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Lightning Nuts & Bolts: Drouin's tennis dream; praise for Stamkos; Filppula's Yzerman experience

 
Tampa Bay Lightning Jonathan Drouin on the ice during an unofficial practice at the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon Tuesday morning (09/09/14). Lightning training camp officially begins later this month.
Tampa Bay Lightning Jonathan Drouin on the ice during an unofficial practice at the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon Tuesday morning (09/09/14). Lightning training camp officially begins later this month.
Published Nov. 9, 2014

Short shift: With LW Jonathan Drouin

Must-TiVO TV Show: Blacklist. It's a little like CSI.

Favorite movie: Wedding Crashers

What would be your goal song? I like Coldplay, Fix You.

If you weren't playing hockey, you'd be: A tennis player

Think you could go pro? If I started young, maybe.

Roger Federer your favorite? Yes. It's kind of tough that he's getting old (33), because I was too young to watch (his prime).

Favorite piece of memorabilia: Guy Lafleur, my grandfather went to the game, got a picture signed, my name's on it. It's still in my room back home.

First Fin

Valtteri Filppula (above) is the only Lightning player to have been a teammate of GM Steve Yzerman; they were with the Red Wings. And the Finnish center will never forget the first time he met Yzerman, getting an immediate taste of the Hall of Famer's sense of humor.

"It wasn't really a conversation. I didn't say anything; I was just listening," Filppula said. "He said, 'I never thought I'd play for so long that I'd have to play with a Fin.' "

Filppula smiled. "Later, I found out it was a joke, so I was happy about that."

Commish on Captain

Commissioner Gary Bettman had plenty to rave about in his annual visit to Tampa on Thursday, saying owner Jeff Vinik has delivered on his promise to make the Lightning a "world-class organization."

It doesn't hurt to have a world-class player as the franchise's captain, and Bettman lauded C Steven Stamkos for being one of the faces of the league.

"It's great for the league to have great young stars," Bettman said. "I'm sure fans in Tampa are thrilled that he's playing for them on a long-term basis. If you're a fan who's not a Tampa fan, you're going to be happy when you get a chance to see his magic and get a chance to see him play.

"I think in terms of the league becoming faster, more skilled and young, he's Exhibit A of what's going on."

From the fans

For RW J.T. Brown or D Andrej Sustr: What is the biggest difference you found making the jump from college hockey to the NHL?

Said Brown, who went to Minnesota-Duluth: "In college you play Friday and Saturday. You only play 30-something games; at most you're playing 40. You have all week to get yourself ready. Just the turnaround time here is a lot faster. You have to forget your last game and move on to the next one."

Said Sustr, who played at Nebraska-Omaha: "You've got to be ready for the players and their skills. Some guys are stronger and bigger, but it's a lot about smarts, how you play the game."

Got a question for a Lightning player? Tweet them to me @TBTimes_JSmith and I'll answer one in each Sunday paper.