Award

The American Hockey League announced today that Syracuse Crunch left wing Cory Conacher was selected the CCM/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Oct. 14, 2012. Conacher was also named our prospect of the week here at Bolt Prospects. Since the AHL candidates for their award far outnumber the number of prospects in the Lightning organization, we listed the AHL’s award first. On pure importance, value, and prestige, ours would be listed first, of course. But we’re nice.

#deathtaxesConacher

Conacher picked up where he left off last season when he was named the AHL’s Most Valuable Player and Most Outstanding Rookie. During the league’s opening weekend, Conacher potted two goals and added three assists. His center, Tyler Johnson, had three goals, and his opposite winger, Ondrej Palat, had three helpers over the weekend.

This week we continue our Prospect of the Week award, an honor (virtually) given to one Tampa Bay Lightning prospect for their recent contributions on and off the ice.

The envelope, please.

The Prospect of the Week for October 9 is … Cedric Paquette, Center, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL – Canada).

Sorry, Andrei Vasilevski, you can’t win every week.

Despite Alex Killorn’s hat trick in Syracuse’s final preseason game, this week’s award goes to 2012 fourth round draft pick Cedric Paquette. Vasilevski had won the first two weekly awards this season.

This week we continue our Prospect of the Week award, an honor (virtually) given to one Tampa Bay Lightning prospect for their recent contributions on and off the ice.

The envelope, please.

The Prospect of the Week for the week ending October 2 is … Andrei Vasilevski, goaltender, Ufa Jr. (MHL - Russia).

Yes, Vasilevski won last week, too. We can’t help it; he’s good.

This past week our top overall prospect in the Lightning organization went 3-0 with a save percentage of .953 and a goals against average barely over one.

Last season we introduced our Prospect of the Week award, an honor (virtually) given to one Tampa Bay Lightning prospect for their recent contributions on the ice.

While Cory Conacher won nearly every AHL award in which he was eligible last year, plus a Calder Cup, we’re fairly certain he’s got a printed copy of his Bolt Prospects Prospect of the Week write-ups stashed in his hockey bag to remind him what can come from dedication and hard work. In the paraphrased words of Ron Burgundy, we don’t know how to put this, but this award is a kind of a big deal.

Now, whether or not the award smells of rich mahogany is up for debate, but we like it regardless.

At any rate, this week’s BP Prospect of the Week award – the first of the season – goes to … Andrei Vasilevski, goaltender, Ufa Jr. (MHL - Russia).

This season Bolt Prospects introduced our Prospect of the Week award, an honor (virtually) given to one Tampa Bay Lightning prospect for their on-ice contributions.

We wanted to highlight prospects throughout the year to help fans get better acquainted with the next round of Lightning stars while recognizing the prospect’s achievement on the ice.

This week’s BP Prospect of the Week award, the last of the season, goes to … Jon Cooper, Coach, Norfolk Admirals (AHL).

While not a Lightning prospect in the true definition of a Lightning prospect, Admirals Head Coach Jon Cooper is certainly an NHL prospect. His name was mentioned when the Montreal Canadiens were searching for a new bench boss and with Edmonton and Washington needing coaches, it's being mentioned again – especially after Cooper’s Admirals won the Calder Cup on Saturday afternoon. The bottom line is he’ll be in the NHL soon.