Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman had an amazing tenure as the Tampa Bay Lightning Lightning GM.
Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman had an amazing tenure as the Tampa Bay Lightning Lightning GM.
The Tampa Bay Lightning have been one of the most successful teams in the NHL for several seasons. A major reason for it is because of former Lightning GM Steve Yzerman's outstanding drafting. Because of this, let's discuss his top five picks now.
5. Anthony Cirelli
While the Lightning did not have a first-round pick in 2015, Yzerman still found an eventual core piece. With the 72nd overall pick, he selected Anthony Cirelli. Fast forward to 2023, he is one of their most important centers.
Cirelli has emerged as a top-six forward and key penalty killer for the Lightning and is now signed until the completion of the 2030-31 season. Assuming he does not get moved before his deal expires, he has the potential to spent his entire career with the team. That's not bad at all for a third-round pick.
In 396 career games with the team, he has 87 goals and 208 points.
4. Ondrej Palat
Yzerman struck gold when he picked Ondrej Palat with the club's seventh-round pick at 208th overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Not too many seventh-rounders end up making the NHL, let alone becoming a top-six forward. However, Yzerman landed just that with Palat.
Palat spent 10 seasons with the Bolts, where he had 143 goals and 423 points in 628 games. Along with that, he played a big role in the Lightning's 2020 and 2021 Stanley Cup championships due to his clutch performances.
3. Brayden Point
Brayden Point was another excellent find by Yzerman. He selected the star forward with the 79th overall pick of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. Since then, Point has become one of the team's best forwards and their 1C.
Since being drafted by the Lightning, Point has put together two 90-plus-point seasons and had a 51-goal campaign in 2022-23. Along with that, he is a one-time All-Star and, of course, helped the Lightning win two Stanley Cups.
In 544 career games with the Lightning, he has 239 goals and 510 points.
2. Andrei Vasilevskiy
While Slater Koekkoek did not become a big part of the Lightning's roster, fellow 2012 first-round pick Andrei Vasilevskiy sure did. He has been one of the best goalies of his era and was a huge reason for the Lightning's back-to-back Stanley Cups.
Vasilevskiy has spent the entirety of his 447-game career with the Lightning. Over that span, he has put together a 276-132-28 record, a 2.54 GAA, and a .918 SV%. With that, he is a five-time All-Star, a one-time Vezina Trophy winner, and won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2021.
Not all goalies selected early in the first round hit their potential, but Vasilevskiy has, without question, been everything the Lightning hoped he would be and more.
1. Nikita Kucherov
Nikita Kucherov is Yzerman's best draft pick ever. He has been one of the NHL's best players for the majority of his career, and he is not showing any signs of slowing down. He currently leads the NHL with 75 points in just 44 games.
Kucherov is well on his way to earning more awards this season, adding to his already massive collection. He has already won the Art Ross Trophy, Ted Lindsay Award, and Hart Memorial Trophy, all back in 2019. Along with that, he is a five-time All-Star and, of course, a two-time Stanley Cup champion.
Yzerman found a future Hall of Famer in Kucherov with his late second-round pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. In 688 games with the Bolts, he has 304 goals, 500 assists, and 804 points.
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