The Tampa Bay Lightning shall be again in motion this season with a brand new dynamic. The workforce added and subtracted this offseason, with gamers like Steven Stamkos and Mikhail Sergachev leaving and Jake Guentzel and J.J. Moser coming in.
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With all of the adjustments, we are going to assessment a number of the roster’s essential gamers’ efficiency from final season, their roles and expectations for this season. At this time, we are going to cowl one of many Lightning’s new offensive weapons — Cam Atkinson, who came to visit from the Philadelphia Flyers.
Recapping Atkinson’s 2023-24 Marketing campaign
Atkinson was a strong middle-six ahead for Flyers head coach John Tortorella final season after lacking the complete 2022-23 marketing campaign with an harm. He ranked eighth in factors amongst Flyers forwards, notching 13 targets and 28 factors in 70 video games. Atkinson might have been slightly unfortunate final season with only a 7.81 capturing proportion (Sh%) at 5-on-5, the third-lowest of his profession. However he spent the season juggling between quite a few strains with gamers like Owen Tippett, Morgan Frost, and Joel Farabee. Nevertheless, he discovered probably the most success offensively with defensive heart Sean Couturier.
Tortorella deployed Atkinson everywhere in the lineup final season however all the time had him play towards the opponent’s prime strains, which in all probability wasn’t the very best resolution provided that his defensive recreation is depleting with age. Whereas he carried out effectively in a small 94-minute pattern measurement on the penalty kill, his 5-on-5 defensive recreation was less than velocity to face a number of the NHL’s elite offensive abilities. Atkinson typically performed the second or third most minutes an evening amongst Flyers’ forwards whereas generally being buried within the backside six. We hope head coach Jon Cooper could have a extra constant position for Atkinson in Tampa Bay.
The 35-year-old has created offense off the frenzy together with his velocity and mushy arms all through his profession and translated his zone entries into passing performs and scoring probabilities final season. Including passes on the assault means his scoring ought to enhance.
Corey Sznajder at All Three Zones discovered that rush alternatives following an offensive-zone move are 2.3x extra prone to covert and 5x extra prone to face a non-set goaltender. Atkinson ranked within the 99th percentile of rush offense per 60 amongst forwards final season in Sznajder’s dataset. He was additionally elite within the normal offense class, rating within the higher echelon of scoring probability assists and contributions.
Atkinson’s Position for the 2024-25 Season
With the highest line of Guentzel, Brayden Level, and Nikita Kucherov set in stone, the remainder of the Lightning ahead core is extensive open with alternatives. Brandon Hagel and Anthony Cirelli will stay collectively on the second line, because the duo discovered outstanding chemistry at 5-on-5 and on the penalty kill final season. Nevertheless, Atkinson is unlikely to be the participant Cooper performs with the younger dominant duo. Whereas Every day Faceoff tasks Atkinson to start out the season on the second-line proper wing, Conor Sheary continues to take reps with the second line throughout coaching camp.
These top-six mixtures go away Atkinson in a third-line position with two-way heart Nick Paul. The previous Ottawa Senators ahead is in an analogous place to Atkinson, as each are improbable third-line choices however less than velocity with the tempo of the top-six. With all of the accidents Atkinson has endured, the veteran is greatest match for a third-line scoring position.
Plus, we discovered Atkinson put up his greatest possession numbers with a participant like Couturier in Philadelphia final season. When he was out with expert wingers like Tippet and Farabee, the road’s defensive outcomes tanked. Atkinson performed the Lightning’s first pre-season recreation with Paul and Mitchell Chaffee on his line, which seems just like the Lightning’s mixture heading into opening evening.
Expectations for Atkinson’s 2024-25 Season
Count on Atkinson’s offensive numbers to look just like final season. A stat line of round 15 targets and 30-35 factors is cheap for his projected third-line right-wing position. Nevertheless, if he lands a spot on the second line, don’t rule out a bounce-back 40-point marketing campaign if he can stay wholesome. He’s a dependable middle-six veteran on an economical deal for Tampa Bay. Atkinson is a improbable short-term depth pick-up for the Lightning this season, which we’re excited to see in motion.
