Lightning brought back Namesnikov, added three defenders – Enrich of Tech Updates Across the World

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After the NHL Draft, free agency and other offseason moves, NHL.com takes a look at where each team stands in preparation for the 2022-23 regular season, which begins Oct. 7. Today, the Tampa Bay Lightning:

Season 2021-22: 51-23-8, third in Atlantic Division. lost the Stanley Cup Final to the Colorado Avalanche

Key arrivals

Ian ColeD: The 33-year-old signed a one-year deal on July 13. He had 19 points (two goals, 17 assists) in 75 regular season games for the Carolina Hurricanes last season and two points (one goal, one assist) in 14 Stanley Cup Playoff Games. … Vladislav NamesnikovF: The 29-year-old signed a one-year deal on July 13. He had 30 points (16 goals, 14 assists) in 75 games last season with the Detroit Red Wings (60 games) and Dallas Stars (15) and two points (one goal, one assist) in seven playoff games. Namestnikov played for the Lightning from 2014-18 and had 123 points (53 goals, 70 assists) in 263 games. … Haydn FleuryD: The 26-year-old signed a two-year contract on July 13. Had four points (two goals, two assists) in 36 games for the Seattle Kraken last season. … Philippe MyersD: The 25-year-old was acquired in a trade with the Nashville Predators, along with a forward Grant Mismashfor a defender Ryan McDonough on July 3rd. Myers had four points (goal, three assists) in 27 NHL games last season.

Basic departures

Ondrej PalatF: He signed a five-year contract with the New Jersey Devils on July 14. Palat had 49 points (18 goals, 31 assists) in 77 regular season games and 21 points (11 goals, 10 assists) in 23 playoff games last season. He had 423 points (143 goals, 280 assists) in 628 games for the Lightning and helped them win the Stanley Cup in 2020 and 2021. … Ryan McDonagh, D: He had 26 points (four goals, 22 assists) in 71 regular season games and five points (goals, four assists) in 23 playoff games. McDonagh had 99 points (20 goals, 79 assists) in 267 games for Tampa Bay over five seasons and won two Stanley Cups. … Jan RutaD: He signed a three-year contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 13. He had 18 points (three goals, 15 assists) in 76 regular season games and five points (one goal, four assists) in 17 playoff games. Rutta also helped the Lightning win the Cup in 2020 and 2021.

On the doorstep

Cole KoepkeF: The 24-year-old, a sixth-round pick (No. 183) in the 2018 NHL Draft, had 39 points (20 goals, 19 assists) in 69 games for Syracuse of the American Hockey League last season. … Gage GoncalvesF: Selected in the second round (No. 62) of the 2020 NHL Draft, the 21-year-old had 32 points (17 goals, 15 assists) in 70 games for Syracuse. … Gabriel FortierF: The 22-year-old was a second-round pick (No. 59) in the 2018 draft. With Syracuse, he had 35 points (14 goals, 21 assists) in 72 games.

What they still need

Good health and improved scoring from the third line tops the Lightning’s wish list. Front Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov each missed time last season, and center Anthony Cirelli and linebacker Zach Bogosian are expected to miss the first two months of this season recovering from shoulder surgeries. Scoring 20 goals Brandon Hagel and Ross Colton on the third line should increase production there.

Video: TBL@NYR, Gm5: Hagel scores in 3rd period

They said it

“I don’t think we’re done chasing Stanley Cups here. We’re shaping up to be a really competitive team for the foreseeable future, and hopefully the stars will align for us again at some point and we can bring the Stanley Cup back to Tampa Bay.” . — general manager Julien BriseBois

Imagination focus

Defender Mikhail Sergachev He hasn’t had 40 points since his 2017-18 rookie season, but he could return to that range in a bigger role after the McDonagh trade. Sergatsev signed an eight-year contract with Tampa Bay on July 13, had the best points per game average (0.43, 10 in 23 games) of his NHL playoff career (minimum five games) and was sixth on the Lightning in power-play points per 60 minutes (3.54) last season. He should be considered a fringe top-30 fantasy defenseman and a solid contender for this season. — Anna Dua