Tampa Bay Lightning: Morning Bolts News Updates
The Tampa Bay Lightning will face many changes this off-season, but while we all sit back and wait for impact, let’s take a look at what’s going on in and around the Bolts Nation.
It feels like just yesterday the Tampa Bay Lightning were on the ice competing for a chance to play for the Stanley Cup. Now, the Lightning return home to heal their wounds, regain their strength, and prepare to take the ice for the 2016-17 season.
Just because our beloved Bolts are not on the ice at the moment doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to talk about today in the world of hockey. There is plenty of newsworthy topics floating around the Bolts Nation right now. So, as everyone prepares to start their day, let’s take a look at what’s going on today both here in the Bolts Nation and around the rest of the National Hockey League.
As most of you know by now, the Tampa Bay Lightning elected to part ways with Lightning Assistant Coach Steve Thomas earlier this week. The very next day, the Tampa Bay Lightning organization hired Todd Richards to take up the reins where Thomas left off. Now, let’s take a moment to learn a little bit more about the Tampa Bay Lightning’s bench boss. (Tampa Bay Lightning)
We have said it before, and we will say it once again. The Tampa Bay Lightning are in for quite a shakeup during this off-season. There are a number of big name contracts, not even speaking of Steven Stamkos, which still need to be signed. The complicated part lies in the hands of Tampa Bay Lightning Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman. This will be finding the money to get it all done. (Lightning Shout)
The 2016 NHL Draft is right around the corner. Before the General Managers and Scouts from the 30 teams in the National Hockey League head to the First Niagara Center, the home of the Buffalo Sabres, to make their selections this year, we have an opportunity to sit back and learn a little more about one of our former Draft Picks, Kris Oldham, as he continues his journey to the NHL. (Your Alaska Link)
While in reality the start of the 2016-17 season is merely a little under four months away, it seems like each passing day is another year in the books. The good news is, we have something here that will somewhat help ease the pain of the off-season. The Tampa Bay Lightning has announced their preseason schedule, which is set to kick off on September 27th. (Bolts By The Bay)
News Around the National Hockey League
The Tampa Bay Lightning are not the only team in the National Hockey League already preparing for the 2016 NHL Draft later this month. There are plenty of other teams in the NHL who are ramped up and ready to find the future of their franchise out of the young crop of prospects waiting for their opportunity to make it to the big time. One of those teams is the Boston Bruins. (Causeway Crowd)
As the draft moves closer, many teams are going to be put into a situation they may not be prepared to deal with. On the Tampa Bay Lightning’s side, a monumental decision needs to be made. Can Steve Yzerman find a way to retain Steven Stamkos without selling the farm, or will the Lightning captain be in a different jersey next season. Another team facing a similar issue is the Chicago Blackhawks. (Blackhawk Up)
While there are some teams in the NHL who are clamoring to hold on to the players they have, there are others who already seem to be holding a fire sale on their players, all but begging someone else to come and take them. Judging by what we have read, this seems to be the ballad of the Detroit Red Wings. (Octopus Thrower)
The Toronto Maple Leafs have plenty of issues on their team right now, but one of the aforementioned issues is something the Tampa Bay lightning have been forced to deal with more than they would like to admit. According to Tim Chiasson, the Maple Leafs’ goaltending situation is rather bleak at the moment and one of the players Toronto should be scouting in the Free Agency Period is Jhonas Enroth (Editor In Leaf)
Next: Top 5 Draft Picks The Tampa Bay Lightning Should Pursue
There is still plenty of time between now and the start of the preseason for the Tampa Bay Lightning and the other 29 teams in the National Hockey League to get everything in order, but as the days continue to tick off the calendar, it becomes more and more pressing to find answers to our many questions. Right now, the only person with any definitive answers is Steve Yzerman himself.