Did the Lightning go off the board on day two of the NHL Draft?

By Erik Erlendsson | @Erik_Erlendsson | Like us on Facebook
June 24, 2017

Chicago – The Lightning draft table lacked much action on Saturday as the NHL Draft concluded with rounds two through seven inside the United Center.

The only noticeable activity came when Director of Scouting Al Murray would rise from his chair and go around to the other side of the table in the few minutes before Tampa Bay was scheduled to make a selection as Murray made a quick poll to ensure the rest of the staff was on board.

So the Lightning entered the day with five picks and ended the day making five selections – two defenseman and three forwards. Among them a pair of Russian players, including one that appeared to be off the conventional board.

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Tampa Bay selected Alexander Volkov, an overage player who was not on the radar of many draft experts, with the 48th overall pick. The soon-to-be, 20-year-old winger was limited in his play during the 2016-17 season due to a broken foot, which kept him off the Russian World Junior team this past season.

But Murray was able to get a good read on Volkov during the 2017 Canada/Russia series, which features games between junior eligible players from Russia and play two games each against teams from the QMJHL, OHL and WHL.

”Every single game he was the best player on Russia and one of the best players in the game playing against the best players from Canada,’’ Murray said. “It’s a great opportunity to evaluate those late-blooming Russian players. He would have been a lock for the World Junior team until he took a shot off his foot and broke his foot then ended up missing a big portion of the season.’’

But that didn’t really keep interest in Volkov down, according to Murray.

”We weren’t the only team in on him,’’ Murray said. “As you go through the draft process and talk to other teams . . . and my feeling was there were probably about a half-dozen teams that were looking to draft him in the third round. He ended up being at the spot we wanted to take him and we got a player we are pretty excited about.’’

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound forward is not currently under contract in Russia, which makes him eligible to sign a deal right away with Tampa Bay. Murray said Volkov intends to be at next week’s prospect summer camp at the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon. Assuming the Lightning sign him to his entry level deal, Volkov would be eligible to play with Syracuse of the American Hockey League starting in the 2017-18 season.

Tampa Bay’s third round pick is also expected to come to North America next season, Alexey Lipanov, chosen in the third round with the 76th overall pick. Another Russia, Lipanov has his junior rights owned by Barrie in the Ontario Hockey League and the undersized forward is expected to come and join the Colts with the expectation that next year’s projected top overall pick, Andrei Svechnikov. Lipanov served as Svechnikov’s center at international tournaments and the later is expected to be taken by Barrie with the first pick in the CHL Import draft.

Lipanov, whom some expected to be a late first round or second round pick, carries a strong all-around game with him, even if nothing special stands out.

”We were kind of surprised he fell and I’m not really sure why,’’ Murray said. “Why he fell is a very strange one for us, but he’s a good kid. He’s already (in North America), he speaks English, he wants to play in North America and wants to be an NHL player. It was an easy pick for us when he was still there in the third round.’’

Tampa Bay did not have a pick in either the fourth or the fifth round, but with three picks in the final two rounds turned to Minnesota with three players three college-bound players set to play college hockey in Minnesota.

With the 169th overall pick, Tampa Bay selected 6-foot-2, 190-pound defenseman Nick Perbix from Elk River High School where he served as team captain and posted 10 goals and 40 points. He is committed to play at St. Cloud State.

Center Cole Guttman is also scheduled to attend St. Cloud State after playing last season with Dubuque in the United States Hockey League, scoring 27 goals and 54 points in 53 games. A native of Northridge, Calif., Guttman finished the season second in the league among rookies in goals and points.

Tampa Bay’s final choice in the draft was forward Sam Walker from Edina High School, selected with the 200th overall pick. The captain of his high school team had 44 goals and 89 points in 75 games over three seasons with Edina. He appeared in four games with Lincoln in the USHL. Walker is scheduled to attend the University of Minnesota starting in 2018-19.

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