Nick Abruzzese

It forces Anthony Sorelli to carry more minutes, likely, or pushes Braden Point into more defensive responsibilities.

And looking at the roster, you've got Nick Abruzzese, Clark Bishop, and Zemgis Jurgensen stepping up.

Jurgensen's has that physical edge that Gourd usually provides.

Jurgensen's is a good call.

We have a deep pool of forwards here.

Nick Abruzzese, Morgan Anderberg, Aidan Foster, all centers.

But in a game like this, I doubt they're going to turn to the rookies immediately.

I think they're sticking with the veterans.

Agreed.

And don't overlook Nick Abruzzese or Zemgus Girgensons.

They might get elevated call-ups or more ice time to fill the void left by James.

It's a test of depth, which is what Yzerman loves.

So who picks up the slack? We know Braden Point and Anthony Cirelli are anchors.

But what about the lower lines? Nick Abruzzese has been there since day one.

Is he seeing more time?

Abruzzese is definitely in a mix.

He's the anchor.

But looking at the center group, we've got Connor Geekie, Nick Abruzzese, Brayden Point.

Geekie led the team in goals in the opener.

Abruzzese is battling for minutes.

First, we'll break down the matchup against Nashville and the biggest storylines heading into Friday's opener.

Second, we'll look at the key players, specifically how John Carlson fits into the defensive core and the battle for top six center minutes between Connor Geekie and Nick Abruzzese.

And third, we'll give you our keys to the game and our bold predictions for the score.

But before we get there, I wanna take a quick second with you.

Welcome back.

We're talking about the Lightning's opening night against Nashville.

In our previous episodes, we highlighted the competition among the centers, specifically Connor Geekie and Nick Abruzzese were named as the guys pushing for top six roles.

Where do things stand right now?

We've got a massive night ahead as we count down to puck drop against Nashville.

[crowd cheering] Tonight, we're looking at three big things: first, how Jon Karlsson changes the dynamic on the blue line after his two-year signing; second, the intense battle for top six center minutes between Connor Geekie and Nick Abruzzese; and third, why we think Tampa Bay takes this one comfortably.

[drum roll] That's right.

We're going deep into the roster construction angles we talked about yesterday, but now we have an actual opponent to measure it against.

You want one anchor and one mover.

[whistle blows] Speaking of anchors, let's talk about the center ice situation.

We've heard from listeners about Connor Geekie and Nick Abruzzese pushing for roles.

Who wins the top six spot to start the season against Nashville?

It's the depth.

With Connor Geeky and Nick Abruzzese pushing for top six roles, this team has more offensive versatility than most people give them credit for heading into this preseason opener against Nashville.

Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network.

I'm Nicole, and this is your daily home for Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey.

The PK unit will be aggressive, knowing they have Carlson to reset if they get caught up ice.

It's a balanced approach.

Okay, so we have the defensive structure locked in, but what about the centers? We've heard all season about Braden Point and Anthony Sorelli, but the real buzz is around Connor Geeky and Nick Abruzzese.

Are they really going to push for top six minutes?

The roster is set, the headlines are written, but the questions from you guys are what matter.

We're looking at the Atlantic Division standings, the new acquisitions, and the depth chart battles for Nick Abruzzese and Ethan Zada.

We've got three segments planned.

First, we tackle the big storylines around Jon Karlsson and the blue line.

And then you have Yanni Gourde adding that energy.

It's a deep center group.

Here's a tough one from David in Orlando, "Who makes the final roster out of the younger centers? Nick Abruzzese, Ethan Zada, Connor Geekie? There's a lot of talent."

This is a good problem to have.

@TampaBayFan88 asks about the center depth chart.

We have Anthony Cirelli, Brayden Point, Yanni Gourde, and then a massive list of other centers like Nick Abruzzese, Ethan Zada, and Zemgus Girgensons.

Who is winning those bottom six roles?

[drum roll] It's a deep group, no doubt.

The battle for the third and fourth lines is fierce.

Yanni Gourde brings experience and face-off prowess, which is vital.

But you have young talents like Nick Abruzzese and Ethan Zada pushing hard.

The coaches will likely look for versatility, players who can kill penalties, drive the forecheck, and contribute offensively when the opportunity arises.