The Tampa Bay Lightning are working out and trying to get back into game shape as the countdown to the season begins.
Some European players have decided not to come to Tampa, yet. There are quarantined in their own country and will make the trip to Tampa when training camp officially opens on July 10th.
Right now only six players are allowed on the ice at any one time with no coaches present.
There are also other safety protocols in place throughout every NHL arena. Face masks must be worn when not on the ice. Social distancing requirements are in effect.
The league is allowing teams to carry an unlimited number of goaltenders and 28 position players through the Stanley Cup playoffs.
There is no limit on the amount of goaltenders that you can carry on the roster.
We know most of the players that will be on the Lightning playoff roster.
Forwards: Nikita Kucherov,Steven Stamkos, Braydon Point, Ondrej Palat, Yanni Gourde, Tyler Johnson,Alex Killorn, Blake Coleman, Cedric Paquette, Barclay Goodrow, Pat Maroon, Mitchell Stephens, Anthony Cirelli.
Defense: Victor Hedman, Ryan McDonagh, Kevin Shattenkirk, Braydon Coburn, Jan Rutta, Zach Bogosian, Mikhail Sergachev, Luke Schenn, Erik Cernak,
The above roster consists of 22 players. 13 forwards, and nine (9) defensemen.
Goaltenders: Andrei Vasilevskiy, Curtis McElhinney, Scott Wedgewood, Spencer Martin.
So who are some of the other candidates that could sneak onto the Lightning’s 28 playoff team roster?
Here are a few names that Lightning fans will recognize.
Cal Foote: Foote was on pace to have his best season as a pro at Syracuse before the pandemic shut down the season. Foote had six goals and 22 assists in 62 games for the Crunch. Foote has played three years at Syracuse and is still only 21 years old.
Mathieu Joseph: In 37 games with the Lightning this season, Joseph had four goals and three assists. Joseph made the Lightning roster out of training camp and was a big contributor to the third and fourth lines. Joseph was up and down from Syracuse three times this season and was with the Crunch when the season was suspended.
Cory Conacher: According to Raw Charge, Conacher may be signing with a team in Switzerland.
Conacher posted on his Instagram story a photo from a training room of the Swiss team Lausanne HC. This could be an indication that Conacher intends to sign a contract with the Swiss team. Conacher registered 38 (14+24) points in 44 games with the Syracuse Crunch and one assist in four games with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Gemel Smith: Smith signed in the summer of 2019 played in three games with the Lightning scoring his first NHL goal against the Panthers on October 5th. Smith could add some depth to the Lightning fourth line.
Alex Barre-Boulet: Another highly touted prospect in the organization. Barre-Boulet has scored 61 goals in 134 with the Crunch the last two seasons with 124 points. Barre-Boulet would be in the NHL if not for the level of talent on the Lightning roster. He would scoring depth on the third and fourth lines.
Luke Witkowski: A big hard-hitting defensemen that didn’t take advantage of his opportunity early in the season and was sent to Syracuse. Witkowski also had a knack for taking some bad penalties. The Lightning may add him to the roster for depth on the blue line during the playoff run.
Cameron Guance: Another defenseman that could be needed to help the Lightning make a deep playoff run. Guance has three goals and six assists in 37 games in his career with the Lightning.
Alex Volkov: Did not overwhelm in his opportunity this season notching just one assist in nine games. He should have an opportunity to be one of the extra forwards when the season resumes.
