The Tampa Bay Lightning did not make their first selection in the draft until the second round. In the 2017 draft, all of the Lightning prospects that were drafted were sent back to their junior teams to grow and gain more experience.
This draft would prove to be important for this tropical team. After a season that saw them reach the Eastern Conference Final and be only one game from reaching the Stanley Cup, the Bolts would have a lower draft position.
Tampa Bay would decide to strengthen their defence by drafting defenseman Dmitri Semykin in the third round of the draft.