Tampa Bay Lightning: Expectations For 2015 Prospect Tournament

The Tampa Bay Lightning will once again take part in the 2015 Prospect Tournament that will be hosted by the team at Germain Arena in Estero, Florida.

Just like in years past, the Tampa Bay Lightning organization will participate in a prospect tournament to help develop the next wave of young prospects hoping to shoot through the system and make it to the NHL.

According to the team’s website, the Lightning will bring 23 players to Estero, Florida to make out the tournament roster.

The tournament will start on September 12th and run through the 15th. The team will begin practice at the Brandon Ice Sports Forum on September 10th and 11th before heading to Germain Arena to compete in this year’s tournament.

Here is the roster that will look to finish better than the 1-2 record they had at last year’s tournament.

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The team has a bit of experience when it comes to the annual prospect tournament with six of its 23 players having played in the tournament in previous years. This group includes two forwards (Henri Ikonen, Joel Vermin), three defenseman (Slater Koekoek, Dylan Blujus, Jake Dotchin) and goaltender Kristers Gudlevskis.

Here are the projected lines for the team’s first game.

Forward:

Adam Erne-Matthew Peca-Joel Vermin

Henri Ikonen-Brayden Point-Cam Darcy

Dennis Yan-Mitchell Stephens-Brian Hart

Bokondji Imama-Anthony Cirelli-Mathieu Joseph

Cristiano DiGiacinto

Defenseman:

Slater Koekkoek-Anthony DeAngelo

Dominik Masin-Dylan Blujus

Matthew Spencer-Jake Dotchin

Daniel Walcott

Ben Thomas

Goaltenders:

Kristers Gudlevskis

Adam Wilcox

This group definitely has the ability to put the puck in the back of the opposing team’s net while a strong blue line helps negate the opposition from scoring. The top forward line and top defense pairing will do most of the scoring while the rest of the roster defends properly and chips in a goal or two every once in a while. That is the formula for a winning team.

With so many talented centers on the roster, names like Cam Darcy and Anthony Cirelli are pushed to the wing. Darcy has a ton of experience at the position and if he plans to make it to the NHL that is most likely where he will end up.

It’s tempting to put Brayden Point on the same line as Matthew Peca and Adam Erne but having two centers that can put the puck in the back of the net are better than one. Not to mention Joel Vermin is a capable top line winger for this tournament due to his excellent puck handling ability.

Looking down to the bottom-six forwards, the mix of grit and skill is a lethal combination that make the forward depth arguably the strongest it’s been since the Lightning has started competing in this yearly competition. You could probably guess that Boko Imama and Cristiano DiGiacinto could end up making friends with the penalty box as well.

On the blueline, the pairing of Slater Koekkoek and Anthony DeAngelo will be a nightmare for the opposition to defend. They will definitely lead the charge on the blueline and log the most ice time. With so many right-handed defenseman on the roster, Matthew Spencer will move over to the left side on the bottom pair when Daniel Walcott is scratched and will swap places with Walcott when it’s his turn to draw into the lineup.

Between the pipes, the more experienced Kristers Gudlevskis will get the game one start with Adam Wilcox backing him up. I expect the two goaltenders to split time in the crease as the team wants to see what they have for the future at that position. This battle will soon carry on in Syracuse as each battle for the starting job for the team’s AHL affiliate.

The team will face prospects from the Nashville Predators, Washington Capitals, and in-state rival Florida Panthers. The expectation is for the team to come away with the best record when the tournament comes to a close. This tournament is a great test for the team’s next wave of young talent, and the group will show everyone in Estero just why the Tampa Bay Lightning organization has one of the prospect pools in the NHL.

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