The new member of the organization has been a revelation in Syracuse. Will it earn him some playing time in Tampa, and can he carry that skill to the NHL?
NameJakob PelletierPositionForwardAge (as of October 1)24Height/Weight5’11”, 181 lbs.Expected 2024-25 TeamSyracuse CrunchDraft – Year, Round2019, First (#26) by CalgaryPrevious RankingsNot ApplicableJustinG. Ranking5Final Rank8
Stats:
Our Thoughts:
We really wanted to have this series wrapped up before the season started, but life (and a move to Florida) had other plans. Our goal now is to have it finished by the end of the month (fingers crossed). Every once in a while procrastination pays off. It’s allowed us to see more of Jakob Pelletier. And, we’ve liked what we’ve seen so far.
It was a little surprising, and a bit damning of the organization’s prospect depth, that Pelletier was voted into the eighth spot in the countdown without ever suiting up for the Lightning or Crunch, but his pedigree as a former first-round pick carried some weight in the voting. We weren’t immune as Justin ranked him fifth and Hardev had him sixth.
The fact that the Lightning were able to sign him was a bit fortuitous, as there were indications that Philadelphia wanted to keep him in their organization, but didn’t want to tender him an offer at the rate the CBA locked them in at. The Lightning swooped in and signed him to a three-year deal.
Not only was Pelletier a top draft pick, but his post-draft play had him as one of Calgary’s top prospects prior to his trade to the Flyers organization. As recently as last year, The Athletic had him as the Flames’ sixth-best prospect. They were highly complimentary of his two-way skill:
“You can see it in how he supports the play, his defensive timing and the consistency of his habits with and without the puck. That style doesn’t take away from his offence, either. He has always produced near the top of his age group and has talent as a passer…handler…and problem solver…”
Scott Wheeler, The Athletic
In eight games with the Syracuse Crunch, Pelletier has lived up to that description. Playing on the top line with Nick Abruzzese and Dominic James (now Conor Geekie), the 24-year-old has put up 11 points (4 goals, 7 assists) as the engine of the Crunch’s offense. If there is one small thing to keep an eye on, all four of his goals, and three of his assists have come on the power play.
Watching him play, there is nothing flashy about his game, but he is really, really good at just about everything. He makes the right play, he’s in on the forecheck, and he plays much bigger than his frame. He’s responsible in his own zone and has the hockey sense to anticipate where the puck is going and is there to break things up.
The biggest knock against him has always been his health. Just when it looks like everything is going his way, an injury crops up to slow him down. Perhaps that’s the reason Calgary included him in the Andrei Kuzmenko deal, and why the Flyers took the chance by non-tendering him over the summer. There is also the chance that all of that is behind him, and the Lightning can be the beneficiaries of all of his talent.
If he continues to stay on the ice, he will be in Tampa at some point this season. Like Dominic James and Wojciech Stachowiak, he is likely scheduled for a spot in the bottom six with the Lightning, but has the skill to get a chance at the second line and some power play time.
Even if the stars don’t align for him this season, it appears that he is a part of the Lightning’s plans for the future. The three-year deal converts to a one-way contract next season, and it’s unlikely they want to pay a player $775,000 to play in the AHL.
Staying healthy and consistent will be his quickest path back to the NHL
Your Thoughts:
“Pelletier will be a big-time player soon.”
“Pelletier – have seen the upside.”
Highlight Videos:
Should he have taken the shot? Maybe, but instead it is a really nice cross-crease pass to set up his teammates. He does usually call his own number on occasions like this, so making the pass definitely caught Rochester off guard.
Another feed for a goal. Really like the drive to the outside on this goal. He’s a good skater, but not a true blazer. Still, he kicked it into an extra gear and turned the defenseman. That gave him the seam to pass it to Dominic James, who fired it home. Pure speed is nice, but being able to change gears and attack with a different pace is more useful in the NHL.
Just a really nice wrist shot. He leans on it and snaps it past the goaltender. Watching his highlights and this is the distance he seems to like shooting from. The fact that he can beat an unscreened goaltender from that spot speaks to how good it is.
Pelletier busts his way up the ice to make this a two-on-one. He gets a step on the defense, and instead of dragging it to his backhand like most players coming in on that angle, he just roofs it on his forehand. To do that at speed is impressive.
