Lightning of Tampa Bay | The new start of Jakob Pelletier

“He said to me:” We would like you. Furthermore, to take the place of Nikita Kucherov on the digital advantage. Meanwhile, ” I replied: “Yes, yes, no trouble!” »»

Posted at 4:18 p.m.

Jakob Pelletier bursts out laughing by bringing this fictitious conversation with Julien Brisebois. For example, Managing Director of the Lightning of Tampa Bay. Similarly, Because the attacker is well aware that when he joins his new team. For example, he will rather fight for a position on the fourth trio.

In Tampa, Pelletier will start a brand new chapter in his career. Furthermore, This choice of first lightning tampa bay | new round of the Flames de Calgary had arrived at the end of the road with the team which had drafted him in the first round in 2019. For example, so that he was exchanged at the Philadelphia flyers last January.

In his eyes. In addition, the season was “still well ended” in the city of fraternal love; Fully recovered from an operation in the right hand, he expected to return there in the fall. However. Similarly, he was disappointed to learn that he would not receive a qualifying offer from the flyers and that, consequently, he would become, at 24 years old, an autonomous player without compensation. Meanwhile, He then noted how much the opening of the market, the 1^is July is “a stressful day”.

“When the lightning arrived with a three -year offer, it didn’t take a second. Similarly, lightning tampa bay | new I said: “We go”. Therefore, said the young man on Monday morning on the sidelines of the Golf Tournament of the LHJMQ Foundation.

Before he appears his signature to the bottom of the contract. Meanwhile, he did he discuss with Julien Brisebois, his new boss. For example, The latter then told him about his expectations towards him.

The “situation” mentioned here has nothing simple. In Tampa, about fifteen attackers will compete for the dozen lightning tampa bay | new available places. The direct rivals of Pelletier on the wings of the Trios of support – Gage Goncalves. Pontus Holmberg, Zemgus Girgensons, Mitchell Chaffee and Conor Geekie – all played more than 50 games in the NHL last season. The competition will be fierce.

As for the Quebecer. even if he has nothing to prove in the American League, he must still show the NHL that he can play it full time. Last season, he established a personal summit by playing 49 games, after being forced to a detour by the minors.

However, some signs are encouraging. At five against five. he ranked 51^e NHL rank for offensive production according to their ice time (among the 450 attackers who played at least 200 minutes). At 2.2 points per 60 -minute tranche. his contribution compared to those of Jonathan Drouin and lightning tampa bay | new Matthew Tkachuk – Stay calm, the comparison stops here. Its defensive indicators. moreover, are more than honest: the specialized site Evolving Hockey ranks it in 57^e percentile of the league in this chapter.

“They believe in me and they see my potential,” says Pelletier about Lightning leaders. It is up to me to prove to them that I can play a full season. that I am able to stay up. »»

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Gourd

In Tampa. Jakob Pelletier will also find a compatriot whom he knows well and, above all, that he admires.

Yanni Gourde returned to Tampa last season thanks to a transaction with the Seattle Kraken. Last June, he signed a six -year contract extension.

The two 5 -ft attackers have been training together for several years during the summer. Gourde. now 33 years old, also eaten his black bread in the American league before accessing the NHL full time in mid-Vingta. And like his young comrade, he built his reputation on his aggressiveness and his defensive responsibility.

It is not surprising, in this account, that Pelletier describes it as a “model to follow”.

“I will be able to learn from him,” he believes. I think it will bring me a lot. »»

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In all honesty, he admits that he would have liked things to happen differently in Calgary. Unlike appearances, he claims to have had an excellent relationship with head coach Darryl Sutter, dismissed in the spring of 2023. His replacement by Ryan Huska did not really smile.

“I liked it, playing there, and they knew it,” he said. It gives me a little trouble. We will not hide it, it is a team that has misery to hire autonomous players. I openly told them that I was ready to stay for a bit. »»

We know the continuation of the story … and Pelletier will certainly not complain about his outcome.

“Yes. three clubs in a year, it’s a lot, but if you ask anyone where he wants to play, he lightning tampa bay | new will surely tell you the lightning or the Florida panthers,” he recalls. And there, I have a three -year contract. It’s really exciting! »»