News

Name: Max Crozier
Position: Defenseman
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 195 lbs.
Shoots: Right
Club: Sioux Falls (USHL)

The Lightning keep to pattern by spending a mid-round pick on overage prospect Max Crozier out of the USHL. The late blooming 19 year old is committed to Providence College and, after being passed over last year, made significant strides this past year. With excellent mobility and a decent skillset as an offensive-minded defenseman, Crozier had been a classic "tools but no toolbox" player until things started to click the second half of this year. He also possesses a decent-sized frame and strength and has a penchant for mixing it up in scrums. Ranked Red Line Report's #5 mid-round sleeper worth a look, he had 10 goals and 43 points with the Stampede this year.

Pros:
- Should be in a good developmental spot with Providence next year
- Good mobility
- Above average skillset, especially on the power play
- Not a shrinking violet in scrums

Cons:
- Consistency has been an issue throughout his career as well as focus
- Has a tendency to play undisciplined physically and can get baited into bad penalties

Projection:
-Interesting bottom four two-way defenseman project

Name: Maxim Cajkovic
Position: Right Wing
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 185 lbs.
Shoots: Right
Club: Saint John (OMJHL)

The Lightning take a high risk/reward prospect with once touted Slovakian winger Maxim Cajkovic. Coming into the year he was anticipated to be a first rounder but he slid after struggling badly in his adjustment to Canadian junior hockey. He has a great shot and good speed, but struggled mightily on a bad team. Didn't react well to adversity and got himself banished to the press box as a healthy scratch early in the campaign. The talent is there, but the attitude and coachability are a concern.

Pros:
- Excellent shot
- Good skater
- Lottery pick skill level

Cons:
- Poor developmental environment in Saint John
- Attitude and mental toughness to deal with adversity are a question

Projection:
- Scoring line winger in the NHL... or the KHL

Name: Hugo Alnefelt
Position: Goaltender
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 183 lbs.
Catches: Left
Club: HV-71 J20 (SWE Jr.)

For the second straight year the Lightning get a moldable piece of clay out of the Swedish junior ranks for Frantz Jean to work with. In this case, lanky and athletic netminder Hugo Alnefelt from HV-71's program. Alnefelt led Sweden's U-18 club to gold this past season and ended up ranked second by NHL CSS among European backstops. Currently, Alnefelt relies on his size and positioning to make himself big and allow pucks to hit him. Timing has been questioned and he has a tendency to go down in his stance too soon and his rebound control is very subpar. The tools are there, though. Enough so that some in the scouting community feel Alnefelt projects as a future backup who can spot as a NHL starter if pressed into service.

Pros:
- Excellent size and athleticism
- Calm in his positioning
- One of the younger goaltenders in this draft class with time to develop

Cons:
- Unpolished raw material
- Struggles with timing and goes down too early at times
- Rebound control is poor and needs a defense that is good at clearing his front porch

Projection:
- NHL backup

TAMPA BAY – The Tampa Bay Lightning have acquired a conditional first-round pick in 2020, a third-round selection in 2019 (71st overall) and goaltender Marek Mazanec from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for forward J.T. Miller.

Should the Canucks not make the playoffs in 2019-20, the first-round selection will move to the 2021 draft.