TAMPA — The Tampa Bay Lightning started the week without a pick in the NHL Entry Draft until the sixth round, No. 179, but they have been wheeling and dealing, picking up some young assets but saying goodbye to a player who helped them win a championship.
On Thursday, the Lightning drafted right winger Ethan Gauthier with the No. 37 overall pick.
Ladies and gents, your newest #Bolt 👏 pic.twitter.com/TP6MMXd8QL
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) June 29, 2023
Gauthier, 6 feet and 183 pounds, had 30 goals and added 39 assists for the QMJHL's Sherbrooke Phoenix, his second season in the league.
As the draft evolved Thursday, Tampa Bay also moved up into the fourth round, where it selected center Jayson Shaugabay, Minnesota's Mr. Hockey, at No. 115 overall. The Lightning acquired that pick from the Nashville Predators. It is not clear what Tampa Bay sent to Nashville in return.
Blue is your color, Jayson 🤩#NHLDraft | #GoBolts pic.twitter.com/3ueCzsh6Su
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) June 29, 2023
Tampa Bay obtained the second-pick on Wednesday in a deal that sent forward Ross Colton, Vice President and General Manager Julien BriseBois announced. Colton scored the game-winning goal in Game 5 of the 2021 Stanley Cup, clinching the championship in the series against the Montreal Canadiens. The 26-year-old had 32 points last season for Tampa Bay, and since the Lightning selected him in the fourth round of the 2016 NHL Draft, he totaled 83 points in 190 games.
The deal gave the team four picks before the draft started, including No. 179 in the sixth round and Nos. 193 and 211 in the seventh round. Then they added the fourth-round pick.
With the 179th pick, the Lightning chose defenseman Warren Clark, and at 193, they picked forward Jack Harvey. They wrapped up their draft by selecting forward Ethan Hay at 211.
Tampa Bay also made another deal during the draft, sending pending unrestricted free agent forward Corey Perry, 38, to the Chicago Blackhawks for a seventh-round pick in the 2024 draft. Perry spent two seasons with the Lightning.