Like Kucherov, Palat was part of that historic 2011 draft and part of the TampaCuse invasion. No matter what you see in a player, when he lasts until the 208th pick and then succeeds at the NHL level, you are lucky. He’s already tied a franchise record with 26 points and his 20 assists is the most a Lightning player has ever produced in a postseason. A key part of the 2015 run as a member of The Triplets where he recorded 22 points (10 goals, 12 assists) in 26 games, he’s been even better this year. Whatever the reason was, the Lightning were more than happy to choose him and he’s rewarded them with dynamic play ever since. He definitely displayed first round talent so why did he drop to 58th overall? Was it his size (he was listed at 5-10, 163 lbs)? Or maybe the always lingering threat that, as a Russian, he may choose to play in the KHL? Out of those six, Kucherov was the true gem. Yzerman’s first draft that he had a reasonable amount of time to prepare for was an outstanding success as all six players drafted reached the NHL. He spent part of the next season in Syracuse before getting called up to the Lightning as part of the TampaCuse invasion. Drafted a year prior to Stamkos, Killorn went off to Harvard and then joined the Norfolk Admirals in time for their march to the Calder Cup. Hedman is the engine that drives the Lightning and is in contention for the Conn Smythe.Ī fun question to ask is, “What current member of the Lightning has been with the organization the longest?” Chances are most folks will answer with “Steven Stamkos”. If anyone is kicking themselves for not drafting him, it’s the Islanders, although that’s tinged with a little bitterness over the way their relationship with John Tavares ended. Meanwhile Matt Duchene has had a nice career. Hedman is one of the best players in the history of the organization and is smoothly skating his way to the Hall of Fame. A big goal like he scored in Game Six could get him going offensively.īelieve it or not, “Hedman or Duchene” was actually a topic for discussion in 2009 so I guess Brian Lawton gets credit for making the right choice. He’s had a bit of a spotty postseason, but has spent the better part of the last three rounds against the opposition’s best players. He got his break due to injuries at the center spot that year, but once he joined the Lightning he never gave them a reason to send him back. Originally projected as a bit of a long-term project, Cirelli played his way out of the AHL and into the NHL in less than a season. Yzerman loved to pick in the middle rounds - two-way players with a high hockey-IQ. He was exactly the type of player that Mr. Will he add a Stanley Cup Final overtime goal to his resume? I wouldn’t bet against it.Ĭirelli didn’t put up eye-popping numbers during his junior career and that’s part of the reason he was available in the third round. Eastern Conference Final overtime goal - check. Let’s take a look at how these players joined the team, and who was responsible for the move. Many will refer to it as “Steve Yzerman’s Team” and while he deserves recognition for putting the bulk of the roster, this team doesn’t make it this far without the work of Julien BriseBois, Jay Feaster, and yes, even Brian Lawton. So, it’s impossible to give one man full credit for the 2019-20 Tampa Bay Lightning. Two of those gentlemen laid the foundation by drafting generational players, the next built the framework, and the fourth added the final touches that put the team over the top. It took the work of four different general managers to construct the roster that will be on the ice over the next ten days or so. While the first game didn’t go as planned (three Stanley Cup Finals, three Game One losses in history) they are still a long way from being eliminated. After a few seasons of coming up short, the Tampa Bay Lightning finally made it back to the Stanley Cup Final.
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