Tampa Bay Lightning: 30 Best Draft Picks In Franchise History

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Tampa Bay Lightning has seen a lot of talented players walk down the tunnel at the Amalie Arena, but how many of those were drafted by the team?

The Tampa Bay Lightning has one of the best developmental systems in the National Hockey League. This is in no small part to Tampa Bay Lightning Vice President and General Manager and his team of talented scouts who have combed the globe for the brightest young talent the hockey world has to offer.

This is not to say that those who have come before them have not achieved greatness, as it is those who have come before that led this organization to their first-ever Stanley Cup Championship in 2004. At the same time, you simply cannot argue with results, and that is what Yzerman and his team have achieved…results.

As we get closer to the halfway point in the season, many people are beginning to take a closer look at the pool of prospects who will be available when the 2016 NHL Draft kicks off later this year. It is time to take a closer look at the numbers, evaluate their technique, and see who will be the best fit for their respective teams.

Before we get to the arduous process of analyzing the season ahead, we here at Bolts By The Bay have decided to take a little lock in the opposite direction. Over the course of the next 30 slides, we will take a closer look at some of the greatest players to have ever been drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Some of these names may be more recognizable than others, but at the end of the day each one of these players has somehow made an impact on the Tampa Bay Lightning. While some of them haven’t had their moment in the sun just yet, it is plain to see they have what it takes to get the job done when their time arrives.

After you’ve had an opportunity to take a look at our list, let us know what you think in the comments below. What do you think are some of the aforementioned players’ biggest asset to the team? Maybe you feel as if we overlooked someone? Let us know who and why.

Next: The First Of Many Czechs

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* Additional Editorial Contribution By Kyle Barber

Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

30. Dominik Masin

Draft Year: 2014

Position: Defense

In a draft year with so much talent at so many positions, the Tampa Bay Lightning could have gone a number of ways with the 35th selection of the 2014 NHL Draft. After selecting defenseman Anthony DeAngelo with the 17th overall pick of round one, the team once again bolstered its blue line depth by selecting defenseman Dominik Masin.

Playing junior hockey in his native Czech Republic, Masin is the stay at home defenseman the Lightning were looking for. Though his 6’1 190 lb frame isn’t the largest, his impressive performances both in junior and international play made Masin stand out to Lightning scouts. During his draft year, I took some notes on Masin’s play:

Dominik Masin is a versatile defenseman that uses his 6’2 frame very well when he is on the ice. He isn’t the most physical person in the world, but he uses his size to his advantage and can take advantage of smaller forwards as they try to battle him along the wall. Won’t be a force offensively, but has the ability to get his name on the score sheet here and there. Classic stay at home defenseman whose true value is seen in the defensive zone. Will top out as a top-4 defender if all goes well in his development.

After spending most of his young career playing in the Czech Republic, Masin come over to North America after being selected by the Peterborough Petes in the 2014 CHL entry draft. Masin spent much of his time in Europe playing with his native country in international play including the U16, U18, and U20 teams as well as being the captain of the U19 team.

It took some time for Masin’s play to adjust to the North American style of play and experienced some ups and downs in his first season. This is not uncommon for international players in their first CHL season, but Masin still showed many of the qualities that made him a successful defender over in Europe.

Dominik Masin is a left-handed defenseman that will most likely top out as a top-4 stay at home defenseman at the NHL level. Just as I believed he would do when scouting him during his draft year, Masin will sound defensive play in his own zone but may contribute more offensively than originally thought to believe. After playing his final season in Petersborough, Masin will move on to play for the Syracuse Crunch full-time next season and will probably spend two or three seasons with the Crunch before getting his chance at a full-time spot on the NHL roster.

Next: Switzerland Joins The Party

Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

29. Joel Vermin

Draft Year: 2013

Position: Forward

Nobody (including myself) expected forward Joel Vermin to play his first NHL game this year. Well, the combination of injuries and Vermin leading all Crunch forwards in points made his case. The 5’11 192 lb Bern, Switzerland native has done nothing but impress during his time with the Tampa Bay Lightning, and is making a name for himself playing as a bottom-6 forward on this talented Lightning forward unit.

Vermin reminds me of the Energizer Bunny when he plays: He has a high motor, plays with passion, and is aggravating to play against. Whenever Vermin is sent on the ice, you just see him skating around and pressuring the opposition into quick decisions that usually lead to bad passes or turnovers in the offensive zone. That is exactly what he was brought here for, and he is performing very well in his role.

In his first 6 NHL games, Vermin chipped in an assist and a plus-one rating while on the ice and playing on the fourth line. He uses his speed effectively when creating chances in the offensive zone and seems to have a nose for the puck that you just can’t teach.

With so much depth on the NHL roster, Vermin will have to continue to do things that separate him from the rest of the pack so he can get ice time with the Lightning on a constant rate. He will most likely spend some more time in Syracuse to continue his development, but Vermin has made a quality first appearance to the coaching staff.

Next: The First Nikita

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

28. Nikita Nesterov

Draft Year: 2011

Position: Defense

As most of you know by now, one of Tampa Bay Lightning Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman’s strongest ability since taking over the reins of the Tampa Bay Lightning has been building an excellent developmental system that will easily breed the National Hockey League stars of tomorrow.

In 2011, Yzerman added another name to the Tampa Bay Lightning roster that would one day prove to be a rather valuable asset to the Lightning’s main roster. That young player would be Lightning defenseman Nikita Nesterov.

After the Tampa Bay Lightning traded defenseman Radko Gudas to the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2014-15 season, the Lightning found themselves missing a solid goaltender who could really lay down some hard hits. Before you bring up Victor Hedman, who can certainly lay down some monster hits, think to yourselves for a moment the resounding thud you would hear echo through the Amalie Arena after Gudas would make a hit.

After making his debut on the Tampa Bay Lightning’s main roster last season, Nesterov has done a good job of filling the hole left behind by Gudas’ departure. While he may not be an offensively minded defenseman like Victor Hedman, Nesterov certainly does a good job of laying down hits, blocking shots, and breaking up plays.

There is no denying there is a lot of work to be done before anyone will be able to compare Nikita Nesterov to defensemen like Victor Hedman or Anton Stralman, but it is plain to see the potential is there, and with the proper guidance, Nikita Nesterov could become the next defensive foundation for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Next: A Hard-Hitting Jersey Boy Makes His Move

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

26. Adam Erne

Draft Year: 2013

Position: Forward

The second selection made by the Tampa Bay Lightning during the 2013 NHL Draft could soon join the first pick Jonathan Drouin in the NHL. After falling out of the first round, the Lightning got a steal in Adam Erne when they selected him with the 33rd pick of the draft. A highly skilled power forward, the New Haven, Connecticut native has all the tools needed to be a successful player at the NHL level.

I have been able to watch Erne a lot since he was drafted both with the Remparts, international competition with Team USA and his short stint with the Syracuse Crunch. Here is my take on the 6’1 211 lb left winger.

“Erne’s mix of hockey sense, physical ability and good hockey tools makes him one of the organizations top prospects. He is equipped with a hard shot and soft hands that make him a great finisher around the net. If he learns to play with max effort on a nightly basis, Erne would be another player on the Lightning that opposing coaches will lose sleep at night trying to plan for.”

Though injuries have slowed him down during first pro season, the young American forward still has six points in only ten games played. That combination of size, speed, and skill make Erne a tough matchup for any defender, and with increased playing time and refinement of his bad habits, Erne could one day be a force at the NHL level.

Next: On Point

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

25. Brayden Point

Draft Year: 2014

Position: Forward

Just like Erne was passed over during the 2013 National Hockey League Entry Draft, the same thing happened to highly skilled forward Brayden Point, who continues to dominate Canadian Junior hockey and show teams what they could have had if they selected him earlier in the draft.

When we watched Brayden Point play for the first time I just could not keep my eyes off of him. He just kept jumping out and making play after the play that makes you wonder who that kid is. It was then that we started taking notes. Here is what we came up with.

“Brayden Point is a fantastic hockey player. He is a dynamic puck carrier with the ability to dish out the puck to linemates and create scoring opportunities. Incredible playmaker. Above average wrist shot, vision. Hockey IQ off the charts. Incredible quickness and soft hands around the net. Tiny, but a future scoring star in the pros if he can add strength and can stay away from hard hits at pro level”

Brayden Point will join the Syracuse Crunch next season and join an already skilled team looking to develop the organization’s pool of talented prospects. Just like top prospects before him, Point will jump into the Syracuse lineup and make an impact right away. Just like he does in Canadian Junior, Point will provide lightning quick speed and playmaking ability that will one day help him make it to the National Hockey League.

Next: Going Coo Coo For Koekkoek

Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

24. Slater Koekkoek

Draft Year: 2012

Position: Defense

If there is any player within the Tampa Bay Lightning organization who has seen more than their fair share of obstacles in the journey to make their way to the Tampa Bay Lightning’s main roster, that player is Lightning defenseman Slater Koekkoek.

As most of you who have been following the Tampa Bay Lightning’s prospects over the course of the last few seasons are painfully aware, Slater Koekkoek has had his season ended prematurely for three straight seasons due to a recurring shoulder injury.

No matter how good of a player one may be before an injury, it is really hard for a player to develop their game and grow as a player when you are consistently being sidelined and not being allowed the time on the ice to perfect your game. Something like this is not only physically difficult for a player, but it can be mentally draining as well.

The good news is, at least for now, it looks as if Koekkoek has put his injury issues aside. Last season, despite missing the later part of the season with his injury, managed to play in a total of 72 games with the Lightning’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch. In that amount of time, Koekkoek was able to score five goals and 21 assists for a total of 26 points.

Koekkoek also made his debut on the Tampa Bay Lightning’s main roster last season, playing in a total of three games. Koekkoek has also had a taste of NHL ice this season when he was recalled by the Tampa Bay Lightning to fill in for some of the defensive injuries the Lightning has experienced this season.

One of the biggest upsides to Slater Koekkoek is the killer accuracy of his shots. Another of Koekkoek’s biggest assets is his size and speed. While Slater Koekkoek isn’t quite laying down Radko Gudas level hits, he certainly has no issues knocking an opponent off the puck and into the boards.

While Koekkoek may not be ready to make a permanent move to the Tampa Bay Lightning main roster just yet, if Koekkoek can get one or two more complete seasons under his belt, it shouldn’t be very long before we see him on a much more permanent basis.

Next: Lundin Makes An Early Impact

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

23. Mike Lundin

Draft Year: 2004

Position: Defense

Who remembers this guy? Originally from the great state of Minnesota, Mike Lundin was drafted in the fourth round of the 2004 NHL draft out of the University of Maine. The year he was drafted, Lundin would represent the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2008 NHL YoungStars Game.

In eight seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning organization, Lundin played in a total of 224 games, scoring four goals and 23 assists for a total of 27 point during his time in Tampa Bay. He was the workhouse of the team’s blue line, ranking first or second on the team in ice time in each of his eight season with the team. Always solid defensively, Lundin could always be relied on as the rock of the blue line that can be compared to Anton Stralman from the present team.

After him time in a Lightning uniform came to an end, Lundin would spend some time with the Ottawa Senators and Minnesota Wild, but it was clear that his best years were already behind him. He was sent down to the minors many times during his tenure with both of those franchises, and finally made the move to play overseas after the 2012-13 season.

Though Lundin didn’t provide the offensive punch fans like to see in defenseman, Lundin came to play every night with the mentality that he would not let the opposition score when he was on the ice. Every single game, you was Lundin log heavy minutes and play a solid defensive game in what was some of the darker days for the organization on the ice.

Next: Can You See Connolly?

Feb 18, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Brett Connolly (14) against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

22. Brett Connolly

Draft Year: 2010

Position: Forward

Oh, what could have been. Coming out of Prince George as a highly touted scorer, forward Brett Connolly was selected with the eighth selection in the first round of the 2010 NHL Draft. You see what he did in Canadian Junior and you continue to wonder: Did the organization do the best job developing the young forward?

Due to the rise of many talented young prospects in Tampa Bay that included Tyler Johnson, Ondrej Palat, and Richard Panik, Connolly just seemed to get lost in the fold. He went through the organization’s revolving door splitting time between the Lightning and the Syracuse Crunch. He just never found a way to get it going fully at the NHL level.

Finally, last season, Connolly’s game finally began to turn around. Playing bottom-six minutes, Connolly morphed his game and began to make an impression that he couldn’t do as a scorer. He seemed to be the J.T. Brown of today’s lineup when it came to scoring; he just didn’t finish at a high rate that you would hope that he would. Instead, Connolly continued to be passed up by other prospects that the team felt provided more balance to the roster.

Connolly was finally shipped out of Tampa to the Boston Bruins for two second round picks. He seems to have found some scoring touch over in Boston, currently with five goals and 12 points in 25 games, but we’ll still never see the player the Lightning hoped would score 30 goals a season when he was first drafted back in 2010.

Next: Fear The Beard

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

21. Radko Gudas

Draft Year: 2010

Position: Defense

If you have been a fan of the Tampa Bay Lightning for the last couple of season, there is virtually no way you haven’t heard the term “Fear The Beard” in conversation more than a few times. This would all be because of a young Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman by the name of Radko Gudas, who to this day has one of the most fierce beards (and hits) you will see in the National Hockey League.

Along with his eventual teammate Brett Connolly, the young Prague native was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2010 National Hockey League Entry Draft. Tampa Bay Lightning Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman would draft Gudas in the 3^rd Round (66^th Overall.)

Much like some of the defensemen that have come before him, Radko Gudas was not what one would typically call a very offensively minded defenseman. At the same time, Radko Gudas has a set of skills that far outweigh the score sheet. If you have ever had the opportunity to personally witness Radko Gudas take the ice as a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning, you know all-too-well about the incredibly hard hits Gudas could lay on an opponent. Gudas also had an incredible ability to knock his opponents off the puck with ease.

On the flip side, those hard hits would get him in trouble from time to time. In his first full season with the Tampa Bay Lightning, which was the 2013-14 season, Gudas would rank 6^th in the entire NHL in penalty minutes. Unfortunately, as you can see, being able to lay down a solid, hard hit has its downfalls.

The following season, it looked as if Gudas had really started to perfect his play and was set to have a banner season. Unfortunately, that season was cut short by a knee injury that would cause him to miss the remainder of the season.

As the NHL Trade Deadline was quickly approaching, and the Tampa Bay Lightning were shaping up to make a deep run in the post season, Yzerman elected to trade Gudas to the Philadelphia Flyers along with a first and third round selection in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for defenseman Braydon Coburn.

Much like the aforementioned Brett Connolly, Radko Gudas’ stay here in the Bolts Nation may not have been as long as some would have hoped for, but in his time here Gudas certainly made an impact and helped set himself up for a successful career in the National Hockey League.

Next: Insert Text Here

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

20. Ryan Craig

Draft Year: 2002

Position: Forward 

Another one of our throwback players, former Tampa Bay Lightning forward had a solid career after being drafted in the eighth round of the 2002 NHL draft. Craig enjoyed a stellar junior hockey career with the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL, topping out at 74 points as his career high during his five seasons with the organization.

After his junior career ended, Craig would grind his way through the East Coast Hockey League and American Hockey league before finally getting his chance to play in the NHL with the Lightning during the 2005-06 season. He had a nice coming out party in his first year with the team, scoring 28 points in his first 48 NHL games.

Craig would continue to play NHL games with the team, scoring 27 points in 71 games during the 2006-07 season. Craig seemed to struggle when it came to finding his role on the team, and was later sent down to the minors to get his game back.

Craig came back to the NHL with the Lightning with a new-found identity. Though he was a great scorer in both Canadian Junior and the AHL, his game did not seem to transition into the NHL. So, Craig decided to reinvent himself. Playing mostly third line minutes, Craig relentlessly forechecked and laid his body on the line for the team while always being a great teammate.

After his time in the NHL with the Lightning, Craig bounced around with many organizations, playing mostly in the AHL. Though his scoring success did not really transfer to the NHL, the former eighth round pick still had a solid career in the NHL and will always be remembered for the great teammate that he was.

Next: The Latvian Puck Stopper

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

19. Kristers Gudlevskis

Draft Year: 2013

Position: Goaltender 

Next on our list is Latvian born puck stopper Kristers Gudlevkis, who continues to push for NHL playing time while continuing to develop his game for the team’s AHL affiliate in Syracuse. Even with the solid goaltending depth the organization has in front of him, Gudlevskis continues to show why he is still an option in this goaltending conversation going forward.

When the Tampa Bay Lightning drafted Gudlevskis with the 124th selection of the 2013 NHL draft, they knew the Latvian goaltender was a freak athletically that needed time to develop his technique in order to one day be a solid NHL goaltender. Though he was playing with Dinamo Riga of the KHL at the time, the team agreed to release Gudļevskis from the final year of his contract and he later signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Lightning.

Gudlevskis started his North American career for the Lightning organization while playing for the Florida Everblades of the ECHL. He played 11 games for the Everblades, going 7-4 with a 1.83 GAA and .925 GAA. His played earned him a call to Syracuse, where he would continue his development with a higher step of competition.

I have always said this about Gudlevskis, he can be the most dominant player on the ice one night and then be a piece of swiss cheese the next. He proved that to be the case in his fist AHL season, going 18-11 with a 2.68 GAA and .901 SV%. Those may not seem like bad numbers, but when you look at the games that he started, he either seemed to shut the door on the opposition or allow them to have a field day. His consistency had to improve, and it seems like it has.

Currently, Gudlevskis is 6-5 with a 2.40 GAA and .922 SV% this year in Syracuse. He has taken the reigns at the team’s starter, and even saw some NHL action this year when Andrei Vasilevskiy was still recovering from offseason surgery. Though he still has some more time to develop, Gudlevskis has shown that he still has a dog in this goaltending race and could be a full-time NHL puck stopper by the beginning of the 2016-17 season if the NHL roster experiences a shakeup.

Next: Hot Paquette

Jun 8, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning center Cedric Paquette (13) celebrates after scoring during the third period of game three of the 2015 Stanley Cup Final against the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

18. Cedric Paquette

Draft Year: 2012

Position: Forward

Every team needs that player that can do a little bit of everything. The player whose contract doesn’t take a huge toll on the salary cap and is invaluable to the team. Cedric Paquette is one of those players, and he is once again proving it this season.

Besides the fact that his rugged style of play means he is injury prone, whenever Paquette is out on the ice, he contributes in a big way. Whether it is winning faceoffs, killing penalties, or scoring goals while playing a physical style of play, Paquette is one of those players that you love to have on your team but hate playing against.

What I really like about Paquette and always will is the way he plays the game. He does everything you want in a bottom-6 and does it really well. He forechecks like a machine even though he is not the best skater and will use his physicality to wear down the oppositions best player. He always is on the ice against the oppositions top line and is effective in shutting them down more times than not.

In a contract year, Paquette has not been able to stay on the ice. His production is surly missed but hopefully he can come back and provide a spark to the bottom-six forward unit. After putting up 12 goals and 19 points last year, it doesn’t look like he’ll match that production, but he can still throw in a few goals while providing that physical style of play that is surly missed when he is out.

Next: Russian Puck Stopper

Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

17. Andrei Vasilevskiy

Draft Year: 2012

Position: Goaltender

If there is any particular position the Tampa Bay Lightning has notoriously struggled with over the course of history it has been directly in front of the net. It almost seemed as if the Tampa Bay Lightning could not catch a break when it came to goaltenders and really struggled to find any sort of consistency.

When the Tampa Bay Lightning acquired goaltender Ben Bishop at the trade deadline of the 2012-13 season, it seemed as if the Lightning’s goaltending struggles had finally come to an end. The very next season, Bishop set a new franchise record with 37 wins in a single regular season.

The next thing the Lightning needed to do was find a goaltender who could serve with, not behind, Ben Bishop. It just so happens the Lightning already had the key component in their arsenal. This player would be Tampa Bay Lightning netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy.

After being drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the First Round (19^th overall) in the 2012 National Hockey League Entry Draft, Vasilevskiy would spend the next couple of seasons between the his junior team Tolpar UFA and Salavat Yulayev UFA of the KHL.

The 21 year old Russian netminder made his way to the Tampa Bay Lightning’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch in the 2014-15 season. Vasilevskiy maintained a record of 14-6-5 in 25 games. Vasilevskiy’s performance did not go unnoticed by the Tampa Bay Lightning.

That season, Vasilevskiy would make his National Hockey League debut. On December 16, 2014 Vasilevskiy would take the ice with the Tampa Bay Lightning in a 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Vasilevskiy would bring home the victory in his next game with the Lightning, but then he would hit a little bump in the road.

Things only got more difficult for him in the offseason when the Lightning goaltender would be diagnosed with a blood clot near his collarbone requiring vascular surgery to repair. The recovery from his surgery would cause him to miss the first month of the 2015-16 season.

Vasilevskiy finally made his way back to the Tampa Bay Lightning lineup on November 1, 2015 in a 4-3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Andrei Vasilevskiy has run into a bit of difficulty with his game this season; however, a lot of this can be attributed to his lack of play time this season. This led Tampa Bay Lightning Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman to temporarily reassign him to the Syracuse Crunch.

More than likely, this is an effort to get Vasilevskiy some more ice time and allow him to find his groove once again and be able to perform to the level we all know he can. One would think after he gets a few games under his belt, he will be back here in the Sunshine State.

There is no denying Andrei Vasilevskiy is one of the best draft picks in Tampa Bay Lightning history. When a team has spent so long struggling in a particular area, it is incredible comforting to know the team has someone in their arsenal who can find some sort of consistency and give the team a real chance to succeed.

Next: Jo Dro

Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

16. Jonathan Drouin

Draft Year: 2013

Position: Forward

Forward Jonathan Drouin has had a steep learning curve in the NHL, but continues to get better everyday. The combination of speed, skating ability, vision, and quick hands make him a great playmaker and threat on the ice. As the third overall pick in the 2013 NHL draft, Drouin knew he mad a lot of expectations to meet and he continues to work hard to become the player everyone expects him to become.

Going into the draft, Drouin was highly regarded as one of the top overall prospects in the 2013 class. He had speed, he had skill, he had vision, and he had the making of a player that could one day be a top 10 scorer in the NHL. Well, there is nothing that has changed my mind that Drouin can not one day live up to those high expectations that were set for him coming out of Canadian junior. The reason why? A combination of individual skill and the players around him.

In 70 games last season, Drouin recorded 4 goals and 28 assists for a total of 32 points. That may not seem like a lot, but in comparison to the amount of ice time, Drouin was third on the team with 2.07 points/60 mins of ice time. This while playing on the fourth line for a majority of the time with players like Brian Boyle and Brenden Morrow that aren’t known to be major scoring threats.

Jonathan Drouin has all of the tools available to one day become a top 10 scorer in the NHL. Along with the highly skilled teammates that surround him, Drouin has the ability to put up monster assist numbers and has the shot to keep goaltenders honest. With increased ice time this season, once Drouin comes back from injury, he will once again prove why he is one of the best player on this deep Lightning roster.

Next: Hard-Hitting Mara Joins The Party

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15. Paul Mara

Draft Year: 1997

Position: Defense

Paul Mara was a big, mobile six-foot four-inch tall, 207 pound defenseman the Tampa Bay Lightning drafted in the First Round with the Seventh Overall pick of the 1997 National Hockey League Entry Draft and would look to be one of the key pieces of the organization’s blue line for many years to come.

The Ridgewood, New Jersey native was known for his outstanding defense and offensive abilities in his time in Canadian Junior with the Plymouth Whalers and Sudbury Wolves. He had his best junior season during the year he was draft eligible, scoring 54 points in 52 games to go along with his 95 penalty minutes

Mara would play 101 games for the Tampa Bay Lightning, scoring 14 goals and putting up 26 assists for a total of 40 points. He didn’t turn into the franchise defenseman the Lightning organization thought he would become when they originally drafted him with the Seventh Overall selection, but he still turned out solid ice time as a top-four defenseman during his time here in the Sunshine State.

Though his time with the Tampa Bay Lightning could have been longer, Mara still goes down as one of the top American born defenseman in Lightning history. It was early in his career and he would experience most of his offensive success later on in his career with the then Phoenix Coyotes, but his rugged defensive style will always be remembered in the Bolts Nation.

Next: Tampa Bay Lightning Trade Up For A Champion

Jun 6, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Fans hold up blue glow sticks before game two of the 2015 Stanley Cup Final between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

14. Jason Wiemer

Draft Year: 1994

Position: Center

When the 1994 National Hockey League Entry Draft rolled around, the Tampa Bay Lightning had the number eight selection ready to add another key player to make up the young core of their NHL roster. After the first seven selections were made, the team selected Jason Wiemer, the rugged forward they were looking for from the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League.

Wiemer, at six foot one inch tall, 215 pounds, had 45 goals and 51 assists in 72 games for the Winterhawks during his draft year. What made it more impressive is that he did all that despite earning himself 236 penalty minutes. Yup, 236 minutes in the sin bin and he still scored 96 points. Pretty special if you were to ask us.

Wiemer would play 232 career games with the Lightning and would score 54 points, including 27 goals in his four seasons. Wiemer also continued to play that rugged style that helped him get to the NHL, totaling 391 penalty minutes during his time with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Unfortunately, the pressures of maintaining a strong offensive presence in front of the net seemed to be difficult for the young forward. Unable to recreate the magic he made with the Portland Winterhawks, Wiemer was dealt to the Calgary Flames for a third and fifth round pick. Little did we know what this would mean for the Lightning. The Tampa Bay Lightning used the Third Round pick to acquire future Conn Smythe winner and Stanley Cup Champion center Brad Richards. So, there’s always that.

Next: The Russian American

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

13. Vladislav Namestnikov

Draft Year: 2011

Position: Center

Over the course of the last few season, the Tampa Bay Lightning’s main roster, as well as their developmental system, has always been abundantly full with powerful forwards who have the ability to make a real impact on the National Hockey League. One of the brightest stars in the group of young forwards is Vladislav Namestnikov.

Vladislav Namestnikov was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the First Round (27^th Overall) by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2011 National Hockey League Entry Draft. Before making his way to the Tampa Bay Lightning, Namestnikov would spend one final season with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League.

Vladdy would put up some pretty fantastic numbers in his final season with the London Knights. In the 63 games he’d play that season with the Knights, Namestnikov would score 22 goals and 49 assists for a total of 71 points. The very next season, Namestnikov would make his way to the States and join the Lightning’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch.

In his first season with the Crunch, Namestnikov would play in a total of 56 games. In that amount of time, Namestnikov would score 19 goals and 29 assists for a total of 48 points. The Zhukovskiy native would make his NHL debut on February 8, 2014 in the Lightning’s 4-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings.

Last season, Namestnikov spent a much more significant amount of time on the Tampa Bay Lightning’s main roster. Vladdy would play in a total of 43 games with the Lightning, where he would score nine goals and seven assists for a total of 16 points.

This season, Vladdy has been a staple on the main roster. One of the biggest assets he has is his tremendous speed and his incredible shot. One of his best characteristics is his the fact that instead of hesitating in front of the net, Namestnikov is not afraid to bear down and take the shot where others would flinch.

At 23 years old, Namestnikov is still navigating his way through life as an NHL player and perfecting his game, but the amount of talent contained in this young player will pay dividends for the Tampa Bay Lightning over the course of the next few seasons. That is…if the Lightning can retain him after this season.

At the conclusion of the 2015-16 season, Namestnikov is scheduled to become a Restricted Free Agent. Judging by the performance he has put on thus far, it would probably be in the Lightning’s best interest if they do what needs to be done in order to keep him in Lightning blue. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see what the future holds for this young forward and what he can do for the Bolts.

Next: A Killer Is In The House

Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

12. Alex Killorn

Draft Year: 2007

Position: Center

One of the biggest steals the Tampa Bay Lightning ever acquired at the NHL Draft is Tampa Bay Lightning center Alex Killorn. Drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Third Round (77^th Overall) in the 2007 National Hockey League Entry Draft, Alex Killorn has turned out to be one of the most integral parts of the Lightning offense.

Killorn would spend his first season as a part of the Lightning organization with the Deerfield Academy High Varsity Ice Hockey team. The player who would come to be known by Tampa Bay Lightning fans as “Killer” would follow this up with four years playing for the Harvard Crimson.

This is where things really kick into high gear for Alex Killorn. Following his time at Harvard, Killorn made his way to the then-Tampa Bay Lightning American Hockey League affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals. As many proud Tampa Bay Lightning fans already know, the 2011-12 season is when the Norfolk Admirals captured the Calder Cup, the AHL equivalent of the Stanley Cup.

Alex Killorn was a huge part of the Admirals’ success in the post season. In the 17 games he played in the post season with the Admirals, Killorn scored three goals and nine assists for a total of 12 points. One of these goals would come while on the Power Play and another would actually be the Game Winning Goal.

Killorn would make his NHL debut on February 10, 2013 against the New York Rangers. While the Lightning would essentially get stomped by the Rangers, Killorn would register his first NHL point with an assist on the lone Lightning goal from former Lightning captain Vincent Lecavalier. Killer would go on to score seven goals and 12 assists for a total of 19 points in his debut season.

In the 2013-14 season, Killorn would register a career high for goals, assists and points. In the regular season, Killorn would score 17 goals and 24 assists for a total of 41 points. This season really allowed him to show what a real playmaker he could be for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The next season, Killorn would keep the same pace in the regular season he did in the previous season, bringing home 15 goals and 23 assists for a total of 28 points. The difference between last season and the season before is his stellar performance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Killorn played in 26 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs. In that amount of time, Killer would score nine goals and nine assists for a total of 18 points in the post season. These numbers would put Killorn in third place on the team in regards to points, only surpassed by his teammates Nikita Kucherov and Tyler Johnson.

Alex Killorn has a killer shot (pun slightly intended), tremendous situational awareness, and amazing speed on the ice. It is hard to believe that a player like Killorn would still be available when the Third Round of the draft comes around. As each day passes and the Tampa Bay Lightning continues to grow as a team, Killorn continues to prove why he is a valuable asset to the Lightning and one of the best Lightning draft picks in franchise history.

Next: Czech Please...

Nov 5, 2015; Buffalo, NY, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Ondrej Palat (18) against the Buffalo Sabres at First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

11. Ondrej Palat

Draft Year: 2011

Position: Left Wing

If ever there has been a tandem in Tampa Bay Lightning history that has shined like a diamond in the sky it has been the line known as the Triplets. In their performance last season, the Triplets were responsible for a little over a third of the Lightning’s total offense. One of the most underrated members of the Lightning’s most dangerous line is left wing Ondrej Palat.

The chemistry on the ice between Ondrej Palat and his partner-in-crime Tyler Johnson is uncanny and almost unrivaled by any team in the National Hockey League. If you’ve ever had the pleasure of watching these two play, you know all-too-well it’s almost as if these two can read each other’s minds on the ice.

Much like Alex Killorn, Ondrej Palat was a member of the 2011 Norfolk Admirals team that captured the Calder Cup. During the regular season with the Admirals, Palat would score nine goals and 21 assists for a total of 30 points. In the post season, Palat would continue his success scoring four goals and five assists for a total of 9 points.

The next season, the Tampa Bay Lightning would move their affiliation in the American Hockey League to Syracuse. Palat and company would now be members of the Syracuse Crunch. Palat would spend a majority of the season with the Crunch, but Palat did play in 14 games with the Lightning’s main roster in his first season.

While his first season with on the Tampa Bay Lightning’s may have been a slow one, this is definitely not the case for his sophomore season. Many players in the NHL go through what is referred to as the “sophomore slump,” but it was anything but a slump. Palat would score 23 goals and 36 assists for a total of 59 points.

Pally’s performance in the 2013-14 season would be noticed not just by those of us here in the Bolts Nation, but the rest of the National Hockey League as well. Along with his partner-in-crime Tyler Johnson, Palat would be nominated for the Calder Memorial Trophy, an awarded given to the National Hockey League’s Rookie of the Year. The award would eventually go to Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche.

In the 2014-15 season, Palat would score 16 goals and 47 assists for a total of 63 points. This was a career high for Palat in both assists and overall points.

It’s really hard to believe that a talent like Ondrej Palat could fall to the Seventh Round (208^th overall) in the NHL Draft. Palat’s talents and skills have been a tremendous asset to the Tampa Bay Lightning, and at this particular point and time, we here at Bolts By The Bay can’t imagine a Lightning roster without him on it.

Next: The Crosser

Oct 14, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; A general view of the NHL logo on a net prior to the game of the Ottawa Senators against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

10. Cory Cross

Draft Year: 1992

Position: Defenseman

The NHL Supplemental Draft was a draft that was established as an offshoot of the NHL Entry Draft between 1986 and 1994. The Supplemental Draft was used by teams to select collegiate ice hockey players who were not eligible for the standard Entry Draft. Unlike the Entry Draft, most players selected never played in the NHL, although a few “diamonds in the rough” went on to NHL careers. The Tampa Bay Lightning found one in defenseman Cory Cross.

Selected with the first overall pick of the 1992 Supplemental Draft, Cory Cross would be the first member of a brand new team that would soon take the league by storm in the coming years. Cross was a 6’5, 219 left-handed defenseman that the organization decided that they would build their young team around, and even though he was a sub par skater, his booming slap shot and physical play made him a force on the ice.

Cross would spend parts of six seasons with the Lightning, scoring 12 goals and tallying 46 assists during his time in a Lightning uniform. It would be him along with the first ever NHL Entry Draft selection in team history Roman Hamrlik that would lead the team on the blue line as the struggles of being a new team in the NHL would come upon them.

Cross was later traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs along with a seventh round pick for forward Freddy Modin, who would become a key cog for the organization’s first Stanley Cup winning team, so that also helped. However, on what was the beginning of what is now one of the greatest franchises in sports, Cross was the first piece of the puzzle and will always be remembered after being selected with the first Supplemental Draft pick in franchise history.

Next: Ranger On Patrol

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

9. Paul Ranger

Draft Year: 2002

Position: Defense

Paul Ranger was one another one of those players with the ‘what if’ tag attached to them. Though he experienced much success in a Tampa Bay Lightning uniform, many were left wondering if his career was not cut short if he would have gone down as one of the top blue liners in team history. Anyways, we digress.

The Lightning drafted Ranger with the 183rd overall pick of the 2002 NHL draft from the Oshawa Generals. He was a bigger player, but not huge. 6’3 210 lbs with great reach and a force in the corners. He showed great puck skill and could lead the rush when he had open space. He wasn’t gifted with the best shot, but he was a smart player that knew how to pick his sports, generally doing it well.

At the age of 25 with what seemed like a promising NHL career ahead of him, Ranger suddenly left the game for personal reasons. He went back to his native nation of Canada and attended the local university in his hometown while also coaching bantam hockey. It is still not publicly known why Ranger decided to take three seasons off from professional ice hockey, and nobody really needs to know honestly.

Three years after leaving the Lightning organization, Ranger signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs organization to continue his career. He would spend a few seasons with the Leafs organization before leaving North America to continue his hockey career overseas.

Paul Ranger ended his Lightning career with 270 career games played, 18 goals, and 74 assists for a total of 92 points. Again, that ‘what if’ tag will always be clamped onto him, but we all understand that sometimes there are more important things than hockey. Still, Ranger ranks in our top 10.

Next: KUUUUUUUUUUCH

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

8. Nikita Kucherov

Draft Year: 2011

Position: Right Wing

We have already taken a look at one-third of the Tampa Bay Lightning’s most dangerous offensive line known as the Triplets. Now, we are going to take a moment to take a closer look at another member of the Lightning’s second line, Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov.

Much like Ondrej Palat, Nikita Kucherov was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2^nd Round (58^th Overall) in the 2011 National Hockey League Entry Draft. One of the glaring differences between Kucherov and his linemates is that his journey to the Tampa Bay Lightning’s main roster was a long and winding one.

He would start out his first season post-draft in the juniors as a part of the Krasnaya Amiya Moscow Jr. team. Kucherov would play in 23 games. In that amount of time, Kucherov would score 24 goals and 19 assists for a total of 43 points. Kucherov would finish out the season playing 18 games with Cska Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League.

The next season, Kucherov would make the jump to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) as a member of the Quebec Remparts followed by the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. After representing his native Russia in the 2012-13 World Junior Championship, Kucherov would finally make his way to the Tampa Bay Lightning’s main roster.

In his first season with the Bolts, Kucherov would score nine goals and nine assists for a total of 18 points. While this may not seem like Earth-shattering numbers, the next season is where things would get really interesting for Nikita Kucherov and the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The 2014-15 season would be a season of career highs for Kucherov. In the 82 games he played with the Bolts, Kucherov scored 29 goals and 36 assists for a total of 65 points. One of the biggest credits to his name this season would be leading the league along with Montreal Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty in plus/minus with a plus-38 rating.

As we mentioned previously, the chemistry between the Triplets – which includes both Ondrej Palat and Tyler Johnson – is absolutely uncanny. Once these three get their mojo flowing, there is absolutely no stopping them. Some teams never even reach the amount of talent the Tampa Bay Lightning currently has, let along to be able to pick them up in the later rounds of the NHL Draft.

Nikita Kucherov is definitely one of the names we here at Bolts By The Bay would like to see in Lightning blue long term. Unfortunately, at the conclusion of the 2015-16 season the Tampa Bay Lightning will need to do some work in order to keep Kucherov here in the Bolts Nation as he is set to become a Restricted Free Agent.

It will definitely be interesting to see how things play out, but judging by his performance since joining the Tampa Bay Lightning, Kucherov will be one of the names on Tampa Bay Lightning Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman’s short list of players to retain at the end of the season.

Next: The Hammer Comes To Play

Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

7. Roman Hamrlik

Draft Year: 1992

Position: Defense

The Tampa Bay Lightning finally came to be an official member of the National Hockey League all the way back in 1992. While there has been many players come down the tunnel and take the ice with the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 23 years that have come to pass since the team’s inception, there is one name that still resounds with Tampa Bay Lightning fans everywhere, Roman Hamrlik.

Drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the First Round (1^st Overall) in the 1992 National Hockey League Entry Draft, Roman Hamrlik was one of the first players to ever take the ice in a Tampa Bay Lightning sweater. Needless to say, the current incantation of the Tampa Bay Lightning could definitely use someone like Hamrlik in the Lightning lineup.

One area where Hamrlik seemed to shine the most is on the Power Play. As each game passed, it become crystal clear he would be what people in the hockey world refer to as the “Power Play Quarterback” of the team.

If we had to compare Roman Hamrlik to anyone on the current Tampa Bay Lightning roster, we would have to say he reminds us a lot of Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman. In addition to being incredibly hard to play against defensively, Hamrlik was a very offensively minded defenseman. It’s always nice to have someone in your arsenal who can lay down some hard hits and knock his opponent off the puck, but can also score goals and make plays happen at the same time.

In his first two seasons with the Lightning, Hamrlik would be pretty consistent with his scoring, ending each season with a total of 21 points. It wasn’t until his third official season with the team when things would really kick into high gear on the scoreboard for the then-20 year old defenseman. In the 1994-95 season, Hamrlik would play in just 48 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning. In that amount of time, Hamrlik would be able to register 12 goals and 11 assists for a total of 33 points.

The 1995-96 season would prove to be his best season of all time. In this season, Hamrlik would play in a full 82 games with the Lightning, scoring a career high in all manners of scoring with 16 goals and 49 assists for a grand total of 65 points.

Unfortunately, Hamrlik would be with the Tampa Bay Lightning for another season and a half before the Tampa Bay Lightning organization would elect to trade the young Czech defenseman to the Edmonton Oilers.

Roman Hamrlik would spend another 13 seasons in the National Hockey League, playing on many different teams like the New York Islanders, Calgary Flames, Montreal Canadiens, and Washington Capitals before ending his career as a member of the New York Rangers; however, it would be his time here in the Bolts Nation that would truly define Hamrlik’s career.

Next: Kuby Helps The Bolts Reach New Heights

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

6. Pavel Kubina

Draft Year: 1996

Position: Defense

The Tampa Bay Lightning has seen a lot of defensive talent throughout the course of their 23 year history, but one of the few players whose names would continue to echo through the hallowed halls of the Tampa Bay Lightning locker room throughout the years would be former Lightning defenseman Pavel Kubina.

While Kubina was not exactly the offensively minded defenseman that Roman Hamrlik, who came before him, or Victor Hedman, who came much further down the road, would become, Kubina definitely made an impact here in the nine and a half overall seasons he would play here in the Sunshine State and helped paved the way for the Lightning stars of the future.

Pavel Kubina made his debut for the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 14, 1998 against the Chicago Blackhawks. In his debut season, Kubina would only play in 10 games with the Bolts. Not to be left off the score sheet, Kuby would bring home one goal and two assists for a total of three points.

After helping the Tampa Bay Lightning build a foundation for the future for the next five seasons, Kuby would find himself on the threshold of one of the greatest achievements a player in the National Hockey League can ever achieve. In the 2003-04 season, Pavel Kubina played in 81 games with the Bolts where he would score a then-career high 17 goals and 18 assists for a total of 35 points.

As most fans here in the Bolts Nation know all-too-well, this is not the only achievement Kubina achieved in the 2003-04 season. Kubina played in 22 games in the post season with the Tampa Bay Lightning. In addition to his defensive prowess, which proved to be vital to the Lightning’s success that season, Kuby brought home four assists. When all was said and done, the Tampa Bay Lightning would win their first-ever Stanley Cup Championship.

Kubina would continue on with the Tampa Bay Lightning in the post-lockout 2005-06 season, bringing home a new career-high points total with five goals and 33 assists. Unfortunately, before the next season would kick into gear, Kubina would leave the team who initially drafted him 10 years ago and become a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

After three seasons with the Maple Leafs where he would once again raise the bar on his career-high stats, Kubina would make his way to the then-Atlanta Thrashers. After representing his native Czech Republic in the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, Kubina would make his return to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Kubina would help forge a new path of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2010-11 season. The Tampa Bay Lightning would come within 1 game of defeating the Boston Bruins and becoming the Eastern Conference Champions. This was the most successful season the Tampa Bay Lightning experienced since the 2003-04 season when they captured the Stanley Cup.

While Pavel Kubina may not have finished his career as a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning, he was an enormous part of franchise history, paving the way for many great defensemen to come, helping the Tampa Bay Lightning reach new heights, and being an integral part of two of the most successful seasons the Lightning have ever seen.

Next: The Traveling Captain

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

5. Chris Gratton

Draft Year: 1993

Position: Center

Before high-powered goal scorers like Steven Stamkos were even lacing up their skates, there were players in the National Hockey League who were paving the way for future generations to come and lighting up the scoreboard. One of those players is former Tampa Bay Lightning center Chris Gratton.

Chris Gratton was originally drafted in the First Round (Third Overall) of the 1993 National Hockey League Entry Draft. Gratton would make his Lightning debut the very next season, and wasted no time in making an impact on the Tampa Bay Lightning’s main roster.

In his first season with the Bolts, the Ontario native would bring home 13 goals and 29 assists for a total of 42 points. If you fast forward just three season, Gratton would set a career-high for goals and overall points. In the 1996-97 Lightning Hockey Season, Gratton would play in 82 games with the Bolts. In that amount of time, he’d bring home 30 goals and 32 assists for a total of 62 points.

Unfortunately, the very next season Gratton would find himself as a Free Agent. Ultimately, he would sign a deal with the Philadelphia Flyers and making his move to the Broad Street Bullies. In his debut season with the Flyers, Gratton would end up tying his career-high point total. Ironically enough, halfway through the very next season Gratton would make his way back to the Tampa Bay Lightning

Just one season after making his return to the Bolts Nation, Chris Gratton would serve as captain of this young Tampa Bay Lightning team, taking the reins from former Lightning captain Bill Houlder, who after just 14 games would make his way to the Nashville Predators.

After a pretty decent season as the Tampa Bay Lightning’s captain, Chris Gratton would be traded to the Buffalo Sabres. Fortunately, this would not be the last time we would see Gratton in a Tampa Bay Lightning sweater. It would be seven more seasons before we would see Chris Gratton back in a Tampa Bay Lightning sweater, but alas he would return to the Bolts Nation one final time.

In the 2007-08 season, Gratton would make his return to the Lightning, playing in 60 games. In that amount of time, Gratton would score 10 goals and 11 assists for a total of 21 points. Unfortunately, this would be the end of Gratton’s return season with the Bolts. On February 28, 2008 it was announced that Gratton would require surgery to repair a tear in his labrum. This would be the end of his season.

Gratton’s injury seemed to spell the beginning of the end for the then-33 year old forward. Just a couple of months into the 2008-09 season, Gratton would be placed on waivers to be sent back to the Lightning’s then-American Hockey League affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals. Gratton would be claimed off waivers by the Columbus Blue Jackets on February 21, 2009; just one week away from the one-year anniversary of his hip surgery.

Chris Gratton would play just six games with the Blue Jackets before he would announce his retirement from the game of hockey.

Gratton’s stay here in the Bolts Nation may have spanned many different seasons and quite a few other teams, but his journey would be incomplete without the eight seasons he spent here in the Sunshine State. As we mentioned before, Gratton’s speed and skill definitely forged a path for players like Steven Stamkos and all others who would come after him, making him one of the greatest draft picks in Tampa Bay Lightning history.

Next: How Swede It Is…

Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

4. Victor Hedman

Draft Year: 2009

Position: Defense

A lot of strong defensive talent has made their ways through the doors of the now-named Amalie Arena over the course of the Tampa Bay Lightning’s history, but none of them have had quite the same impact as Swedish defenseman Victor Hedman has on the Bolts.

The six foot six inch tall Swedish defenseman would be drafted in the First Round (Second Overall) by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2009 National Hockey League Entry Draft. The Lightning wasted absolutely no time in debuting Hedman on the Lightning’s main roster.

In his inaugural season with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Hedman would show the potential needed in order to make it in the National Hockey League. He knew how to use his size to his advantage and lay some big hits on his opponents. In addition to his many defensive qualities, Hedman also had a knack for scoring points.

One season after debuting with the Bolts, Hedman would help lead the Tampa Bay Lightning to one of the most successful seasons they have experienced since winning the Stanley Cup back in 2004. In the 2010-11 season, the Tampa Bay Lightning would fall just one game shy of becoming the Eastern Conference Champions and playing for the Stanley Cup.

Just three seasons into his young career, Hedman was faced with one of the aspects of the game off the ice that no player ever really wants to see come to pass. The National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players Association could not come to a new agreement on their Collective Bargaining Agreement and the players found themselves on the business end of a lockout.

As crazy as this sounds, this may have been one of the best things that could have possibly happened to Victor Hedman. During the NHL Lockout, Hedman decided he didn’t want to sit on the sidelines and allow rust to build up and damage the well-oiled machine he had built. Why some players would stay behind to fight the good fight, Hedman would head to the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) and play for Barys Astana in Kazakhstan.

When the lockout finally came to an end, and the Tampa Bay Lightning players all made their way back here to the Bolts Nation, Victor Hedman emerged a new man. Not only had he gained more toughness on the defense-aspect of his game, but Hedman had suddenly transformed into a much more offensively minded defenseman. This is something the Tampa Bay Lightning were in dire need of at the time.

In his first full post-lockout season, Victor Hedman would set a career high in all manners scoring. In the 75 games Hedman played in the 2013-14 season, Hedman would score 13 goals and a whopping 42 assists for a total of 55 points. This would place Hedman in 7^th place among all defensemen in the league in terms of assists and 5^th place in overall points.

Despite being struck down on multiple occasions by a variety of injuries, Hedman has always managed to come back better and stronger than he ever was before. Judging by his performance this season, Victor Hedman is on the fast track to another career-high season. Hedman has also been mentioned by numerous media outlets as a top contender for the Norris Trophy this season.

There is no denying that Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman has a long, and potentially very successful career in front of him in the National Hockey League, but his impact has already been felt here in Tampa Bay and all around the Bolts Nation. This is why Victor Hedman’s name appears in our list of the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Best Draft Picks in Franchise History.

Next: One-Third of the Franchise Trio

Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

3. Brad Richards

Draft Year: 1998

Position: Center

When people think about the Tampa Bay Lightning as team, there are three names that generally come to mind; Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis, and one Brad Richards. The latter of these, a native a Murray Harbour in Prince Edward Island, was originally drafted in the 3^rd Round (64^th Overall) by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 1998 National Hockey League Entry Draft.

An interesting little bit of trivia is that Richards was drafted in the same draft class as former Tampa Bay Lightning captain Vincent Lecavalier; a player who had plenty of experience playing with Richards throughout their pre-professional careers as well as their time with the Tampa Bay Lightning. It’s rather ironic their names would be so closely aligned in their professional careers as well.

After being drafted by the Lightning, Richards would spend the first two years of his professional career with the Rimouski Oceanic of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. This is the same league that would ultimately produce players like Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Jonathan Drouin just 14 years later.

Richards would make his Tampa Bay Lightning debut on October 6, 2000 in a matchup with the New York Islanders. In that season, Richards would play in 82 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Wasting no time making an impact on the Lightning’s main roster, Richards would score 21 goals and 41 assists for a total of 62 points.

Brad Richard would continue to be a consistent goal scorer for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Richards seemed to have it all; speed, stamina, puck handling, and a killer shot. It wouldn’t be long before Richards’ impact would start to spread and the rest of the NHL would take notice.

In the coveted 2003-04 season, Brad Richards would set a new career high in goals and overall points, scoring 26 goals and 53 assists for a total of 79 points. Richards’ contributions to the Tampa Bay Lightning’s season would not end when the final buzzer sounded to end the regular season.

Adding to his regular season numbers, Richards would score 12 goals and 14 assists in the Tampa Bay Lightning’s journey towards capturing their first-ever Stanley Cup Championship. Richards’ 26 points in the post season would earn him the Conn Smythe Trophy once the Bolts hoisted Lord Stanley’s Cup.

Richards would return to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2005-06 season, the season right after the NHL Lockout that followed the Lightning’s Stanley Cup win. If you think what he had to offer in the prior season was amazing, the Bolts Nation had no idea what he had in store for them.

The six foot tall forward would play in all 82 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2005-06 season, scoring 23 goals and a whopping 68 assists for a total of 91 points. This put Richards at fifth place in the NHL in assists and in 12 place in overall points.

Brad Richards would continue to be a consistent source of points for the Tampa Bay Lightning until almost the end of the 2007-08 season when the then-Tampa Bay Lightning management team would make what would come to be known as one of the worst trades in Tampa Bay Lightning history, which sent Brad Richards to the Dallas Stars along with Johan Holmqvist in exchange for Mike Smith, Jeff Halpern, Jussi Jokinen and a 2004 fourth-round draft pick.

Brad Richards’ time here in the Bolts Nation may have been cut unceremoniously short by a management team who had no idea what they had in their arsenal, but the one thing that will always be remembered by Tampa Bay Lightning fans is the impact he had on this organization.

Next: Oh, Captain! My Captain!

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

2. Steven Stamkos

Draft Year: 2008

Position: Center

If there is any player currently on the Tampa Bay Lightning roster who could easily be recognized as the face of the organization, that player is Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos.

Steven Stamkos kicked off what would become a rather interesting draft class. The future Tampa Bay Lightning captain was selected in the First Round (First Overall) by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. As you can imagine, the Tampa Bay Lightning wasted absolutely no time in getting this future captain onto the Lightning’s main roster.

In his first season with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Stamkos would play in a total of 79 games. In that amount of time, Stamkos would bring home 23 goals and 23 assists for a total of 46 points. This was only the beginning of the skilled sniper’s career.

The very next season, Steven Stamkos would put on quite the performance; one that would not only grab the attention of the fans here in the Bolts Nation, but putting just about everyone else in the National Hockey League on notice. In the 2009-10 season, Steven Stamkos would set a career high in goals, bringing home 51 goals and 44 assists for a total of 95 points.

These numbers would lead Stamkos to earn what is known as the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy, which is awarded to the highest goal-scorer in the National Hockey League. Stamkos would share this honor with Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby. This is not the only time the Lightning captain would win this award. Just two seasons later, Stamkos would raise the bar on his career-high goals when he brought home 60 goals and 37 assists for a total of 97 points. This would earn him his second Rocket Richard Trophy.

Just two seasons after capturing his second Rocket Richard Trophy, Steven Stamkos would be faced with one of the biggest challenges of his young career. On November 11, 2013, the Tampa Bay Lightning would head to the TD Garden to face off with one of their biggest rivals, the Boston Bruins. Late in the second period, the unimaginable would happen.

Steven Stamkos was charging towards the Lightning net to assist former Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Anders Lindback when the edge of his skate went out from under him. Stamkos quickly fell to the ice and slammed full speed into the goal post. For a single second, it seemed as if Stamkos was just dinged up and would be able to return to the game, but when he attempted to stand it was apparent something was very wrong.

Unfortunately, the minute people had an opportunity to see the replay and what Stamkos’ leg looked like as it rammed into the goal post, it was apparent the worst was upon us. Despite the unimaginable pain Steven Stamkos must have been in, he still had a surprise for everyone here in the Bolts Nation.

Stamkos would undergo surgery to repair his broken tibia, and the Tampa Bay Lightning knew it would be a long road to recovery without one of the team’s most skilled forwards. Amazingly enough, just two weeks after undergoing surgery, Stamkos was not only walking, but walking without the assistance of crutches or a cane. Needless to say, Stamkos shocked everyone when he walked into his press conference.

After spending just about four months away from the ice, Steven Stamkos would make his return to the Tampa Bay Lightning lineup. Despite all the time he missed, Stamkos would still rally to break the 20 goal mark and the 40 point mark that season.

Steven Stamkos may have been forced to miss the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia due to his broken tibia, but little did he know there was a far greater task awaiting him right here in Tampa Bay. On March 5, 2014 Tampa Bay Lightning captain Martin St. Louis was traded to the New York Rangers, leaving a rather large hole in the Lightning, not only on the ice, but in leadership as well.

It was with pride that when Stamkos took the ice for the first time since being sidelined with a broken tibia on March 6^th against the Buffalo Sabres. Before the game, Steven Stamkos would be named the team’s new captain. There is no denying this is a huge challenge for someone as young as Steven Stamkos, but he has handled the task quite well.

While there has been all manner of rumor making its way around the Bolts Nation regarding the status of his contract negotiations with the Tampa Bay Lightning, there is one thing we know for sure. Since making his way to the ice as a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Steven Stamkos has made an impact both on and off the ice with his puck handling skills, his tremendous speed, and his leadership skills.

These are just some of the reasons why Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos has made it all the way to the number two spot on our list of the Tampa Bay Lightning’s best draft picks in franchise history.

Next: Our Captain…The Champion

Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

1. Vincent Lecavalier

Draft Year: 1998

Position: Center

There is one name, and one name alone, that sticks out among all the rest when someone makes a reference to the Tampa Bay Lightning. That name belongs to one of the most beloved players in Tampa Bay Lightning history, former Lightning captain Vincent Lecavalier.

The impact the young Quebec native had on the Tampa Bay Lightning and the community at large is still being felt to this very day. Before we get into his contributions on the ice, let’s talk for a moment about the contributions the former Lightning captain has made off the ice.

Cancer is probably one of the most horrific diseases a person can be diagnosed with. The disease slowly eats away at you until it takes away not only your health and quality of life, but in some cases your dignity as well. This is especially difficult when a young child has to endure this debilitating disease. This is where Vincent Lecavalier comes in.

Vinny Lecavalier raised over $3 million dollars, all of which was donated to All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg. This allowed All Children’s to build a new floor to the hospital, which would be called the Vincent Lecavalier Pediatric Cancer and Blood Disorders Center.

The creation of this floor made a place where children and their families could not only receive the quality care they so desperately need, but also giving them a place where, even if only for a little while, could put aside their troubles and find a way to smile amidst all the darkness in their lives. If ever there was a person who should be honored as one of the Lightning’s Community Heroes, it was Vincent Lecavalier.

It just so happens the powers that be in the Tampa Bay Lightning organization agreed on that matter. When Vincent Lecavalier made his first trip back to Amalie Arena after becoming a member of the Philadelphia Flyers, the Lightning Foundation honored him as one of the Lightning’s Community Heroes.

Much like his friend and former teammate Brad Richards, Vincent Lecavalier was originally drafted in the First Round (First Overall) by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 1998 National Hockey League Entry Draft. The very next season, Lecavalier would find himself on the Tampa Bay Lightning’s main roster and ready to start building the foundation to his legacy here in Tampa Bay.

While his first season with the Tampa Bay Lightning may have been a slow one, the next season Lecavalier hit the ice with a fire in his soul which allowed him to reach new heights in his on-ice game. In the 80 games Lecavalier played with the Bolts in the 1999-00 season, Vinny scored 25 goals and 42 assists for a total of 67 points. This was a new career-high for the then-twenty year old Lightning forward.

During his second season with the team, Vincent Lecavalier would be named captain of the young Tampa Bay Lightning team. This made his the youngest captain in NHL history at the time. Unfortunately, his run as team captain would only last one season before he was stripped of the “C”, which would go to former Lightning captain Dave Andreychuk in the 2002-03 season.

One season later, Lecavalier would prove he was still very much an asset to the Tampa Bay Lightning roster. Most Lightning fans will remember the 2003-04 season with a heartfelt excitement which still courses through our veins today. It was the 2003-04 season when the Tampa Bay Lightning would capture their first Stanley Cup Championship in franchise history.

Leading up to the post season, Lecavalier would score 32 goals and 34 assists for a total of 66 points. Vinny’s contributions did not end with the regular season. Vinny played in a total of 23 games with the Lightning during the post season. In that amount of time, Vinny scored nine goals and seven assists for a total of 16 points.

Just two seasons after tasting Stanley Cup victory, Lecavalier would set a new career-high. In the 2006-07 season, Lecavalier would score a whopping 52 goals and 56 assists for a total of 108 points. Lecavalier’s 52 goals that season would earn him the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy at the 2007 NHL Awards.

Vincent Lecavalier would be a consistent goal scorer and dependable playmaker for the Tampa Bay Lightning for the next four seasons before a number of nagging injuries would sideline him for a good portion of the season. In the 2012-13 season, Tampa Bay Lightning Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman would execute the team’s compliance buyout to end the contract of the longtime Lightning forward.

Lecavalier’s 14 year history with the Tampa Bay Lightning would officially come to an end. The good news is, this wasn’t the end of the road for Lecavalier. Just one week later, Lecavalier would sign a new deal and find a new place to call home with the Philadelphia Flyers.

There is no denying Vincent Lecavalier’s time with the Tampa Bay Lightning did not come to the ceremonial end it should have, and he may never have his parade through Downtown Tampa celebrating his legacy, but the time Vincent Lecavalier spent here in the Bolts Nation made a serious impact on both the Tampa Bay Lightning and the people in and around the Bolts Nation. This, right here, is why we here at Bolts By The Bay believe Vincent Lecavalier is the best draft pick in franchise history.