It’s been a relatively busy few days since Tampa Bay Lightning camp opened on Thursday. Here are some quick notes from the festivities.

* One thing that has been fairly consistent since Thursday is the team’s desire to put Victor Hedman and Anton Stralman together on a pairing. They’ve been working together… a lot. If that’s any indication, there’s a good chance they get some preseason time together. I’ve said from the beginning that I would put Stralman with Matt Carle, but it’s hard not to imagine what a Hedman/Stralman pairing could do. The general consensus is that it would be dynamite.

I will say that Hedman-Stralman, playing in the East w/ lots of games vs. BUF, FLA, TOR, could push Doughty/Muzzin for top possession pair.

— Kyle Alexander (@kalexanderRC) September 20, 2014

* If you recall the ‘Building a Second Line’ blog I wrote a few weeks back, you’ll remember that my second line included Alex Killorn on the left, Valtteri Filppula at center, and Brett Connolly on the right. It appears that the power at be are somewhat willing to give that combination a chance.

#tblightning @bconnolly8 playing on line w Killorn and Filppula. Yzerman says all he wants Connolly to do is play like he did last camp

— Joe Smith (@TBTimes_JSmith) September 19, 2014

I have to hope that we’ll see this line suit up together in the preseason, as it’s something I’ve been envisioning in my head for a while. Either way, Lightning GM Steve Yzerman has been very adamant that Connolly will by given plenty of opportunity this time around.

#TBLightning Steve Yzerman Talks About Brett Connolly’ https://t.co/9miES179xe

— Steve Kinsella (@Steve_Kinsella1) September 19, 2014

* An unfortunate bit of news leaked out yesterday. Jonathan Drouin is being held out of activities with what is being described as a minor upper-body injury.

#TBLightning F Jonathan Drouin not practicing during second on-ice day of training camp. Being held out because of an upper body injury

— Bryan Burns (@BBurnsNHL) September 20, 2014

The injury will keep him out of today’s scrimmages, but Jon Cooper did note that they expect him back at some point next week. “It was a freak thing, so there is no alarm,” said Cooper.

That’s all for me today. Enjoy your Sunday.

As always, thanks for reading.

Michael Stuart has been the Tampa Bay Lightning writer for HockeyBuzz since 2012. Visit his archive to read more or follow him on Twitter.

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