Tampa Bay Lightning Top 10 Prospects

Where the f%*k are the defensemen ?

#1 Maxime Comtois (LW)
Drafted: 2nd round (BRHL) / 1st round (NHL)

Without a 1st round pick in last season's BRHL draft, the Lightning lucked out on drafting Maxime Comtois with their first pick in round 2. Since being drafted, Comtois stock has risen after getting a short NHL stint in which he put up 7 points in 10 games. After being sent back to the Q, Comtois is still producing as expected. He is currently the Captain for Team Canada's Junior team. Blessed with physical attributes that he loves to use, Comtois is a smooth skater for a big body and has a great shot.

Projection: Top 6 Power Forward
NHL Probability: 85%


#2 Jaret Anderson-Dolan (C)
Drafted: 2nd round (BRHL) / 2nd round (NHL)

The Lightning made good use of their 2nd round picks in this past draft, getting Jaret Anderson-Dolan slightly lower then his NHL draft position. "JAD" was also able to get some NHL time this season although it wasn't as impressive as Comtois. In 5 games JAD put up 1 assist before getting injured. He hasn't had much time to recover and as a result only played 2 WHL games since being sent down. He is currently the Assistant Captain of Team Canada's World Junior team. Anderson-Dolan's best attribute is his elite hockey IQ and playmaking ability. He is also very good defensively.

Projection: Top 6 Two-Way Forward
NHL Probability: 75%


#3 Alexandre Texier (C)
Drafted: 3rd round (BRHL) / 2nd round (NHL)

Another player taken below his NHL draft slot. Texier was a risky pick when selected in the 2nd round by the Blue Jackets. Little was known about the kid from France who spent his draft season playing for Grenoble in France. Since his draft year, Texier has played with men in the Finnish Liiga. His first season against men was solid with 22 points in 53 games. He is currently in his second year with KalPa where he is playing in a bigger role. He currently has 16 points in 29 games and another 2 points in the Spengler Cup. Texier is blessed with elite speed and puckhandling abilities which are perfect for the new NHL type of game.

Projection: Top 6 Playmaker
NHL Probability: 70%


#4 Colton Point (G)
Drafted: 5th round (BRHL) / 5th round (NHL)

Colton Point played out his draft season as the backup goaltender for Colgate University. He played well enough to get drafted by the Stars in the 5th round. The following season is where he really shined. He played himself into the starting position with Colgate and put up a 1.74 GAA and .944 SV%. He was a finalist for the Hobey Baker award and won a Gold Medal with the Canadian World Juniors. Point has strugged in the AHL this season as one of the youngest goaltenders in the league at 20. Once he gets adjusted, expect him to take the reigns of the Texas Stars before finding himself in the NHL.

Projection: NHL Starter
NHL Probability: 50%


#5 Dmitri Sokolov (W)
Drafted: 4th round (BRHL) / 7th round (NHL)

Unlike the picks above, Sokolov was a big reach by the Lightning in the BRHL. You could also say he was a steal by the Wild in the NHL. Either way you look at it, Sokolov is an intriguing player with a very high upside. In his draft year, Sokolov scored 48 goals in 60 games with the Sudbury Wolves. He followed that up with 50 goals in 64 games the following season. The underlying numbers are there, Sokolov can score, but he comes with some baggage. The reason for almost not being drafted has to do with the effort he puts on the ice. This hasn't changed as he has become older. He has been a healthy scratch at times with the Iowa Wild this season for his lack of effort on the defensive side of the puck. In his first full AHL season, Sokolov has 16 points in 23 games and hasn't looked out of place. If he can improve his attitude and defensive play, he is a sure-fire top 6 NHL forward.

Projection: Top 6 Sniper
NHL Probability: 45%


#6 Zach Aston-Reese (LW)
Drafted: 4th round (BRHL) / Undrafted (NHL)

Aston-Reese was signed out of Northeastern University just two seasons ago. He put up great numbers that year with 63 points in 38 games. He is progressing as expected in Pittsburgh where he continues to find time in a bottom 6 role. "ZAR" is 24 years old and is one of the older prospects on this list. He hasn't played a full NHL season yet but will graduate after doing so. In 24 games with the Penguins, ZAR has 7 points. He is a physical player who goes to the dirty areas on the ice. His shot is above average and he isn't afraid to block shots. He needs to find more consistency offensively and could use some work on his skating. It's clear that ZAR should be a regular for the Pens moving forward.

Projection: Bottom 6 Power Forward
NHL Probability: 90%


#7 Oskar Sundqvist (C/RW)
Drafted: Unknown (BRHL) / 3rd round (NHL)

Sundqvist comes in as another 24 year old who is just starting his NHL career. Sundqvist was drafted by another BRHL team but made his way to the Lightning in a deal with Rumpy along with Bjugstad. Originally not expected to make it past the expansion draft, the Lightning were surprised when he was still on the roster. Sundqvist had a small NHL stint before the offseason playing in 42 games and only putting up 5 points. This season, he has started to find his groove with 9 points in 27 games. A mainstay on the Penalty Kill, Sundqvist is making a name for himself as a tenacious forechecker who plays very well off the puck. His secondary scoring this season has been a bonus. Players like Sundqvist always have a spot on a BRHL roster due to the amount of PK time they get.

Projection: Bottom 6 PK Specialist
NHL Probability: 85%


#8 Francis Perron (LW)
Drafted: Unknown (BRHL) / 7th round (NHL)

Francis Perron wasn't in the big picture this time last season, but he has sky-rocketed up this list after a successful start to his AHL year. A former captain of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, Perron was drafted by the previous regime and was almost an after-thought. Almost traded two times, Perron is starting to find his own in the AHL this season with the Barracuda. His 27 points in 27 games leads the Barracuda by a wide margin, 7 more points then Alexandre True to be exact. He also has the accolade of being traded with Erik Karlsson this off-season. In my limited viewing of Perron, he has shown above average skating and puck handling ability. He seems to lack some hockey IQ, and often disappears for stretches at a time. If he can figure it out, he could be an NHL regular.

Projection: Middle 6 Playmaker
NHL Probability: 40%


#9 Ostap Safin (W)
Drafted: 4th round (BRHL) / 4th round (NHL)

With an abudence of Oilers fans in the BRHL, it was a surprise Safin landed with a team who could care less about the Oil. The Lightning traded up to make this pick with the Canadiens as they felt he would not fall to the 5th round. Unfortunately, injuries have plagued Safin's junior career but he still manages to have the eye of the Czech National team. He will be playing in his 2nd U20 tournament this year after finishing with 3 points in 7 games in the last one. His junior season in the Q has been limited to 10 games due to injury, in which he has put up 9 points. His junior career will be an afterthought with these injuries, but if he can stay healthy Safin has the ability to be a true power forward. With a 6ft5 frame, Safin skates well and is physical in the corners and front of the net. For a big man, he posseses good hands as well.

Projection: Middle 6 Power Forward
NHL Probability: 35%


#10 Ty Ronning
Drafted: 7th round (BRHL) / 7th round (NHL)

The son of Cliff Ronning, Ty had a very successful Junior campaign in Vancouver. He was snagged with a 7th round pick in the BRHL, which to some might not come as a surprise. In his BRHL draft year, Ronning put up 61 goals in 70 games for the Vancouver Giants, which should have raised his draft status a bit. After the initial excitement of the pick, Ronning has struggled in the AHL to the point of being demoted to the ECHL. He should be back up with the Hartford Wolf Pack by the end of the season. The jury is still out if Ronning can be a regular some day. His magnificient speed and excellent playmaking ability may carve him out a career in the NHL as a 4th liner who can fill in as a top 6 from time to time.

Projection: Bottom 6 Playmaker
NHL Probability: 25%






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