Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman has rightly received accolades for his adroit handling of the team’s roster this summer. Longtime franchise cornerstone Steven Stamkos could have been lost to free agency, but the Bolts got him under contract in the nick of time. Victor Hedman, the defenceman who is arguably even more important to the club than Stamkos, was extended with a year to spare.
Yzerman, however, faces a third test before the start of the 2016-17 NHL season. He still has to sign Nikita Kucherov.
Kucherov, who is younger and less famous than Stamkos or Hedman, is also vital to the Lightning. He scored 30 goals last season and led the club in scoring with 66 points.
Kucherov stepped up in the playoffs, too, leading the team in goals (11) and points (19). Jonathan Drouin’s compelling story got much of the media focus, but Kucherov was the offensive leader during the club’s improbable postseason. The Lightning won two rounds and took eventual champion Pittsburgh to seven games, despite not having Stamkos, No. 2 defenceman Anton Stralman or starting goalie Ben Bishop for long stretches ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Jonathan Willis
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August 3rd, 2016 by Jonathan Willis Leave a reply »
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