Most Deserving of Looks

[pete]

Because we have such a strong farm team with guys who have been performing extremely well and a handful of lower line players who have been presumably just skating and watching TV the past 3 months, I think there's a fair chance we see some guys elevated from Syracuse who wouldn't have otherwise made the team back in October, and I think a few guys who would have may find themselves sent down to the Crunch. The big questions are who gets looks from Syracuse and who might be on the bubble among the returning vets.

http://lightning.nhl.com/club/roster.htm

When you look at the Lightning roster on the main site, there's 25 guys on this list, so 2 cuts to be made right from the jump. Ohlund obviously either goes on LTIR or is bought out and that means 1 cut. Then, obviously J.T. Brown is down with a collarbone injury and he's been somewhat outperformed by others (not that he's played poorly, mind you) in Syracuse, so he may not have been a lock to make the team post-lockout anyway. So that gets you to 23 and you look at your bubble guys from there:

Crombeen's got to be on the bubble. Kyle Wilson's got to be on the bubble. J.T. Wyman's on the bubble. Connolly's solidified his spot in Tampa, IMO.

So, perhaps up to 3 spots open in Tampa at the forward position, but probably only 2 because Guy likes to carry 8 d-men, which means someone from Syracuse will go up to the show on D.

So your forwards deserving of a camp look, IMO, in order:

1. Alex Killorn
He's versatile, he does everything pretty well, and he plays a style of game that should translate quickly to the NHL. One of the AHL's leaders in shots on goal, plays a very honest north-south game. I have a feeling Guy Boucher is going to fall in love with him as a player. Probably could be a little more strong, but has decent size.

2. Richard Panik
Potential game breaking talent showing tremendous improvements in his consistency. World class skill and strong on the puck. Physically NHL-ready, and one of two guys in Syracuse (Palat) who can routinely make you move to the edge of the seat because they're magicians with the puck.

3. Tyler Johnson
Blazing, nearly Dana Tyrell-type speed and the best shot of any player in Syracuse. Pure sniper and also game breaking talent. Tiny. Needs to get his shot to see how he fares against NHL size, but not sure if straight out of opening night in a shortened season is the obvious spot to do it.

4. Cory Conacher
Might have been on the team in October, but I'm not as sure in January. Jon Cooper has to tighten the reigns on Conacher every once in a while and he had to again recently. Might still need to get his shot because of his age.

5. Ondrej Palat (if healthy)
Might've gotten hurt at the exact wrong time, but he's been the stir that straws the drink on many good line combinations in the AHL over the last year. Underrated strength on the puck and willingness to dig. Great passer and playmaker for his teammates. Deserves a shot at some point.

And then, among d-men:

1. Keith Aulie
Would've been on the roster for sure in October, but change of waiver rules could make things interesting. Missed a lot of time with injury. Someone in the organization obviously likes him, but lack of mobility has always scared me. But, his NHL experience is very valuable in this spot.

2. Radko Gudas
In a short season, here's a guy who has good mobility and can potentially fill minutes who will bring a lot of energy. Has improved offensively this season and still is very active physically. Zero NHL experience is problemmatic because room for error is less in 48 games.

3. Mark Barberio
Statistics are down a bit from his ridiculous season last year, and I'm not sure the Lightning need another left power play specialist with Bergeron on the roster and Hedman playing well on the PP in Russia. Zero NHL experience is problemmatic because room for error is less in 48 games.

4. Dmitry Korobov
Very much a wild card. Good size. Good strength. Very responsible defensively. Has been among the AHL leaders in +/- all year long, and has a little bit of offense to his game, too. And, although he's an NHL rookie, he's got 82 games worth of KHL experience before coming over this year.

[gatsby]

I thought Kyle Wilson was on a 1-way? How is he on the bubble exactly?

[pete]

Do you think a guy with 39 NHL games of experience who hasn't been playing during this lockout should be inked onto the roster, and guys like Killorn, Panik, or Johnson don't even deserve consideration for that roster spot?

I'm sorry, certain guys have played too damned well in the AHL and have some confidence and momentum right now and have progressed to where they may be ready for the show when they weren't in October.

There does, in my opinion, need to be a mini competition for these 3 spots (2 at F and 1 at D) even if it only is in a week's worth of scrimmages, because I know Killorn and Panik have more upside than a guy like Crombeen or Wilson and I suspect they might be better prepared to play an NHL season than Crombeen or Wilson right now, too.

[Mike]

Originally Posted by gatsby

I thought Kyle Wilson was on a 1-way? How is he on the bubble exactly?

The organization's ties to Wilson, who was a throw-in as part of the Lindback deal, are almost non-existent. The Lightning did Nashville, who (as I recall it being reported) wanted to be freed of his salary commitment, a favor taking him. With the Lightning were not pressed for cap space, the fact that he's on a one-way is a non-factor.

[gatsby]

Originally Posted by pete

Do you think a guy with 39 NHL games of experience who hasn't been playing during this lockout should be inked onto the roster, and guys like Killorn, Panik, or Johnson don't even deserve consideration for that roster spot?

Uhh...no? I don't think he's guaranteed a roster spot but that 1-way contract sure could come into play. I don't understand why he was part of the trade even as a throw in anyway.

[gatsby]

Originally Posted by Mike

The organization's ties to Wilson, who was a throw-in as part of the Lindback deal, are almost non-existent. The Lightning did Nashville, who (as I recall it being reported) wanted to be freed of his salary commitment, a favor taking him. With the Lightning were not pressed for cap space, the fact that he's on a one-way is a non-factor.

Makes sense then. I wasn't advocating Wilson. Pete just got upset for who knows why

[Shotblocker]

Really bummed we won't see JT Brown for awhile. I really liked him during his brief time last year.

[NoSpin]

Originally Posted by Shotblocker

Really bummed we won't see JT Brown for awhile. I really liked him during his brief time last year.

This. Kid was impressive in the little we have seen of him.

[sandalskate]

The Nhl Roster is pretty well set- with a few openings possibly, methinks- I'd like to see the top 2 or 3 forwards in Syracuse at camp with a legit chance to crack the line up- all up to Boosh though- who knows what he's thinking there? Looks like one spot on D, ASSUMING Bergeron, Mikkelson, and Lee make 5, 6, and 7.... Lecavalier, Purcell, Malone, Stamkos, St. Louis, Pouliot, Pyatt,Connolly, Crombeen, thompson, and Hall I Think are in- Which leaves one spot open on the fourth line. J.T. brown, TYrell (if healthy!), Wyman, and any viable skater from the AHL should compete hard for this spot- who really knows though- Boucher could Have something else in mind for his final roster- Glad we are talking about something besides the lockout, that's for schizzle.

[Coldrice]

Hey Pete, be interesting who gets held out of the SYR lineup... sneak peek?