Tampa Bay Lightning: Morning Bolts News Updates
The off-season is officially in full swing. While Tampa Bay Lightning fans await the next great adventure, let’s take a look at what is going on around the Bolts Nation.
The off-season has finally officially begun. As much as it pains many Tampa Bay Lightning fans to utter these words, the Pittsburgh Penguins have captured the Stanley Cup. Now that the 2015-16 season has been officially laid to rest, all eyes in the National Hockey League are going to be turned to the future.
We are just a matter of weeks away from the 2016 NHL Entry Draft where all of the elite prospects from around the world wait to hear their name called and begin the very first step towards achieving their dreams of playing in the National Hockey League. After that, the eyes of the hockey world will be focused on the Free Agency period.
The Tampa Bay Lightning have many questions that need to be answered in the off-season. Unfortunately, many of these questions revolve around the numerous outstanding contracts that Lightning Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman will have to sign before the start of the new season.
Unfortunately, we are still weeks away from July 1st, so fans will have to wait just a little while longer to begin to see what the bigger picture looks like, but in the meantime, let’s take a couple of minutes and take a look at what’s happening both here in the Bolts Nation and around the National Hockey League today.
As some of you may be aware of by now, the hockey world suffered a tremendous loss when former Detroit Red Wings forward and hockey legend Gordie Howe passed away on Friday night at the age of 88. The man who quickly became known as “Mr. Hockey” had an impact on everyone in the National Hockey League in one form or another.
However, there are some whom Howe had a tremendous impact on. One of those people is Tampa Bay Lightning Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman, who much like Gordie Howe, spent his entire National Hockey League on-ice career as a member of the Detroit Red Wings. It comes as no surprise that Yzerman had fond memories of Howe to share after his passing. (Bolts By The Bay)
If you have lived in the Tampa Bay area for any length of time, we are sure you’ve heard of a little publication known as Creative Loafing. If you haven’t, they are pretty much the end all be all when it comes to what to do around town and the best of what the local scene has to offer. Much like every year, there comes a point in the year when Creative Loafing starts looking for nominations for the Best of the Bay.
This is where the absolute best things to see, hear, taste, or adventure into are voted upon to receive the recognition of “Best of the Bay.” They are looking for everything from Best Local Pro Sports Team, which is, of course, the Tampa Bay Lightning, best local blogger, best local sports coach, and much more. Well, ladies and gentlemen, the polls are open and it’s time to nominate your favorite just about everything. (Creative Loafing)
Right now, hockey fans find themselves in a sort of purgatory. The 2015-16 season has come to an end. It’s not quite time for the NHL Draft, we’re still a bit off from the NHL Awards, and of course the Free Agency Period. What in the world can a hockey fan do to find some satisfaction in their time of need?
Well, at least for a little while, those teams who made it into the 2015-16 Stanley Cup Playoffs can take a look back at some of the highlights and reminisce on the best parts of the postseason. The Tampa Bay Lightning made quite a few beautiful shots over the course of the postseason. The question is, which ones made the list? (Bleacher Report)
News Around The National Hockey League
As we mentioned before, the eyes of the National Hockey League have turned from the season to the NHL Draft and the Free Agency Period. Unlike the Tampa Bay Lightning, who seems to be biding their time on making any major decisions, there are some teams in the National Hockey League who have already gotten down to business.
The Detroit Red Wings have acquired prospect forward Dylan Sadowy from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for a third-round draft pick in the 2017 NHL Draft. The Red Wings have since signed Sadowy to a three-year contract. At that price, the Red Wings may have negotiated the deal of the year. (Octopus Thrower)
Just about every team in the National Hockey League has that one player who everyone in the entire fanbase just can’t seem to get on board with. There will be cries for that particular player to be traded and shivers in the stands when that player hits the ice. The Tampa Bay Lightning is no exception to this, but for right this minute, we are not traveling down that road.
On the flip side, there is another team whose fans are more than prepared to journey down that road and make their opinions known. Andrew Thompson, one of the Editors over at Causeway Crowd, breaks down the list of players the Boston Bruins should be looking to use one of their buyouts on when the time comes this season. There are some surprising names on the list, to be sure. (Causeway Crowd)
The Tampa Bay Lightning have a few defensive holes that need to be filled over the off-season. There is no denying it is going to be interesting to see how Lightning GM Steve Yzerman plans on putting the puzzle together as the off-season rolls on.
Meanwhile, the Toronto Maple Leafs are looking to make a few new additions to their roster next season. And no, we are not talking about Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos. The Maple Leafs have their fair share of defensive woes as well. Tim Chiasson, the Editor over at Editor In Leaf, takes a look at one of the options the Leafs should be looking at as the Free Agency Period looms off in the distance. (Editor In Leaf)
Next: Top 5 Contracts The Tampa Bay Lightning Needs To Sign
There is a lot of time in between now and the start of the 2016-17 season for the Tampa Bay Lightning. As much as we would like to deny it, there are changes coming. The one thing we know for sure is the off-season is going to be a crazy rollercoaster ride, and we don’t want to miss a moment of it.