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Tampa Bay Lightning's top 3 prospects to watch out for in 2024/25 season
The Tampa Bay Lightning have sacrificed their prospect pool for the sake of winning. While the sacrifice has paid off with two Stanley Cups, it’s been three seasons since the Lightning made a deep playoff run.
Now, as the post-Steven Stamkos era begins, the Lightning may be staring at a rebuild. If that’s the case, the club’s current prospect pipeline will need to produce talented players who can make an impact on the big club sooner rather than later.
With that in mind, here’s a look at the Tampa Bay Lightning’s top three prospects to keep an eye on this upcoming season.
Tampa Bay Lightning's top 3 prospects to watch out for in 2024/25 season
#3: Noah Steen
Steen was a seventh-round pick for Tampa in 2024. At 19, he is still some time away from hitting the NHL. But his play at the World Juniors has impressed, leading some analysts to believe he could turn pro much sooner than expected.
Steen is described as a two-way forward and a penalty-kill specialist. That skill set makes him an interesting addition to the Tampa Bay Lightning as he could potentially play a key shutdown role in the NHL.
While currently unsigned, Steen is expected to play in Sweden this upcoming season. Nevertheless, he could make the journey to North America as soon as he signs with the Lightning.
#2: Jack Finley
Finley is perhaps the closest to making the jump to the NHL. A second-round pick in 2020 for the Tampa Bay Lightning, he has spent the last two seasons with the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL. Last season, he notched 13 goals and 32 points in 52 games.
At 6’5”, Finley brings size and skill to the table. He could slide into a third or fourth-line center role, particularly given his high-energy style. While not expected to light up the scoreboard, Finley projects as a strong bottom-six forward who could morph into a solid defensive center.
#1: Max Crozier
This upcoming season could be the year that Crozier gets a real shot at the NHL. Drafted in the fourth round in 2019, Crozier earned a brief call-up last season, notching two assists in 13 games.
Expect Crozier to get an invite to training camp this fall. While it may be unlikely he makes the team out of camp, Crozier should be among the first call-ups in case of injury or inconsistency.
It’s also worth noting that he’s a right-shot defenseman who plays a strong, physical style with some offensive upside. With the departure of Mikhail Sergachev and a rather thin bottom pairing, there’s a good chance that Crozier gets a solid opportunity to stick with the team this season.
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