Pre-Game Talk: The 2023-2024 Tampa Bay Lightning Training Camp

[ccman68]

So has Tomkins outplayed Johansson in camp and pre-season?

Tomkins will make the team along with Johansson? If so who do you see winning that battle (assuming no G is claimed)?

johansson is probably supposed to be the starter but there’s still 3 games left so we should have a better idea soon. both have been good so far

 

[DistantThunderRep]

johansson is probably supposed to be the starter but there’s still 3 games left so we should have a better idea soon. both have been good so far

JJ Frankie JJ for sure is going to be the "starter" for the beginning of the season. Unless he completely craps the bed, its his to lose. He will end up being Vasy's backup when Vasy returns too.

 

[AndreRoy]

Okay, sure. Doesn't change that at his stage of his career, imo I'd ask my agent to facilitate a trade or waive me if that's all my future was with current team. Rather than wasting another year, I would attempt to see what I could do elsewhere, contract or not. His play so far has been good enough to be better than the 13th F anyway though, so it shouldn't come to that.

He's had, at most 15 games in any one stint in the NHL over the past 4 years, hardly enough if a chance to establish anything. I know he won't sit for 82 games, but only getting another quarter of a season or so isn't ideal for a player in his position. If he plays well enough, he should get an actual chance to develop some chemistry and get reasonable playing time in tbe top 12. One game and a rookie camp hasn't been enough to promote Merela over him imo.

And why on earth would the Lightning grant him that? Again, he would have been a group 6 UFA by now if he hadn’t chosen to sign a three-year deal with Tampa. The Lightning gave him millions of dollars over three years in exchange for guaranteeing his services for that period; if he turns out to be their best option for the 13th forward spot they would be fools to weaken their team by letting him go right when they’re finally about to receive some small return on that investment.

As previously stated ABB has had multiple opportunities to earn himself a better role, both with the Lightning and with Seattle; he also willingly chose the security of a longer-term contract over the freedom of earlier UFA status. He will uphold his side of that deal by filling whatever role the Lightning need him to fill for this season, and then after that he is free to go to whatever team will take him.

 

[aylib]

ABB looked good, was in his element.

 

[DFC]

For all my negativity on ABB, it would be amazing if he turned into a real player for us. We've lost a lot of guys in 3 years. Need to get back to times where we had diamonds in the rough popping up all over the place.

The thing that bodes well for ABB is the NHL appears to be leaning more and more into an open offensive game in the regular season (not so much in the playoffs, but guys secure their jobs in the reg season). He doesn't even need to be a big scorer to be successful, really. If he can be a middle-six tweener, 40ish points? I'd enjoy the crow.

 

[DFC]

JJ Frankie JJ for sure is going to be the "starter" for the beginning of the season. Unless he completely craps the bed, its his to lose. He will end up being Vasy's backup when Vasy returns too.

Really the opportunity of a lifetime for him. Hopefully we acquired him because we believe there's something to be unlocked, rather than, well, "he was there."

 

[DistantThunderRep]

Really the opportunity of a lifetime for him. Hopefully we acquired him because we believe there's something to be unlocked, rather than, well, "he was there."

What scares me is his early games, for some reason, I can't shake the feeling that he reminds me Lindback. Hopefully I am wrong.

 

[DFC]

What scares me is his early games, for some reason, I can't shake the feeling that he reminds me Lindback. Hopefully I am wrong.

lol, had that thought too, but based on his size.

 

[Sky04]

For all my negativity on ABB, it would be amazing if he turned into a real player for us. We've lost a lot of guys in 3 years. Need to get back to times where we had diamonds in the rough popping up all over the place.

The thing that bodes well for ABB is the NHL appears to be leaning more and more into an open offensive game in the regular season (not so much in the playoffs, but guys secure their jobs in the reg season). He doesn't even need to be a big scorer to be successful, really. If he can be a middle-six tweener, 40ish points? I'd enjoy the crow.

His footspeed doesn't nearly stand out as much as it did the other years, the guy beat Forsberg clean 2 games ago, not that Forsberg is a speedster but he's still a full time NHLer. The biggest thing that stands out about ABB to the other guys is his offensive ability to create, he has very good one touch passes to an open player, if you can put him with guys who can finish or get open he'll do fine.

 

[DistantThunderRep]

His footspeed doesn't nearly stand out as much as it did the other years, the guy beat Forsberg clean 2 games ago, not that Forsberg is a speedster but he's still a full time NHLer. The biggest thing that stands out about ABB to the other guys is his offensive ability to create, he has very good one touch passes to an open player, if you can put him with guys who can finish or get open he'll do fine.

I guess that's why they have been trying him with Stammer.

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

 

[Felonious Python]

 

[DistantThunderRep]

CIRELLI AND STAMMER AGAIN!!! DAMN IT COOP!

 

[JTBF81]

CIRELLI AND STAMMER AGAIN!!! DAMN IT COOP!

He just can't help himself lol. Hopefully, they roll with Stamkos-Paul-ABB eventually, but you know they'll have to try Stamkos-Cirelli again.

 

[ccman68]

idk why we even do these camps when cooper has already decided who is making the team before it even starts. we get it you want ABB on the roster. how about giving some young guys a chance with the big boys for even one game?

 

[DFC]

That's probably the line up.

 

[Stormbreaker]

Coop gonna Coop with Stamkos and Cirelli.

 

[Stammertime91]

Not sure how we will look but the forward group doesn't look as bad. I mean, sure it can be better but it's not horrid. Bottom six has a lot of potential. We know what the top six will be with 5/6 from last year. Only question mark is whoever plays on the 2nd line... will he help or neutralize it?

 

[DaBolts]

FWIW, I just read the NHL.com predictions. We are not predicted to do anything beyond making it as a wild card.

Good.

No pressure, no stress.

We get to play with house money now.

 

[Hoek]

I guess Coop doesn't trust Stammer at all defensively that's the only explanation I got for his obsession for pairing Cirelli with him

 

[Stammertime91]

I guess Coop doesn't trust Stammer at all defensively that's the only explanation I got for his obsession for pairing Cirelli with him

Bringing his numbers down for a better AAV.

 

[LightningStrikes]

Bringing his numbers down for a better AAV.

“What, you only had 60 points total and just 20 on ES. And we missed the playoffs (nice leadership btw). Here’s your $6.3M AAV!” - genius

 

[Sky04]

Sheary on the 2nd line.....oh boy.

 

[bov]

Merela won't be sitting in the press box as an extra, so with his non-waiver status and ABB seemingly in the opening night plans, it appears as though the 13th forward spot will come down to Fortier vs Watson.

 

[Renopucker]

Merela won't be sitting in the press box as an extra, so with his non-waiver status and ABB seemingly in the opening night plans, it appears as though the 13th forward spot will come down to Fortier vs Watson.

We got enough small potatoes. I'll take the meat.