The Tampa Bay Lightning’s development system was largely a wasteland for most of the team’s history. Young and promising players didn’t work out or were packaged in trade deals to other teams. One of the most exciting things about the current management team is seeing that turn around. Tampa Bay’s system is now ranked as one of the best in the NHL and their draft savvy is paying off in the big leagues. This is clearly evident in two rookies who are finalists for this year’s Calder Trophy: Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat.
Both young players have had rocky roads to the show. Ondrej Palat was selected in the seventh round of the 2011 Entry Draft. Of the 211 players selected, he was taken 208th. Tyler Johnson went undrafted due to his size until being signed to a free agent contract by Tampa Bay in 2011. Both progressed and grew in the AHL. They moved on to take the Lightning and the rest of the league by storm.Let’s pretend the Bolts could give away their version of the Calder Trophy. Who would ultimately take home the Rookie of the Year prize?
Tyler Johnson’s young career has garnered a number of honors based on his exceptional play. His debut NHL season continued that trend. Johnson scored 24 goals, tying a franchise record and tying Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon for most goals among rookies. He led all rookies in ice time and faceoff percentage. His five shorthanded goals tied him for the league lead in that category. Johnson is the first undrafted player to be named a Calder Finalist since Ed Belfour in 1991.
Ondrej Palat’s emergence has surprised pretty much everyone given his late draft status. He finished the season second among rookie scorers with 59 points. That’s just three shy of Brad Richards’ franchise rookie record of 62 from the 2000-01 season. Palat led all first ear players in scoring after January 1. He also chugged along at a point per game pace from January to April. The NHL named him rookie of the month for January and March. He also led all first year players in plus-minus with a +32. Palat’s eight game scoring streak from December 23 to Jan.uary9 was the longest ever by a Lightning rookie.
There are compelling arguments to be made for both players. Tyler Johnson may be small in stature, but his speed is extremely dangerous. Overall he had a better season than his teammate and put in excellent work on special teams. Palat quickly matured into a well rounded player in addition to his offensive flash. He isn’t afraid to use his physicality when needed. Johnson fears no man and isn’t afraid to mix it up when needed.
Both young men had incredible seasons, but if there can be only one winner in this hypothetical Calder race, it would have to be Ondrej Palat. He accumulated most of his points without seeing time on the power play, something that only changed after the Martin St. Louis trade. The team missed him incredibly in the opening games of the playoff series against Montreal. He had an absolutely electrifying year, becoming one of the most dynamic and reliable scorers on the roster. It’s a close contest, but Palat has the edge here.
At the end of the day, it will be surprising if either Lightning player brings home the trophy in Las Vegas this summer. That doesn’t really matter though. Tampa’s careful nurturing of their development system is starting to yield impressive results on the sport’s biggest stage. Players like Palat and Johnson won’t be rookies forever and they’ll only get better. Hopefully that will help the Bolts secure some even better hardware in the not too distant future.
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