Prospect Info: 2024 NHL Rookie Showcase | September 13th - 16th | Ford Ice Center Bellevue, TN

[TheDaysOf 04]

Ticketing information for the 2024 NHL Rookie Showcase presented by Ticketmaster will be announced in the coming days.

All six of the showcase’s games will be broadcast live on NashvillePredators.com with Willy Daunic, Chris Mason, Hal Gill, Pete Weber, Max Herz and Jay More providing commentary on a rotational basis.

Schedule:

Friday, Sept. 13th: 5 p.m. CT (6pm ET) - Carolina Hurricanes vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

Saturday, Sept. 14th: 5 p.m. CT (6pm ET) - Nashville Predators vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

Monday, Sept. 16th: 10 a.m. CT (11am ET) - Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

Click to read more...

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

Nashville's Roster

Notable prospects:
Joakim Kemell - 17th overall pick (2022)
Tanner Molendyk - 24th overall pick (2023)
Zachary L'Heureux - 27th overall pick (2021)
Ozzy Wiesblatt - 31st overall pick (2020)
Reid Schaefer - 32nd overall pick (2022)

Carolina's Roster

Notable prospects:
Bradly Nadeau - 30th overall pick (2023)
Scott Morrow - 40th overall pick (2021)
Aleksi Heimosalmi - 44th overall pick (2021)
Gleb Trikozov - 60th overall pick (2022)
Felix Unger-Sorum - 62nd overall pick (2023)

 

[Stelio Kontos]

who coaches these things?

 

[Felonious Python]

who coaches these things?

It's usually the AHL coaches, IIRC.

 

[Felonious Python]

Conor Geekie in a big boy #14.

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

Wasn’t sure if they’d play Lilleberg and Crozier in a tournament like this. That top pair should be dominant

 

[Felonious Python]

Wasn’t sure if they’d play Lilleberg and Crozier in a tournament like this. That top pair should be dominant

We have 8 defensemen on the roster. They may not have to play.

On the other hand, I see Lilleberg taking on more of a leadership role. He was just an assistant captain with Norway, and as the guy in camp with the most NHL games, he's sort of the biggest fish there.

 

[Felonious Python]

2024 Prospect Camp & NHL Rookie Showcase Schedule

Wednesday, Sept. 11
12:30 p.m. (ET) – Practice (Media Availability to follow)

Thursday, Sept. 12
11:15 a.m. (ET) – Practice (Media Availability to follow)

Friday, Sept. 13
2 p.m. (CT) – Nashville Predators vs. Florida Panthers
5 p.m. (CT) – Carolina Hurricanes vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

Saturday, Sept. 14
2 p.m. (CT) – Carolina Hurricanes vs. Florida Panthers
5 p.m. (CT) – Nashville Predators vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

Sunday, Sept. 15
Practice Day

Monday, Sept. 16
10 a.m. (CT) – Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Florida Panthers
1 p.m. (CT) – Nashville Predators vs. Carolina Hurricanes

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Huuhtanen SZN!!!

 

[LightningStrikes]

Heyo so this is starting in four days. This offseason is brutally long no?

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

Heyo so this is starting in four days. This offseason is brutally long no?

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

Camp is in session

 

[LordStanlersCup]

With the Prospect Showcase in 2 days I thought I would give my prospect rankings (lmk what yours would be or if you disagree with anything)
*Didn't consider Geekie or prospects drafted this year because I haven't watched them enough although Connor, Steen, and Saarelainen look promising*
*Lilleberg also not included because he signed an extension with a one-way contract*

#) Name (My Projection)- Analysis

1) Groshev (Top 6 NHLer)- Had a dominant development camp, rookie showcase and preseason last year leading to him having 7 points in his first 10 games playing
3rd/4th line minutes in SYR. After game 10 he was moved up to the first line and scored 6 goals in his next 3 games but shortly after during this brief stint getting 1st line minutes his scoring dried up. His line was moved down after about 5 games or so and he played the rest of the season on the 3rd/4th line with occasional time
on the 2nd PK unit. I struggle to think of a prospect that has been as badly mismanaged as Groshev has been going all the way back to his draft year. There are several reasons that I believe contributed to Groshev's scoring drought. The biggest reason I believe was there seemed to be a very distinct point during his 5 or so game stint getting 1st line minutes where he no longer was rushing the high man at the point when they were playing defense but instead would start covering the man in the slot which is usually reserved for the center to guard. I am not sure if this was a Coaches suggestion or what but this killed Groshev's production completely because he was getting pretty much all of his points from intercepting the D to D pass or stealing the puck from the defenseman at the blueline and creating odd man rushes. It did not help that he was pretty much stapled to the 3rd/4th line getting maybe 12 minutes a night for almost the entire season but he was still producing even despite this before his short 1st line stint. It appears that Tampa are really trying to mold Groshev into a defensive Bottom 6 Winger between the way his playstyle has changed, putting him on a line with defensively responsible players in Dumont and Walcott, and giving him only PK time. I really think Groshev has more potential than this with all of the intangibles he brings I could see him being a Top 6 NHLer. He has insane speed, amazing forechecking ability, protects the puck well, great with his stick, and a high hockey IQ. He is consistently winning his puck battles and is always a positive when on the ice. I don't think he has any real weaknesses but I didn't see him drive the net during the cycle as much in Syracuse as he would in the VHL and WJC games. He also could improve his shot and hands but they are by no means bad. If he is given an opportunity in the top 6 and PP1 time in SYR while being allowed to play to his strengths I think he could have a monster season.

2) Huuhtanen (Bottom 6 NHLer)- Great Season in the Liiga, Huuhtanen was pretty consistent the entire year even being top 5 in league scoring about 30 or so games into the season. Huuhtanen has an unreal one timer and great hands leading to several highlight reel goals this season. These two attributes are the main cause of his high production but he also has a physical element that leads to him being a strong forechecker. The big downfall with Huuhtanen is his skating but it has improved and did not look terrible for his short time in SYR. I also at times saw a lack of effort off the puck when he was in the Liiga but in SYR he played a pretty high energy physical game so he is capable of being an effective 5v5 player if he chooses to. The big thing with Huuhtanen is he is a right shot with a booming one timer and that is exactly what Tampa needs right now with Stamkos' departure. I could see him being used in Tampa as a powerplay specialist and seeing some pretty good production at the NHL level in this role. If his skating improves then the sky is the limit and he is still young so there is room to improve.

3) Duke (Bottom 6 NHLer)- Very solid season in Michigan where he led the Big 10 in goals. I am the most confident in Duke being an NHL player out of all of the prospects based off just how consistent and versatile he is. He is an elite net front presence, responsible defensively, has a clutch factor of scoring big goals in big moments and plays with a tenacity that will outwork the other players on every shift. His skating in his draft year was an area of concern but at this point I would say that it is pretty good. He should have a solid season in SYR.

4) Howard (Top 6 NHLer or AHLer)- He was okay with Michigan state but this year confirmed a few things to me about Howard I had been wondering. Howard in the NTDP, USHL and even in tournaments including the 2024 WJC has been able to produce at an elite level. Then when he went to Minnesota Duluth and his production fell off a cliff and at the time I thought it was partly because Minnesota Duluth is a very systematic and defensive team but also I was wondering if it was because Howard wasn't a play driver. Then he transfers to Michigan State and while the change of system and playing with better players helped some, he still did not return to NTDP form. Then in January at the WJC he was instantly back to being that playing alongside former linemates Brindley and Nazar and it became very clear he needs elite talent around him to play at an elite level. Howard has a great wrist shot, good speed, good hands, great vision and IQ in the O-zone. He is able to find the open areas of the ice around the net and make himself available for passes that others wouldn't have. He has played with great players for so long that he understands how to be an effective teammate and can elevate the play of others around him but he isn't a play driver in my opinion and might see some improvement at Michigan State this year but I am not expecting him to return to NTDP form there. I think he would have been much better off playing with Geekie in SYR and adjusting to the pro game. As for the flaws in his game he really needs to put in more effort defensively as he just waits for his team to get the puck. I am like 50/50 whether Howard will be a top 6 NHLer or an AHLer and I don't think it will be anything in between unless he is utilized like a Daniel Sprong for depth scoring. Howard's success will depend on if he is put in a starting top 6 role in Tampa and if he is able to capitalize on it.

5) Crozier (Bottom Pair NHLer)- He started out with a very good season in SYR where he and Lilleberg were a great shutdown pair. Offensively the production wasn't great but it wasn't bad either. During his time with the Lightning not much changed in his game and he was able to adapt very well to the NHL level. He doesn't bring the physical element of the game like Lilleberg does but I thought he was more solid overall and even did great cycling the puck in the O-zone to create scoring chances. I don't know if he will see any opportunities this year in Tampa barring any injuries as the top 7 appears set in place.

6) Powell (Top Pair AHLer)

7) Gauthier (Top 6 AHLer)

8) Goncalves (Top 6 AHLer)

9) Schmidt (Top 4 AHLer)

10) Finley (Middle 6 AHLer)

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

Lukas Svejkovsky:

"(My parents) were super super excited for sure (about my trade to Tampa). I was actually born in Tampa here. We moved when I was about 3 or 4 months old, and I haven't been back to here since now. It's definitely really cool to be back. Obviously I don't remember anything, but it's super super cool. My mom was really excited and face-timed me as soon as I got here. I showed her the view of my hotel and stuff. So, yeah, they loved their time here. I don't think they were here for a crazy long time, but they loved it here, and so far I love it too."

"They were definitely my favorite (team growing up) for sure. I have a painting since I was probably 9 or 10 years old, it's been in my room ever since, and it's a picture of my dad in a Lightning jersey. It's not the best painting out there, but it's something that is pretty special to me. I've definitely been a Lightning fan all my life, so it's pretty special to throw on the jersey."

Conor Geekie:

"I definitely spent a lot of hours in the gym and on the ice (since development camp). I didn't do too much other than that. Golfed a lot, but other than that I played video games quiet a bit, but it was a pretty good summer. I didn't get to go out much, but again I kinda had one goal in mind, and that was coming here."

"Obviously I did a lot of work with Barb (this summer) just trying to figure out where we had to get versus where we were. Obviously I've seen some growth there. In the gym I worked out with my brother quiet a bit. We pushed each other. We were both trying to have good summers, and trying to get better, so we pushed each other there, and the brotherly love kinda took over so it was a lot of fun."

Max Crozier:

"I think my mindset is the same (this year). Control what I can control, working as hard as I can, and having as much fun as possible doing it. It's a lot of fun to be here with this group of guys, and to be back with the AHL coaching staff, and Bouch, and everyone. It's just fun. We get to go to Nashville, have a little bonding moment, and play some games, and play some hockey."

"I was back home in Calgary for most of (the summer). I was able to hang out with some buddies, and have some fun, but yeah a lot of (my training) was just getting bigger and stronger in the gym. I think that was my biggest area that I needed to work on. I need to be a full package defenseman this up coming year, and win every battle I can, and getting strong in the gym was one of my main focuses. Just all around, just getting better on my skating too, but really just all aspects. I think with where I'm at in my game there's areas all over the place I can improve on. I wasn't just one direct focus, it was an all encompassing focus."

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

Joel Bouchard

on Dylan Duke -

"From the first practice on (at the end of last season in Syracuse) I could see a guy that wants to be a hockey player. I think he grew every practice, every game. He was with us for a long time, and we were lucky to go a little deeper in the playoffs so we get to spend more time playing high stake games, and he actually did really well with them. It's a good experience. A lot of the American NCAA players they just come for the development camps so their first training camp is really their first taste of pro hockey, but I think he took advantage of the opportunity he had last year. He's very open minded, and he's very competitive, so he's a guy that we look forward to keep working with."

"He's in the fight, and that's what he needs to do, right? He's a smaller sized player. He needs to be invested in every aspect of the game, and obviously moving his feet like everybody else, and being connected to the play is something that's noticeable, and it is. He goes to the area where you get rewarded. He's definitely engaged in the moment, and that's what you like about hockey players, guys that are invested in the situation in the moment, and obviously him being dynamic, him being engaged physically, him being really structured with his habits and his details - it's going to make the difference because being the smaller guy your leverage to get the advantage vs your opponent especially in the pros, you need to get those things figured out. But I think that's his biggest quality. He gets things figured out."

On Conor Geekie -

"I don't know him a lot. I try not to watch a player too much from before, because I just want to make my own evaluation. My job is to work with them, it's not so much to evaluate them. It's to see what he is today, and make sure he's a better version of himself in a few days, and a few weeks. We're going to keep working with him, but he's obviously somebody who has a lot of talent. He's already been in high stakes hockey with his junior career playing in the world juniors. He's got some experience, and now it's for him to keep growing. It's always the same thing for every player - to become the best version of themselves that they can be."

On Crozier and Lilleberg -

"I thought we were pretty lucky and blessed in Syracuse with guys being so open minded to get out of their comfort zones or buy into what we were doing. It starts with our leadership group down in Syracuse which is tremendous. I think the young players just embraced every challenge we threw at them. So it was true for Crozier and Lilleberg, and it's true for Carlile, and Gonzo, and Chaffee. We had a lot of guys that came up and played. I think Coop and the organization does a good job to reward guys who were deserving, and we had a lot of guys who were deserving. That's why a lot of different guys got called up. I think that everybody brings something different to the table, and again I'm going to repeat myself, but they have to be the best versions of themselves they can be, and that's why they come to the minors. I think the way they embrace every challenge we threw at them made the difference down the road. It made the difference for them, and it made the difference for a lot of our guys who had really good seasons and took a big step into pro hockey."

"(This camp) is an opportunity for (Lilleberg) to be more ready for main camp. The NHL is a tough league. Toughest league in the world. You play against the best players, you play with the best players, so you need to have your game pretty sharp. I think for him to be able to come here it's like a blessing. For Cro, same thing. You get to play high level hockey that's going to prepare them for training camp with the Lightning. They had a great attitude today. I'm not expecting anything different in the tournament. There's one thing we have, it's good guys, and down in Syracuse we have good guys that understand what we're trying to do with them, and they buy into what we do. It wasn't about 'oh, I have to go there?' It was about the opportunity to get ready for the main camp. That's what we've felt on the ice, and that's what we've seen."

 

[Felonious Python]

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

Lucas Edmonds:

"I was at a new spot this summer, so it was really good to set up with Gary Roberts. There were a lot of high end players there so it was fun to be on the ice with them. Kind of just take notes on stuff they work on. A lot of good on ice stuff, and obviously lots in the gym trying to get stronger, faster."

"I think the biggest thing (I learned) was doing everything with pace. Even if it's a just a simple warm up drill, guys are going 100 miles per hour essentially. I think just trying to do everything and execute at high speeds. Just trying to take that into the camp now."

Dylan Duke:

"I've been working on my skating a lot this summer, just trying to get stronger in the gym, and round out every part of my game."

Ethan Gauthier:

"Obviously it was kind of a quick summer for me after a long season, and couple camps this summer. Obviously I took all the time I had to train and work on my skating. I think that was one thing that I really wanted to improve to get to the next level, as well as conditioning, and being bigger stronger on the ice. I would say those are the main things I want to keep working on to bring to the pro level."

"I was skating with my QMJHL team. We had our camp starting before here, so came here from my camp. Obviously had to see the guys back in Drummondville and skating with them was good. It was good preparation to come here. This year's my second time around so I definitely feel more comfortable and less pressure on my shoulders. I want to show them what I can do here and how I can contribute to the Lightning."

"I think I can learn from every player in this locker room right now. Some of these guys have been in the NHL when I think about Crozier and Lilleberg. Being around them is fun. I want to compete with these guys."

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

Stacy Roest

on Geekie:

"(He needs to) go play his game (to make a positive first impression). Be yourself. It's our first camp with him in our organization so we're really excited to have him, but he hasn't played a game yet so we'll see how he goes, but he came to camp in good shape, he's big, he's strong, he's smart, he can really shoot it, he's got some edge to him. Should be a good camp for him."

"He's a good kid. He worked hard this summer. He put in the work, and you can see the results on the ice and in the gym. He did all the work, and now it's time to hit the ice."

"He's had a couple years where he's played late in the year, and world juniors, so he's had a couple busy years playing a lot of games. Development camp was really our first time we got to meet him, and then he saw our standard, our guidelines of what we expect, and he went home and did all the work. We give them all the resources, but like we always say they have to do the work, and he did it, and it will show up and pay off."

"These development camp, and even out here, it's a little tough for him because he is a physical big body that likes to get in the trenches. We like his all around 200 foot game. He's very competitive, and likes to drive the play, and we're looking forward to seeing him. ... He plays hard. Puck drops, and he plays hard. We're looking forward to it."

on Lilleberg and Crozier being paired together last season:

"They're both competitive, quick learners, really good students of the game, they're passionate, and they communicate really well with one another. Off the ice they get along really well together, and they have each other's back. When you come to this camp, go to the AHL, and ultimately get called up to the NHL together it's a great story. They know they needed each others help, and it was fun to watch them grow as people off the ice, and on the ice as players. It was great. Good for the Lightning, and good for the organization."

On Duke:

"I think just his all around play, his confidence with the puck (has improved over the years). He scored obviously quite a few goals in Michigan. He played every situation. His skating has gotten better. He's stronger, he's quicker. He's always had the competitiveness. He plays really hard. He has one speed. I think just maturing and getting games under his belt, and winning in a good program at Michigan has helped his development."

"The motor's always running. He hits the ice and he's moving. Like I said, with time he's gotten stronger which means he's getting quicker, and we're excited for him to turn pro."

On Huuhtanen:

"He played over in a pro league in Finland for a couple years on a little bigger ice, but yeah I think same thing (as Duke). He's in better shape, he's quicker, faster, stronger, he can always shoot it, he can make plays. Very competitive. Plays hard, like a lot of our guys, but similar to Geekie. We're looking forward to watch him. First tournament for him so it'll be fun."

"I think (his skating) was a big thing for him (his draft year), but it's come a long way. If you watched him in Finland he was keeping up with the play, he was driving the play, carrying the puck. He can carry the puck in open ice in the pro level. That's the key, and I think he's got that."

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Huuhtanen SZN!!!!

 

[Felonious Python]

On the NSH/FLA broadcast, they said that fighting is allowed but two fights (in the same game?) will get you ejected for the weekend.

Monday is gonna be doomsday.

 

[RDTBay4]

Finally some form of Lightning hockey is back!

 

[Master P]

Finally some form of Lightning hockey is back!

 

[Meuracas]

On the NSH/FLA broadcast, they said that fighting is allowed but two fights (in the same game?) will get you ejected for the weekend.

Monday is gonna be doomsday.

Would be good to see Huuhtanen drop the mitts.

 

[LordStanlersCup]

The Carolina feed is up, I don't think the Lightning one is yet though