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Fight for last Lightning roster spots intensifies

 
Luke Witkowski, left, will be one of several players given a long look during the Lightning's final three exhibition games, including Tuesday night in Dallas. [DIRK SHADD | Times]
Luke Witkowski, left, will be one of several players given a long look during the Lightning's final three exhibition games, including Tuesday night in Dallas. [DIRK SHADD | Times]
Published Sept. 30, 2014

TAMPA — Instead of heading to France, defenseman Luke Witkowski was getting ready Monday to board a bus to Naples, and he couldn't have been happier.

Witkowski, 24, survived Saturday's large round of cuts, making him one of 28 players still in Tampa Bay's training camp in Estero for the final week. Twenty-five others had been reassigned to the American Hockey League's Syracuse, which holds its camp in Lyon, France.

"Bought myself a few more days," Witkowski said, smiling. "If this is the way to pass (up France), I'll take it any day."

Witkowski will be one of several players given a long look during the Lightning's final three preseason games, starting tonight in Dallas. Tampa Bay has to be down to 23 players by Oct. 9, the start of the regular season.

"Everyone has earned the right to be here," coach Jon Cooper said. "There are spots open. And I think the guys in there know it. There's competition we have with other teams in this league, but there's competition we have inside our locker room. This is the week to get after it."

Along with Witkowski, centers Vladislav Namestnikov, Jonathan Marchessault and Cedric Paquette made the cut — those three were the fifth line in Monday's practice, sticking out wearing gold jerseys. While it appears the four are still on the outside looking in when it comes to a roster spot, barring injuries, their presence shows they made a strong impression.

Action this week, against mostly NHL regulars, will provide a good test run.

"You have to learn, 'Can these guys be call-ups? Can they be legitimate call-ups?' " Cooper said. "That's where you have to gauge getting a little chemistry between this player and this player, can they keep up?"

Namestnikov, 21, played four games for the Lightning last season, and has impressed in the preseason, as the skilled Russian racked up three assists in the opener. Namestnikov said he has gotten stronger in the offseason and is more confident.

Marchessault, 23, acquired from the Blue Jackets in March, had two goals in the first preseason game. A right-handed shot, Marchessault is a strong skater with good vision, and has a nose for the net.

Paquette, 21, played two games for the Lightning late last season, and appeared in all four postseason games. A left-handed shot, Paquette provides some grit and is solid defensively, a player Cooper really likes.

Witkowski, who led Syracuse in penalty minutes last season, has made a big improvement since last camp. At 6 feet 2, 200 pounds, Witkowski has NHL size, skating ability and compete level, associate coach Rick Bowness says, he just needs to play a smarter, more reliable game.

"(Coaches) said, 'Just keep it going, don't be nervous,' " Witkowski said. "Obviously I did something that they liked, so keep doing what I've been doing and don't go out of the way to try to make things happen."

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The Lightning's defense is already deep at eight, unless Witkowski beats out Andrej Sustr, who is also a right-handed shot and wouldn't need to clear waivers to get sent down. At forward, a temporary spot could be open if touted wing prospect Jonathan Drouin (right thumb fracture) isn't ready to start the season.

Aside from roster competition, there will be battles for who makes the top-six or top-nine forward group, who gets power play and penalty kill duty, and what line combinations work.

And there could be surprises.

"It happens every year, you go with, 'This is pretty much our group,' and you go into a Vegas casino and say, 'I'm going to put money that this is the group we're going to come out with,' " Cooper said. "And, sure enough, after a week in camp that's not the group you're coming out with. But it's a good problem to have. That means guys are stepping up and you want to take a closer look. And competition is healthy."