Before the eyes of the Bolts Nation turn to the 2016-17 season for good, let’s take one final look at the season had by Tampa Bay Lightning forward Alex Killorn.
While the action is kicking into high gear in Canada at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, the rest of the hockey world is headed into Training Camp in order to prepare for the upcoming season. Despite having a total of 12 players representing them at the international tournament, the Tampa Bay Lightning are getting back to business as well.
Training Camp officially kicked off on Thursday afternoon as the players handled off-ice business. Friday, the players kicked off the on-ice portion of the festivities kicked off. One of the many players who have taken the ice with the Tampa Bay Lightning as of yesterday is Lightning forward Alex Killorn.
The regular season is now just 17 days away. Before Tampa Bay Lightning fans turn their eyes to the 2016-17 season once and for all, let’s take a look at the 2015-16 season of our very own number 17, Alex Killorn.
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Since joining the Tampa Bay Lightning’s main roster in the 2012-13 season, just one season after helping the Lightning’s then-American Hockey League affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals, win the Calder Cup, Alex Killorn has continued to improve his game.
In the 81 games he played with the Tampa Bay Lightning last season, the 27-year-old Harvard graduate was able to bring home 14 goals and 28 assists for a grand total of 40 points to accompany his plus-14 rating. These numbers were good enough to earn him the fourth place spot (tied with Ondrej Palat) in overall points.
During the regular season, Killorn was only bested by Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman, captain Steven Stamkos, and the Lightning’s lead point scorer in the 2015-16 season, Nikita Kucherov. Thankfully, Killorn’s contributions to the team didn’t end there.
In fact, Alex Killorn quickly found himself to be an integral part of the Tampa Bay Lightning’s postseason success. Much like most of the Lightning’s heavy-hitters, Killorn played in all 17 postseason games with the Tampa Bay Lightning last season.
During that amount of time, Killer was able to score five goals and eight assists for a total of 13 points to accompany a plus-6 rating. These numbers would place Killorn in fifth place on the team in overall postseasons points; just one point behind players like Jonathan Drouin and Victor Hedman.
The one thing we know for sure is we’re definitely happy Alex Killorn is one of the many names Tampa Bay Lightning Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman was able to seal up long-term. In addition to players like Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman, Yzerman signed Killorn to a seven-year contract extension that will see him remain in the Sunshine State until the conclusion of the 2022-23 season.
Alex Killorn is one of those players who fits in just about anywhere. He has this innate ability to make plays happen. Whether it is setting up the play or driving it home, Alex Killorn always seems to be in the right place at the right time.
Need proof? Check out this goal by Killorn in the third period of the final game between the Lightning and the Detroit Red Wings in the First Round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Tampa Bay Lightning alternate captain Ryan Callahan charges into the zone with the puck. Forced to chip the puck away thanks to intense coverage from the Red Wings, Callahan soars behind the net to pick the puck up. Anxiously awaiting, and perfectly placed, in front of the net, Killorn was in the right spot to beat Petr Mrazek and put the puck in the back of the net for the win.
The Lightning find themselves in an excellent position to have yet another deep postseason run. Some opponents will remain the same, but as anyone knows things can change in the blink of an eye.
The Tampa Bay Lightning have proven year after year that as long as they stick to their game, they can adapt to anyone else’s system and ultimately get the job done. Thankfully, Alex Killorn will be a part of the Lightning’s system for many years to come.
Next: Tampa Bay Lightning Rival Report: Toronto Maple Leafs
As we mentioned before, we are just 17 days away from the start of the Tampa Bay Lightning’s 2016-17 season. The Lightning will be looking to hit the ice like, well…Lightning, and get off to a good start. If there’s anything we know for sure, it’s we don’t want to miss a single moment of the action in the upcoming season.