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Four training camp battles to watch with the Tampa Bay Lightning

By Benjamin Henderson

Dec 30, 2021; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Hugo Alnefelt (60) plays his position against the Florida Panthers during the third period at FLA Live Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2021; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Hugo Alnefelt (60) plays his position against the Florida Panthers during the third period at FLA Live Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 13, 2022; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Washington Capitals forward Conor Sheary (73) skates against the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports /

Tampa Bay Lightning Training Camp Battles: The Sixth Forward

  • Conor Sheary vs. Nick Paul vs. Tanner Jeannot

The presumed favorite in this group is Conor Sheary, after coming over to Tampa from Washington in the offseason. But ironically, he is the lowest-paid of the three forwards that might be in contention for the top six minutes.

As we highlighted last week when discussing what would make the ideal top line for the Tampa Bay Lightning, Sheary has the group’s most proven long-term scoring. Plus, pairing Paul and Jeannot together creates a physical third line that most teams strive for.

But there is also an offensive ceiling to both Paul and Jeannot that Sheary doesn’t have. Jeannot scored 24 goals during his rookie campaign, and Paul had 17 last season despite the massive cool-off during the back half of the campaign.

Sheary’s career high is 23 from the 2016-17 season, but he hasn’t topped 20 goals since.

SYRACUSE, NY – APRIL 21: Alex Barré-Boulet #12 of Syracuse Crunch passes the puck against the Rochester Americans at Upstate Medical University Arena on April 21, 2023 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images)
SYRACUSE, NY – APRIL 21: Alex Barré-Boulet #12 of Syracuse Crunch passes the puck against the Rochester Americans at Upstate Medical University Arena on April 21, 2023 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images) /

Tampa Bay Lightning Training Camp Battles: The Twelfth Forward

  • Alex Barré-Boulet vs. Mikey Eyssimont vs. Logan Brown vs. Tyler Motte

Three of the above-mentioned four will comprise the bottom six forwards for the Lightning, while one is going to be the odd man out.

Now, whichever man is left out will still be on the roster and will rotate in as the season progresses.

We profiled Motte earlier in the week and would assume he is going to slot in on the fourth line.

Barre-Boulet has seen his time with the big club stop and start on multiple occasions. At one point, he was picked up on waivers by Seattle and played two games with the Kraken before coming back to Tampa. Last year in Syracuse, he had 24 goals and 60 assists.

Eyssimont came over in a trade with San Jose at the deadline. He wound up having two points in the three playoff games he appeared in during the Toronto series.

Brown was picked up in free agency after playing 30 games with St. Louis last season. He has six overall seasons of NHL experience, appearing in 99 games between St. Louis and Ottawa.

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