![]() ![]() Before the 2018 deadline, Tampa landed McDonagh and J.T. 26, 2018): This should be considered grand larceny. It was a bold move for the Lightning at the time - Drouin was excellent in the 2016 playoffs, and 2016-17 was his best campaign - but it's clearly been a massive win as Sergachev is still just scratching the surface of his potential. Mikhail Sergachev (June 15, 2017): Just one year after the Montreal Canadiens selected Sergachev ninth overall, they sent him to Tampa Bay in exchange for Jonathan Drouin, the 2013 third overall pick. The 6-foot-3 blue-liner plays hard minutes and is arguably the team's most underrated player. 26, 2017): Looking to offload Ben Bishop knowing Vasilevskiy was waiting in the wings, the Bolts shipped their starting goalie and a fifth-rounder to the Los Angeles Kings for Peter Budaj, a seventh-rounder, and Cernak. The Lightning drafted and developed the bulk of their roster, but several key pieces - including most of the blue line - were acquired via trade.Įrik Cernak (Feb. Trade Francois Lacasse / National Hockey League / Getty ![]() He's yet to lock down a permanent spot on Tampa Bay's blue line, but he's still just 23, and defensemen tend to take longer to develop. He's also coming off a breakout year with 22 goals.Ĭal Foote (June 23, 2017): Foote has taken some time to develop after getting drafted 14th overall. While he's not as much of a household name, Colton brings a lot of the same things Cirelli and Point do: Speed, versatility, and a 200-foot game. Ross Colton (June 25, 2016): Another late-round gem, the team selected Colton in the fourth round. Chalk it up to tremendous scouting - Cirelli has since developed into a Selke-caliber center with a knack for scoring big goals. Point is arguably Tampa's most complete forward.Īnthony Cirelli (June 27, 2015): Cirelli only tallied 36 points in 68 games during his draft year, so it's not as much of a surprise that he fell to the third round, where the Bolts scooped him at 72nd overall. Yzerman was clearly excited to draft him because he traded up one spot to snag him at 79th overall. ![]() Ahead of the 2012 trade deadline, Yzerman sent Steve Downie to the Colorado Avalanche as part of a three-way trade that netted Tampa the Detroit Red Wings' first-round pick, which the club used on Vasilevskiy.īrayden Point (June 28, 2014): It's a mystery how Point fell to the third round despite coming off a 91-point season with the WHL's Moose Jaw Warriors in his draft year. But what's even more brilliant is how the Lightning acquired the pick (they drafted Slater Koekkoek 10th overall with their own first-rounder). Palat doesn't garner too many headlines, but he's blossomed into the perfect complementary top-six winger.Īndrei Vasilevskiy (June 22, 2012): Drafting Vasilevskiy - the 2019 Vezina winner and 2020 Conn Smythe winner - at 19th overall was obviously a brilliant move. He was also the second of two seventh-round picks for the Lightning that year (Matthew Peca being the other), so even the front office didn't know he'd become this good. Ondrej Palat (June 25, 2011): Yzerman found another gem in the 2011 draft, nabbing Palat in the seventh round. Kucherov somehow managed to slip to the second round despite his immense talent, and the 2019 Hart Trophy winner is now one of the most dangerous players in the game. Nikita Kucherov (June 25, 2011): Yzerman's first draft in 2010 came just a month after he started the job, but following a full year of proper preparation with his scouts, he hit multiple home runs in 2011. Hedman's been a Norris Trophy finalist six years in a row and is arguably the most important player of Tampa's dynasty. The 6-foot-6 Swede is not only the best player from his draft but one of the best defensemen ever. Victor Hedman (June 26, 2009): Hedman was chosen second overall - one pick after John Tavares and one before Matt Duchene. A two-time "Rocket" Richard Trophy winner, his name is littered across the franchise leaderboards, and he's in his ninth season as captain. Steven Stamkos (June 20, 2008): Stamkos has lived up to the billing since being taken first overall in 2008. The gritty two-way winger has proven he can excel in any role he's played during his 10 seasons with the Bolts. Homegrown Gregory Shamus / National Hockey League / GettyĪs always, the best way to build is through the draft, and no team has done a better job of that over the last 15 years than the Lightning.Īlex Killorn (June 23, 2007): One of the final parting gifts from Jay Feaster, the architect of Tampa's 2004 Stanley Cup team, was drafting Killorn in the third round in 2007. ![]()
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