• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Tampa Bay Lightning

Is Now the Time for Lightning’s Koekkoek?

By Steven DiOssi October 31st, 2016

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

The Tampa Bay Lightning recalled defenseman Slater Koekkoek from the American Hockey League’s Syracuse Crunch on Tuesday. The Lightning assigned defenseman Matt Taormina to Syracuse in a corresponding move.

The decision to bring Koekkoek back up to the Lightning, who are in the midst of a three-game losing streak, immediately raises the question: Is it Koekkoek’s time?

Earning the Opportunity

The decision to bring Koekkoek back up to the Lightning makes sense and he will have an opportunity to prove himself and earn the number six spot — currently occupied by Nikita Nesterov — or alternatively, receive some playing time when head coach Jon Cooper opts to dress seven defensemen, as he does from time to time.

Nikita Nesterov

Nikita Nesterov is the Lightning’s number six defenseman. (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Koekkoek made the Lightning’s roster out of training camp but was a healthy scratch during the team’s first three games. The 22-year-old blueliner was sent down to the Crunch to give him an opportunity to receive regular playing time in the AHL as opposed to sitting in the press box in the NHL — not because he wasn’t ready to play at this level.

Koekkoek played five games with the Crunch and registered assists and was a plus-three, while the Lightning did not dress Taormina.

At the time Koekkoek was sent down, the Lightning had notched three wins to open the season and Cooper said he was happy with how his current roster was playing. Six games later, however, the timing is right for Koekkoek to receive a chance to play. He is a strong skater and could be the sort of defenseman that helps prevent some of the breakaways and odd-man rushes that were part of what lead to a 6-1 loss against the New York Rangers on Sunday.

The Lightning would not be recalling Koekkoek to have him sit in the same press box they wanted to keep him out of being in six games ago. The team is not in trouble at this point in the season, but general manager Steve Yzerman and Cooper see an opportunity to bring up Koekkoek and give him a chance to play. It could be just the sort of situation Koekkoek needs to become a regular member of the Lightning’s roster.

Developing into an NHL Defenseman

Koekkoek was drafted by the Lightning 10th overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft — despite undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery during his draft year. Unlike Victor Hedman, who made the immediate jump to the NHL after being drafted second overall in the 2009 draft, the Ontario native’s development has been brought on a little bit slower.

Koekkoek played a combined four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League with the Peterborough Petes and the Windsor Spitfires before beginning his professional hockey career in 2014-15 with the Crunch. Koekkoek tallied five goals and 21 assists in 72 regular season games in the AHL. He also saw his first action in the NHL when he skated in three games with the Lightning and registered two penalty minutes.

Koekkoek followed with five goals and 10 assists in 60 games with the Crunch in 2015-16 he and played nine games with the Lightning during the regular season. He scored his first NHL point — an assist — and added two penalty minutes.

The 6’2″, 198-pound defenseman really began to turn heads during the Lightning’s 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs run. After Anton Stralman went down with a leg injury, Koekkoek played 10 games with the NHL club and registered an assist, while also being called upon in important situations. He stepped into the playoffs when the team was down their number two defenseman and showed he was NHL-ready.

Looking Ahead

While no one knows for sure whether Koekkoek will ultimately stay with the Lightning after receiving this call, what Monday’s move signifies is the realization that he is getting the chance to show why he should.  The Lightning play the New York Islanders on Tuesday and Koekkoek will almost certainly be in a Lightning uniform to make his season debut — the 13th NHL regular season game of his career.

If Koekkoek is able to play like the defenseman he was during the 2016 playoffs and like the player who earned his way onto the team’s roster to open this season, don’t be surprised if Koekkoek’s return to the Lightning is a long one.

  • Tags
  • Jon Cooper
  • Slater Koekkoek
  • Steve Yzerman
  • Top Story
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 15th 6:25 PM
Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens’ Romanov Fired Up to Face Oilers’ McDavid and Draisaitl

Jan 15th 6:00 PM
San Jose Sharks

Sharks’ Second Line Shines in Season Opener

Jan 15th 5:50 PM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs’ Marner Looking to Add Goals to His Stats

Jan 15th 5:35 PM
Buffalo Sabres

Three Takeaways from the Sabres’ Season Opener

Jan 15th 4:50 PM
Edmonton Oilers

Oilers News and Rumors: Smith, Barrie, Forsberg, Puljujarvi, More

Jan 15th 4:40 PM
Edmonton Oilers

Oilers Have Rough Season Opener but No Need to Panic

Jan 15th 4:20 PM
Column

Jets News & Rumors: Scheifele, Laine, Hellebuyck, Lewis & Quicksand

Jan 15th 4:10 PM
New York Rangers

Rangers Bring More of the Same in 2020-21 Opening Night

Jan 15th 3:45 PM
Column

Red Wings News & Rumors: Ryan, COVID, Markstrom & More

Jan 15th 3:30 PM
Boston Bruins

2020-21 Season Openers: Flames Lose Again, Islanders & Capitals Excel

Editor’s Picks
World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information