So, what did we learn about the Tampa Bay Lightning prospects after their 7-4 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday night? Honestly, not much that we didn’t already know. Conor Geekie is the best prospect in the system. The 2024 draft picks need some seasoning. Milo Roelens is a large individual. You know, the basics.
The final score isn’t indicative of the game as Carolina potted two empty-net goals late to extend a 5-4 lead that had been a 4-3 deficit entering the third period. The Bolts scored three in a row in the second period to take that lead after falling behind earlier in the period when some bad bounces didn’t go their way.
The details of the game are quite inconsequential, though. While team effort is preached and praised relentlessly in this sport, contests such as these rookie showcases are more about individual performance. After all, the line-ups we see on the ice over the weekend are going to be, for the most part, scattered to the corners of the hockey world following training camp.
There is a small exception to be carved out from that thought. For a team loaded with older prospects with the Lightning, this showcase can serve as a partial AHL training camp. An argument can be made that roughly 16 players in Nashville this weekend will be on the Crunch roster for at least part of the season. So Joel Bouchard, who is behind the bench for the Bolts, will be playing with combinations a bit over the next two games.
Based on just one game, Bouchard is really hoping the Lightning think Geekie needs a little more seasoning before cracking the NHL line-up. The younger of the two Geekie brothers in the NHL (his brother Morgan is in Boston) played as advertised. He was the best Lightning forward in the game, showing some skill with the puck as he walked a Carolina defender at the blue line to set up a partial breakaway. Geekie also had a nice forecheck behind the net that set up Max Groshev’s goal. The first-round pick killed a penalty and centered the top power play unit.
Lucas Edmonds had the assist on that play and added a goal a little later on a nice deflection. He had a really strong game, which is nice to see after a bland second season with the Crunch last year. It wouldn’t be surprising to see a top line of Geekie, Edmonds, and Groshev in Syracuse to start the year as they seemed to work pretty well together when Bouchard put them together.
Overall it was a bit of a disjointed effort from the Lightning prospects. There were a lot of missed breakout passes and some poor coverage down low that often left goaltender Ryan Fanti, who finished with 29 saves on 34 shots, out to dry. With just a few days of practice, it’s understandable that they would be a bit out of sync and that led to Carolina dominating the ice for much of the night.
Part of the reason there seemed to be such a territorial disadvantage for the Lightning can simply be ascribed to a talent gap. Carolina had a roster that featured a first-round pick, five second-round picks, and two third-round picks. The Lightning had a first-round pick (Conor Geekie), one second-round pick (Evan Gauthier) and 3 third-round picks. The price of success weighs heaviest on the future and that is often on display in these tournaments.
The most important aspect of the game is that they made it through the night without sustaining any serious injuries. Tyson Feist was hobbled by a shot in the second period and struggled to get to the bench, but he was able to return. Other than that it seemed like everyone made it through unscathed, which is a victory in itself.
Some other random thoughts:
After a bit of a rough first period, Jan Golicic eased into the game. It’s obvious that he will need to work on his skating, but the 18-year-old used his size well at times and picked up an assist on a nice low, hard shot that Edmonds deflected home.
It will be a big year for Jaydon Dureau. After two seasons of not being able to stick in Syracuse, the 2020 fifth-round pick is at an inflection point in his career. He had a really nice play in the first period where he picked off a fumbled puck in his own zone and cruised in for a breakaway goal.
Ethan Hay didn’t make our Top 25 Under 25 this year (spoiler!) and we may regret that. The Memorial Cup winner with Saginaw had a quietly competent game that featured a nice goal where he outworked the defender in front of the net.
The Bolts are back on the ice this evening as they take on the Nashville Predators prospects at 6:00 PM. Catch the live stream on the Lightning’s website.
