• Search
  • Teams & Specialty
  • Stake RTB
    • \
  • Store
  • Print Subscriptions
  • Newsletter
  • Archive
  • Stix.com
  • Contact Us
    • Privacy PolicyTerms of Use
    version-4.2.45-79e98d112
    Tampa Bay Lightning Roundtable channel cover image

    Tampa Bay Lightning Roundtable

    106Members
    ·
    1.1KPosts
    Diandra Loux
    Michael Traikos
    Michael DeRosa
    W. Graeme Roustan
    Create new post
    Diandra Loux·Apr 5, 2024·Partner
    Lightning's Mikey Eyssimont Nominated as Tampa Bay's Masterton Nominee
    The Tampa Bay Chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association has voted Mikey Eyssimont as its nominee for the 2024 Bill Masterton Trophy On March 1, 2023 - Mikey Eyssimont was at a local grocery store preparing for what would’ve been his first home-cooked meal in his new San Jose apartment. Then he received a call that the Sharks were trading him to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Eyssimont was elated. Having watched the team growing up, he wanted to do everything he could to make a lasting impact.  “I watched a lot of Tampa Bay Lightning hockey growing up. They were having a lot of success as I was in the USHL, in college and during my first year as a pro,” said Eyssimont. Eyssimont has built a reputation for being a speedy winger who excels on the forecheck, something Lightning GM Julien BriseBois gravitated towards. He’s currently second among forwards on a star-studded team with 122 hits. His shots per 60 minutes rate of 9.15 is second to NHL points leader, Nikita Kucherov.  At any point in time, Eyssimont can be seen around Amalie Arena, glued to a tablet studying his game.  “I sometimes feel like a 10-year-old kid at dinner where he can’t put his iPad down, but it’s important for me to make sure I know that I’m getting fired up over the things that I’m doing well out there and watching some good things, and then on the other side of that it’s also having the visual to be able to clean things up and do what the coaches need me to do," Eyssimont said. He plays with a constant edge and has the ability to get under the skin of his opponents. His grittiness fit into the Lightning lineup seamlessly. After being shuffled through four different organizations, Eyssimont finally found his home in Tampa.  Once the 2022-23 season concluded, the Lightning re-signed the forward to a two-year, $1.6-million contract.  “Signing an extension here was a dream come true for me and my family and finding a home here. These teammates are like family to me now and the coaching staff is as well.” Signing an extension with the Lightning was only step one of what he hopes is a long career in Tampa. Eyssimont is committed to keeping the same “development mindset” he had while playing in the AHL. The adversity he faced at the start of his career is something he embraces now.  “I think every year I try to elevate my game to a point where I'm playing the best hockey I've ever played at some point during the season, and try to continue that stretch and continue developing, keeping that development mindset that I had when I was in the AHL, where you’re working all summer and during the season with skating coaches and skills coaches,” Eyssimont said. “When I'm not playing my game, I know that I'm not doing the things that got me here. I always just remember to revert back to the hard working, forechecking, gritty, hardest worker on the ice player. Then I can find my game.” Getting to this point was no walk in the park. In 2016, Eyssimont was selected in the fifth round of the draft by the Los Angeles Kings after 40 NCAA games with St. Cloud State. After three years with the Kings organization, Eyssimont was not given a qualifying offer, making him a UFA.  In a span of just seven months, he was signed by the Winnipeg Jets as a free agent, then later waived. The San Jose Sharks picked him up off waivers, and then later traded him to his current home with the Tampa Bay Lightning.  Eyssimont also had to handle the diagnosis of Crohn’s Disease during his days at St. Cloud State. The diagnosis has forced him to live a strict lifestyle that includes a clean diet and a significant amount of sleep. He still receives medication every eight weeks to prevent his condition from flaring up.  “I kind of have an advantage over a lot of guys since I’ve been diagnosed as I have to stay healthy and I have to live the lifestyle that ultimately aligns with what my goals are as a professional athlete,” Eyssimont said.  “I don’t have a choice and I just kind of am maybe lucky that way but really, I’ve learned to simplify things in my life and make sure that my health comes first.” Eyssimont actively works with charities that assist young athletes who also battle with Crohn’s Disease, one being Athletes Vs Crohn’s & Colitis, which was co-founded in 2017 by NBA veteran Larry Nance, Jr. “That’s been a very special thing for me. I think that giving back is a great way to help myself as well.” The Bill Masterton Trophy recognizes the NHL player who best exemplifies ‘sportsmanship, perseverance and dedication to hockey’ which is why Mikey Eyssimont was nominated. An overall winner will be selected at the conclusion of the season by the membership of the PHWA.
    See more
    0
    0
    0
    0
    Caleb Kerney·Jan 5, 2024·Partner
    USA Wins Gold Thanks to Lightning Prospect
    Team USA have won gold at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship thanks to Isaac Howard's two-goal performance. The Tampa Bay Lightning have been a team that has sneaky-good at drafting. Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Ondrej Palat, and Anthony Cirelli were all selected outside of the first round. They have had great success with late-first round selections too, most notable being goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (selected 19th overall in 2012). While it's too early in the game to determine whether or not any prospects from the 2022 draft are busts or home runs, one player is stating his case to be in the latter category. Isaac Howard was selected 31st overall in the 2022 draft. His confidence and swagger on full display as he approached the podium in a white sport coat at the draft. Today marks an incredible day for the young man. As a member of Team USA at the World Junior Championship, he is now a Gold-Medal winner - but it doesn't stop there. Howard scored not one, but TWO goals in the gold medal game. Which included the best kind - the Golden Goal - the goal that serves as the game winner in a Gold Medal game. Howard receives the puck behind the goal line, walks out just past it and banks the puck in the net off of Hugo Havelid's pad. The Lightning just might have another gem on their hands. Related: Ex-Lightning Players Leave Their Mark Against Former Team Related: Lighting Call Up Several Defenders Related: All-Star Selection From Lightning Announced Related: Tampa Bay Lightning Hope To Overcome Second Period Struggles
    See more
    0
    0
    0
    0
    Diandra Loux·Sep 16, 2023·Partner
    2023 Rookie Showcase: Players To Watch Day 2: Tampa Bay Lightning vs Carolina Panthers
    The players showed absolute grit and their desire to win after going 0-3 in the tournament last year. The Tampa Bay Lightning will face the Carolina Hurricanes today at 3pm EST at Hertz Arena. The Bolts kicked off the 2023 Southeast Rookie Showcase with a 4-3 win over the Nashville Predators Friday afternoon. The players showed absolute grit and their desire to win after going 0-3 in the tournament last year. Nashville took the lead early on, scoring the first two goals, but the Bolts overcame the deficit and followed up by scoring four consecutive times.  Nashville made their last push over the final 10 minutes of regulation, but Hugo Alnefelt held it down in net, making a huge save with just under seven minutes remaining.  With a five-man shootout set to take place at the conclusion of each game for the entirety of the weekend, Alnefelt stopped four of five shots from Nashville. Ethan Gauthier, Gabriel Szturc, and Tristan Allard all scored for the Lightning. Prospects to watch from the Lightning.. Hugo Alnefelt- I’m keeping Alnefelt here all weekend. There really isn’t a ton of goalie conversation in Tampa. With Andrei Vasilevskiy in net, the Lightning are set for the foreseeable future. However, they would love to lock down a solid backup who can take on a portion of the workload, especially leading up to the playoffs. Alnefelt is a Swedish goaltender and third round pick from the 2019 draft. He’s a solid prospect who has really started to find his stride in net for the Syracuse Crunch.  Alnefelt stopped four of five shots by Nashville during a shootout in night one of the 2023 Rookie Showcase. He'll have eyes on him again in Game 2 vs Carolina.  Ethan Gauthier - I've added Gauthier to my list of players to watch. With the pick they acquired from the Colorado Avalanche in the Ross Colton trade, the Lightning selected Ethan Gauthier, a forward from the Sherbrooke Phoenix of the QMJHL. He's a 6’0″, 183 pound right-winger from an NHL linage as his father, Denis, was a long-time defenseman in the league having played in Calgary, Phoenix, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. Almost every prospect review of Gauthier mentions the physical aspect of his game, something the Lightning love on their current roster. He's not necessarily the quickest skater we'll see this weekend, but he makes his teammates better, gets his hits in and has the ability to irritate players and get under their skin. He had a good showing in Game 1, which makes him a player to watch vs Carolina.  Waltteri Merela - A new addition to the list, the 24-year-old has spent most of his professional career in Finland and had a breakout season in 2021-22, scoring 21 goals and 23 assists as a 23-year-old. He looked to be on a similar pace last season, but missed two months due to getting his wrist cut by a skate blade in November.  Merela signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Lightning in June. He's versatile and can play on either the right or left side. He could have a shot at making the team in training camp this year. Merela scored the game-tying goal on a tip-in Friday night, giving a preview of the net-front presence he can bring to the Lightning roster.  Now for Carolina’s prospects to watch written by Ryan Henkel. Felix Unger Sorum - The 2023 second-round pick has started to make a name for himself as the summer has progressed. The Hurricanes signed Unger Sorum to an ELC immediately following their prospect development camp, and he then went on to showcase his talents at the World Junior Summer Showcase that took place in early August.  The freshly 18-year-old forward (his birthday literally just occurred on September 14) led Team Sweden in scoring with five points in four games, which also tied him for second overall amongst all showcase players. He’s got great vision and passing ability and despite a smaller frame, he isn’t afraid to go to work in the corners. Ryan Suzuki - The 2019 first-round pick and younger brother of Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki, has not had an easy path since his selection.  Suzuki has been through a lot in regards to injuries. In 2019, Suzuki suffered an eye injury as a result of a high stick that has left a permanent blindspot in his right eye and since then, he’s dealt with a lot of other minor injuries that have hampered his development. As a result, Suzuki has only been able to appear in 110 AHL games over the span of three seasons and he even missed last year’s training camp and preseason. He’s always had the talent to be good, but unfortunate circumstances have prevented him from taking those next steps. Maybe this can be the year where he manages to stay healthy and prove he can be an impact player. Vasily Ponomarev - The 2020 second-round pick is one of a very short list of prospects who actually have a chance to make the Hurricanes’ roster out of training camp. The Russian center has always had a strong two-way game, something head coach Rod Brind’Amour is keen to, and he also led the AHL’s Chicago Wolves in goals last season with 24 in 64 games. He was also one of Carolina’s black aces for the playoffs. A strong showing in the Rookie Showcase could be a springboard into training camp for him and then ultimately into the preseason where he has a chance to compete for the Hurricanes’ 4C role. Fans looking to catch the action can stream the game live at NHL.com/Lightning.
    See more
    0
    0
    0
    0
    Tampa Bay Lightning Roundtable Community
    There are no posts yet