Erik Condra ‘Very Excited’ To Be In Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Erik Condra spoke to the media earlier this week and expressed his excitement to be in Tampa Bay and what he can contribute to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Tampa Bay Lightning jumped head first into the Free Agency Period this year and pretty much made their first real move by signing right wing Erik Condra from the Ottawa Senators to a three-year deal. Now that Condra has made his way to the Sunshine State, he’s had an opportunity to dig in, and from the looks of things he is having a pretty good time thus far.

Earlier this week, one of the newest members of the Tampa Bay Lightning got an opportunity to take place in one of the Lightning organization’s Lightning Made Summer Camps in Ellenton. Condra took to the ice and skate with the kids and helped them improve their games and learn what it means to be a professional hockey player.

After participating in the camp, Condra spoke to the media and gave everyone the chance to get to know him a little bit better. As most of you know by now, there is a little bit of history between Erik Condra and Tampa Bay Lightning Head Coach Jon Cooper.

Not only did Condra play for Cooper as a part of the Texarkana Bandits, but he was also an usher at Jon Cooper’s wedding to his wife Jessie.

Obviously, this makes the transition from one team to another a little smoother, but the move is not without its minor pitfalls.

After all, he hasn’t played for Cooper in over 12 years. We think it is safe to say that not only have the two of them grown as individuals in that time, but we are sure there have been changes to Cooper’s system, and those are adjustments that Condra will have to make.

At the same time, it is plain to see that Condra is confident in his decision to come to the Tampa Bay Lightning and that he is looking forward to settling in to his position both on the ice and off.

“They’ve got a great movement coming along. They’ve got young guys that are fast and can play the game and it seems like a great organization. From what I can tell it’s top notch everywhere. – Erik Condra via Tampa Bay Lightning

There is a serious upside to Condra that some people may not be aware of. Condra is a mainstay on the penalty kill, who isn’t afraid to dig in, block shots, and do whatever it takes to keep the puck out of the net; especially in man-down situations.

“I take pride in that. In Ottawa, I was one of the mainstays on the penalty kill, and any way I can help; blocking shots or getting it out, I take pride in playing on the penalty kill.” – Erik Condra via Tampa Bay Lightning

We would be lying to you if we told you that we were not a little apprehensive at first when the news broke of the Lightning’s new acquisition. No matter how much one wants to deny it, change can be scary; especially when it comes to dealing with a hard hitting team like the Ottawa Senators.

Now that we have had a moment to take a step back and look at everything objectively, and even more so after hearing him speak about the franchise and what he hopes to contribute to the Tampa Bay Lightning, we think that the addition of Erik Condra could be very beneficial for the Lightning; especially if we are looking to make another solid run at the Stanley Cup this season.

What do you think of the addition of Erik Condra to the Tampa Bay Lightning lineup? Do you think he can provide the spark the Lightning need to take their special teams to the next level? Where do you think Condra fits in the grand scheme of things? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

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