Lightning Want More Scorers on the Farm

In an article in today's St. Pete Times, Lightning General Manager Jay Feaster acknowledges that lack of firepower was a main reason the Springfield Falcons struggled as the Lightning's affiliate.

"We need to find some goal scorers," Feaster told the Times. "Even if they're not immediately going to be big-time goal scorers here they can be big-time goal scorers down there and give us that organizational depth."

Damian Cristodero, the article's author, suggests this may be a mult-year project. Head scout Jake Goertzen told the newspaper this year's draft is believed to be generally shallow. He said the greatest talent will be available in 2008.

Goertzen said the team would not pass up a stud at another position but agreed, "We must upgrade our skill and scoring."

The Lightning were in this position two years ago when they focused on addressing the need for skill and scoring at the 2005 draft, but ended up taking behemoth defenseman Vladimir Mihalik in the first round. The Lightning's next six picks were skilled players, and though at the time Feaster said, "Of our top four picks, we would've been happy taking any of them with our 30th overall pick," Mihalik made it three straight years Tampa Bay took a defenseman with their first pick.

The first skater the Lightning took in the 2006 draft was also a defenseman, albeit an offensive-minded defenseman in Kevin Quick.

Back to the 2005 draft, Feaster’s attempt to upgrade the skill in the lower portions of the organization included Kingston (OHL) sniper Radek Smolenak in the third round (73rd overall), Sault Ste. Marie C/W Chris Lawrence in the third (89), Owen Sound two-way winger Marek Bartanus in the fourth (92), Moose Jaw center Blair Jones in the fourth (102), Chicoutimi playmaker Stanislav Lascek in the fifth (133), and Saginaw scoring winger Marek Kvapil in the sixth (163).

At the end of the day, Feaster had traded a future second round pick to obtain enough selections to take these six skill guys. The farm was in desperate need of this infusion of talent as the previous handful of drafts were filled with a few late-round hopefuls such as Justin Keller or Zbynek Hrdel, and first day flops such as Mark Tobin and Adam Henrich.

Superior skill players are taken early in the draft and the Lightning has either been behind the 8-ball drafting at the bottom of the first round (once due to a championship any team would take the trade-off for and once because they were the first ball taken out of the Sidney Crosby lottery), the team didn't have a first, second, or third round pick because of trades, or the club devoted early picks to shoring up the future defense and goaltending with the notion that these are the hardest positions to fill via trade or free agency. Because this defense/goaltending strategy, however, what skill there is on the farm today is from late round picks or first day picks that are rookies.

It shouldn't be a surprise forwards have struggled to score for Springfield.

While one could expect a few guys would excel as rookie professionals, AHL clubs need quality leadership to help them along and the Lightning has struggled to get this from their 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003 draftees at forward. Some of the blame can be laid at the feet of former GM Rick Dudley, who in 2000 and 2001 made a point to draft overseas prospects who either haven’t made the trip over or weren’t worthy of making the trip. Additional "fault" lies in players such as Nick Tarnasky (2003), Ryan Craig (2002), and Paul Ranger (2002) making the NHL club.

As a result of many of these factors, the accumulation of skill on the farm really only goes back to 2005’s draft, where skill was distinctly made a priority.

A closer look at the development of the 2005s:

Smolenak, after scoring 42 goals and 84 points to go along with 109 points in his last year of junior with Kingston, has split the year between Johnstown and Springfield. Though Smolenak has done relatively well in the ECHL (13-12-25 in 32 games), he has struggled as a rookie with Springfield (one assist in 20 games).

Lawrence does not have a professional contract, though will likely enter the AHL mix next season after a breakout 47-goal, 88-point season with Mississauga this year.

Bartanus showed some promise in the playoffs last year and early season this year, but has played himself out of a professional contract – barring a huge surprise from Tampa Bay.

Jones is already in the NHL after being one of the youngest members of the Falcons. Jones was not lighting it up in Springfield by any means (5-16-21 in 45 games), but showed enough two-way ability to be called-up. Jones may stay with Tampa instead of going to the AHL next year.

Lascek racked up 135 points after being drafted and was expected to bring an immediate power play presence to Springfield, but he has struggled to hold quality ice time in the AHL. He’s had very few problems in the ECHL, putting up point-per-game numbers.

Kvapil was impressive as a first year pro last season, coming on late to finish with 18 goals and 27 assists in a full season with the Falcons. Big things were expected of him this season as he learned to be a complete player, but he has a disappointing 12 goals and 27 total points.

The other notable is 2004's Keller, who is completing his first full professional season after leading the WHL in goals last year. Keller has managed to stay in the AHL all season, but has battled the speed of the game and injuries while showing flashes of what he’s expected to bring to the organization.

Although Feaster is certainly correct, there needs to be more skill in the organization, it is also extremely important for the first wave of skill guys, the current crop of forwards in their first or second professional season, to accelerate their development. In terms of drafting, Tampa hasn’t taken a skilled forward in the first round since Alex Svitov in 2001. That won’t change unless Feaster replenishes his first rounder via trade, but he must make a point to take the most skilled player available with his first, if not first few picks of the 2007 draft.