It seems like an awful lot of pressure riding on the suited gentlemen who has the rank of “General Manager” inscribed on his office door. This year the weight of Tampa’s draft day choices rests upon the shoulders of Brian Lawton – draft rookie.
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Some think that calling Brian a rookie is a tad harsh considering he has watched this day come and go many times during his 14 year tenure as a player agent, this being on top of his own experience of first overall selection by Minnesota in the 1983 entry draft. With the hope of being named among the NHL GM elite, and the risk of falling among the forgotten, all the angles Brian has worked in the past will not fully prepare him for the choices he is about to make. I would like to extend my helping hand to Mr. Lawton during this gut-wrenching time.
Current Need
When reviewing the 2008-2009 season statistics for the Bolts, their strength up the middle of the ice is quickly identified. But with only two wingers crossing the 20 point mark (and three over 15), a focus on depth of offensive skill on the wing should take top priority.
Tampa’s need for defensive leadership and direction also goes without question. The Lightning ranked 27th in the league for Goals Against Average (3.28) and 28th for Shots Against Average (32.9). Tampa may be able to fill some of their defensive holes with a couple promising prospects on their AHL affiliate Norfolk Admirals, but a second round D-man should be in the cards.
Future Need
With Tampa aiming to keep salaries in the $45 million ballpark, they outside of the top teams to experience cap woes. But with $28 million invested in five players over the next three seasons, Mr. Lawton will need to keep the projected salary of any drafted players in mind.
2009 Draft
Tampa currently holds the second overall pick, an additional two in the second round (32 and 52) and a single third round pick (75). With offensive depth being the highest priority for the Lightning, and with the final rankings from Central Scouting having placed the first winger in the 7th spot, there is an opportunity for Lawton to trade down once or even twice and add additional picks to the arsenal.
Teams currently occupying the 7th through 10th position would gladly trade their 2009 1st and 2nd round picks for the chance to draft 2nd overall. With a first round selection around 10th, a second downward move could add a third round pick to for 2009 and still allow Tampa to select the underrated 6′-2″ winger Peter Holland who was at one time ranked 9th. Holland, or any of the late first round wingers (Kassian, Ashton and Kreider) boast an average height of 6′-3″, an average weight of 199lbs and an immense amount of offensive skill.
The aligning of the sun, moon and planets will hopefully give Lawton the opportunity to select a stay-at-home defenseman with the 32nd pick, allowing attention to once again return to adding depth wingers. The size of the 08/09 Lightning was never in question, but a second round power forward (similar to the Bruins’ Lucic) could secure a third or fourth liner for the Lightning teams to come. The lack of a first round ranked goaltender has saturated the second round with six. A late second round net minder seems to this writer to be a popular choice as Tokarski will likely make his move to the Admirals next season, and Helenius is yet to earn his stripes.
The remaining pick(s) in the third round could again be used on a scoring winger that could ultimately develop into a regular third line player.
Each GM has the opportunity to succeed if he can identify the current need, the upcoming need, the skills which the prospect best displays currently and those he will grow in to. Does Lawton have what it takes?
Let us chat on the 27th.
I’m sorry, this is flat out wrong. Only 2 wingers with 20 points? Martin St. Louis had 80 points alone, Ryan Malone had 45, same with Vaclav Prospal, and Mark Recchi before he was traded from the Lightning to Boston.
Do you mean GOALS? Because there is a big difference between Points and Goals.
Also, while it’s probably an asset that you don’t mention players on the Lightning roster by name (as it would seem that is how the Lightning operate – looking at numbers and not at the people), this also effects everything in regards to what the Lightning may or may not do… (If the team unloads Lecavalier, they have no reason not to keep their #1 draft pick instead of trading down)
As does the fact that the #2 draft choice has incredible weight this year — especially if center John Tavares falls to the #2 slot. To say the Bolts could swap first round picks and pick up another pick is undervaluing it.