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Breaking Down the 5 Bolts Who Need to Step Up Most in the 2022-23 Season

ByGarrett Morgan|
TORONTO, ON - MAY 10 : Mikhail Sergachev #98 of the Tampa Bay Lightning fires a puck up ice against the Toronto Maple Leafs during Game Five of the First Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 10, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Lightning 4-3. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty images)
TORONTO, ON - MAY 10 : Mikhail Sergachev #98 of the Tampa Bay Lightning fires a puck up ice against the Toronto Maple Leafs during Game Five of the First Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 10, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Lightning 4-3. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty images)
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(Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)

3. Vladislav Namestnikov

A name Bolts fans know very well, Namestnikov is back in a Lightning uniform for the first time since the 2017-18 season when he was dealt at the trade deadline to the Rangers. Now back where he started his career in Tampa, Vladdy will be called upon to give the Bolts some offensive output.

While Namestnikov has struggled to find consistency in recent years, he had his two highest point totals while with the Lightning, tallying 44 points in the 2017-18 season and 35 points in the 2015-16 season. Now back with his old team, Namestnikov hopes to get that spark back and provide consistent offensive output for the Bolts.

If the Lightning want to have any chance of getting back to the Stanley Cup Final, guys like Namestnikov are going to have to be major contributors and give them big shifts every night.

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