The Tampa Bay Lightning are one of the most talented teams in the National Hockey League. They’re fast, experienced, well-coached, and “know what it takes” to win in the postseason having lifted Lord Stanley’s mug last summer inside the NHL bubble.
In addition to their star-studded roster which includes the likes of Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Victor Hedman, Steven Stamkos, and Andrei Vasilevskiy, this is a team that possesses several talented players who consistently “fly under the radar.” Let’s take a closer look and pinpoint three unsung heroes on the Bolts roster.
1) Yanni Gourde, C, Age 29
First up on our list is one of the most underappreciated players in hockey. Born and raised in Saint Narcisse-de-Beaurivage, Quebec, Gourde is just one of those players who put his head down and goes to work-night in and night out. He’s also a guy who treats every game like it’s Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. Talk about playing the game the right way.
They say size isn’t everything in hockey. Try telling that to Gourde. Listed at a diminutive 5’9, 175 pounds, Gourde plays with fierce competitiveness and a neverending engine. When you talk about the hallmarks of a player, Gourde has the work ethic, drive, skill, and skating ability that is an absolute dream for any coach or teammate.
On the other side of the equation, he’s an absolute nightmare to play against. Fresh off a Stanley Cup triumph with the Bolts last summer, Gourde has once again put up an impressive season in 2020-21. In (all) 56 games this year, he tallied 17 goals and 36 points with a plus-10 rating playing 17:04 per night. Gourde is the picture-perfect role model on a vastly talented Lightning team that’s just oozing with skill. When you talk about unsung heroes, look no further than Mr. Gourde.
2) Ross Colton, C, Age 24
Next up is Robbinsville, New Jersey native. Every once in a while, a player comes out of absolute nowhere and ends up playing a major role for his team. 24-year-old Colton is one of those players.
Drafted in the fourth round (118th overall) in 2016, Colton has been nothing short of spectacular this season in sunny Tampa. For starters, he’s a wonderful skater with a real powerful motor to him. I guess all those practices skating (and learning) alongside fellow centermen Gourde and Anthony Cirelli have worked wonders. In addition to his work ethic, Colton is a very intelligent player in all three zones. He sees the ice well, reacts accordingly, and is super-responsible for a rookie skater.
On a team like Tampa, guys like Colton certainly fall through the cracks. How could they not with Point, Kucherov, Hedman, and Stamkos playing ahead of him? Be that as it may, that hasn’t stopped nor derailed Colton at all this season.
Colton tallied nine goals and 12 points this past season in just 30 games played, from a statistical standpoint. He also finished the campaign with a plus-3 rating in just 10:34 worth of ice time. Not too shabby for a fourth-liner on a super-stacked Tampa team now, wouldn’t you say? With the Lightning mired in a pivotal first-round series with their fellow state rivals, Florida Panthers, look for Colton to continue his strong play all series long. It certainly looks as though the Bolts have a real find on their hands in Colton.
3) Erik Cernak, D, Age 23
Cernak rounds out our list of Tampa Bay’s unsung heroes. The catch-phrase “tough as nails” describes the young Kosice, the Czech Republic native to a tee. There’s not much to dislike about one of Tampa Bay’s most important defensemen. He’s strong on the puck, good in his own end, and loves to lean on guys. Not only can Cernak “dish it out” from a physical standpoint, but he’s also super-reliable and trustworthy. A staple in head coach Jon Cooper’s top-four, Cernak is as well-rounded a blue-liner as they came in today’s NHL, much to the chagrin of opposing forwards entering the Lightning’s zone.
The 2020-21 campaign saw Cernak post-career-highs in a variety of categories including assists (13), points (18), and ice-time (19:47). Cernak has risen the depth chart with his strong, consistent play, and I don’t see him slowing down anytime soon.
This is a player who just keeps getting better and better. He’s confident, unfazed by the moment, and loves to play the game. As the playoffs progress (likely along with the Bolts), look for Cernak to continue to be a key cog down in Tampa. Unsung hero? Oh, you can definitely say that again, hockey fans.
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