OHL In The System: Tampa Bay Lightning
The latest instalment of OHL In The System takes a closer look at the Tampa Bay Lightning.
This 32-part series spotlights OHL players who are either signed to an NHL or AHL contract or are recently drafted, and are 25 years old or younger with 50 or fewer NHL games played.
Join us for OHL In The System!
Kaden Pitre (C) – Flint Firebirds (2022-24)
Selected: 181th overall, 2024 NHL Draft
OHL Career Stats: 98 Games Played | 17 Goals | 24 Assists | 41 Points
Age: 18
Kaden Pitre was selected in the sixth round of the 2024 NHL Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Chosen 18th overall by the Flint Firebirds at the 2022 OHL Priority Selection, the 18-year-old forward has played two seasons in the OHL, registering 41 points in 98 regular season games played. Additionally, the Stouffville, Ont. native has appeared in five playoff contests with the Firebirds.
Ethan Hay (C) – Flint Firebirds (2021-24), Saginaw Spirit (2023-24)
Selected: 211th overall, 2023 NHL Draft
OHL Career Stats: 190 Games Played | 37 Goals | 34 Assists | 71 Points
Age: 19
Originally selected by the Flint Firebirds in the third round of the 2021 OHL Priority Selection, Ethan Hay spent parts of three seasons with the Firebirds before being traded to the Saginaw Spirit in October of 2023. A 19-year-old from Waterloo, Ont., Hay registered 24 points in 67 games played this past season, along with an assist in 17 playoff contests before hoisting the Memorial Cup as a CHL champion with the Spirit in June. Hay was selected by the Lightning in the seventh round of the 2023 NHL Draft.
Roman Schmidt (D) – Kitchener Rangers (2021-24), Kingston Frontenacs (2023-24)
Signed: December 9, 2021
OHL Career Stats: 179 Games Played | 23 Goals | 70 Assists | 93 Points
Age: 21
Originally selected by the Kitchener Rangers in the second round of the 2019 OHL Priority Selection, Roman Schmidt concluded his three-year OHL tenure registering 28 points in 47 regular seasons games played between the Kitchener Rangers and Kingston Frontenacs this past season. Over 179 regular season career games played, the 21-year-old forward recorded 23 goals, 70 assists and 93 points. Selected by the Lightning in the third round of the 2021 NHL Draft, the Midland, MI. native signed a three-year entry-level contract with the club on December 9, 2021. Schmidt won a silver medal with Team USA at the 2020 World Hockey Challenge.
Lucas Edmonds (RW) – Kingston Frontenacs (2021-22)
Signed: July 22, 2022
OHL Career Stats: 68 Games Played | 34 Goals | 79 Assists | 113 Points
Age: 23
Selected by the Lightning in the third round of the 2022 NHL Draft, Lucas Edmonds signed a three-year entry-level contract with the club on July 22, 2022. Drafted by the Kingston Frontenacs in the seventh round of the 2017 OHL Priority Selection, the North Bay, Ont. native played one season in the OHL from 2021-22, tallying 113 points over 68 regular season games played. The 23-year-old forward added 11 points in 11 playoff contests. Edmonds spent the past two seasons with the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL, recording 43 points in 94 games.
Nick Malik (G) – Soo Greyhounds (2019-20)
Selected: 160th overall, 2022 NHL Draft
OHL Career Stats: 16 Games Played | 3.77 GAA | 0.886 SV% | 5-11-0-0 Record
Age: 22
Selected by the Lightning in the fifth round of the 2022 NHL Draft, Nick Malik spent last season with KooKoo of Liiga, playing to a 12-17-8 record along with 2.57 goals-against average and 0.889 save percentage. Chosen by the Soo Greyhounds at the 2019 CHL Import Draft, the 22-year-old netminder appeared in 16 OHL games, playing to a 5-11-0-0 record along with a 3.77 goals-against average and 0.886 save percentage. Malik represented Team Czechia at three consecutive IIHF World Junior Championships (2020-22).
Tomorrow’s edition of In The System, features the Los Angeles Kings organization!
