When a team heads into the NHL Draft, they are obviously looking for the best possible player who can benefit the team in the long run. It’s usually someone new who has a particular talent the General Manager and Scouting team believe they can mold into a future top line player. Despite all the research that goes into choosing that perfect player, it’s not always noticeable right away that your team has won the lottery.
One of those defining moments for the Tampa Bay Lightning was back in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft when the Lightning selected right wing Nikita Kucherov in the Second Round (58th Overall.