Tampa Bay Lightning: Time to Address Several Positions in Draft's 2nd Day

JC De La Torre by Scribe Written on June 28, 2009
MONTREAL, QC - JUNE 27:  Richard Panik of the Tampa Bay Lightning poses for a portrait during the 2009 NHL Entry Draft at the Bell Centre on June 26, 2009 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.  (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

After drafting defenseman Viktor Hedman and Forward Carter Ashton on day one of the draft, the "Lightning", went back to work trying to replenish a minor league system that was short on talented forwards and goaltenders.

On day two, Tampa Bay took two wingers, two goalies and one defenseman to round out this year's class.

These capsules are courtesy of the excellent Damian Cristodero of the St. Petersburg Times :

Richard Panik

Pos: RW

Round (overall): 2 (52)

Age: 18

Ht/Wt: 6-2/203

Hometown: Martin, Slovakia

Details: He had ten goals and nineteen points in sixteen games for Trinec of the Czech elite league, and battled shoulder and knee injuries. Had two goals, five points in seven games for Slovakia at the world junior championship. Will play for OHL Windsor. Always ties his left skate before his right.

Player personnel director Jim Hammett: "He has a real set of hands with the puck; the kind of guy who can beat you at top speed in traffic."

-----------------------------

Alex Hutchings

Pos:LW

Round (overall): 4 (93)

Age: 18

Ht/Wt: 5-10/173

Hometown: Burlington, Ontario

Details:Led OHL Barrie with thirty eight points goals and sixty eight points and was plus-27. Said he overcomes size limitations with "a little bit of grit" and not being "afraid to go into the dirty areas." He is nicknamed "Mouth."

Player personnel director Jim Hammett: "For a guy who's not the biggest guy in the world, he adds an excellent compete level. He plays with a lot of sandpaper to his game."

--------------------------------

Michael Zador

Pos: G

Round (overall): 5 (148)

Age: 18

Ht/Wt: 6-11/2 /172

Hometown: Toronto

Details:The Lightning traded its fifth-round pick in 2010 to the Predators for the 148th pick. ... He was 5-12-1 with a 3.65 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage in 18 games after being acquired from OHL London. ... Says best attribute is quick feet.

Player personnel director Jim Hammett: "Zador is positionally steady, almost like table-top hockey. He moves back and forth."

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Jaroslav Janus

Pos: G

Round (overall): 6 (162)

Age: 19

Ht/Wt: 5-111/4/192

Hometown:Presov, Slovakia

Details:Was 25-20-4 with a 3.24 goals-against average, .908 save percentage and three shutouts in forty five games for OHL Erie. Played for Slovakia at the world junior championship.

Player personnel director Jim Hammett: "Janus has got a little bit of (Dominik) Hasek to him, a little more flipping and flopping; a pretty flexible kid."

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Kirill Gotovets

Pos: D

Round (overall): 7 (183)

Age: 18

Ht/Wt: 5-11/175

Hometown: Minsk, Belarus

Details:A rising senior at Minnesota Shattuck-St. Mary's High, Gotovets had six goals, twenty three assists and sixty six penalty minutes in fifty games as a junior. Has a four-year scholarship to Cornell.

Player personnel director Jim Hammett: "We really like his skill. He has the potential to be a really good puck mover and hopefully be a power-play guy for us."

 

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written on June 28, 2009 Sports

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