Promising Lightning Prospect Can't Be Slept On

The Tampa Bay Lightning are not necessarily known for sporting the deepest of prospect pools. While this is the case, they have some intriguing youngsters who fans should keep an eye on during the 2024-25 season.

One specific Lightning prospect who needs to be watched incredibly closely is forward Gage Goncalves.

Goncalves doesn’t get discussed too often around the league, but that ought to change. The 23-year-old forward has been quietly improving down in the American Hockey League each season, and this carried over to the 2023-24 campaign.

Goncalves, 23, had an excellent 2023-24 campaign with the Syracuse Crunch, posting 13 goals and a career-high and team-leading 58 points in 69 games. Due to this impressive season, he also participated in the AHL All-Star Game.

With numbers like these, it is fair to argue that Goncalves could have a shot to earn a spot in the Lightning’s bottom six with a strong training camp. At a minimum, he will be a decent call-up option for when injuries arise.

However, when looking at Goncalves’ play, it is hard not to feel some excitement about his future. His playmaking skills are evident, and he could have a future as a top-nine forward with the Bolts later down the road. It will be intriguing to see how big of a step forward he takes in 2024-25 from here.

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