Confirmed with Link: Lightning re-sign Gabriel Fortier | 1 year

[TheDaysOf 04]

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[LightningStrikes]

Thought he was due to make the team last season but he didn’t. One last push?

 

[These Are The Days]

Thought he was due to make the team last season but he didn’t. One last push?

I doubt it. We've been waiting on Fortier almost as long as ABB. But I do enjoy being proven wrong on things like this

 

[Rschmitz]

For a guy his size he should be doing more than stagnating at ~30 points a season. a wasted 2nd round pick

 

[Felonious Python]

Kuch turns 31 today.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

He will be a lifer in the A until he decides to go to Europe. Not much here at this point with Fortier

 

[ccman68]

the 2018 and 2019 drafts really f***ed us up. that’s where we should be getting depth right now and it’s just not happening.

 

[DaBolts]

Worth the chance. He either blossoms or fades away as a trade add-on.

 

[Todd1a]

Ahler but good for the crunch to bring him back

Another 2nd rounder bust possibly?

 

[Stammertime91]

Kuch turns 31 today.

Wrong side of 30. We should move on from him and promote Fortier.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

the 2018 and 2019 drafts really f***ed us up. that’s where we should be getting depth right now and it’s just not happening.

The 2018 Draft was pretty weak in terms of overall depth. 2019 was stronger but still somewhat underwhelming.

Both drafts were affected by COVID f***ing up players' development with stops and starts in various leagues they were in.

The biggest issue I have is that we haven't drafted Vasilevskiy's backup. Plenty of decent goalies over the past 12 years available, only decent prospect at the time that the Lightning drafted was Alnefelt, and even at the time, his J20 SV% wasn't special.

 

[These Are The Days]

The 2018 Draft was pretty weak in terms of overall depth. 2019 was stronger but still somewhat underwhelming.

Both drafts were affected by COVID f***ing up players' development with stops and starts in various leagues they were in.

The biggest issue I have is that we haven't drafted Vasilevskiy's backup. Plenty of decent goalies over the past 12 years available, only decent prospect at the time that the Lightning drafted was Alnefelt, and even at the time, his J20 SV% wasn't special.

I don't know if we still have his rights but I haven't fully given up on Amir Miftakhov just yet

 

[Hockeyville USA]

I don't know if we still have his rights but I haven't fully given up on Amir Miftakhov just yet

Miftakhov was drafted after his D+2 season and wasn't notable outside of the World Junior performance. And as is the case with many Europeans, they don't want to play in the A for very long (low salary, unfamiliar language/culture, below average hockey lifestyle) as opposed to living back home and making more money. He isn't coming back over if he isn't guaranteed an NHL spot.

 

[These Are The Days]

Miftakhov was drafted after his D+2 season and wasn't notable outside of the World Junior performance. And is the case with many Europeans, they don't want to play in the A for very long (low salary, unfamiliar language/culture, below average hockey lifestyle) as opposed to living back home and making more money. He isn't coming back over if he isn't guaranteed an NHL spot.

Well that's the thing. If he does very well at the KHL level it's not inconceivable that we offer him the backup spot in another year or 2. I don't know yet if this is the same case as a guy like Volkov; as I have never seen a player so poorly adjusted to North American culture and hockey as him and should never expect to see him again. Russia may very well likely the best place for him right now personally and professionally. But for all we know he may jump at $2 million a year to play 28 games a season backing up Vasy and playing with an icon like Kucherov

 

[Peacefool]

If I remember correctly Amir told to Russian media that he decided to go from Syr cuz he understood that all his life he will be Vasys backup, and thats not for him, so I doubt that he will come here even if we give him 2m per season

 

[These Are The Days]

If I remember correctly Amir told to Russian media that he decided to go from Syr cuz he understood that all his life he will be Vasys backup, and thats not for him, so I doubt that he will come here even if we give him 2m per season

That's the first I'm hearing of this. Well that's it then. He definitely won't be coming here. Too bad I guess

 

[Peacefool]

That's the first I'm hearing of this. Well that's it then. He definitely won't be coming here. Too bad I guess

He said it when he was asked in Russia why he decided to come back.
Yep it sucks he was promising keepr much more promising than Hugo.

 

[Crunchrulz]

The 2018 Draft was pretty weak in terms of overall depth. 2019 was stronger but still somewhat underwhelming.

Both drafts were affected by COVID f***ing up players' development with stops and starts in various leagues they were in.

The biggest issue I have is that we haven't drafted Vasilevskiy's backup. Plenty of decent goalies over the past 12 years available, only decent prospect at the time that the Lightning drafted was Alnefelt, and even at the time, his J20 SV% wasn't special.

Between injuries and his inability to grab and hold the number 1 goaltender position at the AHL level, Alnefelt was a major disappointment.
When he was on, he was amazing but when he was not the floodgates were open. For all concerned, him heading to Europe is the best decision.