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A Quick Guide To Possible Lightning Draft Plans

Graphic: NHL

By Tyler Santana

The Tampa Bay Lightning hold the number 14 pick in Friday’s Entry Draft and can look to go a multitude of directions with this pick. As contenders, they could trade for an established vet, use this pick to protect players at the expansion draft, or just pick the player they believe will help their team most in the future.

A Trade: The cap concerned Lightning may look to offload this pick to acquire an established player who isn’t too expensive. The Bolts could trade this pick to a rebuilding team who will look to get young stars of the future and use their current players as currency to do so. In a draft that is not very deep in the eyes of most experts, Steve Yzerman may look to flip this pick into a young blueliner or a solid top 6 player. Several possibilities could be Colorado’s Tyson Barrie, a solid RHD the Bolts could use, however, he may require more than the first as Barrie is a young D-man Colorado may want to keep to try and build around. Another such team could be the Vancouver Canucks, a team who could be set to move young Christopher Tanev, but this move may also require additional pieces. Arizona may look to move pieces like Anthony Duclair or other young players for picks if they are not satisfied with their progression.

Vegas: Per several reports, the Lightning will look to offload Jason Garrison and his deal to Vegas and an agreement is said to already be in place. The 14th pick may be included in the deal as a bargaining chip to keep Vegas from taking Tampa’s young D-men. However, I would hope Tampa is one of the teams Vegas has mentioned who gave a pick after 2017 if they include a pick at all. This is the lowest the Lightning have picked since selecting Drouin with the 3rd selection of 2013, and it will most likely be the highest pick in the next few drafts. I’d rather see Tampa push this pick back to next year, as the team is built more like a Stanley Cup contender than a team who will get the 1st selection next year.

Prospects to watch:

KAILER YAMAMOTO– An undersized but very skilled winger, Yamamoto spent the last season with the Spokane Chiefs of the WHL, where he put up 99 points in 65 games. Yamamoto is an intelligent player with slick hands who could produce very well in the NHL as his talent is that of a top 5 player in this draft. The big concern is his size leads to obvious injury question marks, but the league has seen undersized players like Johnny Gaudreau of the Flames flourish despite his size. The talent is there if he can stay healthy.

JUUSO VÄLIMÄKI- Juuso is a 6’1”, 201 lb. Finnish LHD from the Tri-City Americans who put up 93 points in 116 games over his career for 0.80 ppg. His first season in the WHL was a bit pedestrian as he collected 34 points in 56 games. However, he exploded this past season with 61 points in 60 games. The alluring thing of this Finn, the kid is 18. International Scouting Services even said the offensive part of his game is underrated, with Dobber Prospects praising his speed, ability to carry the puck, and his excellent outlet pass skill.

CALLAN FOOTE- The son of legendary Colorado Blue Liner Adam Foote, Callan is a different defenseman than his father. Callan is not the stay at home player his father was, but is instead a solid 2-way defenseman with one scout saying Callan was “never out of position” with “high hockey IQ in all three zones.” Another called him “a solid 12 year NHLer. A really solid, safe pick.” Oh, and he’s the RHD that the Lightning have been looking for. Callan would be a steal at 14, but there is no guarantee in the Draft and he could very well fall into the Lightning’s lap.

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June 21st, 2017


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