Photo by Michelle Brown
The Tampa Bay Lightning’s 2023 3v3 Prospect Tournament came to a conclusion just this last week. Many names returned from last season. A lot of new faces came in for their first camp. Some played for their first time in North America. Who are these fresh faces and who stood out? Find out here.
Photo by Michelle Brown
2023 3v3 Prospect Tournament rookies
All five of the 2023 Bolt Draft selections made it to camp even thought the roster was released prior to the NHL Entry Draft. Six invitees including Tyler Duke, the younger brother of 2021 Lightning draft pick Dylan Duke. One Syracuse Crunch signing in Tristan Allard. Three recent entry level contracts in Emil Lilleberg, Waltteri Merela, and 2020 third round pick Maxim Groshev who finally made his way over. This years group was well put together as there were no players who really looked out of place like years past.
I liked all of this years draft choices though I didn’t get to see much of second round pick Ethan Gauthier and sixth round pick Warren Clark. Clark is most certainly NHL size at six-foot-five 185. Fourth round selection Jayson Shaugabay had some creative attempts on day one that were just off, but day two he really turned it on. He just turned 18 back in April and is one to watch. He looks like a playmaker. Seventh round selections Jack Harvey and Ethan Hay also played a lot of minutes. They both did a little of everything.
Allard didn’t play quite as much, but did a little of everything too. He should be a good option for the Crunch or Orlando Solar Bears in the ECHL. I was wondering at time of signing where Lilleberg would fit in the system and after seeing him I think he needs some more development time before seeing big minutes with Syracuse. Merela really came into the first game of the tournament and declared he had arrived. That was Hugo Alnefelt’s worst game and it was because of Merela. Another year with another free-agent signing that pumps me up. Groshev still needs to adjust to the rink size here, but he might make a good power forward yet.
Photo by Kevin Brown
Last years standouts today
Maxim Cajkovic wasn’t invited to this years event and subsequently traded. Ilya Usau did play and did fine, but didn’t excite me as much as last year. Dylan Duke was my first star last year and he reprised his role. He does it all. He forechecks. He backchecks and is always the first guy back or covering for a pinching defender. I hope he sticks with us when his time in college is complete. McKade Webster was on the roster this year, but did not play. Niko Huutanen looked good again this year. Connor Kurth attended again as well and he was strong on the puck, but most of his shots were just a touch off the net.
Nick Perbix made the big team last year and thus did not take part in this years tournament. Declan Carlile did return and he was less offensive and a bit more physical. I still really like his game. Roman Schmidt really impressed me last year. I just didn’t see the same skills I saw last year. Jack Thompson has a bit more skill than Carlile, but wasn’t as physical. I thought their skills were quite comparable last year and I think he may have just gained a step. Eamon Powell I saw as a skilled, but undersized defender. That’s still the case, but his skating has really elevated since last year and it’s coming together for him. I hope he stays with us after he’s done with college too.
Photo by Kevin Brown
2023 3v3 Prospect Tournament standouts
I’m not kidding, Dylan Duke is the man. He was far and away the best player. Among the forwards Lucas Edmonds (top picture) is my next choice. He was one of the few that was able to stop or read Dylan Duke. He had some great moves in tight while set up out front of the blue paint. On the other end Eamon Powell was the best defender. Generated a ton of offense with his slick skating and puck moving. Maxwell Crozier really shot up my radar this time and deserves to be in the standout conversation. It’s between him, Carlile, and Thompson for the last spots.
These events really aren’t for the goalies because of all the scoring due to limited ice in the opening games, however I left them out of my recap articles last year. I plan to remedy that this time. I’ve always thought highly of Alnefelt. I can’t think of another time a team had to get special permission to draft a player because they didn’t register. They did that at the top of the third round back in 2019. I think of him as the Juuse Saros of our organization. He backs up the star goalie for quite awhile and then seamlessly steps in as the starter when Andrei Vasilevskiy retires. There have been a few other goalies drafted the last few years that I thought were skilled, but none on his level.
Both invitee goalies did well and probably better than most of the ones I have seen over the last few years. I really want to talk about Nick Malik, our fifth round selection last year. I didn’t think much of him last time. That has changed drastically. Another guy who has shot way up my radar. He was on fire. If he keeps it up he could give Alnefelt a run for his money in this organization.
Photo by Michelle Brown
2023 3v3 Prospect Tournament stars
Honorable mentions: Jack Thompson, Declan Carlile, Waltteri Merela, Lucas Edmonds, Niko Huutanen, Jayson Shaugabay
Third star: Nick Malik
Second star: Eamon Powell
First star: Dylan Duke
Photo by Kevin Brown
If you’d like to read about last years standouts from last years articles they are here, here, and here. Check back soon for some draft analyses!
