Following the NHL draft, free agency and other offseason activity, NHL.com examines where each team stands in preparation for the 2022-23 regular season, which begins October 7. Today the Tampa Bay Lightning:
Season 2021/22: 51-23-8, third in Atlantic Division; lost the Stanley Cup Finals to Colorado Avalanche
key arrivals
Ian ColeD: The 33-year-old signed a one-year deal on July 13. He had 19 points (two goals, 17 assists) in 75 regular-season games for the Carolina Hurricanes last season and two points (one goal, one assist) in 14 Stanley Cup Playoff games. … Vladislav NamestnikovQ: The 29-year-old signed a one-year deal on July 13. Last season, he had 30 points (16 goals, 14 assists) and two points (one goal, one assist) in 75 games with the Detroit Red Wings (60 games) and the Dallas Stars (15) in seven playoff games . Namestnikov played for the Lightning from 2014 to 2018, recording 123 points (53 goals, 70 assists) in 263 games. … Haydn FleuryD: The 26-year-old signed a two-year deal on July 13. Last season, he had four points (two goals, two assists) in 36 games for the Seattle Kraken. … Philip MyersD: The 25-year-old was acquired along with the forward in a trade with the Nashville Predators Grant Mishmashfor defenders Ryan McDonagh on the 3rd of July. Myers had four points (goal, three assists) in 27 NHL games last season.
Important Departures
Ondrej PalatQ: Signed a five-year contract with the New Jersey Devils on July 14. Palat had 49 points (18 goals, 31 assists) in 77 regular-season games last season and 21 points (11 goals, 10 assists) in 23 playoff games. He had 423 points (143 goals, 280 assists) in 628 games for the Lightning and helped them win the Stanley Cup in 2020 and 2021. … Ryan McDonagh, D: Had 26 points (four goals, 22 assists) in 71 regular-season games and five points (goal, four assists) in 23 playoff games. McDonagh had 99 points (20 goals, 79 assists) in 267 games for Tampa Bay over five seasons and won the Stanley Cup twice. … Jan RuettaD: Signed a three-year contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 13. He had 18 points (three goals, 15 assists) in 76 regular-season games and five points (one goal, four assists) in 17 playoff games. Rutta also helped the Lightning win the Cup in 2020 and 2021.
At the top
Cole KoepkeQ: The 24-year-old, sixth-round pick (No. 183) in the 2018 NHL draft, had 39 points (20 goals, 19 assists) in 69 games for Syracuse of the American Hockey League last season. … Gage GoncalvesQ: The 21-year-old was selected in the second round (#62) of the 2020 NHL Draft and has 32 points (17 goals, 15 assists) in 70 games for Syracuse. … Gabriel FortierQ: The 22-year-old was a second-round pick (No. 59) in the 2018 draft. He had 35 points (14 goals, 21 assists) in 72 games for Syracuse.
What else do you need
Good health and improved scoring from the third row are high on Lightning’s wish list. Forward Brayden point and Nikita Kutscherow every missed time last season and mid Anthony Cirelli and defenseman Zach Bogosian are expected to miss the first two months of this season to recover from shoulder surgery. Putting 20 scorers Brandon Hagel and Ross Colton production is to be increased there on the third line.
Video: TBL@NYR, Gm5: Hagel scores in 3rd period
You said so
“I don’t think we’re done chasing Stanley Cups here. We’re set to be a really competitive team for the foreseeable future and hopefully at some point the Stars align for us again and we can bring the Stanley Cup back to Tampa Bay.” — CEO Julien BriseBois
fantasy focus
defender Mikhail Sergachev hasn’t had 40 points since his rookie season in 2017-18 but could return to that range in a bigger role following McDonagh’s trade. Sergachev signed an eight-year contract with Tampa Bay on July 13, averaging the best points averages per game (.43; 10 in 23 games) of his NHL playoff career (minimum five games). Game points per 60 minutes (3.54) last season. He should be considered a top 30 fantasy defender on the fringes and a full breakout candidate for this season. – Anna Dua
Planned lineup
Nicholas Paul – Brayden Point – Nikita Kucherov
Alex Killorn — Steven Stamko — Alex Barre-Boulet
Brandon Hagel – Ross Colton – Vladislav Namestnikov
Pat Maroon — Pierre Edouard Bellemare — Corey Perry
Victor Hedman — Eric Cernak
Mikhail Sergachev – Cal Foote
Ian Cole-Philippe Myers
Andrei Vasilyevsky
Brian Eliot
Hurt: Anthony Cirelli, Zach Bogosian
#Lightning #brings #Namestnikov #adds #defenders
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