Bolts by the Bay
Fansided

Projecting the forward lines for the 2023-24 Tampa Bay Lightning

By Benjamin Henderson

Apr 24, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Alex Killorn (17) celebrates with center Steven Stamkos (91), center Brayden Point (21), defenseman Victor Hedman (77) and right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) after he scores a goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the first period of game four of the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 24, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Alex Killorn (17) celebrates with center Steven Stamkos (91), center Brayden Point (21), defenseman Victor Hedman (77) and right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) after he scores a goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the first period of game four of the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tampa Bay Lightning
Apr 18, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Tampa Bay Lightning forward Anthony Cirelli (71) skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs during game one of the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Tampa Bay Lightning Second Line Projections:

  • Brandon Hagel
  • Anthony Cirelli
  • Alex Barre-Boulet

Cirelli is locked in as the second-line center, and Hagel solidified himself as a top-six forward in 2022-23, but who to pair them with becomes difficult.

Odds are, Alex Killorn is gone. If he does resign with Tampa, then he will slide in as the third forward. The line of Hagel, Cirelli, and Killorn was a good one, with all the metrics on the plus side, including a 59% expected goal share.

Barre-Boulet is almost for sure on the main roster next season after posting 84 points in 69 games with Syracuse. Whether he is a Top 6 forward remains to be seen, but if Killorn is gone and Ross Colton is also gone, the only other real option for this line would be Nick Paul.

But Paul and Hagel didn’t have great numbers when they played together last season. The duo was on the ice together for 141 minutes of 5 v 5 play, and their expected goal share was 45%, and their percentage share of high-danger chances was 41%.

One would have to think, given those numbers, that Cooper at least tries to pair up Barre-Boulet as the third forward on this line.

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