How Newly Acquired Forward Jakob Pelletier Can Carve Out A Role With The Lightning

The Tampa Bay Lightning have had a particularly quiet offseason, signing smaller dollar amount contracts with low-risk, but high-reward players. No signing highlights that philosophy more than Jakob Pelletier. 

The 24-year-old left-winger is a former first-round pick of the Calgary Flames who has shown flashes of positive results but has struggled to stay healthy. 

The Lightning signed Pelletier to a three-year, two-way contract, which will allow the Lightning to send him down to the AHL without the use of waivers. Throughout his career, Pelletier has dominated the AHL, scoring 51 goals and 130 points in 139 games. 

His time in the NHL has been a bit of a different story, scoring 11 goals and 29 points in 86 appearances, but his best traits could help him carve out a role within the Lightning's bottom six as early as this season. Although he is listed at just 5-foot-11, 181 pounds, Pelletier plays a physical game, finishes his checks on the forecheck and remains engaged on the backcheck. He's a good skater with wonderful playmaking instincts and vision, which could help the Lightning improve their bottom-six scoring.

Currently, the projected makeup of the bottom six predicts to be some combination of Gage Goncalves, Nick Paul, Connor Geekie, Pontus Holmberg, Yanni Gourde, Zemgus Girgensons and Michael Chaffee. Outside of Paul, Gourde and possibly Goncalves, no forward is stapled to a spot in the lineup, which creates healthy competition and forces each player to be at their best at all times.

Throughout an 82-game season, players will have ups and downs, and the organization will suffer several injuries, which should provide Pelletier an avenue to make his mark. A strong training camp and preseason will go a long way for the Quebec native as he looks to move his way up the depth chart. 

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