Tampa Bay Lightning: 2015 Draft Pick Grades

Jun 26, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; NHL commissioner Gary Bettman addresses the crowd before the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

With the 2015 NHL Draft completed, we take a look back at the Tampa Bay Lightning draft picks.

After a busy two days in Sunrise, Florida for the 2015 NHL Draft, the Tampa Bay Lightning have walked away from BB&T Center with nine solid prospects who will bolster an already impressive pipeline of prospects that the organization has accumulated in past years.

Each draft pick offers their own skill set that Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman and Director of Amateur Scouting Al Murray believe will one day develop into the kind of players that will one day be quality players in the NHL.

If they believe in a player, the duo will not hesitate to pull the trigger, and are not scared to move back to accumulate more picks if the player they wanted is not available or will fall to them at a different position.

Every single prospect the Tampa Bay Lightning will be bringing into their organization will look to develop their games to one day reach the ultimate goal of reaching the NHL. Why not do it with an organization that has a track record of taking their home grown talent and turning them into solid NHL players that go on to have successful careers at hockey’s highest level?

Look at some of the organizations most recent prized prospects that made their way through the ranks and eventually became great players for the Lightning. I’m talking names like Ondrej Palat, Tyler Johnson, Cedric Paquette, and Alex Killorn who are some of the players that make up the young talented core of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Soon to follow you have Anthony DeAngelo, Slater Koekkoek, Tanner Richard, Matthew Peca, Adam Erne, and the list goes on and on.

These prospects will be under the watchful eye of the Lightning front office, and if they successfully mold their game and become the player the organization believed they would become, then they will earn themselves an entry-level contract, and officially have the amateur hockey player tag replaced when they sign their deals and become pros.

Again, that’s some time down the road. For some that may be just one productive season in junior away and for others it may be a four or five-year grind before they even sniff at a contract offer.

However long it takes, each prospect will look to one day wear the sweater of an NHL franchise. With that, let’s take a look at this years impressive haul from the 2015 NHL draft.

Next: Second Round: Mitchell Stephens

Jun 27, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; NHL commissioner Gary Bettman addresses the crowd before the 2014 NHL Draft at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

With the 33rd Selection in the second round, the Tampa Bay Lightning selected forward Mitchell Stephens.

After sending the 28th overall pick in the first round to the New York Islanders, the Tampa Bay Lightning received the 33rd and 72nd selections and used their first pick to take Saginaw Spirit forward Mitchell Stephens.

Stephens, an 18-year-old from Peterborough, Ontario is a right-handed shooting centerman who caught my eye in the scouting process with his skating ability and two-way ability.

RELATED: 2015 NHL Draft: Tampa Bay Lightning Selects Mitchell Stephens

Standing at 5’11 188 lbs, Stephens doesn’t let his small stature drive him away from going to hard areas of the ice and physically battling and coming away with the puck. After he has the puck, his ability to make the perfect pass to his line mates and get the rush going offensively always seemed to stand out on tape. He then uses his speed to get into the offensive zone and if not defended correctly his sneaky accurate wrist shot that seems to fool a lot of goalies becomes a dangerous weapon.

Another thing that really stood out on tape was the willingness to relentlessly pressure the opposing puck carrier. He has a high motor and a now quit attitude that makes him well respected by his teammates.

Stephens’ defensive game is also really well developed for someone at his age, and we all know how much two-way centerman are valued at the NHL level.

In only 62 games played, Stephens scored 22 goals and tallied 26 assists in his sophomore season with the Saginaw Spirit. There is a chance for Stephens to develop into a really good potential top-6 center, and at the very least a top-9 center that can win faceoffs and provide some depth scoring.

I really look forward to see how the Saginaw star develop and I really like this pick from Yzerman and company.

Grade: B 

Next: Second Round: Matthew Spencer

Jun 27, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; A general view of the arena floor during the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

With the 44th selection in the second round, the Tampa Bay Lightning selected defenseman Matthew Spencer.

With the Lightning’s second pick in the draft, the Tampa Bay Lightning selected defenseman Matthew Spencer from the Peterborough Petes of the OHL. Spencer, who stands at 6’2 188 lbs, is a two-way defenseman who seems to always be on the ice.

No matter whether it was the powerplay, penalty kill, or five-on-five situations, Spencer was always on the ice and was always counted to play at a high level.

A very strong defensive defenseman, Spencer has the ability to quickly read the play in front of him before making a strong outlet pass to his forwards. He also has the ability to take the puck into the offensive zone himself if the opportunity presents itself.

Though his offensive game is somewhat limited, he provides a heavy shot and excellent vision from the point, and acts as the teams quarterback in the offensive zone and directs most of the offense on the power play. With more time to develop, Spencer could one day see himself as a top-4 defenseman in the NHL.

Playing with Dominik Masin in Peterborough is a plus, and he will again see heavy top-pair defense minutes for the Petes this upcoming season. I like the way he can take the body of the opposition along the wall and has excellent quickness at his size to keep up with some of the Ontario Hockey League’s top scorers and keep them off the score sheet.

There is no doubt that Spencer is one of the most underrated defenseman in this draft, and he will be a piece on the Lightning blue line for many years to come.

Grade: B+

Jun 26, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; A general view of the podium on stage before the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

With the 64th selection of the third round, the Tampa Bay Lightning selected forward Dennis Yan.

Probably my favorite prospect of this Lightning draft class, left-wing Dennis Yan offers a unique skill set that seems to shine when watching the tape. Born in Portland, Oregon, Yan has developed his game to be one of the most feared scorers in the QMJHL.

Whenever I watch Yan play, I think to myself “That guy has one heck of a shot.” There is no doubt his wrist shot in NHL caliber, and his speed and skating ability are at a pretty high level aswell. He is able to find open pockets of ice and always keeps his feet moving looking for a better scoring opportunity. He is very strong on the puck, and does not shy away from contact.

The only thing I don’t enjoy about Yan’s game is his lack of a defensive game. Defense is an afterthought in Yan’s game, and to play for this organization, he will need to develop a complete 200-foot game to go along with the impressive offensive skill set he possesses. He usually is the last player back in the defensive zone, and that will land you a seat in the press box serving popcorn in the press box if done at any other level.

If he can round that part of his game into form, Yzerman and Murray may have just hit another home run in the middle of the draft. This would continue the trend from previous years when the team scooped up players such as Brayden Point, Cedric Paquette, and Tanner Richard that are quality players who have contributed or will soon contribute to the cause in the NHL.

Grade: B-

Next: Third Round: Anthony Cirelli

Jun 27, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; A general view of the complete draft board after the completion of the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

With the 72nd pick of the third round, the Tampa Bay Lightning selected forward Anthony Cirelli.

Wanna talk about a prototypical Steve Yzerman selection? Anthony Cirelli fits that mold perfectly. A classic two-way center that can play in any situation, the Woodbridge, Ontario native played a pivotal role on a Oshawa Generals team that ended up willing the 2015 Mastercard Memorial Cup.

Using the second pick in the trade with the New York Islanders, the Lightning selected the 6′ 185 lb centerman who many in Oshawa call the “MVP of the Memorial Cup Finals” Why you might ask? Well, playing on such a deep talented roster, Cirelli captained the third line and always made every shift count.

RELATED: Tampa Bay Lightning Trade First Round Pick to the New York Islanders

Every moment when he was on the ice, Cirelli made the simple plays that made him stick out most. To go along with his slick skating and quick stick both in the offensive and defensive zone, Cirelli was also able to create in the offensive zone and helped provide depth scoring that helped the Generals win the Memorial Cup.

Oh, did I mention he also scored the winning goal to clinch the Memorial Cup?

All in all, Cirelli is a fine prospect with top-9 forward upside. He does need to get stronger and work on his decision making when along the boards due to the fact that defenders are easily able to take him off the puck, but with many of Oshawas players graduating from the team, Cirelli will have a heavier workload for the next few years.

I really like this selection, and the organization once again has a supply of solid two-way centers in its prospect pool.

Grade:B

Next: Fourth Round: Jonne Tammela

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Jun 27, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; A general view of the arena floor before the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

With the 118th pick of the fourth round, the Tampa Bay Lightning selected forward Jonne Tammela.

Another European player selected by the Lightning (still no Swedish selections under Yzerman) the team selected forward Jonne Tammela with the 118th selection in the fourth round.

Tammela, who plays for KalPa of Liiga, which is the top professional league in Finland, plays a nice two-way game and has the ability to put the puck in the back of the net.

When watching film on Tammela, you notice that he has the skills to one day perform at the NHL level. With the ability to put the puck in the net with a decent wrist shot and skating ability, the 5’11 winger performed well in his first season in Liiga. Playing against much older competition, Tammela stood out at times with his ability to defend and lay some nice checks.

After being selected by the Petersborough Petes in the CHL entry draft, Tammela will move from a lower line player to more of a scoring role. With underrated skill and nice overall speed, Tammela should contribute nicely for a team filled with other Lightning prospects such as Matthew Spencer and Dominik Masin.

If Tammelas offensive game continues to develop, you could one day see him in a Lightning uniform. However, the 17 year old has a long road ahead of him, and he will need to show more consistent scoring and build off his impressive performance with the Finnish U-18 team where he put up 25 points in 23 games.

Grade: C

Next: Fourth Round: Mathieu Joseph

Jun 26, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; A general view of the NHL shield logo before the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

With the 120th pick in the fourth round, the Tampa Bay Lightning selected forward Mathieu Joseph.

Wanna talk about versatility? That’s what you get in foward Mathieu Joseph. Playing with the Saint Johns Sea Dogs of the QMJHL, Joseph is a hard working two-way winger that never seems to take a shift off.

Every time you see him on the ice he’s causing some sort of havoc whether it be relentlessly forechecking in the offensive zone or standing in front of the net screening the opposing goaltender, Joseph is the kind of player that you want on your team.

His tools include an above average wrist shot, skating ability, and ability to mix it up with the opposition. Joseph isn’t afraid to go into high traffic areas, and has the ability to come away with the puck when battling against the boards more times than not.

He seems to play bigger than his 6′ 168 lb frame would show, and plays a north-south pro style game that you like to see in a winger.

Oh, did I mention he likes to drop the gloves?

Overall, I like Josephs game, and I hope he continue to develop his offensive game as a scoring winger his skill set can allow him to become. There is no doubt I would take a player that puts the team ahead of himself and will do anything it takes to win on my teams. He needs to fill out his body a bit and add a bit of muscle, but in the long run you could see Joseph as a checking line player that can provide some scoring.

Grade: B-

Next: Fifth Round: Ryan Zuhlsdorf

Jun 26, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; General view of team executives on the arena floor in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

With the 120th pick in the fifth round, the Tampa Bay Lightning selected defenseman Ryan Zuhlsdorf.

A raw puck moving defenseman, Ryan Zuhlsdorf was selected with the teams 5th round pick of the 2015 NHL Draft. The Edina, Minnesota native just completed his first year in the USHL with the Sioux City Musketeers, and showed the tools to be a nice development project for the future.

Standing at 6′ 194 lbs, Zuhsdorf was an USHL All-Rookie selection in his first year in the league, and is a classic long term development project that is selected in the later rounds of the draft.

His offensive game needs some refinement, but his ability to play well in his own end and move the puck to his forwards have shown to be very impressive for 17-year-old defenseman, who also possesses a sneaky snot from the point.

I really like this selection, and taking a chance on a player with excellent poise and decision making that can develop into a bottom pair puck moving defenseman at the NHL level really excites me.

Committed to the University of Minnesota, Zuhlsdorf will spend one more year with the Musketeers as the team’s captain and will need to get stronger and continue to develop offensive game.

Grade: B

Next: Sixth Round: Kristian Oldham

There is no better way to end off this draft class than including an enforcer like Boko Imama. The dude is huge and can throw hands with the best of them; However, Imama plans to show you than he is more than just a guy that can drop the gloves. As he said in his own words “I love to fight, but I can play the game too.”

At 6’1 2014 lbs,Imama is build like a tank. He is an above-average skater, especially for a player of his size, and knows how to lay big hits both against the board and in open ice.  He has the ability to contribute offensively as well, scoring 28 points in 59 games between the Baie-Comeau Drakkar and Saint John Sea Dogs.

All you can say is you pray for the person on the other side of a Boko Imama punch. You can see how much his teammates love it when Imama throws the gloves, and it gives the team energy.

Imama will need to continue and develop the rest of his overall game to one day be in the NHL, but I would to see him as a fourth line enforcer on the teams fourth line. He is the type of player that the Lightning need to defend the teams star players and create energy on the bench. This guy knows how to put on a show.

Grade: C+

Next: Overall Draft Review

Jun 2, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman talks with media during media day the day before the 2015 Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

With the 2015 NHL Draft completed and all nine new draft selections now ready to continue their development, lets take a look at what this draft will do for the teams future. 

The 2015 NHL draft had a mix of all the things the Tampa Bay Lightning organization needed to refill it’s pool of prospects. This includes puck moving defenseman, organizational goaltending depth, and a mix of size and grit that will make the team harder to play against in the future.

There is no doubt that the organizations pipeline is still stacked with many skillful players (Namestnikov, DeAngelo, Richard, Peca, Marchessault,) but do not think this draft was going away from that trend either.

Every single player in this draft class has their own unique skill set that will look to carry them to the NHL, and the organization drafted these players because they believe that each player will contribute to the team in their own and help the team win.

You have your skillful puck moving defenseman in Spencer and Stephens, your long term development projects in Oldham and Zuhlsdorf, and your gritty forwards in Yan, Cirelli, Joseph, and Imama that will all look to improve on the weaknesses in their game.

Overall, I wish the team selected another goaltender in this draft, though it seems like Allen York was the reason why the team could afford to only draft one if they didn’t find other to their liking, but other than that I like the balance of skill and grit that this class provides. Who knows, it may one day go down as the best draft class ever in Tampa Bay Lightning history (The 2011 class will be tough to beat)

Overall Grade: B 

Next: Tampa Bay Lightning: A Different Look At Andrej Sustr