Is the rest of the team healthy?
While Brayden Point’s injury headlines the injury concerns for Tampa Bay, the health of the rest of the team is largely unknown at this point – as per usual in the playoffs.
What we do know is that Mikhail Sergachev and Brandon Hagel missed multiple practices between the end of the Florida series and Game 1 of the ECF. Both were banged up after blocking shots in the Florida series.
Sergachev has been practicing for a few days now, but Hagel only returned to practice yesterday, the day before Game 1. Even then he did leave the ice briefly before returning to rejoin the rest of the team.
Brandon Hagel's heading back to the #Bolts locker room. Didn't seem to aggravate anything as guys are still just getting warmed up. We'll see if he comes back to the ice.
— Chris Krenn (@Chris_Krenn) May 31, 2022
As the #Bolts begin their stretch, Brandon Hagel has returned to the ice.#TBLvsNYR
— Chris Krenn (@Chris_Krenn) May 31, 2022
If Hagel is unable to go to begin the series, or at any time during, it is possible we will see prospect Cole Koepke make his NHL debut in his place. Koepke, a former 2018 sixth-round draft pick of the Lightning, had an impressive rookie season with the Syracuse Crunch this year scoring 20 goals and 19 assists in 69 games.
Should Koepke get the nod, he would ideally be able to jump right into Hagel’s left wing position on the third line since he has filled that spot in the practices that Hagel has missed.