Eyssimont reflects on his whirlwind season

"When I was with San Jose and we came down to play the Lightning, I can remember sitting on the balcony at our hotel. I called my mom, and I was just like, 'Wow, these players have it so good here.'

"Sure enough, I'm at the grocery store a few weeks later and I find out I'm getting traded there. I couldn't have been more excited."

Mikey Eyssimont's 2022-23 season was filled with surprises. After starting the year in the American Hockey League with the Manitoba Moose and recording nine points in as many games, the speedy winger earned a call-up from the Winnipeg Jets on November 11.

Eyssimont skated in 19 games with the Jets and picked up five points with a +5 rating, but was placed on waivers on January 5 with Nikolaj Ehlers, Nate Schmidt and Blake Wheeler all set to be activated off injured reserve.

The next day, Eyssimont was claimed off waivers by the San Jose Sharks and found himself throwing whatever he could into a couple suitcases with a new opportunity awaiting him south of the Canadian border.

"That was one of the best days of my life, just going to a team that wanted me and was willing to give me another shot," Eyssimont said. "I was ready to go. I was living out of a suitcase when I got there and spent almost three months there."

The waiver claim worked out well for the Sharks as Eyssimont skated in 20 games and picked up eight points with three goals and five assists.

But with San Jose sitting near the bottom of the NHL standings, plenty of trade calls were coming in for first-year general manager Mike Grier, who saw an opportunity to acquire some draft capital and assist with rebuilding his team's roster for the future.

On March 1, Eyssimont was traded to Tampa Bay in exchange for Vladislav Namestnikov, who was then shipped off to Winnipeg in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick.

"It was a little crazy," said Eyssimont. "I was kind of expecting to make a home there and I was finding some success with the team. I was really fortunate to get an opportunity to play with some really good linemates.

"Then, I got the call that I was going to Tampa, so I just threw my stuff right back into the suitcase that was already open, and it was back to finding a new home."

Just like that, Eyssimont was on a plane heading to Florida, where he did have some connections with a few players on the Lightning roster.

"I knew Ross Colton," Eyssimont said. "We grew up in the same age group and played against each other in the USHL. We'd seen each other at some camps as well.

"We actually kind of became friends when we were around 17, so we stayed in touch throughout college and pros. I remember being so happy for him when he scored that goal in the Stanley Cup Final against Montreal. Then, to join him on a team and play on his line, you just never think that stuff's going to happen.

"I didn't know Nick Perbix personally, but when I got traded there, a lot of our mutual friends from St. Cloud reached out and said he'd be a good guy to have down there. Next thing you know, I'm sitting next to him on the plane and we're going to dinners together, so it all worked out really well."

Arriving at AMALIE Arena close to game time on March 2, Eyssimont watched his new team take on the Pittsburgh Penguins before departing for a quick, two-game road trip and making his Bolts debut in a back-to-back set against the Buffalo Sabres and Carolina Hurricanes.

"My first two tastes in the NHL with Winnipeg and San Jose, I was able to really come out fiery, play with a lot of jump and have some success right away where I felt confident and like I belonged there," Eyssimont said. "Being on the road for those first two games with Tampa Bay, I don't think that those were the best two games of my NHL career so far.

"You're trying to learn a different system and gain some comfort with new teammates. There's no gray area with Coop. It's all black and white.

"With me being kind of a wild forechecker in some ways, I think I learned a lot as a player. I think I'm really going to be able to refine my game as a pro hockey player in this system.

"I kind of consider Tampa Bay to be the Ivy League of NHL organizations, just with everything Coop has done, along with his staff and everyone else up top. I'm just going to do my best to refine my game and try to be an everyday NHL player here for a long time to come."

As the games rolled along, Eyssimont's comfort level continued to grow. In his 13th game with the Lightning, he collected his first point with an assist on Brayden Point's 49th goal of the season. Two games later, in the regular season finale, he scored his first goal with Tampa Bay to wrap up a 5-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings.

"When I first got traded, Coop mentioned to me in his office that I might not score a goal for 10 games and, sure enough, it did take me until the last minute of the last game." Eyssimont said with a laugh. "But I definitely think that he believes in me. He believes that I can be a 20-plus goal scorer in this league and I'm looking forward to proving him right in the next season."

As if playing for three different NHL teams in one season wasn't enough, Eyssimont still had multiple firsts to check off his list, starting with an appearance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. After taking a big hit from Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake McCabe in Game 1, Eyssimont was placed in concussion protocol before making his return to the lineup in a win or go home Game 5 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

With Tampa Bay's season on the line, Eyssimont scored the go-ahead goal for the Bolts in the second period before collecting a secondary assist on Nick Paul's eventual game-winning goal just past the halfway point of the third.

"Starting off the season in the AHL for a few games in Manitoba, there was no way I expected to have a Lightning jersey on and be playing against the Maple Leafs in the playoffs," Eyssimont said. "It was pretty surreal.

"As far as the pressure and everything, I think I handled it really well. I was pretty proud of myself. I found myself in a lot of new situations this year and had to deal with a lot of new systems and just a lot of new things.

"The playoffs were just another new experience for me, and I think I was able to handle it well. Aside from the concussion protocol, I felt like I had a lot of success and I think it was a really good experience for my development."

Clearly, the Lightning also felt Eyssimont handled things well. Just six days after Tampa Bay's season ended, the team announced that Eyssimont had inked a two-year, one-way contract with the club that will keep him in Bolts blue through the end of the 2024-25 season.

"It was a pretty quick process," said Eyssimont when asked about contract negotiations with the Lightning. "Ultimately, I just knew this was the place I wanted to be.

"Obviously, there's a bunch of factors that go into signing a guy when you're in the position that Tampa is in. I wanted to make sure that I was part of what they're doing going forward. And when they showed the excitement of trying to sign me the day after the season ended, that said a lot.

"You want to go somewhere you're wanted. And the fact that I'm going to a place that I want to go to and a place that I'm also wanted - it means a lot. I think it's going to put me in the best spot I can be and give me the best chance to have a long career in this league."

Over the past several years, many players acquired by the Bolts via trade have spoken about the impressive ability of Tampa Bay's leadership group to immediately embrace new teammates and make them feel right at home in their new locker room. Eyssimont's experience was no different.

"Every team has to make moves at some point during the season or offseason," Eyssimont explained. "But the way that this group brings guys in and makes them all feel welcome has really impressed me. Obviously, it starts with the leadership group, like Stamkos, Hedman, Kuch, Maroon and those guys. But it trickles all the way down to the younger core, like Cirelli and Point and everyone else.

"It's just a really close-knit group and they know that if they want to have success, they have to do it together. Luckily, I think I fit in really well with my personality and I think I got closer with this group than I did with any pro team I've been on. And it was only three months.

"That's just a testament to the type of guys in that locker room and the fact that they know how to win. It's just nice to be with this group and I think it's going to be huge for me these next few years."

Away from the locker room, Eyssimont felt plenty of love from Bolts Nation as well and mentioned the encouragement he's seen from fans as just another reason why he's excited to be starting next season in Tampa.

"I'm so grateful for the fans in Tampa," Eyssimont said. "I just feel like I've gotten so much love from them, and I really haven't seen a single bad thing.

"I feel like they've really taken me in right away. Obviously, I saw a lot of stuff online about me signing and I just couldn't be more excited. These fans are absolutely amazing. I try to reach out to them whenever I see something, as often as I can. But that really is just another huge part of why I love Tampa."

Although his NHL season was over, Eyssimont still had some hockey left in him. Along with Perbix, Eyssimont received an invite to play for Team USA at the 2023 IIHF Men's World Championship in Tampere, Finland and Riga, Latvia.

The 26-year-old signed his new deal, quickly got his passport renewed, and hopped on a flight overseas to represent his country for the first time in his career.

"It was a whirlwind start to the offseason after our season ended," Eyssimont explained. "I had to get my passport renewed before I could meet the team out there because it was coming up in June, so I was a little bit delayed getting out there, but it worked out well.

"I was able to get there, slept one night, and then played the next day. There were a lot of familiar faces there. There were some guys I played with in Ontario with the LA organization, guys I played with in Winnipeg, and then Perbs as well. I knew some guys from around the league, too, so I think I meshed really well with the group."

Team USA got off to an incredible start at Men's Worlds, rattling off seven consecutive wins in the preliminary round before defeating Team Czechia 3-0 in the quarterfinals. Facing Team Germany in the semifinals, Eyssimont scored a go-ahead goal in the second period, but the Germans answered late in the third period and went on to win the game in overtime.

The following day, Team USA lost another heartbreaker in overtime with Team Latvia also scoring late in the third period and securing the bronze medal 1:22 into the extra frame.

"Obviously, the ending wasn't what we wanted, but leading up to that ending, it looked pretty good for us," said Eyssimont. "We were having a lot of success, and overall, I'm so glad I went. I would go again in a heartbeat.

"We really enjoyed Tampere. Everything there was all about the World Championship. The whole city was very lively the whole time. There was a lot to do, a lot to see.

"We all really enjoyed that experience. A lot of our parents came, so we were able to spend some time with them as well. But being 7-0 coming out of the prelims, we were really focused on hockey for the most part.

"It was a great experience. Overall, I think it was just another thing that was really good for my development. It's been really nice getting home, for sure, but I wouldn't trade my whole experience for anything and I'm already excited for next season."

Between the AHL, NHL and international competition, Eyssimont skated in 75 hockey games during the 2022-23 season, the most of any year in his career dating back to junior hockey. And while he's been enjoying a little bit of downtime in his home state of Colorado, he's already itching to get back on the ice and start working on improvements for next season.

"I'm just waiting on my gear to get shipped back and, as soon as it's back, I'm going to be throwing some new blades on there and getting right back on the ice with my skills coach," said Eyssimont. "We've got a pretty solid group of pros here and guys have had some time off already, so I'm sure there'll be a few guys starting to skate, which is good.

"Usually, I start off the summer just by myself at stick and pucks. I go on the ice early and just stick handle a few pucks and do some sharp turns. I think a big thing I want to work on this summer is just cardio. I want to make sure that I can stay on the ice longer, take hits, give hits, and just have a bigger motor."

A bigger motor? How much bigger can it get?

Drawing plenty of comparisons to Lightning fan favorite Yanni Gourde last season, Eyssimont gained the affection of Bolts Nation with his "never give up" attitude, combined with an unrelenting effort on the forecheck and a consistent willingness to finish his checks.

That relentless mentality Eyssimont has showcased was first forged as a young hockey player with wheels on his feet instead of steel. Playing in a roller hockey tournament at 12 years old, Eyssimont discovered the game-changing effect of a persistent, determined forechecker.

"I don't think I was always that type of player, to be honest," Eyssimont shared. "I think, back in the day, old coaches would have called me a skilled guy that gets bumped off pucks or whatever.

"But, playing roller hockey growing up, there was a tournament in St. Louis where I was just out there, and I didn't care about roller hockey much anymore. I was all about ice hockey. But I was like, 'I'm going to go out there and I'm just going to be the hardest forechecker.'

"No one forechecks in roller hockey. It's all just four-on-four and cross-rink passes.

"But I was just a madman out there, just skating and forechecking, and it really just turned my mentality into more of a speedy, forechecking, grinding, 'never give up' mentality.

"I think I've always had the skill. I hope to show more of it this season and hopefully score some more as well. But playing roller hockey, it's harder to forecheck, so that really helped me.

"And, obviously, the long car rides home with mom and dad when my effort level wasn't there as a little kid, those probably helped too."

As Eyssimont anxiously awaits the arrival of his gear back in Colorado, there are still plenty of activities he'll get involved in to prepare for the upcoming season. One of his personal favorites is hot yoga. Typically performed in a room with a temperature between 80 and 100°F, hot yoga has multiple benefits, including greater lung capacity, increased flexibility, and improved bone density.

"I actually got into it in juniors with some guys on Sioux Falls," said Eyssimont. "It's more of just a summer thing I do.

"It's humid and it's the same class every time, so it's kind of good to gauge how you're doing in your workouts and your cardio. Are you tired or are you getting stronger? It's just something I like to add in and enjoy."

Once his equipment arrives, Eyssimont has a few things he's looking forward to working on as he looks ahead to his first full year with Tampa Bay.

"The big one's the shot," Eyssimont shared. "You see guys like Connor Bedard, who already has maybe one of the best shots in the NHL, working on his shot every day. You see his stuff on social media. It's something that I've done a lot before, but not enough of. I'm going to work on my shot a lot this summer.

"I'm always working on my strength training in the gym as well. I've taken that very seriously since my first year of pro hockey, when I realized I needed to be one of the fastest skaters on the ice to have success, so the gym is huge for me.

"I'm not a guy who takes time off the ice. I like to skate three or four times a week during the summer and, obviously with the World Championship, I still feel like I'm in game shape right now.

"I'm just going to try to keep that going throughout the offseason right into the season, and just try to keep my body healthy with Pilates and yoga to make sure I'm 100% ready for training camp."

While he hasn't been back home for long, Eyssimont has enjoyed his time back in Colorado so far this summer. Whether it's walking his dog, hitting the links, or heading up to Red Rocks for some cardio work, there's plenty to do for the Littleton native.

But with a big season ahead of him, Eyssimont doesn't expect to spend too much time back home before making his way back to the Sunshine State. One reason for that is a valuable piece of advice he was given as a young pro - watch the best players and copy what they do.

"That was one of the best pieces of advice I've been given," Eyssimont shared. "Obviously, I had guys like Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler in Winnipeg. Then, there were guys like Logan Couture, Tomas Hertl and Timo Meier in San Jose.

"Then, you come to Tampa, and you can literally just watch anyone. There's no shortage of great players there. I've learned how they take care of themselves off the ice and how they practice. You see the skill sets some of these guys have during the games.

"I'm going to get back out to Tampa early, just because I know Kucherov's there. I just want to get on the ice with him and take in as much as I can."

Eyssimont left a great first impression on Tampa Bay coaches, teammates, front office staff and fans alike during his first season with the Bolts. Heading into year two, he's hoping to be even better.

"I have a lot of expectations for myself," Eyssimont shared. "The goals I'm setting, I'll keep those to myself for now. But every year in my pro career, at some point during the season, I've played the best hockey I've ever played. I think that that means I've elevated my game every year. Part of that is how big of an offseason you can have and how serious you can take it.

"At some point this season, I want to say to myself that I'm playing the best hockey I've ever played in my life. If I can say that, then that means I've done something right."

For Eyssimont, the expectation for next season is clear - make another run at the Stanley Cup. With Tampa Bay's roster and experience, he believes those expectations will remain the same for years to come.

"I think any time you have the top end talent that we have under those contracts, as well as the younger guys on the roster as well, the expectation is pretty clear for what we want to do this year," Eyssimont said. "I don't see that changing.

"I think in the next four or five seasons and beyond, we're still going to be competing for Cups. This coming year, nothing changes.

"I think we played well enough to win that series against Toronto and move on. It would have been interesting to see what would have happened with that. But you can't think like that. All you can think about is trying to win it next season."