It is beginning to become clear who the next generation of talent will be for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Isaac Howard, a standout player for Michigan and a first-round choice, has been the topic of conversation for a few years now. However, forward Conor Geekie has recently joined the ranks of the team. It was the same year that Howard was drafted (2022), however the Arizona Coyotes selected Geekie twenty spots earlier than they did, at the eleventh overall position. Geekie was acquired by the Lightning from the Utah Hockey Club as part of the Mikhail Sergachev trade, and he was immediately incorporated into the organization’s long-term plans.
A Brief History of Geekie
First of all, he is the younger brother of Morgan Geekie, who plays centre for the Boston Bruins. Although they are both forwards, the younger Geekie is on the verge of reaching an even higher level in the National Hockey League. For the time being, he has only played in two professional games, both of which were playoff games for the Tucson Roadrunners, in which he did not score any points. Therefore, we will examine his junior career in order to provide Lightning supporters with a more comprehensive understanding of his history and the qualities that he can bring to the table. During the 2019 season of the Western Hockey League (WHL), Geekie was selected by the Winnipeg ICE in the second overall position. The young man was only 14 years old.
During the time that Geekie was being drafted, the former general manager of ICE, Matt Cockell, remarked that “Conor is just such an athlete, multi-sport athlete still.” “He is progressing and is going to have a fantastic release while also having a fantastic vision. As stated in the article “WHL DRAFT: Ice draft Savoie first-overall, trade up to take Manitoba’s Geekie with second pick,” which was published in the Winnipeg Sun on May 2, 2019, “He sees the ice tremendously well, has a big frame, and we are excited to add him to our team.” Geekie scored 23 points during the span of 24 games during his first “full” season, which took place in 2020-21 but was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Connor Bedard was the only rookie to perform better than anybody else, which is not terrible considering that the player who is expected to be selected first overall by the majority of people is the only player ahead of you.
Each subsequent season, Geekie averaged more than one point per game on average. His breakout season was 2023–24, when he played for the Wenatchee Wild (the ICE relocated to the Swift Current Broncos during that season) and the Swift Current Broncos. He finished with 43 goals and 56 assists in 55 games this season. Geekie made the decision to sign his entry-level contract after the conclusion of that season. Through the month of January, he competed for Canada in the World Juniors. During his first time competing on the international scene, he had a solid showing, scoring two goals and accumulating three points in five games.
The Lightning’s acquisition of him came as a pleasant and unexpected surprise to him. “That was so insane. “I was literally just lying in bed when I got the phone call,” Geekie stated when asked about how he found out about the deal. According to the Tampa Bay Times article titled “New Lightning top prospect Conor Geekie hopes to make leap to NHL,” which was published on July 2, 2024, “I kind of was a little star-struck by the beginning.” Additionally, he expressed his excitement about the prospect of becoming a part of the action in Tampa Bay: “If you take a look at Tampa and what they are doing and what they are bringing in, I am excited to kind of be a part of everything,” the speaker said.
Getting involved with the Lightning will be beneficial for Geekie.
With a top prospect who possesses a significant offensive upside and makes effective use of his size, the Lightning will be in a position to reap these benefits. Nevertheless, it is highly probable that he will begin his career with the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League (AHL). This will provide him with the opportunity to increase his degree of development and adjust to the professional level. At the time of the draft, everyone regarded him to be a project, despite the fact that he was selected eleventh overall. It was necessary for him to improve his skating and defence skills, but he possessed strong attacking talent and stick-handling skills. Despite the fact that he has made significant progress since then, as seen by the numbers, there is no reason to rush him.
As of right now, Geekie is a member of a group that is well-known for their capacity to cultivate talent. The Lightning have been making the most of their mid-round picks, and now they have the opportunity to put their skills to use with a talent that is considered to be Blue Chip. After going through developmental camp, training camp, and the preseason, it may be difficult to decide whether or not to send him to the American Hockey League (AHL), but the primary focus will be on his long-term development. The payoff actually is quite high. Now, after a considerable amount of time, the Lightning have the next generation of stars in the process of developing. It is anticipated that Geekie will be a member of the next core that will bring another Stanley Cup to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
