The Lightning’s next prospect showcase is on the calendar, and this one will send Tampa Bay’s young players to Raleigh.
The Carolina Hurricanes announced their Prospect Showcase dates a couple of days ago, and the joint practice sessions and scrimmages are set for September 13-15. The event will include prospects from the Hurricanes, Lightning, and Nashville Predators. The Florida Panthers, who are usually part of the group, are not taking part this season.
Tampa Bay is scheduled to face Nashville on Monday and Carolina on Tuesday. Both games will start at 2:00 PM.
No broadcast details have been released yet, though these matchups are typically streamed on the host team’s website. Last year’s showcase, which Tampa Bay hosted, was streamed on the team website and aired locally on The Spot, Channel 66.
More information, along with the rosters, is expected toward the end of August.
There are usually limits on who can suit up for these events. Last season, eligibility was restricted to players under 24 with fewer than 20 NHL games played, though exceptions can be made if all participating teams agree. These rosters are usually loaded with CHL talent and younger AHL players, and the NCAA’s relaxed eligibility rules for these showcases could give the Lightning a chance to bring in some college prospects, so long as it does not interfere with their offseason schedules.
Most of the recent draft picks should be in the mix, and Benjamin Rautiainen would not be a surprise as an exception to the usual European prospect pattern. With the Lightning not ruling him out as someone who could still make a push for an NHL roster spot, the showcase would be a useful chance for him to show what he can do on North American ice.
The Lightning will dress 18 skaters and 2 goaltenders for each game, and there is always some intrigue around whether the club fills out the group with invitees. Last season, defenseman Maddox Labre and goaltender Anders Miller were included after taking part in post-draft development camp earlier that summer.
Both are now playing NCAA hockey. Earlier this summer, Tampa Bay also brought in a group of invitees that included Patrick Maroon’s son Anthony Thomas-Maroon and goaltender Danick Leroux.
These showcases are the last stop before training camp, which means hockey is getting close again.
Elsewhere, Jason spoke with Matt Savage of Mission Control Hockey about expansion to Houston on the latest Backchecking the Bolts podcast.
Florida Hockey Now graded the Lightning’s offseason moves in the Atlantic and gave Tampa Bay a B+.
Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped by a Lightning youth goalie camp, and NHL.com included Victor Hedman on its Top 20 defensemen list.
Canada won gold at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup after routing Team USA, 8-1, on Saturday.
The Kings will retire Anze Kopitar’s No. 11 on February 24 before their game against the Montreal Canadiens.
The Athletic’s annual fan survey found that 62% of respondents are not concerned about blackouts, 48% stream games, and 30% ever listen on the radio.
And the Penguins signed Ville Koivunen to an eight-year, $4 million AAV extension that buys out his first four UFA seasons, making him the only Penguin under contract beyond the 2029-30 season.