Équipe: 2021-22 Lightning de Tampa Bay

Date de création initiale: 21 oct. 2021

Publié: 19 janv. 2022

Mode - plafond salarial: Basique

We are 41 games into the season, so that means it's time!

Previous assessment: https://www.capfriendly.com/armchair-gm/team/2742636

Explanation of Tiers:
- LW: I believe they can be part of a 23 man NHL roster in the future.
- C: Coin flip as to whether they will belong in the LW or RW column.
- RW: They need to find another gear in their development to see NHL games, but possess enough talent to the point where it's possible.
- LD: Top out at the AHL/ECHL level. It is still possible to get to the NHL, but they really need to find some extra gears.
- RD: Have not seen enough of them to make a judgement. Probably would fall in RW or LD column.

Graduates:
- Taylor Raddysh
- Boris Katchouk

Misc. Thoughts:
- Koepke is the standout from the first half of the season. Maybe our best prospect. Good on offense and defense, and almost all of his point-per-game production with Syracuse has come at even-strength.
- Semkyin is still in the "Max AHLer" column, but he has looked noticeably improved from last season when he was with Syracuse (but last year looked bad).
- Green is looking like a good AHLer at this point, but he can probably still make it to the NHL in a similar way Ben Thomas eventually made it.
- Goalie situation is interesting. Alnefelt was disappointing to start the season, and Miftakhov has been noticeably better. Alnfelt feels "too big to fail" in the Lightning system. Given time, they'll likely both serve as Vasy's backup.
- An early season injury for Somppi derailed the beginning part of his season, but he has found his groove lately.
- Ryfors was having struggles early in the AHL season, but has looked better recently. Upside is the main question now.
- I feel confident enough to move Crozier and Pylenkov from "Not Enough Info" to "Fringer NHLer" for now.
- Capone is back to "not enough info". He's played on UConn's top line and bottom line, and everywhere in-between, at times this season and put up good and bad numbers at times in both roles.
- Walker has regressed offensively at face-value scoring at Minnesota this season. And he has been replaced at the top of the forward lines at times. Not an encouraging sign, but not a nail in the coffin by any means.
- Goncalves had a hot streak early, but has gone ice cold on scoring. He still looks good on the ice. Mainly playing LW... Wish they'd let him play center.
- Tufto has been unlucky. He was injured to start this season and never really got the ice-time he needed to settle in. He immediately became Orlando's top offensive threat over a 3 game stint but will probably see action in Syracuse starting tonight after Hudon was called up to the taxi squad. As a 25-year-old he needs to be lighting up the AHL sooner rather than later.
- Niko Huuhtanen is the name to keep an eye on. He still needs to round out his game, but his shot is a legit asset.
- Jack Thompson appreciation thought

Separate Thought:
- I thought about re-adding Barre-Boulet, but there's no graduate school here. When you graduate you are out. I still think he'll make it somewhere in the NHL eventually.