DESTINATION PETRY: TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

Jeff Petry graduated college, signed with the Edmonton Oilers and worked his way to the NHL. Once there, he began the long process of learning the game of defense at that level—something that we all know takes a long time. Now that he’s there, NHL teams are waiting to cash in on the second portion of his career, known in other cities as “the heart” which features several productive seasons.

One of those teams: the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Last deadline the Lightning made news with the massive Martin St. Louis trade, in which their famous winger was dealt to the Big Apple. In return, GM Steve Yzerman acquired Ryan Callahan, a first-round pick in the 2014 draft that turned into Josh Ho-Sang, a first-round pick in the 2015 draft and a seventh-round pick in the 2015 draft.

The Lightning may need a right-handed defender to go along with Anton Stralman and could use a two-way type like Petry. Yzerman is a bright guy too, meaning the club could make a rental trade and turn that asset into a fulltime player before free agency opens for business.

As you can see, this isn’t exactly a murderer’s row on the RH side for the Lightning. Stralman was a nice pickup in the summer but Sustr has not yet played 90 NHL games and Gudas doesn’t face tough zonestarts. What’s more, young Sustr is facing the toughest available competition according to BTN.

The Lightning’s possession numbers tell us their lefties (and Stralman) rank ahead of the right side blue (this is from Hockey Analysis) and the WOWY numbers tell us Hedman and Carle are most effective with Stralman. Garrison and Sustr make a good combination and I can see Yzerman acquiring Petry to play second pairing with Carle when everyone is healthy.

That would make the odd man out either Mark Barberio or Radko Gudas (and of course one of them would be No. 7 D). Gudas is a very physical defender who lacks puck-moving skills and Barberio is a skilled defender with some strength and coverage issues.

Jeff Petry to the Lightning is an interesting item for discussion.

As with the Los Angeles discussion earlier this week, it’s important to remember actual NHL players won’t be coming to Edmonton at the deadline.It’s picks or prospects. And the prospect is unlikely to be a blue chipper like the incredibly named Slater Koekkoek but more likely a pick outside the first round and/or a prospect along the lines of Jake Dotchin. 

As always, I remain hopeful the Oilers sign Petry. 

Previously in the series: