The Lightning should keep an eye on this Hurricanes forward this summer.
The Lightning should keep an eye on this Hurricanes forward this summer.
The Carolina Hurricanes season came to a shocking end on Thursday night. After entering the third period with a comfortable 3-1 lead, they allowed four unanswered goals to the New York Rangers and lost by a 5-3 final score.
There is now a lot of uncertainty surrounding the Hurricanes heading into the offseason. They have a plethora of notable pending UFAs like Jake Guentzel, Brady Skjei, Brett Pesce, and Teuvo Teravainen. However, they also have a hard-nosed forward who should grab the attention of the Tampa Bay Lightning - Jordan Martinook.
Martinook, 31, would be an outstanding addition to the Lightning's roster. This is because he is a gritty forward who plays strong defensively, chips in offensively, and is a known leader. All of these qualities would make him a great fit in Tampa Bay's lineup.
Martinook would provide the Lightning's bottom six with more secondary production and a clear option for their penalty kill because of his work ethic and steady defensive play.
A perfect example of how hard-working a player Martinook is took place in Game 6 against the Rangers. While sliding toward the net, Martinook saved a goal, stopping the puck right on the line when Ryan Lindgren beat Frederik Andersen.
The Lightning could surely use a player like Martinook in their lineup, and they should seriously consider pushing for him if he hits the market.
In 82 games this season with the Canes, Martinook posted 14 goals and 32 points.
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