The date July 29th is a very special day here in the Bolts Nation. It’s the birthday of Tampa Bay Lightning center Tyler Johnson.
The off-season is rarely a fun time for players and fans alike. Instead of being able to throw on their favorite jersey, head down to the arena, and cheer their heads off for their favorite team as they take the ice, fans are relegated to their couches and computers to take in the finer points of the season that were.
While much of the days in the off-season prove to be uneventful for hockey fans, there are some days that are of interest; especially here in the Bolts Nation. As the month of July nears its end, it’s time for those of us here in the Bolts Nation to wish a very Happy Birthday to one of our own, much-loved Tampa Bay Lightning center Tyler Johnson. That’s right ladies and gentlemen…July 29th is the birthday of our favorite snipers.
The year 2016 means Tyler Johnson has turned a young 26 years old. It’s almost hard to believe that someone who has been a part of the Tampa Bay Lightning family for so long is a mere 26 years old, but it is what it is. The good news is, this means there are still many years in Johnson’s on-ice career left in front of him, which also means there’s plenty more time for him to battle for a Stanley Cup with the Lightning.
Last season, Johnson put on a pretty good show with his teammates in Blue. In the 69 games he played with the Lightning last season, Birthday Boy brought home 14 goals and 24 assists for a total of 38 points along with a plus-4 rating.
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Johnson’s contributions to the Lightning didn’t end with the final buzzer of the postseason. In the 17 games the Lightning played in the postseason, Johnson brought home seven goals and 10 assists for a total of 17 games. As you can see, this works out to at least a point per game to accompany a plus-9 rating.
The Tampa Bay Lightning have a lot of work in front of them in the upcoming 2016-17 season. After the conclusion of the season, Johnson will be in search of a shiny new contract (hopefully with the Lightning) as he is set to become a Restricted Free Agent.
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At least for now, Tyler Johnson can sit back and enjoy his special day before he has to lace up his skates and get back to work with the Tampa Bay Lightning. We here at Bolts By The Bay would like to wish Tyler Johnson a very Happy Birthday! We can’t wait to see what the upcoming season has in store for everyone.