Tampa Bay Lightning Year In Review: Jason Garrison

As the 2014-15 season begins to fade into darkness and the light of the new season appears at the end of the tunnel, let’s take one final look back at the season of Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Jason Garrison.

The Tampa Bay Lightning has had its fair share of issues on the blue line for far more years than we would like to admit here in the Bolts Nation, but with veteran players like Victor Hedman really emerging as stars and the addition of some new blood to the defensive core, the Lightning seems to have this issue well in hand.

One of those new additions that helped breathe new life into the Lightning defense is Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Jason Garrison.

Garrison came to the Tampa Bay Lightning as a part of a Draft Day trade. Tampa Bay Lightning Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman used his magic to trade a 2^nd Round selection in the 2014 NHL Draft in exchange to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Garrison, the rights to left wing Jeff Costello, and a 7^th Round Pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.

We don’t know about you, but we are pretty certain that the Tampa Bay Lightning got the better part of that particular Draft Day trade. Of course, we have come to expect nothing less from Steve Yzerman. He has put together once heck of a team since coming to the Lightning organization, but that is another story for another day.

Jason Garrison is one of those defensemen that every team loves to have in their arsenal. Not only can he hit hard, get in front of plays, and knock his opponent off the puck with the slightest of ease, but he can also contribute on the offensive front as well.

In the 2014-15 season, Garrison was ranked third among all Tampa Bay Lightning defensemen in points. In the 70 games he played in the regular season, Garrison was able to score 4 goals and 26 assists for a total of 30 points along with his plus-27 rating.

Jason Garrison’s 26 regular season assists tied his career-high that he set for himself in the 2013-14 season with the Vancouver Canucks. He would just barely miss his career high in points; a record set in the 2011-12 season with the Florida Panthers and once again in the 2013-14 season with Vancouver.

Garrison’s contributions to the Tampa Bay Lightning scoreboard didn’t end when the regular season concluded. During the Lightning amazing postseason run, Garrison played in a total of 23 of the 26 games. In that time, he was able to score 2 goals and 5 assists for a total of 7 points.

One of the moments in the post season that really stuck out for us happened on June 6^th as the Tampa Bay Lightning took on the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

The Tampa Bay Lightning found themselves tied with the Blackhawks 3 to 3 in the 3^rd period of play. The Lightning would have to make a move soon if they wanted to break through and come out on top. What better time to make a move than while on the Power Play?

Victor Hedman passes the puck to Ryan Callahan, who carries the puck through the neutral zone and into the Blackhawks zone. Callahan would pass the puck back to Garrison, who would hand it off to Hedman.

Garrison would then position himself in the center of the ice. Quickly, Hedman would pass the puck back to a ready and waiting Garrison. Garrison drew back his stick and fired the puck past Corey Crawford.

It can be difficult in the National Hockey League to find a really good two-way defenseman like Jason Garrison. Normally, once a team gets their hands on one they are not easily convinced to part ways with them.

Judging by his performance last season, Yzerman won’t be looking to part ways with him anytime soon. Thankfully, this is not a bridge that we have to cross anytime soon. Jason Garrison is under contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning until the conclusion of the 2018-19 season when he would become an Unrestricted Free Agent.

What did you think of Jason Garrison’s performance in the 2014-15 season? What kind of an impact do you think he will have on the team in the 2015-16 season? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

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