Welcome back.

It’s time to kick off Daily Faceoff’s second annual NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown, looking at the best all 32 teams have to offer. We’re highlighting the top 10 prospects for every franchise, their biggest strengths and weaknesses and so much more.

The criteria for being labeled a “prospect” are simple: players generally have to have played in 50 or fewer NHL games or spent more time outside of the NHL than in it last year. Skaters over 23 years old are not included, with goaltenders needing to be 25 or under.

Today, we’re looking at the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Let’s just keep it simple: the Tampa Bay Lightning have one of the worst pipelines in hockey.

It’s not a surprise to anyone. The team’s pursuit of success has left them high and dry, with so little going for them on the prospect front. They’ve traded as many draft picks as way as any team in the league, and while it’s been a few years since they’ve been a legitimate Stanley Cup threat, they’re still in the hunt as it is.

The biggest improvement to the pipeline over the past year was the acquisition of Conor Geekie in the Mikhail Sergachev trade. Geekie previously was one of Arizona/Utah’s top prospects, and now he’s got a realistic chance of gunning for an NHL spot after ripping up the WHL. But after that? There isn’t a single prospect that’s close to making a serious push toward an NHL spot sooner rather than later.

So, let’s cut to the chase.

Biggest Strengths

I guess the biggest strength is that they have a prospect with serious top-six potential: Geekie. If it weren’t for the Sergachev trade, it would have been significantly worse. But if Geekie never really develops into the player many think he can, then… well… it’s bleak. I think Isaac Howard can be a decent middle-six scorer, but even that’s not a sure thing. Wait… this isn’t really sounding like much of a strength, huh?

Biggest Weakness

There’s plenty, but, most notably, there isn’t a defenseman in the system I like. Not one. Roman Schmidt is the one with the most promise and I’m not sure there’s much there. Eamon Powell could end up going unsigned after a fifth year of college, too. At that point, they’ve got AHLers at best, or maybe one or two guys that’ll play a game as a callup. You might not need much defensive help when you’ve got Victor Hedman locked down like they do, but I hope they address that at the draft next year.

Fast Facts:
NHL GM: Julian BriseBois
Dir. of Amateur Scouting: Rick Pracey
Senior Dir. of Player Development: Kalle Larsson
AHL Affiliate: Syracuse Crunch
ECHL Affiliate: Fort Wayne Komets

*Conor Geekie (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)*

TOP 10 PROSPECTS

1. Conor Geekie, C, 20 (Tampa Bay Lightning)

Acquried: Drafted 11th overall, first round in 2022

Geekie was a big piece of the trade that sent Mikhail Sergachev to Utah – someone who looks like a serious NHL threat. He had 99 points in just 55 WHL games between Wenatchee and Swift Current and even skated in a pair of games with the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners to close out the season. Now, he’s set to challenge for a spot on the Bolts, a team that won’t likely give him the same opportunities to earn ice time as Utah would have, but he’ll be surrounded by better players and be in a more competitive environment. I wouldn’t be surprised if he spent time in Syracuse, but at 6-foot-4 and with his pure skill, I have no doubt that he’ll do what it takes to start the year in the NHL.

2. Isaac Howard, LW, 20 (Michigan State University, NCAA)

Acquired: Drafted 31st overall, first round in 2022

Howard had an excellent year at MSU, averaging a point per game in his first season at MSU. He struggled at Minnesota-Duluth last year, but he quickly regained his status as one of Tampa Bay’s most valuable prospects thanks to his dynamic offensive talent this year. Howard has an excellent shot, something he put on display often at the World Juniors en route to a gold with USA. He was a bit more of a playmaker in college, but I do think he has the overall pro skillset that would allow him to thrive in the AHL once he finishes school. I’m just happy to see him have a great year last year because he’s a talented player who can put everything together when he’s at the top of his game.

3. Ethan Gauthier, RW, 19 (Drummondville, QMJHL)

Acquired: Drafted 37th overall, second round in 2023

*Ethan Gauthier (Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports)*

If we’re being truthful to ourselves, Gauthier was one of the only QMJHL players that was worth keeping a super close eye on last year. He saw a modest increase of just two points in Drummondville, but he set a new personal best with 36 goals and continued his trademark aggressive play. You see a player with a real pro hockey future; he loves to hit, score, and get in your face. I expect him to play deeper in a lineup, but he’ll be excellent at that because he’s got the energy and scoring touch you love to see from guys who might not be near the top of the skill spectrum.

4. Niko Huuhtanen, RW, 21 (Syracuse, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 224th overall, seventh round in 2021

The Bolts must have seen something in Huuhtanen, the last player taken in the 2021 NHL Draft. Since then, he has managed to put up 76 points in 100 Liiga games, which is incredible for someone his age. He also had three points in four Euro Hockey Tour games, but ultimately wasn’t named to the mens roster. The fact he has managed to hit the ground running as a pro is a great sign, especially as a 6-foot-2, 200-pound forward who likes to muscle people out of the way. The biggest thing for Huuhtanen is he isn’t a quick skater, but he has enough qualities to suggest he’ll be a middle-six threat.

5. Gage Goncalves, C, 23 (Syracuse, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 62nd overall, second round in 2020

Goncalves has put up two incredibly productive AHL seasons in a row and even saw his first two games of NHL action failing to register a point. I like that he plays with an edge and isn’t worried about matching up against anyone. He’s so feisty and entertaining to watch, and I think he proved himself well enough in Syracuse to earn more than just a handful of NHL games. The fact he can score and is willing to get aggressive out there makes him interesting as a potential bottom-six option if the Bolts want to give him a more extended look.

6. Jack Finley, C, 21 (Syracuse, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 57th overall, second round in 2020

*Jack Finley (Steven Ellis/The Leafs Nation)*

At 6-foot-6 and 223 pounds, it’s easy to understand Finley’s appeal. He is a big, mean forward who isn’t afraid to get in the way of shots and take lanes away. Finley saw his offense jump up 11 points to 13 goals and 32 points in 52 games this past year, and I liked how much more willing he was to shoot from different angles and expand his creativity. I still think he has to do more to prove he’s an all-around player, but the pure muscle mass gives him a chance.

7. Dylan Duke, C, 21 (Syracuse, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 126th overall, fourth round in 2021

Duke is fresh off his junior campaign with the University of Michigan Wolverines, scoring a career-high 26 goals and 49 points in 41 games. Duke had an impressive 54 goals and 100 points in 123 games with Michigan over his career, good for 12th in the NCAA for points over the past three years. The Bolts drafted Duke 126th overall in 2021. At the time, he wasn’t special in any specific category, but he brought a decent mix of speed, hockey sense, and physicality for someone standing at just 5-10. Since heading to college, Duke has ironed out his skills a bit to the point where scouts feel more confident in him being an NHLer in the long run, but he’ll need some extended time with Syracuse to catch up to speed.

8. Hugo Alnefelt, G, 23 (HV71, SHL)

Acquired: Drafted 71st overall, third round in 2019

*Hugo Alnefelt (Steven Ellis/The Leafs Nation)*

Has the ship sailed for Alnefelt? The Bolts still own his rights, but he’s headed back home to play for HV71 in Sweden in 2024-25. He didn’t have a bad year for Syracuse last year, but he hasn’t really shown much improvement over the past three years, either. At a certain point, something has to change, especially regarding consistency. I’ve seen some games where he’s been absolutely lights out, and others where it looks like the lights are blinding him and he can’t track the puck to save his life. Maybe a good year in Sweden will help spark things up again for him.

9. Joona Saarelainen, C, 18 (KalPa, Finland)

Acquired: Drafted 149th overall, fifth round in 2024

Saarelainen was one of my favorite Finnish prospects this year. He worked so hard to win battles, which he had to do often as a 5-foot-9 winger. Saarelainen didn’t put up explosive numbers at the U-18s, but he rarely had an off period and was the one that most often brought the energy on the top line. I can see him being one of the smaller guys who carve a role in the NHL. It helps that he was one of the best players at the World Junior Summer Showcase, too.

10. Jayson Shaugabay, RW, 19 (University of Minnesota-Duluth, NCAA)

Acquired: Drafted 115th overall, fourth round in 2023

Speaking of young guys, I think Shaugabay could legitimately be something at some point. Sure, he’s 5-foot-9, but he’s a crafty playmaker who sees the ice as well as anyone out there. I liked his energy at the World Junior Summer Showcase, and while he’s a longshot to make the team, I thought he did a good job of cutting through the middle to drive the net. Shaugabay will need to take a big step forward in his freshman NCAA season but I think he’s got the raw talent to keep himself in the prospect conversation for a few years.

Other prospects: Milo Roelens, C (21), Gabriel Szturc, C (20), Maxim Groshev, RW (22), Lukas Svejkovsky, C (22), Jaydon Dureau, LW (23), Hagen Burrows, RW (18), Joe Connor, LW (19), Kaden Pitre, C (18), Noah Steen, LW (19), Lucas Edmonds, RW (23), Jack Harvey, C (21), Ethan Hay, C (19), Connor Kurth, RW (21), Klavs Veinbergs, C (21), Cooper Flinton, LW (20), Nick Capone, RW (22), Jan Golicic, LHD (18), Warren Clark, RHD (19), Alex Gagne, LHD (21), Daniil Pylenkov, LHD (23), Dyllan Gill, RHD (20), Roman Schmidt, RHD (21), Harrison Meneghin, G (19)