Lightning Draft Review

The annual draft is a time for tears of joy for many young aspiring pro hockey players who are looking to have their dreams come true.  The Tampa Bay Lightning and GM Justin Hill had the great pleasure of completing the first step in this process for six young players.  In total four forwards (2 RW's, 1 LW, and 1 C), and two defensemen.  

Before the draft, GM Hill took a calculated risk by trading their 1st round pick for a couple 2nds and a 3rd then proceeded to move a 3rd for a 2nd in next year’s entry draft.  These moves were made by the incredibly rare draft where there were two years of draft eligible players available.  This allowed them to select 3 players in the 2nd round when each of those players were 1st round picks in their respective NHL entry draft years.  

The first of these players is right winger, Alex Tuch who is currently playing in the NCAA for Boston College and a draft pick of the Minnesota Wild.  Tuch is a big physical winger who has the talent to go along with his 6"4" frame.  He is expected to be a top six winger but with his size, should make for a solid bottom six players regardless. 

Next in line was super skilled but somewhat questionable in the character column, right winger Josh Ho-Sang.  Ho-Sang is an offensive dynamo and in his draft year, was considered one of the most skilled players available.  His character has always been the issue when evaluating Ho-Sang.  Tampa Bay is hoping that with the seasoned team of player development that they have, Ho-Sang will be able to make headlines for this skill then his off ice issues.  

The next pick was made on a two-way center named Nick Schmaltz.  Many scouts in the scouting world think all agree that Schmaltz will make the professional ranks, but they are split on whether he will be a top six guy or bottom six guy.  He shows flashes of fantastic skill but his concerns arise with consistency.  

In the 3rd round, The Lightning took two offensive minded defensmen in Vince Dunn and Mitch Vande Sompel.  Both have been invited to team Canada’s WJC summer camp.  Dunn is a little on the small side for an NHL defensemen, but it’s hard not to get excited about a defensemen with his type of skill and enthusiasm for the game.  Similar to a young PK Subban, Dunn might need to have his enthusiasm tamed slightly because he tends to get too excited and get off his game.  With that said he is an offensive defenseman but is no slouch in the defensive zone.  Dunn has a chance to make the Canadian roster for the upcoming WJC which will be a perfect stage for Dunn to display his talents and prove to the world that Dunn could be one of the best 2nd rounder’s picked.

With their second pick in the 3rd round, Tampa Bay took defensemen Mitch Vande Sompel. "Vande Sompel is a very tantalizing player that reminds me of Brent Burns because of his ability to play both forward and defense, especially on the power play", Hill commented.  

In the 6th round and the final pick that GM Hill made, he selected left winger, Daniel Carr.  Daniel Carr was signed out of the NCAA by the Montreal Canadians in the NHL.  He went on to lead the AHL in goals for a rookie with 24 while providing similar play to Brendan Gallagher in that he has a never ending motor which will drive opposing goalies crazy.  

Overall this draft has potential to add a number of talented players to the Lightning roster within a couple of years.  All the picks added to the depth of the Lightning prospects which then in turn can be used as trade bait to improve a team that missed the players last year by only a few points.