OCTOBER 8 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING 10-6-2 · 3RD IN EAST, ATLANTIC
10-6-2 · 3RD IN EAST, ATLANTIC
Lightning plan to evacuate to Raleigh ahead of Milton, season opener TAMPA BAY, Fla. - The Lightning have been forced to evacuate Tampa Bay before due to an approaching ...
Maxwell Crozier - Dropped to AHL Crozier was assigned to AHL Syracuse on Monday.
Impact Crozier provided four goals and 21 points in 49 AHL contests during the 2023-24 regular season before adding four assists in six playoff outings. He also had two helpers in 13 NHL regular-season appearances with the Lightning last campaign. Crozier could see more playing time with Tampa Bay in 2024-25, though most of his games will likely be in the minors.
OCTOBER 7 • ROTOWIRE
Andrei Vasilevskiy - Preseason game canceled Vasilevskiy and the Lightning won't face the Predators on Monday after their preseason matchup was canceled ahead of Hurricane Milton.
Impact The Lightning and Predators' game was originally set to be played Sept. 27 but was rescheduled on account of Hurricane Helene. Vasilevskiy will turn his focus to Friday's Opening Night clash with the Hurricanes, as he looks to extend his run of consecutive 30-win seasons to eight straight years.
OCTOBER 7 • ROTOWIRE
Michael Eyssimont - Making progress Eyssimont (lower body) could be ready for the start of the season according to coach Jon Cooper, Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times reports Sunday.
Impact Eyssimont has been dealing with a lower-body injury for a few weeks now, but he is close to full strength after shedding his non-contact jersey at Friday's practice. The 28-year-old will fill a bottom-six role with the Bolts when he's ready to go.
OCTOBER 7 • ROTOWIRE
Luke Glendening - Sheds non-contact jersey Glendening (undisclosed) practiced in a regular jersey Sunday, Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact Glendening has been limited for most of training camp due to an undisclosed injury, but he returned to practice in a non-contact jersey Friday. He increased his workload Sunday, and coach Jon Cooper said that he hopes Glendening will be available for Opening Night against Nashville on Monday. Even if Glendening is unable to suit up for the regular-season opener, it seems unlikely that he'll have a significant absence to begin the year.
OCTOBER 7 • ROTOWIRE
Conor Geekie - Sees workload increase in practice Geekie saw a bigger role as the right wing on the third line while also working with the second-team power-play unit during Sunday's practice session, Eduardo A. Encina of the Tamp...
Impact Geekie said Sunday that he hasn't yet been told whether he's made Tampa Bay's Opening Night roster, but he seems to be trending toward beginning the year with the Lightning following a solid camp. Coach Jon Cooper said that Geekie hasn't given the team any excuses to send him down, and he's impressed over the past few weeks. Geekie was suspended for Friday's preseason game against Carolina but will be available for the start of the regular season.
OCTOBER 7 • ROTOWIRE
Top 50 Right Now: Brayden Point | NHL.com Brayden Point ranked as the 16th-best player in the league
OCTOBER 7 • NHL.COM
Top 50 Right Now: Nikita Kucherov | NHL.com Nikita Kucherov is ranked as the 7th-best player in the league
OCTOBER 7 • NHL.COM
Steven Santini - Placed on waivers Santini was waived by the Lightning on Sunday, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.
Impact Santini competed for a roster spot with Tampa Bay during the preseason after joining the team on a two-way contract in July, but he'll be let go ahead of the regular season. If he clears waivers, he'll likely head to the AHL.
OCTOBER 6 • ROTOWIRE
Gage Goncalves - Heads to minors Goncalves (upper body) was assigned to AHL Syracuse on Sunday.
Impact The demotion of Goncalves suggests he should return soon from an injury he sustained during Tampa Bay's training camp. It wasn't part of the announcement from the Lightning, but the 23-year-old forward has to go through waivers before being sent down. He produced 13 goals and 58 points in 69 AHL games during the 2023-24 regular season.
OCTOBER 6 • ROTOWIRE
Jesse Ylonen - Cut from camp Ylonen was assigned to AHL Syracuse on Sunday.
Impact Even though it wasn't part of the announcement from the Lightning, Ylonen has to go through waivers before being sent down. He registered four goals and four assists in 59 games with Montreal during the 2023-24 regular season.
OCTOBER 6 • ROTOWIRE
Gabriel Szturc - Returned to minors Szturc was reassigned to AHL Syracuse on Sunday.
Impact Szturc compiled 33 goals and 83 points in 62 regular-season contests for WHL Kelowna in 2023-24. The 21-year-old forward will likely spend most, if not all, of the 2024-25 campaign in the minors.
OCTOBER 6 • ROTOWIRE
Dylan Duke - Dropped to AHL Duke was assigned to AHL Syracuse on Sunday.
Impact Duke didn't have a point in three regular-season appearances with Tampa Bay's top minor-league affiliate in 2023-24, but he recorded two assists in five playoff contests with the Crunch. The 21-year-old forward produced 26 goals and 49 points in 41 games for the University of Michigan last campaign before turning pro. He will probably spend most of 2024-25 in the minors.
OCTOBER 6 • ROTOWIRE
Steven Santini - Banks assist in loss Santini registered a secondary assist in Friday's 2-1 overtime preseason loss against Carolina.
Impact Santini last appeared in the NHL during the 2022-23 campaign with St. Louis. The 29-year-old was a second-round selection by the Devils in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. The right-shot blueliner produced 20 points in 64 regular-season contests with AHL Ontario in 2023-24.
OCTOBER 5 • ROTOWIRE
Brandon Hagel - Supplies assist Friday Hagel logged an even-strength assist in Friday's 2-1 overtime preseason loss to Carolina.
Impact Hagel will look to build off last season which was the most productive campaign of his NHL career. The 26-year-old generated 26 goals and 75 points while skating in all 82 regular-season contests. Hagel could be in store for another fruitful season -- the left-shot winger is set for a top-six role and a spot on No. 1 power-play unit.
OCTOBER 5 • ROTOWIRE
Anthony Cirelli - Scores Tampa Bay's lone goal Cirelli found the back of the net in Friday's 2-1 overtime exhibition loss to Carolina.
Impact In addition to scoring, Cirelli registered a plus-1 rating in 22:17 of ice time, the most of any Lightning forward. The 27-year-old will slot in on the second line while receiving power-play time in the coming campaign. Cirelli set career highs in goals (20) and points (45) in 2023-24.
OCTOBER 5 • ROTOWIRE
Andrei Vasilevskiy - Allows one in loss Vasilevskiy made 15 saves on 16 shots in Friday's 2-1 overtime loss in preseason action versus Carolina.
Impact Vasilevskiy appears ready to go ahead of the upcoming campaign -- the Russian netminder has stopped 36 of 39 shots in two exhibition contests. The Big Cat appears to be in store for another large workload this season since Tampa Bay does not have a well-established backup. The 30-year-old posted a .900 save percentage and 2.90 GAA in 2023-24, both career worsts for the two-time Stanley Cup winner.
OCTOBER 5 • ROTOWIRE
Logan Brown - Falls short of roster Brown signed an AHL-only contract with AHL Syracuse on Friday, indicating he has been released from his professional tryout with the Lightning, per PuckPedia.
Impact Brown dealt with an undisclosed injury late in camp, which likely hurt his chances of making the NHL roster. The 26-year-old forward's NHL rights are available for any team to sign.
OCTOBER 5 • ROTOWIRE
Matt Tomkins - On waivers The Lightning placed Tomkins on waivers Friday, per Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.
Impact During the 2023-24 regular season, Tomkins had a 3.33 GAA and a .892 save percentage in six games with Tampa Bay as well as a 2.53 GAA and a .904 save percentage across 29 appearances with AHL Syracuse. Andrei Vasilevskiy and Jonas Johansson are penciled in as Tampa Bay's starting and backup goaltenders, respectfully, so Tomkins is expected to head to the minors if he goes unclaimed. However, Tomkins might be recalled if Vasilevskiy or Johansson get hurt during the campaign.
OCTOBER 4 • ROTOWIRE
Luke Glendening - Practicing in non-contact jersey Glendening (undisclosed) is at practice Friday in a non-contact jersey, according to Gabby Shirley of Bally Sports Florida.
Impact Glendening has not been healthy since the start of training camp, but he is finally back on the ice. Glendening had 10 goals and one assist, along with 39 PIM, 121 hits and 53 blocked shots in 81 regular-season appearances last season. He is expected to center the fourth line, once he is healthy enough to return.
OCTOBER 4 • ROTOWIRE
Michael Eyssimont - Could be ahead of schedule Eyssimont (lower body) is wearing a regular jersey at practice Friday, Gabby Shirley of Bally Sports Florida reports.
Impact Eyssimont has been dealing with the injury since the start of training camp, and it was assumed that he would not be ready for Opening Night on Oct. 11 versus Carolina. With the start of the season still a week away, Eyssimont looks to be on track to start the season in the lineup, barring any setbacks. Eyssimont is expected to play on the third line, alongside Nick Paul and Conor Sheary, as well as seeing second power-play action.
OCTOBER 4 • ROTOWIRE
Andrei Vasilevskiy - In goal Friday Vasilevsky was the first goalie off Friday, Erik Erlendsson of LightningInsider.com reports, indicating he'll start in goal in the team's preseason road matchup against Carolina.
Impact Vasilevsky also drew the start during Wednesday's home exhibition matchup against the Panthers and turned aside 21 of 23 shots in an overtime loss. The 30-year-old enters the regular season as one of the top fantasy options at goaltender after he posted a 30-20-2 record, 2.90 GAA and .900 save percentage over 52 regular-season appearances last year.
OCTOBER 4 • ROTOWIRE
Gabriel Szturc - Recalled from AHL Syracuse Szturc was elevated from the minors Friday.
Impact Szturc will get his first taste of professional hockey this year after three seasons with WHL Kelowna. With the Rockets last season, the Czech center generated 33 goals and 50 assists in 62 regular-season contests while notching 12 points in 11 playoff appearances. While Szturc figures to suit up versus the Hurricanes on Friday, he likely remains a long shot to make the Bolts' Opening Night roster.
OCTOBER 4 • ROTOWIRE
NHL Drops the Hammer & Bans Lightning's Conor Geekie Conor Geekie broke a rule and got blasted with a ban by the NHL.
OCTOBER 4 • SACBEE.COM
Lightning's Geekie suspended 1 preseason game | NHL.com NEW YORK -- Tampa Bay Lightning forward Conor Geekie has been suspended for one preseason game for violating Rule 70.2 (leaving the bench on...
OCTOBER 3 • NHL.COM
