Exactly one forward played in both of the Lightning’s preseason games against the Carolina Hurricanes: Andy Andreoff. The Lightning are taking a good look at the 27-year-old forward to determine if he will be given minutes once the season starts. In the first preseason game against Carolina, Andreoff played with Brayden Point and Ondrej Palat. The Lightning liked Andreoff enough to trade for him in June. With the departure of Chris Kunitz and a vacancy opening up on the fourth line, there is reason to believe Andreoff could start the season there. Does it matter?

It might. The acquisition of Andreoff is an interesting depth move when considering the whole package. No one would confuse Andreoff with Connor McDavid. Andreoff is far from graceful, but ultimately he has the soft hands that allow him to make offensive plays in space. In his first season playing over 20 games with the Kings, he registered 8 goals. In juniors, he potted 33 one season for the Oshawa Generals. Andreoff is a big body who plays inside the dots. He makes the Lightning bigger and more physical along the boards. There is value in having a bruising power forward with scoring touch, as Devante Smith-Pelly demonstrated last postseason.

Having depth forwards contribute is paramount to a team succeeding. The Lightning were extremely fortunate with injury luck last year, but if they lose one or two forwards, their offense could crater. Seeing the Lightning attempt to fasten rookie Alexander Volkov to Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov, and Andreoff to Point and Palat, is an encouraging sign of how they might distribute the talent. (Albeit with Volkov the Lightning must see stand alone top-six potential.)

Last season, the Lightning concentrated their skill at the top, and the trickle down effect was ugly if the big boys went silent. Diversity in each line would present different problems in terms of defending for the Lightning’s opponents. Point and Palat will drive the outside, but a defenseman better be in the paint to box out Andreoff. It is a different way to exploit space and give their enemy less time to defend. Maybe opponents will take less liberties with Point if they are worried that Andreoff is going to drill them into the boards. Regardless, when obtaining a depth player it is critical that he be able to move up and down the lineup – from playing with the stars to the energy guys – while remaining influential.

For awhile, this was true of Kunitz. Kunitz was cagey in how he attacked the net, and his hands were slick even at age 37, but he seemed depleted by the postseason. The NHL in 2018 is a young man’s game. With Andreoff, there is hope that he has offensive potential that has not been harnessed, and that the Lightning have the speed and playmaking to create rebound chances and finishing opportunities for him in the low slot.

Ultimately, hockey is a game of contrasts. The Lightning are quick and can dominate the perimeter. Their forwards are small and finesse-oriented. But they are bereft of power forwards. The Lightning struggled to finish around the crease against the Capitals. Yes, the Lightning were slower than the Capitals. But they also got outmuscled. Speed plus power is enviable. Ideally, Andreoff pushes Tampa Bay closer to that aspiration.

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