AHL: Lightning Strikes in Norfolk

When the Chicago Blackhawks decided earlier this year to move their AHL affiliate from Norfolk, Va. to Rockford, Ill.; the Tampa Bay Lightning jumped in and signed a five-year affiliation agreement with the Norfolk Admirals. With the team looking to make a new name for itself in Norfolk, McKeen's takes a glance at top-defensive prospect Matt Smaby and several other Admirals looking to make an impact this season.

Blair Jones (TB), C, Norfolk Admirals

Solid pivot man .. finds the passing lanes in front of the net and executes with precision accuracy .. can even thread the needle at times .. loves to hang around the crease in hopes of knocking in a rebound or being on the receiving end of a one-timer .. possesses a quick and effective wristshot .. above-average skater with nifty puckhandling skills .. soft hands and stickhandling abilities allow him to deke defenders and get quality shots on goal .. successful at backchecking and working along the boards .. balance is suspect, as he can be pushed off the puck and taken down at times .. needs to do better in the circle, as he lacks consistency in winning draws .. in stalemate situations, his size (6-3, 210) allows him to outmuscle opponents and win faceoffs .. unfortunately, he tries to utilize this method every time he is in the circle .. as a result, opponents with quicker hands can take advantage of him.

Chris Lawrence (TB), C/RW, Norfolk Admirals

It was difficult to get an accurate read on this player .. nothing stood out as being exceptional but he appears to have a solid all-around game .. quick for a big guy (6-4, 217) and transitions well .. puts the engine in overdrive when getting back on defense, which is admirable .. has a swift release on his wristshot and tops if off with accuracy .. shows some elusiveness and carries the puck well when trying to create space and time .. can be physical when necessary and has the ability to be a part-time PK man .. more of a defensive forward than a true playmaker.

Justin Keller (TB), LW, Norfolk Admirals

Like the logo of the team that drafted him, Keller is a bolt of lightning that shoots around the rink .. plays bigger than his size (5-11, 182) and is not afraid to throw his body around .. is not happy unless he is aggressively pursuing the puck along the boards, where he tends to win many battles .. does an exceptional job away from the puck, as he continuously moves his feet and anticipates the play well .. like Lawrence and Jones, he gets his wristshot off very quickly .. overall, a gritty guy who has good wheels and brings a lot of energy to the game.

Matt Smaby (TB), D, Norfolk Admirals

Recently demoted to Norfolk, Smaby is an "in your face" physical defenseman .. he does not look to make the big hit every time he is on the ice (nor will he get out of position to apply one) but he utilizes his body well .. successful at separating opponents from the puck .. will stand up opponents at the blueline and push them off the puck along the boards .. loves to clear space in front of the net .. hates to be pushed around so he will be even more physical if provoked .. however, he will not take retaliation penalties for this .. instead, he plays a smart and controlled brand of physical hockey .. has strong skating abilities for a defensive player his size (6-5, 222) .. though he has the wheels to join the rush and contribute more on offense, it is not his style .. he does however, boast a strong and accurate slapshot but rarely utilizes this given his defensive nature .. quality PK guy who is called on regularly and eats up a lot of icetime .. exceptional endurance, which allows him to play big minutes .. overall, a solid and reliable stay-at-home defenseman who can be trusted in his own zone.

Vladimir Mihalik (TB), LD, Norfolk Admirals

Towering defenseman who utilizes his size (6-8, 241) to rough up opponents .. has surprisingly good pedals for a player of his stature, which allows him to join the rush on a consistent basis .. does not possess great offensive abilities but has an accurate slapshot .. in his own zone, he can be a force in front of the net .. because of his long reach, large frame and solid skating ability, he is difficult to get around .. even when he gets beat, he is usually successful at breaking up the play .. endurance is his biggest problem .. he can be worn down during normal and/or long shifts, forcing him to sit out extended periods .. as a result, there are instances where he will play very short shifts.