The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated their outdated captain, Steven Stamkos, and the Nashville Predators in additional time on dwelling ice on Monday evening (Oct. 28) in one of many greatest video games of the season. Stamkos’s offseason substitute (Jake Guentzel) fed a phenomenal cross-crease go to Nick Paul, who tapped dwelling the game-winner for the Lightning. Monday evening’s sport was crammed with emotion, because the membership begins passing the torch to the subsequent technology of gamers.
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Rookie Conor Geekie is important to the subsequent technology of Bolts. The Lightning acquired this blue-chip prospect within the Mikhail Sergachev commerce over the summer time. The 6-foot-4 ahead tore up the Western Hockey League (WHL) on the Canadian Junior A degree with dominant performances as a member of the Winnipeg Ice, Wenatchee Wild, and Swift Present Broncos (by way of EliteProspects).
Geekie’s Early Season Manufacturing and Possession Numbers
Spending two seasons after his draft date on the junior degree, Geekie performed simply two American Hockey League playoff video games with the Tucson Roadrunners earlier than making the bounce to the NHL with Tampa Bay. In his first 9 NHL video games, Geekie has a aim and an help. Whereas his level manufacturing isn’t fairly there but, anticipated from a rookie with minimal professional expertise, he’s been a crucial piece to the roster. Beginning in a third-line position, he joined the highest six with Brandon Hagel and Anthony Cirelli. Because the change, his on-ice possession numbers have sky-rocketed.
Geekie ranks fifth on the Lightning in anticipated targets for share (xGF%), controlling 55.08% of the on-ice share. The Lightning produced 17 high-danger shot makes an attempt whereas surrendering 14 towards (HDCF%) with Geekie on the ice at 5-on-5 (by way of NaturalStatTrick). Nevertheless, he’s not closely relied on within the defensive zone by head coach Jon Cooper.
His 8.84 defensive zone begin share (DZS%) ranks eleventh of 13 Lightning forwards. Cooper depends on his defensive facilities, like Luke Glendening and Cirelli, to clear pucks out of the zone on a defensive zone draw. With time, I anticipate Geekie’s position to proceed to extend as he builds a relationship with the teaching workers.
Geekie’s Early Season Microstats Report Card
I plan to hand-track microstats for the Lightning all through the 2024-25 season. This dataset will embrace knowledge factors resembling passes, zone entries, and extra stats the NHL doesn’t cowl. I’ll proceed to share my findings all through the season, so keep tuned for updates.
I’ve lined two video games at five-on-five for the Lightning this season (Oct. 11 and Oct. 15), and Geekie’s been efficient on zone entries with possession. He’s tied for fifth in zone entry carry-ins amongst the Lightning forwards. Nevertheless, it’s what he does following the managed entry that impressed me probably the most. He’s discovering his open teammates off the frenzy and producing scoring possibilities. His three-zone entry passes rank third on the group (forwards solely), and his two rush photographs rank tied for second (forwards solely). The rookie is enjoying with confidence within the early levels of his NHL profession, as he’s solely dumped the puck as soon as on 5 zone entries, giving Geekie a managed zone entry share of 80%.
An space the place Geekie can sharpen his sport is the defensive zone on the boards. Whereas he was a middle in his junior days, he should belief his dimension and pace alongside the wall. Geekie has three-zone exit clears in comparison with no managed zone exits (the participant skates the puck out of the defensive zone with possession). Moreover, he’s didn’t exit the zone twice, which signifies he might be stronger on the puck.
What’s Subsequent for Geekie?
The primary 9 NHL video games for the Lightning’s prized rookie have been strong. Geekie has made a reputation for himself within the lineup and has the toolbox to turn into a strong secondary scorer by the tip of the season. He’s the greatest prospect the group has seen in years, and the sky is the restrict for the 20-year-old ahead. The Lightning proceed their season Wednesday evening (Oct. 30) towards Nathan MacKinnon and the Colorado Avalanche.
