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Defense, goaltending main strengths for Tampa Bay Lightning Photo: Richard Panik (14) is one of several talented forwards the Tampa Bay Lightning have in their minor league system. (Minas Panagiotakis/Icon SMI) It seems that, as a general manager, Steve Yzerman can do no wrong. In his first year as the Tampa Bay Lightning's GM, Yzerman made a number of shrewd moves that helped put the team into the playoffs, and while they finished outside of the playoffs this past season, Yzerman has continued to build a winning system. Distinct Russian flavor in Tampa Bay Lightning’s 2012-13 prospect preview Photo: With a deep pool of goaltending talent in the AHL, Dustin Tokarski will have a challenge maintaining his starter status. (Fred Kfoury/Icon SMI) The Tampa Bay Lightning have a number of prospects playing at different levels and in different leagues this season, and with one of the top prospect pools in the league, there are a number of notable names in this year's Prospect Preview. Andrey Vasilevskiy tops Tampa Bay Lightning’s 2012 Fall Top 20 Selected 19th overall, Andrey Vasilevskiy is the first goaltender the Lightning have drafted in the first round since 2006. (Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images) While Tampa Bay Lightning GM Steven Yzerman made a number of shrewd moves with the team's NHL roster over his first two seasons as general manager, his best work perhaps has come through building the team's prospect depth. Tampa Bay Lightning 2012 draft review Photo: Drafted 40th overall in 2012, defenseman Dylan Blujus brings a combination of size, physicality, and offensive ability to the Tampa blue line. (Ian Altenbaugh/HF)
Tampa Bay Lightning GM Steve Yzerman addressed the short term needs of his team with his first three picks, selecting two defenders and a goaltender. True to form for the third year Lightning GM, there was no shying away from riskier picks and the "KHL factor" was largely ignored. Video: 2012 NHL Draft – Slater Koekkoek, Tampa Bay Lightning Photo: Tampa Bay Lightning top pick Slater Koekkoek, currently playing for the OHL's Peterborough Petes, receives his jersey and hat from current Lightning GM and former Pete Steve Yzerman (courtesy of Jeanine Leech/Icon SMI)
In what was a popular theme for this year's NHL Draft crop, the Tampa Bay Lightning selected with their top pick one of the prospects that missed a great deal of the 2011-12 season due to an injury. |
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