL Follow Us on Social Media! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lockedonlightning/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lockedonlightning Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lockedonlightning X: https://x.com/LO_Lightning Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, its time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your teams community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Indeed Now, you can speed up your hiring process with a $75 Sponsored Job Credit. Just go to https://indeed.com/podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply. KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get one-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started Play Your Game. 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon Rugiet Get 15% off your treatment https://rugiet.com/lockedonnhl Rugiet. Performance medicine for men. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Tampa Bay Lightning ignite debate over their sixth-forward spotcan Gage Goncalves finally secure his place in the top six, or will newcomers like Ilya Mikheyev shake up the pecking order? Nick Morgan and Greg Stephen break down the stakes and explore how roster decisions could impact the Lightnings scoring lines as NHL hockey returns. Early chemistry between Jake Guentzel and Brandon Hagel, potential role shifts for Jeffrey Veal and Dominic James, and trade scenarios for offensive firepower amplify the intrigue at Amalie Arena. The episode also spotlights the Philadelphia Flyers surprising playoff run: are Matvei Michkov, Trevor Zegras, and rookie standout Martone ready to push Philly further? Goaltending drama with Dan Vladar and Joseph Woll, plus Michkovs dynamic skill set and future with the Flyers, spark analysis on the Metro Divisions rising contenders. To close, a heated take: will Connor Bedard or Macklin Celebrini retire as the NHLs top star of their era? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! IndeedNow, you can speed up your hiring process with a $75 Sponsored Job Credit. Just go to https://indeed.com/podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuelCollege football Saturdays are already packed with reasons to get excited, and this season, FanDuel is giving fans even more ways to get in on every matchup.Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Watch Locked On Lightning on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@LockedOnLightningLocked On NHL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Prospects & More https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNHLFollow Us on Social Media! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lockedonlightning/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lockedonlightningThreads: https://www.threads.com/@lockedonlightningX: https://x.com/LO_LightningEverydayer Club If you never miss an episode, its time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your teams community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Indeed Now, you can speed up your hiring process with a $75 Sponsored Job Credit. Just go to https://indeed.com/podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply. KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get one-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started Play Your Game. 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon Rugiet Get 15% off your treatment https://rugiet.com/lockedonnhl Rugiet. Performance medicine for men. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Benjamin Rautiainen just posted the best offensive season a Finnish forward has produced in the Liiga in nearly two decades, and the Tampa Bay Lightning still have to decide in…
We keep getting closer, and closer, and closer to the start of hockey season. As things crawl nearer, little drops of information keep getting released. First it was the opening night game. Then it was the entire schedule. Now, the Tampa Bay Lightning have released their promotional schedule. All of the theme and giveaway nights are now up on the schedule, so go book your seats accordingly! Starting off we have their theme nights, mostly centered around holidays. Like a few other teams, the Bolts had advertised a “Fourth Wing Night” which included some special ticket packages, but that does not appear on their official list. October 3 – Opening night (Washington Capitals) October 29 – Halloween (Winnipeg Jets) November 25 – Thanksgiving (Carolina Hurricanes) December 17 and 22nd – Holiday Games (Calgary Flames, St. Louis Blues) December 31 – New Years Eve (Montreal Canadiens) January 2 – Bolts and Boots (Buffalo Sabres) January 16 – Kids Day (Ottawa Senators) January 30 – Gasparilla (New York Islanders) March 11 – Margaritaville (New Jersey Devils) April 10 – Fan Appreciation (Boston Bruins) There are also the usual Hockey is for Everyone nights that will feature merchandise designed by local artists. October 15 – Noche Latina (Seattle Kraken) November 5 – Military Appreciation (Chicago Blackhawks) November 22 – Hockey Fights Cancer (Buffalo Sabres) January 14 – Pride (Vegas Golden Knights) January 26 – Hockey Talks (Los Angeles Kings) February 28 – Black Heritage (Utah Mammoth) March 25 – First Responders (Philadelphia Flyers) March 30 – Women in Sports (Toronto Maple Leafs) Finally, the nights everyone is locking forward to – the Stadium Giveaway nights. Unlike some other organizations, the Lightning haven’t released any images of either the bobbleheads or the “pocket art”. So your guess is as good as ours as to what they are. October 3 – Schedule Magnets (Washington Capitals) October 29 – Victor Hedman Pocket Art (Winnipeg Jets) November 19 – Player Keychains (Edmonton Oilers) November 25 – Bug Keeper Hats (Carolina Hurricanes) December 7 – Nikita Kucherov Pocket Art (Columbus Blue Jackets) February 18 – Jake Guentzel Bobblehead (Anaheim Ducks) March 23 – Brandon Hagel Bobblehead (Florida Panthers) March 27 – T-Shirt April 1 – Andrei Vasilevskiy Pocket Art (Columbus Blue Jackets) It is worth noting that the Pocket Art and Bobbleheads are noted as being available for the first 10,000 fans. So make sure you arrive early on those nights! We know that the Lightning will be releasing information on their Hometown Remix jerseys at some point. There is a good chance that we will see them wear them on select Saturday night home games (assuming they wear them more than once).
Tampa Bay Lightning face a pivotal season: get past Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs or face major questions about their core. Nick Morgan and Greg Stephen break down the key factors, from Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point rediscovering postseason form to the need for a more adaptable power play and greater home ice advantage at Club BMI. Are new additions like Ilya Mikheyev and breakout candidates like Dominic James the answer to depth concerns? The hosts spotlight Cale Makar's record $20.4M AAV contract, ranking it against league bests like Brandon Hagel and Kucherovs team-friendly dealswhile naming Jonathan Huberdeau and Elias Pettersson as possible contract busts. Plus, the outlook for the New York Islanders: can Ilya Sorokin and Matthew Schaefer lift them to playoff contention in a wide-open Metro Division, or is this another year of mediocrity? Dont miss this high-stakes Lightning preview and NHL contract debate. 00:00 Lightning Playoff Hurdles 10:21 Islanders Roster Breakdown 18:17 NHL Contracts: Best & Worst Watch Locked On Lightning on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@LockedOnLightning Locked On NHL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Prospects & More https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNHL Follow Us on Social Media! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lockedonlightning/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lockedonlightning Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lockedonlightning X: https://x.com/LO_Lightning Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, its time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your teams community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Indeed Now, you can speed up your hiring process with a $75 Sponsored Job Credit. Just go to https://indeed.com/podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply. KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get one-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started Play Your Game. 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon Rugiet Get 15% off your treatment https://rugiet.com/lockedonnhl Rugiet. Performance medicine for men. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Could Joona Saarelainen make the leap from Europe to North America this season? A strong 2025-26 has him on that path. Name Joona Saarelainen Position Forward Age (as of October 1, 2026) 20 Height/Weight 5’9″, 187 lbs. Expected 2026-27 Team KalPa (Liiga) Draft – Year, Round 2024, 5th Round (149) Previous Rankings 19th ( 2024 ), 18th ( 2025 ) JustinG. Ranking 7 Final Rank 14 Stats: Our Thoughts: Unlike his fellow countryman, Benjamin Rautelainen, Joona Saarelainen didn’t have a breakout season in the Liiga in 2025-26. What he did have was a fairly solid season as a 19-year-old in a pretty competitive league. For the first time in his career he spent the entire season (minus a stint with the U20 World Junior team for Finland) at the top level. He responded with 8 goals and 16 assists in 51 games. In KalPa’s 11 playoff games he added another 5 points (2 goals, 3 assists). He’ll spend at least one more season in Finland, but it wouldn’t be shocking to see him sign his entry-level contract and cross the Atlantic at some point to join the organization. The Lightning (and Crunch) could always use a few more playmakers and that’s what Saarelainen projects out as. KalPa doesn’t have the deepest line-up in the league so there is a chance that the fifth-round pick can find himself in the top six this season. Saarelainen isn’t the biggest player on the ice, standing at 5’9″ (allegedly), but he plays a lot bigger than his size. He’s not the type of player that shies away from the front of the net, and at 187 lbs. he can be tough to move once he sets up just outside of the crease. Stationed at the front or the side of the net, Saarelainen uses his hand-eye coordination to tip pucks home or dig out rebounds. He also has a really nice wrist shot that crosses up goaltenders. His 15.4% shooting percentage was sixth on the team last season. Playing in front of the net like he does leads to a lot of solid scoring chances (he posted a 9.31 expected goals) and he has a goal-scorers knack of getting into solid scoring areas. That was on display during the World Junior Championship when he posted four goals and two assists in seven games. He’s not a one-dimensional player as he works just as hard in his own zone as he does in the offensive zone. Saarelainen is a tireless skater and can sort out what is happening in the defensive zone in order to move into the right spot to break up plays. On turnovers, he has the wheels to turn defense into offense fairly quickly, an asset that helps him kill penalties. Keep an eye on his playing time this season. Last season he averaged just over 15 minutes per game. He should have a bigger role with KalPa this season and that should lead to some more production. Expect some more time on the power play and among the top-six. If he can parlay that extra time into points on the board, it’ll be a nice sign that he’s on the right track. He has the skills to produce in any league, hopefully he’ll be showcasing them with Syracuse as early as this spring. He’s off to a decent start with a couple of assists in five pre-season games so far. (Oh, look, old friend Otto Somppi will be a teammate this season). Your Thoughts: There were no direct mentions of Saarelainen in the comments. The highest spot for Saarelainen was fifth while over 23.3% of the voters locked him in at the 14th spot. Highlight Videos: Joona Saarelainen levels it for @leijonat ! 🚨 #WorldJuniors #IIHF pic.twitter.com/ufMmauf1uB — IIHF (@IIHFHockey) January 5, 2026 Never. Stop. Skating. Saarelainen couldn’t reach the initial centering pass, but he didn’t give up on the play. He collected the loose puck, fed it to the point, and then circled to the net. He beat the defender to the rebound and put the puck into the net. Kapaselta maailmanluokan esityö ja Saarelainen niittaa pelin tasoihin! 🚨 #KalPa #Liiga 📺: @MTVUrheilu pic.twitter.com/SAmVFXx9p7 — KalPa (@KalPa_Hockey) April 11, 2026 This is how undersized players can be productive in front of the net. He timed a little push off of the defenseman perfectly to create space and then snapped off the one-timer. Skill can triumph over size. Härski vääntää, Joona tarjoilee ja Kona laittaa sisään! 🙌 #KalPa #Liiga 📺: @MTVUrheilu pic.twitter.com/Ve1vNsw8Fq — KalPa (@KalPa_Hockey) March 29, 2026 He is going to be fun to watch when he comes over to North America. He just barreled into two larger defensemen in order to make the play. 🍎 Joona Saarelainen (#12 in yellow) picks up assist #14 of the Liiga season. #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/jAknVfFCDh — Future Bolts (@FutureBolts_) March 6, 2026 His playmaking skills are pretty solid as well. He sold the move to the outside to turn the defender, which gave him the lane to make the pass. It’s a really subtle, but nice move, especially at speed. Rystylätty ja ohjaus putken alle. 😍 Ruotsalainen tarjoilee ja Saarelainen laittaa sisään! 🚨 #KalPa #Liiga 📺: @MTVUrheilu pic.twitter.com/bkwyiaqnbX — KalPa (@KalPa_Hockey) February 19, 2026 Just wow. The play gets better with every angle. It’s one of those plays that probably works one out of five times, but you have to admire the audacity (especially as a 19-year-old) to even try it. Joona Saarelainen ( #GoBolts ) hits the jets and nearly gives Finland their first lead of the game pic.twitter.com/J2DrXHglIP — Spoked Z (@SpokedZ) January 4, 2026 Can he work on his skating a little? Sure, but he has the jets when he needs them. Saarelainen doesn’t score here, but he does surprise the defender with a nice little burst of speed. He doesn’t necessarily have top end speed, but he does a good job of adjusting his pace to keep opponents off-balance.
Allow myself to introduce… myself. Yeah, I know – I just used a 20-year-old Austin Powers reference on a hockey blog. If you’re walking into a new locker room, you might as well do it with a little swagger and some self awareness. I’ve been a diehard hockey fan since I was a kid in western Pennsylvania. I watched Mario Lemieux come back from the dead twice. I watched Jaromir Jagr break my teenage heart by taking his talents to Washington. That heartbreak eventually turned into Marc-Andre Fleury, Evgeni Malkin, and Sidney Crosby bringing the Penguins back to glory. The Igloo felt like church when I was a kid. The Penguins weren’t just a team. They were my passion, even when they were losing 50 games per season. I always had a soft spot for the Lightning, too. As a kid it was Darren Puppa in No. 93. Then it was Vinny Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis: opposite builds, same ability to take over a game, and they complemented each other perfectly. They were easy to root for. I was in Sarasota in 2004 when Tampa Bay won it all. My grandpa – the man I’m named after – was bouncing between Sarasota Memorial and Tampa General, and I flew down that June to be closer to him. We watched the game from his hospital room. I’ll never forget it with the Lightning as the protagonist. That summer he sold his house in Pennsylvania, and one by one my family started moving here to be near him. Life happened again in 2011. My grandpa got terminally sick, so I packed up everything I owned and moved to Tampa at 22. This place instantly felt more like home than Pennsylvania ever did. I was still a Penguins fan first then, but the seed from 2004 was already growing. It didn’t come easy. I hated the Lightning after they beat Pittsburgh in 2011. The Pens jumped out to a 3-1 series lead, then lost the last three games and got outscored 13-4 in the process. Deep down, I was still rooting for Tampa to win it all. The real shift came in 2015, when the Lightning went to the Stanley Cup Final against Chicago. The Hawks won, of course, but I saw firsthand how well this franchise was run on and off the ice with Mr. Vinik as owner. I wanted in. Then the tickets happened. I became a season ticket holder in 2017-18. The Penguins had just won back-to-back Cups in 2016 and 2017, and I turned my back on them. That’s when it stopped being casual. That’s when Amalie became my new church. Tampa went to the Eastern Conference Final that spring, and I’ve never been more down than after the Bolts got shut out in Games 6 and 7. I had to watch the Capitals win it all when the Lightning had every chance at glory. I can blame KucHEROv as the culprit for my abandoning Pittsburgh. The vision. The passes that shouldn’t be possible. The way he sees the ice two plays ahead. He somehow continues to get better every year. At some point it stopped being “I root for Tampa, too” and started being “this is the team.” The hero in the name fits. It wasn’t only Kuch. I’ve loved goalies since I was a kid. I’m no scout, but I knew Andrei Vasilevskiy was going to be special. The Lightning already had Stamkos and Hedman. Add in Kucherov and Vasy, and it felt like this team was destined for something big. I wanted to be part of it. I was in the building for the 2021 Cup against Montreal. Ross Colton’s goal. Vasilevskiy slamming the door for the fourth time in four series. The place going crazy after a year of empty arenas and pandemic hockey. My ears rang for days after every game that run. Watching them win it in 2021 will forever be one of my most cherished memories. I was there again in 2022 when Colorado ended the three-peat. Same building. Same people. Different feeling. Heartbreak hits different when you’ve been in the seats for the highs. You still clap. You still feel proud of the run. Winning the year before made it a little easier. The playoffs have been a bummer every year since then, but you better believe I’ll be there rooting for them until the clock hits zero. I still believe this team has what it takes to bring the Cup to it’s rightful home in Tampa Bay. That’s how a western PA kid ended up with season tickets in Tampa, rooting for the boys in blue, and writing here. I’m excited to join Raw Charge. I had the honor of being around these parts while John Fontana was the boss. He’s a big reason I’m a Lightning fan. I lived in the game threads and read every piece he wrote. He put in the work to get this off the ground, and I’m honored to contribute to the site he helped build (along with all the other contributors). This place has always felt like it was written by people who sit in the seats and care about the same things the rest of us do. I’ll bring the fan view, the goalie nerd-outs, the occasional old school take, and whatever else the season throws at us. Thanks for letting me join the Charge. Go Bolts!
With less than a month to go before the 2026-27 season opens, it is time to look at the league’s best players and see where they fit in the NHL…
Week two of the countdown kicks off with an intriguing forward who could be in line to make his NHL debut this season. Name Lucas Mercuri Position Forward Age (as of October 1, 2026) 24 Height/Weight 6’3″, 223 lbs. Expected 2026-27 Team Syracuse Crunch Draft – Year, Round 2020 6th Round (159) by Carolina Previous Rankings Not Ranked JustinG. Ranking 18 Final Rank 15 Stats: Our Thoughts: In March of 2025 the Tampa Bay Lightning made a move that didn’t rattle a lot of cages when they sent a 2025 sixth-round pick to Carolina for the rights to Lucas Mercuri. They quickly signed him and the forward from UMass made his debut later that season, appearing in six games for Syracuse. Last season, he earned a spot on the Crunch’s roster and made his way up a spot in the middle six and on the power play. Along the way he scored 14 goals and 12 assists in 67 games while racking up 132 penalty minutes. In case you were wondering, yes he led the team in penalty minutes (by a healthy margin) but in the rough-and-tumble AHL that total was bested by eleven other players. Give it up to Coachella Valley’s Ian McKinnon for leading the way with 245 PIMs. Mercuri’s solid season earned him the Ephesus “Brightest Prospect” / Rookie of the Year award from Syracuse and a chance for more playing time this season. While he doesn’t do a lot of flashy things on the ice he does most of them well. His wrist shot is accurate and hard enough to beat goaltenders from the circles. It’s not often that a rookie, even an older one, comes into the AHL and puts up more goals than he did in college, but that’s what Mercuri, who scored 10 goals in his best season at UMass did. He reads the game well and can distribute the puck to his linemates through the neutral zone to facilitate zone entries, and usually arrives on the forecheck will a little ill intent. At 6’3″ and 223 lbs. he has NHL size and isn’t shy about throwing it around. Like a lot of players on this list (and in the AHL in general) he has to improve his skating to advance to the next level. He has the speed to be effective at the AHL level, but might be a step or two behind in the NHL, a trait that would negate what he can do on the forecheck and in his own zone. In typical Lightning prospect abilities, he isn’t going to hurt his team in the defensive zone. Mercuri is usually in the right spot to make the play and has the reach to disrupt passes. If the play heads along the boards, there is a good chance he is going to take his player out or win a battle for the puck. Expect him to get a long look at training camp for a spot on the fourth line for the Lightning, but there might be a few too many bodies in front of him right now. Even if he doesn’t make the roster straight out of camp, he plays the style of game that the Lightning like when they make call-ups. Meanwhile he should maintain a spot in the middle six with the Crunch, likely bouncing back and forth between center and the wing. If he can keep winning face-offs, that will only help his cause. Your Thoughts: “Mercuri, I think would make a great 4th line center.” “Mercuri is a big boy who can produce at 4th line NHL level IMO, and needs to be on the 4th line start of this season.” Highest ranking was 6th with multiple votes. Majority of his votes came from the 12th to 20th spots. Highlight Videos: Mercs jams it in and gets the party going! pic.twitter.com/B8IUvKWIOD — Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) April 26, 2026 Mercuri fought his way to the front of the net just in time to screen the goaltender. He has the ability and hands to twist around and knock the puck into the net. In the Lightning/Crunch system, a player that can create a little chaos in front of the net is always going to do well. Happy (early) birthday to OT-winner Lucas Mercuri🥳 @SyracuseCrunch | #WBSvsSYR pic.twitter.com/z3pB1IfmTp — American Hockey League (@TheAHL) March 7, 2026 While he likes to do most of his damage from right in front of the net, his shot has been described at “NHL level”. It’s not overly hard, but Mercuri is usually in a shooting position, and therefore can get the shot off pretty quickly. Another beauty on the power play! pic.twitter.com/V0SWhdZJdF — Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) February 8, 2026 A big body with the puck is going to always draw some attention. Mercuri held onto it here and made the nice little back pass. He’s not Adam Oates with the puck, but passes the puck pretty well for a player known more for his physical play than his offense. Wrap this one up and top it off with a bow 🎁 pic.twitter.com/A4pVHJBhD9 — Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) December 20, 2025 Getting a gift is one thing. Making the most of it is what keeps players in the league. It would be nice to say Mercuri’s vicious forcheck created this turnover, but let’s be honest, this was an unforced turnover. Still, Mercuri didn’t make a mess out of it. A little stickhandling and a nice long reach allowed him to tuck it into the net. Top 20 20 – Aiden Foster 19 – Morgan Anderberg 18 – Gabriel Szturc 17 – Marco Mignosa #16 – Jan Golicic
Well over three decades into their history, the Tampa Bay Lightning have their share of contracts that have had a chance to sit and develop proper hindsight. Some aged gracefully.…
Victor Hedman opens up about mental health, raising hopes for a Tampa Bay Lightning resurgence. Can the Norris Trophy winner bounce back and anchor the blue line as age and injuries catch up? Nick Morgan and Greg Stephen break down Hedmans transparency, the stigma faced by veteran NHL leaders, and what a healthy mindset means for the Lightnings playoff ambitions. The spotlight then shifts to the New Jersey Devils ongoing struggle to fulfill their potential. Are Jack Hughes and the Devils ready to break out, or do depth concerns and health risks doom another promising season? Plus, with Alexander Ovechkin potentially entering his final year, the hosts debate whether any player can ever surpass the Washington Capitals captains legendary goal record. Rapid-fire analysis, candid takes, and a look ahead at the Metro Divisions unpredictable futureall inside this episode of Locked On Lightning. 00:00 Victor Hedmans Mental Health 12:24 New Jersey Devils Outlook 23:05 Ovechkins Goal Record Watch Locked On Lightning on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@LockedOnLightning Locked On NHL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Prospects & More https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNHL Follow Us on Social Media! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lockedonlightning/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lockedonlightning Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lockedonlightning X: https://x.com/LO_Lightning Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, its time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your teams community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Indeed Now, you can speed up your hiring process with a $75 Sponsored Job Credit. Just go to https://indeed.com/podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply. KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get one-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started Play Your Game. 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon Rugiet Get 15% off your treatment https://rugiet.com/lockedonnhl Rugiet. Performance medicine for men. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
The first defenseman to crack the countdown, Jan Golicic marks his third appearance in the top prospect list since being drafted. Name Jan Golicic Position Defense – Left Shot Age (as of October 1, 2026) 20 Height/Weight 6’5″, 201 lbs. Expected 2026-27 Team Quinnipiac University Draft – Year, Round 2024 4th Round (118) Previous Rankings 24 ( 2024 ), 17 ( 2025 ) JustinG. Ranking 15 Final Rank 16 Stats: Our Thoughts: We have our second prospect in a row that chose a dorm room over an apartment in Syracuse or Orlando. After a productive season in the QMJHL, Jan Golicic is heading to Connecticut (does anyone else still say ‘Connect i cut’ in their head when spelling it out) for at least one season at the NCAA level. Like Marco Mignosa, Golicic will benefit from the ample time to practice and work out that colleges provide. For the Lightning, they get to hold onto his draft rights for a little longer as he rounds out his game. It was another strong season for the 6’5″ defenseman as he started the season as the captain for Gatineau. He put up a goal and fourteen assists in 29 games before a mid-season trade sent him to Blainville-Boisbriand. Getting back into playoff contention complimented his game as he became a point-per-game player with the Armada. In 28 games he put up 29 points (4 goals, 25 assists). As they advanced through the playoffs, he added another 8 points (1 goal, 7 assists). The Slovenian donned his nation’s colors for the second year in a row as he closed out his competitive hockey season with two assists in seven games at the World Championships. One thing that will be certain this season is that Golicic will play less hockey. Probably not on a nightly basis as he will likely remain around the twenty-minute mark for the Bobcats. However, he’ll be closer to the 35-40 game mark as opposed to the 65+ games he’s been playing over the last couple of seasons. That will give him more time to work on his skating skills and building strength. Like many of the prospects at this portion of the countdown, his skating isn’t quite up to pro level. Still, it’s not bad for a 6’5″ defenseman. Still, it needs work as he starts to face faster forwards attacking him off of the rush and on the forecheck. Golicic does well to use his frame to protect the puck against said forecheck, but being able to retrieve the puck faster will help his breakouts and puck movement. While he doesn’t shy away from contact, he’s not quite the physical bully that one would expect from someone his size. He will hit any player that comes into his area and already has enough size and strength that a hit from him will take someone out of the play, but he’s not an aggressive hitter. He does use his reach effectively to shield opponents off of the puck and break up passes in the zone. Offensively, he has solid instincts and moves the puck fairly well from the blueline to set up his teammates. He isn’t going to dangle the puck or break any ankles with dekes, but he will get the puck from point a to point b fairly reliably. When not passing, his shot gets on net and he generates pretty good speed on it to create rebounds and deflections. As he moves up in the system it’s questionable if he’ll remain on the power play, but if his skills progress, it’s not an impossible idea to see him quarterback a second unit. Even after three seasons in the QMJHL there is still a little bit of rawness to the 20-year-old’s game. Playing in the NCAA for one or two seasons should help with that and give everyone a better idea of what his ceiling may end up being. Right now, he’s probably a bubble AHL guy, but with a little refinement he could be a regular with the occasional NHL call-up. His ceiling is a bottom-pairing defenseman. Your Thoughts: Nothing directly about Golicic, but it feels like this note on the defense in general sums things up pretty well, “The D [defense] that I decided on seem to be far behind the top end F [forward] talent, and while there’s some potential there I just don’t see a route to the NHL for them barring injuries or a complete desolation of the D prospect pool” Highest ranking was seventh with most of the votes coming in the murky 14-20 spots. Highlight Videos: https://t.co/EjrVZpgiqn pic.twitter.com/sNiXmL4oHD — ArmadaBLB (@ArmadaBLB) April 25, 2026 While his profile is “defensive defenseman” Golicic isn’t stapled to the blueline. He often drifts down into scoring positions and isn’t uncomfortable handling the puck down low. He read the play really nicely in this sequence and kept the play alive behind the net. He even presented himself as a shooting option from the right circle after he passed the puck to the point. A Jan Golicic Goal… on a breakaway! 😮 @ArmadaBLB | @TBLightning | #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/wKUQKHqdy3 — QMJHL (@QMJHL) March 14, 2026 Jan Golicic – breakaway specialist! He’s not going to score a ton of goals leading the rush down the ice, but he did show some nice finishing skills on this play. Not sure how the defense completely missed the 6’5″ player in the middle of the ice, but he took full advantage of the coverage breakdown. 🍏 Jan Golicic (#21 in black) picks up assist #29 of the QMJHL season on this power play goal. #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/9TntqNTlv8 — Future Bolts (@FutureBolts_) February 20, 2026 Being physical doesn’t always mean being the one to lay out the hits. Sometimes, it’s the willingness to take a hit to make a play. Here Golicic held onto the puck as the pressure came at him. In most sequences, he’s going to get a shoulder to the chest, and has to expect that here. He was willing to do that, because it gave his teammate even more space to make the play happen. The pressing forward eventually spins away before making contact with Golicic, but he couldn’t have known that was going to happen. 🚨 Jan Golicic (#21 in red) one times it home for his 2nd goal of the QMJHL season! #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/D9f6juQjNb — Future Bolts (@FutureBolts_) January 18, 2026 Again, he isn’t going to just hang back. He stepped up to help the attack and swept it into the net. It’s a nice wrist shot that has some pace on it/ Top 20 20 – Aiden Foster 19 – Morgan Anderberg 18 – Gabriel Szturc 17 – Marco Mignosa
Name Marco Mignosa Position Forward Age (as of October 1, 2026) 21 Height/Weight 6’0″, 172 lbs. Expected 2026-27 Team Penn State University Draft – Year, Round 2025 Round 7 (215) Previous Rankings Not Ranked JustinG. Ranking 13 Final Rank 17 Stats: Our Thoughts: It seems Marco Mignosa has already made a career out of proving folks wrong. After a strong showing in the Greater Toronto Hockey League, there were expectations that he might go in the top 10 of the CHL draft. Instead, he went 36th. A sub-par second season with the Soo Greyhounds probably kept him from getting drafted in his first year of eligibility. So, he doubled his goal output. Still didn’t get drafted. An 85-point season caught the Lightning’s eye and they drafted him in the seventh round of 2025. As an over-ager, all Mignosa did was drop 89 points on the OHL in his final season with the Greyhounds. Now, he’s taking his talents to Penn State University as a key piece to a Nittany Lion offense that will be without Gavin McKenna. He might have been one of the final players drafted in 2025, but don’t think he’s going to let that stop him from making it to the NHL. Why would a player who was praised for his hockey smarts and playmaking skills commit to the NCAA after putting up 289 points (116 goals, 173 assists) in 303 OHL games? Because there seem to be some things he needs to work on before hitting the pros. It’s not shooting the puck or stick-handling. Rather it’s working on his defensive game (already fairly good), getting stronger, and getting faster. With the structured nature of college hockey that allows for a lot of off-ice workout time, a year or two in Happy Valley could work wonders for his game. Watching his highlights, his ability to find his teammates with the puck stands out. A right-handed shot, he works play from the circle like a mirror-version of Nikita Kucherov. He has the ability to pick defenses apart without relying on quickness or speed. He’ll only become more dangerous if he can level up that aspect of his game. Helping out his playmaking is a shot that is accurate and gets on net quickly. Mignosa has a solid one-timer, and can snap off his wrist shot from just about anywhere on the ice. They should play really well at the NCAA level, and would probably have been okay at the AHL level had he gone that route. The 21-year-old should get plenty of ice time with Penn State in the upcoming season. Expect him to be in the top six, on the power play, and killing penalties. The point production over the last couple of years has been impressive, but he’s more than earned his keep defensively. The Toronto native doesn’t shy away from physical contact, and adding some more strength should help him win more board battles. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he goes one-and-done with Penn State before signing his entry-level contract. He had a little taste of life with the Crunch last season as he joined them on a try-out contract after his junior career ended. Once he joins Syracuse, his rise through the organization could be quick, especially with the Lightning lacking in impact offensive talent. His ceiling is a middle-six forward with 20-25 goal potential. Your Thoughts: “Mignosa had a good year in OHL see if he can build on that in the NCAA.” “I think Mignosa shows a lot of potential.” His highest ranking was 8th with 9.3% of the votes placing him 17th. Highlight Videos: TRAVIS HAYES FOR THE LEAD!!! pic.twitter.com/PYsIHO5xNc — X – Soo Greyhounds (@OHLHoundPower) April 17, 2026 Mignosa did some solid work behind the boards before the puck comes back to him (after a turnover by fellow Lightning prospect, Sam O’Reilly). The pass to set up Travis Hayes for the goal is such a nice little, deft touch pass. Mignosa walked right in🔥🚨 3-2 Rangers pic.twitter.com/VxMT4tClUO — X – Soo Greyhounds (@OHLHoundPower) April 13, 2026 Look. If the seas are going to part, you have to shoot your shot. With all the time in the world, Mignosa didn’t rush his shot and picked a corner on the goaltender. 🚨BRADY MARTIN CALLS GAME IN OT🚨 pic.twitter.com/Ie5vd9aGkd — X – Soo Greyhounds (@OHLHoundPower) March 30, 2026 This shift showed what Mignosa brings to the ice every night. He got out high to block the initial shot and created the turnover. Then he got down ice to set up the play in the offensive zone. A quick fake on the forehand, and then a perfect backhand pass to spring Brady Martin. Those subtle little plays work well at pretty much every level, he just has to keep believing he can pull them off against top competition. 🚨 Marco Mignosa (#26 in white) walks it in and puts it home on the power play for his 2nd goal of the OHL Playoffs! #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/0S5EcByFOr — Future Bolts (@FutureBolts_) March 30, 2026 This play is so much fun to watch. Set up in the left circle he made not one, but two one-touch passes. As the puck is worked back around to him, the defender goes down early in anticipation of another pass into the slot. Instead, Mignosa kept it, walked in and roofed it from in close. It is not fair in any way to compare anyone in hockey, let alone a 21-year-old who has yet to play at the professional level, to Nikita Kucherov, but there is some similarity in how they process the game and use previous actions to set up future plays. 🚨 Marco Mignosa (#26 in white) drags and fires it home on the power play for his 32nd goal of the OHL season! #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/HJqGexuOGf — Future Bolts (@FutureBolts_) March 13, 2026 Toe drags are so much fun to watch. Unless you’re Conor Walton in this highlight. The Windsor Spitfire defenseman got himself caught in between as he thought the shot was coming right off of the pass. Then he almost blew out a knee trying to recover. Top 20 20 – Aiden Foster 19 – Morgan Anderberg 18 – Gabriel Szturc
Tampa Bay Lightning face a pivotal season as expectations soarwill a first-round playoff win be enough, or is it Stanley Cup or bust for this aging core? Tough questions loom for stars like Nikita Kucherov, Victor Hedman, and Andrei Vasilevskiy as the window for championship contention narrows and hard roster decisions approach. The conversation focused on potential changes if Tampa falters again, highlighting the teams recent exit woes and the tricky balance between loyalty and the need for younger talent. Analysis also explored the Columbus Blue Jackets future, questioning if Zach Werenski stays or finally seeks a contender, and tackled NHL overtimes controversial shootout rule. Is it time to extend 3-on-3 or bring back ties? Dont miss this rapid-fire breakdown of Tampa Bay Lightnings playoff mandate, the Blue Jackets uncertain trajectory, and whether the NHLs endgame needs an overhaul. 00:00 Lightning Season Expectations 10:34 Columbus Blue Jackets Outlook 22:27 NHL Shootout Debate Watch Locked On Lightning on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@LockedOnLightning Locked On NHL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Prospects & More https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNHL Follow Us on Social Media! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lockedonlightning/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lockedonlightning Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lockedonlightning X: https://x.com/LO_Lightning Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, its time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your teams community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Indeed Now, you can speed up your hiring process with a $75 Sponsored Job Credit. Just go to https://indeed.com/podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply. KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get one-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started Play Your Game. 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon Rugiet Get 15% off your treatment https://rugiet.com/lockedonnhl Rugiet. Performance medicine for men. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Gabriel Szturc makes the final list for the third time in his Tampa Bay Lightning career. Not bad for a kid that wasn’t drafted. Name Gabriel Szturc Position Forward Age (as of October 1, 2026) 23 Height/Weight 5’11, 194 lbs. Expected 2026-27 Team Syracuse Crunch Draft – Year, Round Undrafted Previous Rankings 19th ( 2025 ), 21st ( 2024 ) JustinG. Ranking Not Ranked Final Rank 18 Stats: Our Thoughts: The progression of Gabriel Szturc’s career has been an interesting one. He was passed over each and every year of his draft eligibility. He didn’t let that deter his performance as he put up 24 and 33 goals respectively in his final two seasons in the WHL with the Kelowna Rockets. He accepted an invite to the Lightning’s development camp and turned that into a contract by the spring of 2024. Szturc made his professional debut in the playoffs with Syracuse, and then joined the Crunch full time for the 2024-25 season. As a rookie he put up 19 points (7 goals, 12 assists) in 54 games. It was a strong campaign and there were hopes that he could build on that in 2025-26. In the end, it was an okay year as he matched his offensive output with 19 points (9 goals, 10 assists) in 60 games. In the Crunch’s playoff series against Cleveland, Szturc added a goal in four games. While the numbers were the same, there were some improvements in his game. His skating was sharper, and he found a way to help the team in all three aspects (he had three power play goals and one short-handed tally). The big question for Szturc will be if he can continue to improve enough to maintain his ice time with the Crunch, or if other prospects will move past him on the depth chart. Entering the final season of his entry-level deal, his level of play has to keep going up in order for his journey to the NHL to continue. There isn’t a lot that stands out about his game, no defining trait to build around, but he does a lot of things well. His skating is solid, and his edge work has improved. Like a lot of players in the system, he likes to forecheck and doesn’t mind going into the boards to get the puck. Offensively, his instincts are okay and his shot gets off a little quicker than goaltenders expect. It would be surprising to see him get to the 15-17 goal mark in the AHL if he can maintain his playing time. Szturc missed about a month of the season last year, and when he returned at the end of March he scored five of his nine goals in the final thirteen games of the season adding three assists. That’s the type of production that will move him up in the rotation even as the next crop of forwards join the Crunch. Your Thoughts: No direct mentions. His highest ranking was 10th, and there was a pretty good spread with his highest number of spots at 16. Highlight Videos: A comprehensive list of the fastest things in the universe this week: 1. Gabby's one-timer 2. Artemis II re-entry speed pic.twitter.com/LFzQS4etaB — Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) April 12, 2026 There is nothing fancy about this play. Szturc put himself in a shooting position and ripped the one-timer past the goaltender. It was a nice fluid shot, but what was really nice was how he tracked the play. He crashed to the net, but drifted back into the soft, open area instead of just standing there. TELL 'EM, GABBY pic.twitter.com/dDy687NgZt — Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) March 22, 2026 Here is an example of how his skating has improved. He made a couple of nice cuts along the boards to free himself of the defender and then cut inside to get to the front of the net in order to get the shot off. Gabby on the power play! pic.twitter.com/mLGVfgP116 — Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) March 22, 2026 Szturc has the goal-scorer’s instinct of getting to the right place at the right time after fighting for the puck along the boards. He also showed a nice little bit of hand-eye coordination to bat this puck into the net off of the bouncing feed. 👊 Ethan Gauthier (#79) taps it home in the slot for his 10th goal of the AHL season! Gabriel Szturc (#95) and Reece Newkirk (#18) pick up the assists. #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/GTpiBrDxt2 — Future Bolts (@FutureBolts_) March 23, 2026 His game isn’t flashy, but he is decisive with the puck. This isn’t a fancy pass, but it doesn’t work if Szturc doesn’t know what he’s going to do with it before it’s on his stick. The Top 20 20 – Aiden Foster 19 – Morgan Anderberg
When the Tampa Bay Lightning hit the ice for opening night of the 2026-27 season, they can expect their captain and star defenseman, Victor Hedman, to be back in action.…
Tampa Bay Lightning search for their next breakout star: Can Dominic James or JJ Moser fuel another Stanley Cup push? Nick Morgan and Greg Stephen highlight the Lightnings stellar track record of developing unexpected heroes, spotlighting Jamess dynamic rookie campaign and Mosers potential offensive surge from the blue line. Who will step up next to follow in the footsteps of Brandon Hagel and Darren Raddysh? The discussion heats up as the Carolina Hurricanes aim for a rare back-to-back Stanley Cup feat, while questions remain about their goaltending depth. Plus: Is the NHL on the verge of a defenseman claiming MVP honors for the first time in nearly 30 years? Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes, and Zach Werenski headline the candidates. Dont miss this high-energy analysis of the Lightnings future stars, Hurricanes championship ambitions, and the shifting MVP race. 00:00 Lightning Breakout Candidates 10:08 Carolina Hurricanes Cup Repeat? 20:41 NHL Defenseman MVP Debate4 Watch Locked On Lightning on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@LockedOnLightning Locked On NHL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Prospects & More https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNHL Follow Us on Social Media! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lockedonlightning/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lockedonlightning Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lockedonlightning X: https://x.com/LO_Lightning Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, its time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your teams community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Indeed Now, you can speed up your hiring process with a $75 Sponsored Job Credit. Just go to https://indeed.com/podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply. KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get one-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started Play Your Game. 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon Rugiet Get 15% off your treatment https://rugiet.com/lockedonnhl Rugiet. Performance medicine for men. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Name Morgan Anderberg Position Forward Age (as of October 1, 2026) 18 Height/Weight 5’11”, 174 lbs. Expected 2026-27 Team Vaxjo Lakers (SHL) Draft – Year, Round 2026, 5th Round (#134) Previous Rankings Not Applicable JustinG. Ranking 14 Final Rank 19 Stats: Our Thoughts: Not much has changed since our draft profile of Anderberg other than he had some reps with the Swedish Under-20 squad at the Summer Showcase. The fact that he was invited bodes well for his potential inclusion with the national team in December for the World Juniors. It would be another nice accomplishment for the Bolts’ fifth-round pick. There isn’t a lot of sexiness in Anderberg’s game, but he does a lot of things really well. His positioning in the defensive zone is solid, he is willing to engage along the boards to fight for the puck, and his speed on the ice is his biggest asset. The 18-year-old isn’t going to win a scoring title, but he is going to annoy a lot of defensemen on the forecheck over the next few years. Anderberg isn’t likely to join the Crunch or the Lightning any time soon. He’ll have a few years to develop his game in the SHL, starting this year with a bigger role with the Vaxjo Lakers. Last season he took advantage of some injuries on the team to earn a spot in the bottom-six. As the season went on, he earned the trust of his coaching staff and saw more and more playing time. The offense didn’t quite blossom (despite being on a line with former Syracuse Crunch forward Felix Robert), but that could change this year now that he has a little more familiarity with the league. Like a lot of younger players, especially sub-6’0″ forwards, he needs to work on his strength. Watching some of his shifts shows that opponents were able to push him off of the puck or out of position in front of the net. That led him to relying more on stick-checking than trying to separate players from the puck physically. Adding strength to his skating ability will make him an even more effective forechecker, which will increase his chances of making it to the NHL. Offensively, his shot is okay, as his decision making. The instincts are there, but he has to refine his passing to start putting up some more points. This will be an interesting season for him to see if he can make the jump from defensive forward to a true two-way forward. Anderberg is a bit of a project and it will take some time to see what his future in the organization will be. Still, there are a lot of good tools in his toolbox that can help a NHL team. Your Thoughts: No direct mentions of Morgan Anderberg in the comments. His highest ranking was 9th. Most of the votes for him came between 16 and 20. Highlight Videos: 18-årige Morgan Anderberg gör sitt första SHL-mål! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/IdrUDURysT — SHL.se (@SHLse) December 20, 2025 Was it a pass or a shot? It was a pass, but it was a pretty nice play and he was rewarded for it. The drive to the near post opened things up for his teammate, and had the backhand pass not hit the goaltender, it might have been a tap-in goal on the far post. There aren’t a lot of highlights on the social media channels for Anderberg, but here is a nice clip of some of his plays. A lot of what he does well doesn’t show up on the highlight reels. That could change as he ages and plays with more confidence. One thing that does show up in these highlights is how easy he gets up to top speed. There is a nice effortlessness in his stride. The 2026 Top 20 20 – Aiden Foster
It’s back! Everyone’s semi-favorite summer tradition. You’ve done the work and ranked the prospects. Now it’s time to reap the rewards. We kick things off with a 2025 draft pick who is making his Top 20 Under 25 debut. Name Aiden Foster Position Center Age (as of October 1, 2026) 19 Height/Weight 6’2″, 183 lbs. Expected 2026-27 Team Prince George Cougers Draft – Year, Round 2025, 4th Round (127th overall) Previous Rankings Not Ranked JustinG. Ranking Unranked Final Rank 20 Stats: Our Thoughts: Welcome to the countdown, Aiden Foster. The 6’2″ forward introduced himself to Lightning fans last season when he had a solid rookie showcase prior to training camp. He showed off the physical nature of play along with just enough offensive skill to be intriguing. Foster was part of a 2025 draft that saw the Lightning add a little snarl to the organization along with a little more skill than some prognosticators thought he had in him. Playing up and down the line-up with the Cougars last season he managed 14 goals in 65 games. It’s unlikely he becomes a double-digit scorer at the NHL level should he make it, but offense isn’t going to be his path to the league, so that’s not a huge deal. Foster has decent size at 6’2″ and 183 lbs., but he plays even bigger than his size. He likes contact and doesn’t care who he is hitting. At the junior level he skates well enough to land hits when the puck is in the area, but he will have to improve that aspect of his game once he switches to the AHL. As of right now, he projects to be a bottom-six forward who can kill penalties. The Lightning will be watching him this season to see if he can level up not only that part of the game, but also his decision making. He doesn’t have to make fancy passes or toe-drag around defenders, but he has to recognize and convert the simple plays. He’ll have to perfect a straight-forward, forecheck-heavy type of play that annoys opponents and creates turnovers. Prospect writers that follow him did notice an increased confidence in his game last season and saw improvement in his puck handling abilities. They still aren’t where they need to be to be successful at the pro level, but if he can continue on a similar path this season it will bode well for his future. This will likely be his final season in the WHL, and should be in Syracuse by the end of the year. He had a cup of coffee with them at the end of last season without getting into a game, but it did give him a little taste of what professional level is like. Your Thoughts: No direct mentions of Foster. The highest he was ranked was seventh while 20% of the voters had him ranked 21st or 22nd. Highlight Videos: WHAT A PLAY FROM AIDEN FOSTER, WHAT A FINISH FROM BROCK SOUCH @TBLightning | #NHLDraft | @CarlsJrCA pic.twitter.com/TJrIJLjwEx — Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) April 15, 2026 Did he get a little help because the defender blew a tire? Yes, but he made sure to take advantage of the opportunity. It’s also a nice play to recognize the limitations of his skills. A faster skater may have tried to cut in and drive to the net on his backhand, instead, Foster kept the play wide which drew the defender out to him and opened up the lane for his teammate to take the shot. WELCOME BACK TO THE WHITEOUT, PRINCE GEORGE!! Aiden Foster has the first goal of the 2026 playoffs! @TBLightning | @CarlsJrCA https://t.co/8P8cjoXuOo pic.twitter.com/RSfZn0476q — Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) March 28, 2026 The goal is nice. He tracked the play really well and put himself in a good position to shoot off the rebound, and the shot was in a perfect spot to beat the scrambling goaltender, but what we really liked was the entry. There was a chance for him to try and force an entry pass to his teammate, but he held onto the puck, crossed the blue line and then made a nifty backhand feed to start the play. Pretty nice read and soft hands for a guy known more for his physical play. Aiden Foster, you are a bad, bad man 💥 #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/aN8AoIlqbL — Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) November 11, 2024 Speaking of physical play, how about we mix things up with a look at how he uses his size. What we like about this play is that Foster takes the extra stride to pull even with the puck-carrier. There is a natural instinct for players looking to land a hit to take the direct path and that would end up with the hit coming from behind. He also wiped out the player without needing a lot of momentum to land the hit. Country strong. Buckle up, we're in for a wild one! Aiden Foster redirects a point shot to tie the game at 3! @PGCougars | @TBLightning | #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/9OtM8vPNVi — Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) October 5, 2025 Will Foster see power play time at the professional level? That’s to be determined, but he should see a little more with Prince George this season. What does he add to the skater-advantage? Size. Foster knows where to go and isn’t tempted into chasing the puck behind the net. He set up in front of the net, screened the goaltender, and then made the nice deflection on the shot from the point.
Tampa Bay Lightning's NHL 27 player ratings spark debatedoes Nikita Kucherov deserve to top Connor McDavid as the game's only 99 overall? Nick Morgan and Greg Stephen scrutinize EA Sports rankings, question Andrei Vasilevskiys 94 despite being the leagues top goalie, and dissect whether Victor Hedmans legacy 91 still fits. Is Brandon Hagel underrated at 90? The hosts dig into how these numbers align with fan expectations and NHL trends, spotlighting which Lightning stars could make the biggest rating leap next season. Eyes then turn to the Toronto Maple Leafs as the fallout from Darren Raddyshs blockbuster contract takes center stage. Is Raddysh primed to replicate his Lightning production without Nikita Kucherov on the Leafs power play? Nick Morgan and Greg Stephen debate if Torontos bet on the puck-moving defenseman is a potential difference-maker or an all-too-familiar gamble. The episode wraps with a bold playoff proposal: should the NHL seed the entire postseason 116, conference-free? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM to play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on whos hitting a homer this MLB season. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Watch Locked On Lightning on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@LockedOnLightningLocked On NHL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Prospects & More https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNHLFollow Us on Social Media!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lockedonlightning/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lockedonlightningThreads: https://www.threads.com/@lockedonlightningX: https://x.com/LO_LightningEverydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, its time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your teams community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclubSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!IndeedNow, you can speed up your hiring process with a $75 Sponsored Job Credit. Just go to https://indeed.com/podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply.KALSHIFor a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.FanDuelToday's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get one-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started Play Your Game.5-Hour ENERGYGet candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or AmazonRugietGet 15% off your treatment https://rugiet.com/lockedonnhl Rugiet. Performance medicine for men.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Tampa Bay Lightning face a make-or-break season as Victor Hedman's health and leadership loom large. Can the Bolts remain Stanley Cup contenders if their captain struggles to return to form? The conversation focused on the depth of the Lightnings blue line, highlighted by John Carlsons arrival and debates about his ability to hit 70+ points. Nikita Kucherov, Andrei Vasilevskiy, and Anthony Cirelli headline a roster stacked with talentbut age and last seasons injury woes raise tough questions about Tampa Bays resilience. The discussion explored the Ottawa Senators offseason shakeup, with Brady Tkachuks departure sparking debate over locker room chemistry and Tim Sttzles emergence as their new cornerstone. Are the Senators better positioned for a youth-driven resurgence, or will their Atlantic Division rivals, including the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens, maintain the upper hand? Dont miss this sharp analysis of playoff ambitions, goaltending storylines, and potential game-changers for the Lightning and their divisional foes. 00:00 Lightning Contenders: Big Concerns 09:38 Ottawa Senators Post-Tkachuk 18:32 John Carlson 70-Point Prediction Watch Locked On Lightning on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@LockedOnLightning Locked On NHL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Prospects & More https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNHL Follow Us on Social Media! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lockedonlightning/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lockedonlightning Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lockedonlightning X: https://x.com/LO_Lightning Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, its time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your teams community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Indeed Now, you can speed up your hiring process with a $75 Sponsored Job Credit. Just go to https://indeed.com/podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply. KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get one-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started Play Your Game. 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon Rugiet Get 15% off your treatment https://rugiet.com/lockedonnhl Rugiet. Performance medicine for men. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
It’s official now. On Wednesday, the NHL announced its Hometown Remix uniforms. As in MLB with City Connects and the NBA with City Editions, NHL teams will have a uniform…
In today’s NHL rumors rundown, Zachary Bolduc wants to stay with the Montreal Canadiens but admitted he understands hockey is a business and that he could be traded. He talked…
As a team that uses its higher picks to improve their current roster through trades instead of drafting prospects, the Tampa Bay Lightning often have to find alternative means to adding young talent to the organization. Be it through European free agents or undrafted college and junior players, the Bolts have been able to find a gem or three over the years. Another means, and one that played out pretty well last summer with Dominic James, is to sign a college player whose draft rights have expired.
<p>The August 15th date has come and gone, meaning there are a handful of players that are no longer bonded to the team that drafted them and are considered unrestricted free agents. While there were originally <a href="https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/2026/08/list-of-expected-collegiate-free-agents.html">20 names on the list</a> some have signed AHL contracts and one, Mason Langenbrunner, has already announced his retirement from hockey, there are still a couple of intriguing names left on the list.</p>
<p>One that tops pretty much every list out there is Cruz Lucius. The 22-year-old was originally a fourth-round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins, but let them know earlier this year that he wouldn’t be signing with them. After two seasons at the University of Wisconsin the right-shot winger transferred to Arizona State. Injuries limited him to just 19 games in his first season. However, he bounced back last season to finish fourth in scoring in the NCAA with 46 points (15 goals, 31 assists) for the Sun Devils. </p>
<p>Expect him to sign a two-way deal at some point as several organizations should be interested, the Lightning among them. They have a dearth of right-shot forwards in their system and Lucius has enough offensive skill to warrant a look. There are some limits to his game at this point for the playmaker, but he already projects to be a productive AHL forward, and if he can improve his skating while simplifying his game a little he could take the next step. Sometimes his creativity gets the better of him, and as he steps up to the next level of competition he will have to learn what plays he can and cannot get away with. </p>
<p>Another name that popped up was Sutter Muzzatti, a big (6’6″) forward formally of the University of Notre Dame. His production was solid (13 goals, 19 assists in 37 games). He’s a decent skater for his size and is never going to back down from a post-whistle scrum. Could he be worth a look on a two-way deal? Sure, plus it would be a full circle moment as the fifth-round pick the Nashville Predators used to select him originally belonged to the Lightning and was part of the Tanner Jeannot deal. </p>
<p>The most interesting fit out there for the Lightning’s system probably goes to a former third-round pick of the New Jersey Devils – Samu Salminen. The Finnish forward capped off his college career by serving as an alternate captain for the NCAA champion University of Denver. In his second season with the Pioneers, Salminen finished with 29 points in 43 games. He was one of their top face-off performers. Through early March (when he was named the <a href="https://denverpioneers.com/news/2026/3/2/du-pioneers-hockey-samu-salminen-named-nchc-forward-of-the-week.">NCHC Player of the Week</a>) he led Denver with 308 face-off wins while grabbing an edge in 52.8% of his draws. </p>
<p>The Lightning could most definitely use some skill in the face-off dot in their system. The 23-year-old ticks all of the boxes that Tampa Bay looks for in their prospects. He is responsible in his own zone, plays a smart game, and has a little deception in his game. Is he the fleetest of skaters? No, but that has never deterred the Bolts from signing someone. They would also be familiar with his game as he was teammates with Hagen Burrows* the last two seasons.</p>
<p>If the Lightning do dip into the market, it’s very unlikely that anyone they sign has the impact that Dominic James had on the team last year. Then again, James wasn’t expected to join the Bolts either, so who knows? Even if they don’t go immediately to the top league, they can have an impact in the organization. It’s never a bad thing to add solid talent to the organization. </p>
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The original theme of this article was going to be, “Which Lightning rookie could win the Calder Trophy?” but, to be honest, the chances of that happening are about the same as Frenchy’s restaurant taking over the naming rights to Benchmark Arena. Sure, it could happen, and it would be great, but it’s probably not going to happen. The betting sharps seem to agree considering that as of the time of publication, not a single member of the Tampa Bay Lightning organization has posted odds to win the Calder on the Hard Rock Bet app.
<p>As of right now, Philadelphia’s Porter Martone is the odds-on favorite at +275 and they have 48 other players listed with Vancouver’s Adam Novotny rounding out the list at +25000. Yes, we did have to look up Novotny’s organization. In short, the touts don’t feel like any of the Lightning’s prospects are going to make a dent in the Calder Trophy race. Which is cool. After all, it’s one award a member of the Lightning has yet to win, and based on the fact they haven’t drafted a top 10 prospect in The Rizzler’s lifetime, chances are they won’t win one soon.</p>
<p>So, instead of looking for a dark horse, we pivot. Based on their moves this offseason, it’s going to be very, very hard for any rookie to make the team out of training camp this season. While lines and defensive pairings aren’t set, there just aren’t that many spots that are going to be open when camp opens in just over a month. </p>
<p>Of course, that was the case last season and the Lightning still managed to have eight players that qualified as rookies play last season with three of them (Dominic James, Max Crozier, and Declan Carlile) playing at least 30 games. Charle-Edouard D’Astous was also a big part of the team, but due to his age, he didn’t qualify as a rookie despite never having played in the league. Of those eight players, four made their NHL debut last season. James, Curtis Douglas, Max Groshev, and Simon Lundmark made up the quartet of debutantes last season, and all of them, with the exception of Douglas, could see time in the NHL again this season.</p>
<p>There is some comfort in having an experienced, veteran line-up. For the most part, you know how they are going to perform. They can handle increased expectations and don’t let pressure get them. The Lightning don’t just have a veteran line-up, they have an exceptional line-up. Which makes it kind of hard for new players to make their mark. </p>
<p>There is one way for rookies to get a shot, though. And it’s one of the drawbacks of having a veteran team – injuries. Not only do older players tend to get hurt more often, they tend to stay out of the line-up longer (please note, we have done zero research to substantiate that thought, but it seems to make sense). That’s the main reason we saw so many young players last season. </p>
<p>While we don’t hope that happens again this year, it could be an avenue to playing time for other young players in the system. So, lets look at three players who might make their NHL debuts at some point in the 2026-27 season.</p>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Sam O’Reilly</h2>
<p>We’ll start off with the most hyped prospect of the bunch – Sam O’Reilly. The kid has yet to lace up his skates for a pro game, but Lightning fans are already excited about what he can bring to the table. The 20-year-old wrapped up one of the most successful junior careers in recent history as helped the Kitchener Rangers on the way to a Memorial Cup title. All he did along the way was snatch up the OHL regular season MVP, the OHL playoffs MVP, and the Memorial Cup MVP. Not a bad bit of hockeying.</p>
<p>In the grand vision of things, the Tampa Bay Lightning would probably like to have him adjust to the pro game in Syracuse, surrounded by what should be a very good Crunch roster. There he can adapt to the increased pace and physical nature of the AHL while not having to carry the pressure of carrying a franchise on his shoulders. </p>
<p>The somewhat rough-and-tumble start to Conor Geekie’s career might also make them a little more apprehensive at starting O’Reilly in the NHL. That being said, of all of the prospects in the system, O’Reilly has the level of skill that could force the Lightning’s hand. If he has a strong prospect showcase followed by a good training camp, he might just earn a spot on the roster on opening night. It’s unlikely, but not impossible.</p>
<p>The more realistic scenario would be for him to start in Syracuse, get his feet wet playing all three aspects of the game, and if he continues to excel, he could earn a call-up later in the season, especially if the Lightning need a depth center. Even at a young age, his skill set could fill a need for the Lightning as a bottom-six center. He can win face-offs, he’s a reliable player in his own zone, and a monster shorthanded (he had 7 regular season short-handed goals between Kitchener and London last season). </p>
<p>The Bolts are deep down the middle with Brayden Point, Anthony Cirelli, Yanni Gourde, and Dominic James likely to be the top pivotmen this season. They also have Zemgus Girgensons, Jake Guentzel, and Pontus Holmberg who can play the position as well. Still, if things don’t go according to plan, there is a path to a debut for Sam O’Reilly.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ethan Gauthier</h2>
<p>Quick – over the last decade, who is the highest drafted player selected by the Lightning that is still in the organization? Since we put this question in Ethan Gauthier’s section, you would be right to guess that at 37th overall, the 21-year-old winger holds that honor. Even if you factor in all of the prospects that the Lightning have traded away, only three players had a higher draft spot (Isaac Howard at 31, Nolan Foote at 27, and Cal Foote at 14). So there is a little pedigree there.</p>
<p>It does seem like Gauthier has been in the system forever, but he was drafted in 2023, and last year was his first full professional season. It wasn’t bad, as he had 27 points (12 goals, 15 assists) in 56 games, but there were some stretches where he wasn’t as effective as the Crunch needed him to be. It’ll be a big season for him to see if he can level up his game now that he knows what a professional season is like.</p>
<p>At his best, he is a jack-of-all trades forward that can do a lot of things well. He is a decent skater, doesn’t mind making a hit or two, and is more than willing to do the dirty work on the forecheck to get the puck. With the Lightning lacking right-handed shots, he could have a leg up on some of his AHL teammates should Tampa Bay need to call up a winger at any point during the season. He still projects as a middle-six forward and it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch for the Bolts to give him a call up to see how he handles life at the NHL level.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Lucas Mercuri</h2>
<p>A slightly older player, and one who might not be as familiar to Lightning fans who aren’t familiar with the Crunch, is Lucas Mercuri. The 24-year-old right-shot forward has size (6’3″, 223 lbs), skill, and a bit of an edge to his play. The voice of the Crunch, Lukas Favale, had plenty of good things to say about him on the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiHJMqomytw&t=330s">most recent episode</a> of Backchecking the Bolts (shameless plug – listen and subscribe). When asked who on the Crunch might be a future Lightning fan favorite, he mentioned Mercuri, who also got his vote for biggest surprise on the team. </p>
<p>The Lightning picked up his rights from the Carolina Hurricanes in March of 2025 in exchange for a sixth-round pick. He debuted last that season, appearing in six regular season games without recording a point. Last season, he played in 67 games posting 14 goals and 12 assists. Which is even more impressive considering he spent 132 minutes in the penalty box. The next most penalized player in Syracuse – Matteo Pietroniro at 86.</p>
<p>If the Bolts are looking for a forward that plays with a little more edge, he wouldn’t be a bad call-up. Not only will he be the first to step up in a post-whistle scrum, but he also has enough talent to put the puck in the net. He excels in front of the net, and could be one of those players that scores 96% of his goals within a stride of the blue paint. Think of him as a younger, slightly more skilled Scott Sabourin. </p>
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<p>It’s going to be a long season, and the Lightning are going to need more than the 23 players that make up the opening night roster. While there might be some old favorites like Conor Geekie, Dylan Duke, or Jakob Pelletier among the call-ups, it wouldn’t be surprising to see some of these new faces get the call as well. </p>
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