Bolts by the Bay
Fansided

Tampa Bay Lightning’s top draft picks of each round the past decade

By Stephen Parrino

TAMPA, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 13: Brayden Point #21 of the Tampa Bay Lightning looks to pass in the second period during a game against the Seattle Kraken at Amalie Arena on December 13, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 13: Brayden Point #21 of the Tampa Bay Lightning looks to pass in the second period during a game against the Seattle Kraken at Amalie Arena on December 13, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 8
Next
May 13, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Kristers Gudlevskis (50) sits on the bench after goalie Ben Bishop (not pictured) left the game with an injury against the Pittsburgh Penguins in game one of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the CONSOL Energy Center. Tampa Bay won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
May 13, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Kristers Gudlevskis (50) sits on the bench after goalie Ben Bishop (not pictured) left the game with an injury against the Pittsburgh Penguins in game one of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the CONSOL Energy Center. Tampa Bay won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

5th Round — Kristers Gudlevskis

Draft year: 2013
Career stats: 3GP | 1.37 GAA | .959SV%

Gudlevskis’ NHL career only consists of the three games he played with the Lightning between 2014-16, but overall he has still had a successful playing career.

Perhaps the most memorable performance of his career, to-date, came less than a year after being drafted in the 2014 Olympic quarterfinal against Canada in which he stopped 55 of 57 shots faced, giving the Latvians a chance of pulling off a historic upset before ultimately losing 2-1.

After his time in Tampa, he was traded to the New York Islanders in exchange for Carter Verhaeghe in 2017. But after posting sub .900 save percentage numbers in AHL Bridgeport, he returned to Europe where he has since played in multiple pro leagues across several countries.

Most recently, he backstopped MODO Hockey’s successful effort to rejoin Sweden’s top league (the SHL) after being on the outside looking in since 2016. And fun fact, Victor Hedman played for MODO Hockey’s junior teams before being drafted by the Lightning in 2009, and are based in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden — Hedman’s hometown.

Honorable mention: Magnus Chrona (2018)

Chrona was dealt to the San Jose Sharks at the 2021 trade deadline for Fredrik Claesson. He is yet to make his professional debut but had a successful NCAA career winning the 2022 NCAA Championship alongside Cole Guttman. With San Jose currently lacking a long-term starter in net, Chrona will have the opportunity to see NHL action with the Sharks — an opportunity he may have never got with Tampa as Vasilevskiy is locked-in long-term and Hugo Alnefelt getting closer to being the full-time backup.

Home/All-Time Lists