Lightning’s Eyssimont injury creates opportunity for Girgensons and Ylonen – Hockey Writers – Tampa Bay Lightning

The Tampa Bay Lightning will be without two deep forwards when the 2024-25 season opens. Mike Eyssimot and Luke Glendening continue to participate in practice in their non-contact jerseys. Eyssimot is dealing with a physical injury, while Glendening is on the tail end due to a physical injury at the end of last season. Their absence left Mbane’s six players open.

Related: 3 Takeaways From the Lightning’s Rookie Showcase

Young players like Conor Geekie, Gage Goncalves, and Maxim Groshev are still fighting for a roster spot and have looked solid throughout the preseason, while Logan Brown has also made his mark. However, Zemgus Girgensons and Jesse Ylonen have a good chance to step into a deep role. General manager Julien BriseBois signed both players in free agency over the summer.

Girgensons career with the Buffalo Sabres

Zemgus Girgensons could be a bright spot among the weak under-six players heading into this season. The veteran spent his entire NHL career with the Buffalo Sabers and signed a three-year deal with Tampa Bay in the offseason. He brings a strong two-way game and can play in the center or on the wing. He can also deliver a scoring punch if needed. The Latvian forward recorded eight goals and six assists for 14 points in 63 games last season.

With a better program, the Girgensons could blossom for the Lightning, coached by one of the league’s best minds, Jon Cooper. He’s on a relatively inexpensive contract compared to other bottom six hitters who offer similar results, and this preseason, he’s been paired with another player on the opening night roster, Ylonen.

Jesse Ylonen Can Expand His Skill Set

The 35th overall pick from the 2018 NHL Entry Draft did not perform well last season, but a decrease in time on ice (TOI) with the Montreal Canadiens was the root of the problem. His TOI dropped by more than three minutes compared to the 2022-23 season. This decline may explain why he scored half the points in 22 more games, with four goals and four assists in 59 games.

Ylonen has the talent to be a middle-six winger for the Lightning. His role in Montreal has prevented him from developing his skills, but with a change of scenery, he may succeed. He plays the perimeter, using boards and corners to move the puck into position. He is an important player in the forehead, which made him a good partner for the Girgensons. That being said, will these two forwards be on the opening night lineup?

Girgensons and Ylonen Look Strong in Preseason

In the Lightning’s 3-1 preseason win over the Florida Panthers on Monday, Girgensons and Ylonen rode a bike with youngster Groshev and were on top of the team’s first goal. The line was controlling the pace of play – over 50% marks in all possession metrics such as Corsi percentage (CF%) and expected goals percentage (xGF%). Individually and together, the Girgensons and Ylonen have become Tampa Bay’s bottom six pieces.

While there is no expected return for Eyssimot and Glendening, the Lightning appear to have several options to fill in for injured players up front. Given the opportunity, Girgensons and Ylonen will make the Lightning bottom-six difficult to play against. Tampa Bay lacked the ability in the bottom-six to control play and trouble opposing teams last season. The team has plugged in the next best player and hopes to stop the game until the top players are back on the ice. However, with some new pieces, the Lightning can rely on their depth players more often in tough situations and may get another layer of scoring, but many questions remain.