Ask Burnsie: Speculating on the Bolts' offseason plans

TampaBayLightning.com beat writer Bryan Burns will answer readers' most intriguing questions in a regular mailbag feature. Be sure to tweet questions to @bburnsnhl and include the hashtag #AskBurnsie to have your question answered in a future mailbag. If your question wasn't answered today, resubmit it in the future and we'll attempt to get it in for another edition. Have fun with your questions too; the more off-beat the query the better.

Do you think Yzerman will make any moves at the draft, not only to get some picks but to clear cap space for this offseason and next offseason? If yes, what scenarios could you see happening? (via @luke_finlay)
Tampa Bay doesn't own a first-round draft pick in 2018 after trading it to the New York Rangers in the trade deadline deal that brought defenseman Ryan McDonagh and forward J.T. Miller to the Lightning. But I wouldn't expect general manager Steve Yzerman to make a move to get back into the first round. Yzerman and his scouting staff really covet the second- and third-round picks. They feel if the staff does its due diligence scouting and evaluating, first round talent can be found in the second and third rounds.
A look at the last few drafts for the Lightning illustrates that point. Last year's second-round pick, Alexander Volkov, was kind of an unknown quantity when he was drafted but ended up playing 75 games for AHL Syracuse in 2017-18 and scoring 23 goals and recording 45 points, adding three more goals and six points in seven playoff games. Now Volkov is one of the Lightning's hottest prospects and might even make a push for playing time in Tampa Bay next season.
In 2016, the Lightning had three second-round picks, which they used to draft D Libor Hajek, F Boris Katchouk and F Taylor Raddysh. The Bolts used Hajek to sweeten the pot and make the McDonagh/Miller trade happen. Katchouk and Raddysh are viewed as future Lightning stars after impressive junior seasons and helping Canada win gold at the 2018 World Junior Championships.

Go back even further and you'll see Tampa Bay drafted Tony Cirelli in the third round of the 2015 draft. Brayden Point was a third round pick in 2014.
You can see where this is going.
The Lightning have done really well in the second and third rounds. Don't be surprised if Yzerman makes a move to acquire more picks in the second, third or even fourth round at this year's draft.
What would you say is generally the favorite NHL cities to travel to? Is that based on attractions and things to do, or just location & travel time? (via @tjdivito)
I think a lot of it depends on the hotel and whether that hotel is within walking distance of good restaurants, attractions, etc.
My favorite road trip cities are, in no particular order:
- Montreal (beautiful city, great neighborhoods to explore and maybe the best hotel in the League)
- Boston (hotel right in the heart of the North End; plenty of Italian food/seafood to choose from; maybe the most walkable city in the U.S.)
- Vancouver (can't beat the views across Vancouver Harbour to the snow-capped peaks on the other side)
- Chicago (If not the best hotel in the League, certainly top two and right in the heart of the Magnificent Mile with plenty of shops and restaurants nearby. Also, it's only a 30-minute subway ride to Half Acre, one of my favorite breweries anywhere)
Predict next season's 6 main D-men? (via @groutledge10)
In no particular order:
Victor Hedman
Anton Stralman
Dan Girardi
Ryan McDonagh
Mikhail Sergachev
Braydon Coburn

I know that's a boring answer, but I really don't see any changes to the top 6 D next season. All six are under contract and will be back barring a trade. The only way I see this changing is if the Lightning add another defenseman with NHL experience during the offseason. I think some roles could change among those top six, mainly, Sergachev building off a successful stint in his first playoffs and earning more responsibilities next season. But I think this group remains largely unchanged in 2018-19.
Where do you go for food/drinks when the Bolts come to Toronto? (via @tblgucks)
That's a tough one. I've only been to Toronto a handful of times and have yet to find a place I've fallen in love with. I had a pretty good meal at El Catrin in the Distillery District but couldn't tell you what I ordered. Our Digital Video Manager Gabe Marte (@GabeMarte21) swears by The Porchetta Sandwich at Porchetta & Co. and has me pretty hyped to try one on my next visit to The Six.
What should happen this offseason? (via @alex84716)
Rest, Alex. Lots and lots of rest.
What's your opinion of the Tampa Bay Brewing Company? I try to get there when I am in town for a game, love that Iron Stout, which has like a 12% alc content. Are there any other good craft beer places around the arena but are not a tourist trap type place? (@MMars1978)
I'm a fan of TBBC. I like their Reef Donkey American Pale Ale quite a bit. I actually go there often for lunch because I like sitting on the outside patio and their lunch offerings are tasty and reasonably priced.
As far as craft beer places around the arena, I would go with Angry Chair or 7venth Sun. They're both in Seminole Heights and you'll definitely have to drive/Uber from the arena to get there. But they're in my top five for craft beer breweries in the Bay Area (Cycle and Green Bench in St. Pete and Cigar City in Tampa round out that top five in case you were wondering).
Also, Pour House in the Channel District isn't a brewery but is a laid-back bar with one of the best beer selections in the area.
Excluding Cirelli and Erne, do you see any other rookies potentially pushing for spots next year? (via @tblgucks)
Mathieu Joseph led Syracuse for scoring in 2017-18, putting up 53 points over 70 games. I could see him getting a long look in training camp and an opportunity as a mid-season callup.
I think 2015 second-round draft pick Mitchell Stephens (hey look, another quality 2nd-round selection) is at the point in his career where it's time to see what he can do at the NHL level. I would expect he'll make his Tampa Bay debut at some point next season.

After a head-turning rookie season in the AHL, Alexander Volkov is another forward prospect to keep on the radar.
On the blue line, is last year's first-round draft pick Cal Foote ready to make the leap? He played in 13 games with the Crunch in the regular season and playoffs combined after his season in juniors with Kelowna was completed and recorded a pair of goals. If he gets off to a good start with the Crunch in 2018-19, the Lightning might bring up the highly-regarded, right-shoot blueliner at some point during the season to see what they've got. Could also see Dom Masin or Erik Cernak, who came to the Lightning from the Kings in the deal that sent Ben Bishop to Los Angeles, in a Lightning uniform at some point next season if they continue to develop their game.
Would you rather pair a Lagunitas or Dogfish with a burger while on a regular season road trip? (via @DuncanAWalter)
Assuming the work day is done (don't want to drink on the job, Duncan), I'll go with Dogfish if I'm only allowed to choose between those two. But typically I try to enjoy a local IPA that I can only get in whatever city I'm in (i.e. Half Acre in Chicago, Other Half in NYC, Tired Hands in Philly). And if I'm in the Tampa Bay Area, my go to IPA is Sunshine City from Green Bench.
How do you get over the initial taste of IPAs to make it tolerable? I've tried many, but still haven't found one that I can handle. (via @kyledowdell)
I'm just going to pretend I didn't see this, Kyle.