Speculation: 2024-2025 General Lightning Discussion IV: Delete This XenForo!

[LightningStrikes]

I mean if we’re down in a series 0-2 or 0-3 why not yolo it and bring in Howard although I’m not sure that would increase our chances. Knowing Cooper he’d likely only get 5 minutes of TOI anyway.

D depth is our real weakness imo so I hope we run 11/7 again to compensate that a bit. Keep those legs fresh.

 

[DistantThunderRep]

I mean if we’re down in a series 0-2 or 0-3 why not yolo it and bring in Howard although I’m not sure that would increase our chances.

If we are going to Yolo, we are going to bring the ultimate ace in the hole, Conor....Sheary

 

[LightningStrikes]

If we are going to Yolo, we are going to bring the ultimate ace in the hole, Conor....Sheary

He does have 7 goals in 72 career playoff games. I like the smell of that!

 

[DFC]

I'm not against giving Howard a shot, but I think chances of him having an impact this year are slim. Odds are good that the team is the team, and any improvements we make will just be based on getting into the grind.

 

[Sky04]

I'm not against giving Howard a shot, but I think chances of him having an impact this year are slim. Odds are good that the team is the team, and any improvements we make will just be based on getting into the grind.

I mean if we’re down in a series 0-2 or 0-3 why not yolo it and bring in Howard although I’m not sure that would increase our chances. Knowing Cooper he’d likely only get 5 minutes of TOI anyway.

D depth is our real weakness imo so I hope we run 11/7 again to compensate that a bit. Keep those legs fresh.

I would rather just re-call Geekie if you want young fresh legs, makes a lot more sense then putting Howard in with no experience against men. Howard isn't lilely to make anymore of an impact than say Gonvalves who had 18 points in 14 games in the AHL.

 

[DrMartinVanNostrand]

Ottawa is not a team I'd want to play in round 1. Atlantic winner is pretty much guaranteed to face the top wild card, which is likeliest to be the Sens right now. They have an easy schedule too. I don't see any safe matchups out there, unless New Jersey continues to lose and somehow gets supplanted by the Rangers or Jackets.

Florida and Toronto are the top tier, but Ottawa will have that momentum and excitement of finally getting in, plus Brady Tkachuk playoff debut. Something about them scares me a bit.

At this point I'd almost lean toward the Panthers considering Tkachuk could be rusty/not 100% and Ekblad will miss the first 2. Metro division is very lucky.

The playoffs aren't supposed to be easy. Ottawa might look dangerous right now at this moment (they've been very streaky this season), but I feel like trying to talk yourself into Florida being a preferred alternative is a fools' errand, the kind of comment you see a month from now and think "what was I thinking?". I'd want to take my chances with Ottawa because we're better than Ottawa; if we lose, so be it, but our chances there are better than with the Leafs or Panthers, and I'd rather only need to beat one than (most likely) have to beat both to escape the Atlantic.

 

[RussianGuyovich]

comparing geekie and howard is apples and oranges, geekie is a big body playmaker, who should become a possession monster with his size and ability to get into the "dirty areas" to create offense, and howard is a pure goalscorer.

both are important tool sets to have as a club's future prospects, and perhaps geekie would be better in the grind of the playoffs, but the comparison is dumb and the right player for us will be situational depending on several variables on the team in the future and what our needs will be.

also howard is just flat out a better skater so its ok to be excited about that.

 

[StammerHammer]

If we are going to Yolo, we are going to bring the ultimate ace in the hole, Conor....Sheary

Maybe Brenden Marrow can lace them up for another cup run?

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Wtf is Howard going to do, he's a worse prospect than Geekie and people are suggesting we throw him into the lineup for a cup run.

Howard is not a worst prospect than Geekie. They were rated pretty equally during the whole 2022 Draft process.

Howard is also a much better complimentary player overall than Geekie. Howard plays off his linemates a lot better than Geekie, who really has to drive play himself to be fully effective IMHO

 

[AlwaysSunnyInTampa]

comparing geekie and howard is apples and oranges, geekie is a big body playmaker, who should become a possession monster with his size and ability to get into the "dirty areas" to create offense, and howard is a pure goalscorer.

both are important tool sets to have as a club's future prospects, and perhaps geekie would be better in the grind of the playoffs, but the comparison is dumb and the right player for us will be situational depending on several variables on the team in the future and what our needs will be.

also howard is just flat out a better skater so its ok to be excited about that.

Well said. My suggestion has nothing to do with superior prospects. We need guys who are going to shoot. It took all of like 2 games to realize Geekie was over-matched but could more or less deal with it. We will find out immediately if Howard is the same case and penciling him in was never not a best case scenario. Ideally he gets a few games in before the playoffs

 

[Felonious Python]

Well said. My suggestion has nothing to do with superior prospects. We need guys who are going to shoot. It took all of like 2 games to realize Geekie was over-matched but could more or less deal with it. We will find out immediately if Howard is the same case and penciling him in was never not a best case scenario. Ideally he gets a few games in before the playoffs

If we sign him now, we burn a year of his ELC. I wouldn't do that unless there was basically no other way to sign him.

An AHL ATO this season, with an NHL deal starting next year, is more likely. (if he decides to go pro next month at all)

 

[Hockeyville USA]

If we sign him now, we burn a year of his ELC. I wouldn't do that unless there was basically no other way to sign him.

An AHL ATO this season, with an NHL deal starting next year, is more likely. (if he decides to go pro next month at all)

Howard will not agree to an AHL ATO, he's simply too good of a prospect to be willing to do this. In order to get him signed instead of risking him going back to to State and potentially run out the clock to August 15 UFA, BriseBois will have to sign him to a normal ELC and guarantee him a few regular season games to end this season. Of course the franchise will not guarantee him playoff games, but they'll need to give him some regular season games.

 

[Felonious Python]

Howard will not agree to an AHL ATO, he's simply too good of a prospect to be willing to do this. In order to get him signed instead of risking him going back to to State and potentially run out the clock to August 15 UFA, BriseBois will have to sign him to a normal ELC and guarantee him a few regular season games to end this season. Of course the franchise will not guarantee him playoff games, but they'll need to give him some regular season games.

Where are you getting your info that he won't agree to an ATO?

If he's going to run the clock out, then trade him.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Where are you getting your info that he won't agree to an ATO?

If he's going to run the clock out, then trade him.

Because good, high pick, NCAA prospects don't sign ATOs. They just don't. Matthew Knies didn't sign an ATO, Frank Nazar didn't sign an ATO, Owen Power, Luke Hughes, Kent Johnson, Matty Beniers, Matt Coronato, Cutter Gauthier, Lane Hutson, and plenty of others in the past didn't sign ATOs. Jimmy Snuggerud and Sam Rinzel won't be signing ATOs

I'll eat crow if I'm wrong, but history tells us BriseBois will be giving Howard the ELC.

 

[Sky04]

Howard is not a worst prospect than Geekie. They were rated pretty equally during the whole 2022 Draft process.

Howard is also a much better complimentary player overall than Geekie. Howard plays off his linemates a lot better than Geekie, who really has to drive play himself to be fully effective IMHO

They were rated equally which is why one was drafted 20 spots ahead, every single prospect rating had Geekie ahead of Howard, every prospect pool ranking last season had Geekie at #1 for us, Howard was at 3 on some behind Gauthier, not to mention Geekie has already made it to the pros. Howard may not even debut until 26-27'. It's pretty clear Geekie is ahead.

 

[Felonious Python]

Because good, high pick, NCAA prospects don't sign ATOs. They just don't. Matthew Knies didn't sign an ATO, Frank Nazar didn't sign an ATO, Owen Power, Luke Hughes, Kent Johnson, Matty Beniers, Matt Coronato, Cutter Gauthier, Lane Hutson, and plenty of others in the past didn't sign ATOs. Jimmy Snuggerud and Sam Rinzel won't be signing ATOs

I'll eat crow if I'm wrong, but history tells us BriseBois will be giving Howard the ELC.

Is Howard really seen as that level of player?

The NHL's Top 100 Prospects - Midseason Update - The Hockey Writers Editor's Choice Latest News, Analysis & More - Honorable mention for top 100
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6101032/2025/02/11/nhl-2025-prospects-rankings-top-100/ - #55 prospect, behind Conor Geekie at #53
Montreal Canadiens' Ivan Demidov rated No. 1 on Craig Button’s Top 50 NHL-affiliated prospects list | TSN - #43, and Craig Button is always extremely complimentary of the Lightning and their prospects.
The Top 23 NHL Prospects Under 23 Howard not in the top 23. Geekie at 21.

 

[AlwaysSunnyInTampa]

10 years ago we might have forced Howard onto an ATO because back then, rookies were either shackled to the bench or sent to Syracuse because God forbid we don't dress Morrow and Kuntiz. We would know in a few games if Howard is fit for NHL service should his season end early. The ELC make sense

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Is Howard really seen as that level of player?

The NHL's Top 100 Prospects - Midseason Update - The Hockey Writers Editor's Choice Latest News, Analysis & More - Honorable mention for top 100
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6101032/2025/02/11/nhl-2025-prospects-rankings-top-100/ - #55 prospect, behind Conor Geekie at #53
Montreal Canadiens' Ivan Demidov rated No. 1 on Craig Button’s Top 50 NHL-affiliated prospects list | TSN - #43, and Craig Button is always extremely complimentary of the Lightning and their prospects.

He's seen by most as someone who can play alongside elite players and finish plays off. Always been that way.

 

[Felonious Python]

10 years ago we might have forced Howard onto an ATO because back then, rookies were either shackled to the bench or sent to Syracuse because God forbid we don't dress Morrow and Kuntiz. We would know by the end of next weekend if Howard is fit for NHL service should his season end Saturday. The ELC make sense

Michigan State is going to the national tournament. That's March 27th - April 12th.

2025 NCAA DI men's hockey: How to watch the selection show, schedule of games through Frozen Four

Here's your guide to the 2025 NCAA DI men's hockey championship. From the selection show to the schedule of games and everything in-between through Frozen Four.

www.ncaa.com

The rankings are based on Pairwise, so there's no subjectivity as to who gets in.

 

[AlwaysSunnyInTampa]

Michigan State is going to the national tournament. That's March 27th - April 12th.

2025 NCAA DI men's hockey: How to watch the selection show, schedule of games through Frozen Four

Here's your guide to the 2025 NCAA DI men's hockey championship. From the selection show to the schedule of games and everything in-between through Frozen Four.

www.ncaa.com

The rankings are based on Pairwise, so there's no subjectivity as to who gets in.

Yeah I meant after the 27th. I looked at his next game on Saturday and immediately screwed up the timeline in my post becuase I was thinking about the tournament too and decided it started that day. Thank you. Good catch

 

[RussianGuyovich]

They were rated equally which is why one was drafted 20 spots ahead, every single prospect rating had Geekie ahead of Howard, every prospect pool ranking last season had Geekie at #1 for us, Howard was at 3 on some behind Gauthier, not to mention Geekie has already made it to the pros. Howard may not even debut until 26-27'. It's pretty clear Geekie is ahead.

haha yeah! draft rankings are a great metric. just look at all those guys better than kucherov.

just realized the boards removed my blocks. bye bye sky

 

[Sky04]

haha yeah! draft rankings are a great metric. just look at all those guys better than kucherov.

just realized the boards removed my blocks. bye bye sky

Great logic simpleton, it's not like they're rankings based at the time or anything, just look at all the guys who got better than Connor McDavid too!

Bye bye crybaby

 

[JTBF81]

I could see Howard getting a few games in this season at the end ofvthe regular season, but on the other hand, if Tampa is playing well and fighting for the division right to the end, I have doubts they're going to shake up the lines by adding Howard in right out of the NCAA tourny. He would have to do something quite amazing indeed to get top 6 minutes right away, especially in Tampa. More than likely he gets 2 or 3 games tops with limited minutes, if he gets any at all, and then he goes to the Crunch. I think he has a great shot to be a regular next year though, as do Geekie and Duke, depending on how many spots are available in the F group.

 

[More 2004]

16 years ago today, Ovechkin and the “Stick on Fire” happened

I was there and I absolutely hated OV for it.. he has certainly grown on me.. I find myself rooting for him now. Maybe since he's not to far off from me age wise

 

[DrMartinVanNostrand]

16 years ago today, Ovechkin and the “Stick on Fire” happened

Christ did our dumbass owners at the time reduce us to being a complete and utter embarrassment. We were legit a Mickey Mouse team at the time.