The Tampa Bay Lightning’s subsequent era of expertise is beginning to take form. Whereas Michigan standout and first-round choose Isaac Howard has been the discuss for a few years now, ahead Conor Geekie has now joined the ranks.
Geekie was drafted the identical 12 months as Howard (2022) however 20 spots forward of him at Eleventh general by the Arizona Coyotes. The Lightning acquired Geekie from the Utah Hockey Membership within the Mikhail Sergachev commerce, and he immediately turned a part of the group’s long-term plans.
Geekie’s Background
First, he’s the youthful brother of Boston Bruins middle Morgan Geekie. Each are forwards, however the youthful Geekie is poised to succeed in a fair higher degree within the NHL. Up to now, he has two skilled video games on his resume – two playoff video games for the Tuscon Roadrunners during which he had zero factors – so we’ll take a look at his junior profession to present Lightning followers a greater thought of his background and what he can deliver to the desk.
Geekie was drafted second general by the Winnipeg ICE of the Western Hockey League (WHL) in 2019. He was simply 14 years previous.
“Conor is simply such an athlete, multi-sport athlete nonetheless,” former ICE basic supervisor Matt Cockell mentioned when Geekie was drafted. “He’s creating and goes to have an amazing launch, nice imaginative and prescient. He sees the ice tremendously effectively, has an enormous body and we’re excited so as to add him to our workforce” (from “WHL DRAFT: Ice draft Savoie first-overall, commerce as much as take Manitoba’s Geekie with second choose,” Winnipeg Solar, Might 2, 2019).
In his first “full” season in 2020-21 – shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic – Geekie tallied 23 factors in 24 video games. The one rookie to do higher was Connor Bedard – not dangerous when the longer term consensus first-overall choose is the one participant forward of you.
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Each season after, Geekie averaged over some extent per sport. In 2023-24, he had his breakout 12 months with 43 targets and 56 assists in 55 video games break up between the Wenatchee Wild (the ICE relocated that season) and the Swift Present Broncos. After that season, Geekie opted to signal his entry-level contract.
He represented Canada within the World Juniors in January. In 5 video games, he had two targets and three factors; a decent efficiency for his first time on the world stage.
He was pleasantly stunned to be acquired by the Lightning. “It was loopy. I used to be actually simply laying in mattress and received the telephone name,” Geekie mentioned of discovering out in regards to the commerce. “I sort of was a bit star-struck at first” (from “New Lightning prime prospect Conor Geekie hopes to make leap to NHL,” Tampa Bay Instances, July 2, 2024). He additionally mentioned he’s trying ahead to being a part of the motion in Tampa Bay: “In the event you take a look at Tampa and what they’re doing and what they’re bringing in, I’m excited to sort of be part of the whole lot.”
Geekie Will Profit From Becoming a member of the Lightning
The Lightning will profit from having a prime prospect who has a robust offensive upside and makes good use of his dimension. Nonetheless, he’ll probably begin with the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League (AHL). This can give him the prospect to develop additional and adapt to the skilled degree. Regardless of being an Eleventh-overall choose, he was thought-about a venture on the time of the draft. He had stable offensive capacity and stick-handling abilities, however he wanted work on his skating and protection. Whereas he has come a good distance since then, and the numbers present it, there’s no have to rush him.
Geekie is now a member of a workforce identified for his or her capacity to develop expertise. The Lightning have been benefiting from their mid-round picks, and now they get to work that magic with a blue-chip prospect. He would possibly make sending him to the AHL a troublesome alternative after developmental camp, coaching camp, and the preseason, however the focus will likely be on his long-term growth. The reward is that top.
After a few years, the Lightning now have the following era of stars within the making. Geekie is predicted to be a part of that subsequent core that may deliver one other Stanley Cup to Tampa Bay.
