Lightning Depth At Forward Makes Coaching Decisions Challenging

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Tyler Johnson is "questionable" to play in Saturday's season opener versus the Florida Panthers, the 5-foot-8 center shedding his red no-contact jersey at practice Thursday for the first time since suffering an upper-body injury during training camp. He's making progress but still in wait-and-see mode.

"We'll see how he responds tomorrow and definitely see how he responds Saturday," Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said. "It's usually not how you feel (today), how is he feeling tomorrow? We'll judge then."
Ryan Callahan remains out following offseason shoulder surgery. Callahan said after Thursday's practice he's been cleared for contact but remains on the same early November return timetable.
"He's a long way from being cleared from games, but we get to work him in slowly in the contact department and that is ahead of schedule and that's great news," Cooper said.
The question then is: Who comes out of the lineup once both of those presumed starters are healthy and ready to return?
During the Bolts' skate at the Ice Sports Forum Thursday, the top line remained unchanged from a year ago - J.T. Miller, Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov. Yanni Gourde moved up to the second line alongside Ondrej Palat and Brayden Point, taking over for Johnson on the right wing. Alex Killorn, Anthony Cirelli and rookie Mathieu Joseph manned the third line. Adam Erne, Cedric Paquette and Cory Conacher represented the fourth line.
If Johnson returns for Opening Night, he certainly will slide into the Bolts' top nine, most likely in Gourde's spot on the second line. Gourde slips down to third line right wing, currently occupied by Joseph. And Joseph either finds himself out of the lineup on Opening Night or, most likely, taking either Erne's or Conacher's spot on the fourth line.
But what about when Callahan returns? Then who comes out?
And that's not even counting Danick Martel, who was acquired off waivers from Philadelphia midway through training camp, made the opening night roster and will undoubtedly get some playing time in the near future.
It's an embarrassment of riches currently for the Lightning's forward group.
"It's funny because I looked at it this morning and I look at our forward groups and you know the guys who were sent down have got some talent as well," said defending Norris Trophy winner Victor Hedman, who gets an up-close look at the multitude of forward options for Tampa Bay going up against the group every day in practice. "You look at that, it's phenomenal the depth we have up front. I love that our organization has that depth and you know you're going to have guys to step up when some guys are hurt or what not. It's just a great feeling to have. It's internal competition a little bit. I think that's not only good for the forwards but for the defensemen as well
And, as Hedman points out, the Lightning depth doesn't stop at the 23-man roster limit. Go down to AHL Syracuse and you've got talents like Alexander Volkov and Mitchell Stephens, among others, just waiting for their opportunity to come up and prove they belong at the NHL level.
"I think is a big testament to our organization that we have a lot of guys that -- even guys that have been sent down to the AHL level -- are deserving to play in the NHL and maybe on some other teams they might be up," Johnson said. "So It's an internal battle for us to get our ice time, get our lines and everything. At the same time, it's great for us. I feel like we can really roll four lines and really contribute everywhere."
As absurd as it sounds, does a veteran player like Johnson, a former NHL All-Star (in 2015) and key cog in the Lightning's run of three Eastern Conference Finals in the last four seasons, look over his shoulder and wonder if he'll remain in the lineup once he's healthy? Will his spot in the top six still be there? Is he fighting for ice time too?
"I think everyone does," he responded. "If you're not contributing, if you're not helping, if you're not doing the role that you're asked to do, obviously you're not going to play. I think everyone's goal in here is to win the Stanley Cup and it's going to take everybody. It's not only the 20 guys playing, it's going to be the guys that aren't playing as well. Everyone has to have the same mentality. Everyone has to come to the rink with that desire, that grit that makes everyone else better."
Clearly, Cooper will have some tough decisions to make once he has his full arsenal of players at his disposal.
"I'm glad I don't have to make them," Gourde said with a smile.
Of course, it beats the alternative of not having enough good forwards to fill out all four lines.
"It's tough on a personal basis because you know everybody wants to play," Cooper said. "But I always look at it as a little bit of a luxury in the sense that you'd rather have a bunch of good players and have to decide who sits out then a bunch of marginal players and decide which ones get to play. It's a benefit for us. It's a good thing."