The Tampa Bay Lightning put out their post covid training camp roster earlier today. Top to bottom it is one of the deepest in the league, featuing stars like Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point and Victor Hedman.
With them, the numerous top notch role players that has made the Lightning contenders dating back to 2015. Tyler Johnson, Ondrej Palat, Alex Killorn, and young stud Anthony Cirelli. All normal mainstays that Tampa fans are likely accustom to hearing. However, due to covid-19 roster spots have been expanded to 29 skaters. As well as adding six skaters, teams may carry as many goaltenders as they please. Many of Tampa Bay’s extra skaters have seen NHL ice time at least once in their career, if not this season. This adds another level of depth to the Lightning’s already deep roster.
Standouts
The Lightning are stacked. All four lines can score and the blueline is very solid. Kucherov, although not on par with last year, still put up incredible numbers. 85 points and 33 goals through 68 games, he was well on his way to third straight 100 point season. Stamkos comes in rocking an over a point per game with 66 in 57 games. An injury will keep him out of the start of camp, but expect him to be ready come August. Last year’s Norris winner Victor Hedman sits third in defenseman scoring with 44 assists and 55 points. Alex Killorn’s shortened campaign was a career one. Finishing with 26 goals, he hit the 20 goal plateau for the first time in his career. Anthony Cirelli entered the Selke award discussion for his tremendous 200 f00t game as well as racking up 16 goals and 44 points.
Add-ons
Luke Witkowski and Mathieu Joseph will once again join the camp roster. Joseph played in 37 games this year for the Lightning but spent the last part of the season in Syracuse. There, he played in 29 games and had 15 assist and 21 points for the Syracuse Crunch. Off-season acquisition Gemel Smith secured a spot with 22 goals and 18 assist for the Crunch and has 83 NHL games under his belt. Alex Volkov has finished with 40+ points in all three of his seasons in Syracuse and played in 9 NHL games this year. Alex Barre-Boulet is one of the AHL’s top scorers and played in 60 games in Syracuse this year. Barre-Boulet had 27 goals and 29 assist for 56 points. Lastly, Top defensive prospect and first rounder Cal Foote is the only defenseman added. Foote put up 28 in 62 games for the Crunch and will get his chance to make a good impression at practices. Goalies Scott Wedgewood and Spencer Martin will added to round out the 29-man roster.
Full Roster
Forwards: Alex Barre-Boulet, Anthony Cirelli, Blake Coleman, Barclay Goodrow, Yanni Gourde, Tyler Johnson, Mathieu Joseph, Alex Killorn, Nikita Kucherov, Pat Maroon, Ondrej Palat, Cedric Paquette, Brayden Point, Gemel Smith, Steven Stamkos, Mitchell Stevens, Carter Verhaeghe, Alex Volkov, Luke Witkowski
Defensman: Zach Bogosian, Erik Cernak, Braydon Coburn, Cal Foote, Victor Hedman, Ryan Mcdonagh, Luke Schenn, Mikhail Sergachev, Kevin Shattenkirk
Goaltenders: Andrei Vasilevskiy, Curtis McElhinney, Scott Wedgewood, Spencer Martin
For complete coverage of the Bolts return to hockey, stay tuned to The Scrum Sports.com. and our YouTube channel.
