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Lightning journal: Can Mathieu Joseph sneak his way onto the opening-day roster?

The opportunity to make the roster comes via the fourth line.
 
Published Sept. 19, 2018

It remains to be seen if F Mathieu Joseph will make the Lightning's roster. If he doesn't, it certainly won't be because of a lack of opportunities.

Joseph saw time on the Lightning power play and penalty kill on Tuesday at Amalie Arena when Tampa Bay faced Carolina in its first preseason game. Joseph also scored in the third period, the only goal the Lightning scored in an otherwise abysmal offensive performance.

It was Joseph's first preseason goal, but this is not his first camp with the Lightning. As the Lightning's fourth-round pick in the 2015 draft, he has participated in camp before.

But he has never made the roster. If Joseph stays on this trajectory, he just might sneak his way onto the opening-day roster.

"He just keeps taking the steps," Lightning coach Jon Cooper said after the game. "He is just a perfect example of a kid that is checking of all the boxes as he makes his way to the NHL. He is not quite there yet, but he is making a case."

No, Joseph won't likely be a top six or even nine forward if he makes the roster. The Lightning has a deep offensive group. The opportunity to make the roster comes via the fourth line. Former Lightning F Chris Kunitz left in free agency, signing a 1-year deal with the Blackhawks. F Ryan Callahan underwent shoulder surgery in the offseason and is not expected to return earlier than Nov. 1.

That leaves two spots open. Joseph, 21, is in the mix to fill one of those spots.

Cooper did not specify what Joseph needs to accomplish to close the gap between where he is now to where he needs to be to become a successful NHL player. Joseph didn't want to speak for his coach, but he listed poise and winning 50-50 battles as the two main things on which he needs to improve.

During the summer, Joseph specifically worked on 1-on-1 battles and puck protection to improve his chances in 50-50 battles. Why? Well, Cooper says that the best players in the league win 75 percent of their 50-50 battles.

As for working on poise …

"I think that is something that comes with confidence in games," Joseph said.

Joseph had the chance to work on that in the AHL this past season, playing in 70 games. He scored 15 goals, added 38 assists and finished with a plus-10.

He put together these stats with what F Steven Stamkos called NHL-caliber speed. It's something Stamkos saw from Joseph against Carolina, especially on the penalty kill.

"He can get in on the forecheck and wreak some havoc," Stamkos said. "I thought he skated well and used that to his advantage."

Having guys who can kill penalties is one main attribute Cooper listed when asked what he is looking for from players who make up the fourth line.

Carolina scored two power-play goals on Tuesday, but Joseph was not on the ice for either of them. A good first step for him.

He will have to wait a bit for more penalty kill opportunities, though. He was not part of the group that traveled to Raleigh for another preseason game on Wednesday. Outside of F Andy Andreoff, no other skaters who played Tuesday went to Raleigh on Wednesday.

But when those opportunities come in the next week, Joseph will want to take advantage. He is not far away from checking off all of Cooper's boxes.

Too early to crown a Stanley Cup champion 

The Hockey News published a reader poll this week in which the Lightning was voted as the favorite to win the Stanley Cup this season.

When it was brought up after practice Wednesday, Cooper called rankings this time of year "a little bit of white noise."

"It's not won in September," Cooper said. "It's not won in predictions. You have to earn your way there."