Bolts by the Bay
Fansided

Tampa Bay Lightning can still find gems late in the NHL Draft

By Alfred Ezman

Jul 7, 2021; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning center Tyler Johnson (9) is handed the Stanley Cup by left wing Ondrej Palat (18) after the Lightning defeated the Montreal Canadiens 1-0 in game five to win the 2021 Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 7, 2021; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning center Tyler Johnson (9) is handed the Stanley Cup by left wing Ondrej Palat (18) after the Lightning defeated the Montreal Canadiens 1-0 in game five to win the 2021 Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

With all the trades that have happened in recent history, it has left the Tampa Bay Lightning with very few picks in the 2023 NHL draft. The Bolts now sit with three total picks in the draft, a sixth-rounder, and two seventh-rounders.

With that being said, it is apparent that this draft is not as important as others have been for the Tampa Bay Lightning. The time they spend this offseason will be more invested in resigning their younger guys, so they are still suited to be competitive in the long run.

But, with the three late-round picks they have, they can definitely help set some guys up to be great in developing their system with who they pick.

Tampa Bay Lightning: Try and get younger

It is no secret to anyone around the NHL that the Lightning is one of the oldest teams in. the league. According to biometrics, Tampa Bay is the seventh oldest team in the National Hockey League, with an average age of 29.5 years old.

The amount of older veterans on the team means that the Lightning may likely gain some younger prospects with those late draft picks. The forwards, in particular, are very old for the Bolts. Steven Stamkos, Pat Maroon, Corey Perry, and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare are all 30+ years old.

As has been stated before, Tampa Bay is expected to have a hectic time with players in their young core coming and going in free agency. This includes guys like Alex Killorn and Ross Colton. So, some valuable prospects at the center and wing positions may be what they need.

There is a lot of uncertainty about what the Lightning will do with their young core and the players they need to resign. However, with the late-round picks they have in this upcoming draft. They can help solve the age problem and get young forwards that can develop for the future.

Home/Analysis