I thought I'd be burnt out of hockey after 2 Cups in <12 months, but I'm excited for the season. My expectations are not 3peat, but I'm excited to see how we change things up now that we've lost the Gourdrowman line. This is likely Palat or Killorn's final season with us, so, I'll enjoy watching them. Plus Kuch is healthy and Olympic hockey in February!

#Bolts morning skate lines & D-pairings #NSHvsTBL:Killorn-Cirelli-StamkosHudon-Dumont-BarreBouletKatchouk-Ryfors-RaddyshElement-Morand-KoepkeMcDonagh-CernakClaesson-BogosianDay-ThompsonElliott & Miftakhov

— Bryan Burns (@BBurnsNHL) September 30, 2021

We managed a decent lineup for tonight.
All the main suspects trying to make a roster spot are playing too.

Wonder when the big 4 get a game? I suspect Vasy will play no more than 2 preseason games with the workload he gets, but you never know

Gotta be wary of the Olympics too with Vasy. He's gonna play every game for Russia. I think Elliot is going to get a few more games than McE did.

I haven't been watching til now. Is Elliot another McElhinney?

He's let a few in, but tbh the quality is so bad I can't really tell if it's that bad or not. Miftakhov in now

You watching after clicking the "Watch More Lightning Videos" button?

It does seem like Carolina's stream was a bit better quality.

Wasn't on Tampa's website when I turned it on. Watching on Nashville's. It's a little bit worse than Tuesday, but not a ton

It isn't very important to win these games, but it would be nice to get more than 3 goals in 2 games

Yeah, pretty bad effort to my eyes tonight. Nobody really impressed.

I wasn't fully paying attention, but from what I saw nobody played well. Usually even if a team has a really bad game there is at least one player who stands out. Stamkos got a lot of shots (I think), but that's about as close of a option as I can come up with

Game groups for tonight’s preseason matchup between the #Bolts and Canes. Kucherov, Hedman, Maroon, Palat and more all making their debuts tonight. #CARvsTBL pic.twitter.com/zJpPKqWVsJ

— Bryan Burns (@BBurnsNHL) October 1, 2021

3 of 4 tonight.

That's only 2

Point, Kuch, Hedman?

Sorry. Didn't click the link. Only saw the names you listed

Maroon is one of the big 4. Didn't you know :-P

Pregame #TBLightning line rushesPalat-Point-KucherovMaroon-Bellmare-PerryFortier-Goncalves-CajkovicDureau-Somppi-KoepkePregame #GoBolts D rushesHedman-RuttaSergachev-GreenCrawley-Thompson

— Lightning Insider (@Erik_Erlendsson) October 1, 2021

Finally get to see Goncalves at center.

I found out yesterday that I work with a guy who went to school with him. So invested in his success now :-D

I hope Fortier-Goncalves-Cajkovic is a line in Syracuse this season.

Fortier scored 6 goals with the Crunch in 30 games last season. He has scored 3 tonight. Wow.

BB, Raddysh, and Katchouk have competition for making the team.
Fortier, Goncalves, and Somppi all made their cases tonight.

Fort Gabe FTW!

No way Goncalves makes the team

He needs a year in the AHL, but you know Cooper is telling the group fighting for a roster spot that played Thursday that tonight's group looked much better than them.

Lagace, Somppi, Walcott on waivers, likely in advance of getting sent to AHL Syracuse camp https://t.co/vlBalK5LA3

— Joe Smith (@JoeSmithTB) October 2, 2021

First batch of Bolts who have to clear waivers. I think only Sam Montembeault has been claimed from anyone so far this season (recall he was a Crunch goalie last season). I doubt Somppi is a waiver risk, but you can guarantee whoever misses out on a roster spot of the main 3 candidates will be claimed if Somppi is.