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Wright eyes a roster spot

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON

eerlendsson@tampatrib.com

Published: September 26, 2009

NORFOLK, Va. - As the Lightning's traveling road hockey tour came to the final stop on a five-games-in-five-nights trek, the remaining players paired off into different locker rooms for an intrasquad scrimmage at Scope Arena.

While some, such as Vinny Lecavalier, donned jerseys of the Norfolk Admirals, a Tampa Bay minor-league affiliate, rookie forward James Wright found his way to the other locker room to put on a Lightning jersey.

The way the 19-year-old has performed in training camp, slipping on Tampa Bay's sweater could become a regular routine this season.

Wright, a fourth-round pick in the 2008 draft, continues to be a pleasant surprise in his first NHL training camp. So much so, he played on a line with Jeff Halpern the past two preseason games, a position he has earned, according to Coach Rick Tocchet.

"From prospect camp to now, the way he's played, he's been one of our better forwards, he's really taken the opportunity and ran with it," Tocchet said.

During Thursday's game against Edmonton, Wright was in front of the net when Kurtis Foster tied the score late and was right back out on the ice to kill an Oilers power play in the final minute.

"He's very smart, very solid, he gets on pucks quickly and he's in the right spots," Halpern said. "For me, he's been fun to play with. I didn't know much about him before camp, but he's shown he can be a reliable player who provides some good offensive spark."

Coming into camp, Wright just wanted to make a good impression. For now, he's relishing the ice time he's been granted so far, and soaking up any experience he can gain.

"For me, personally, this has been awesome to get to play this much," Wright said. "I wasn't expecting it, but I really enjoy the opportunity."

The fact Wright is still with the team while 2009 first-round pick Carter Ashton was returned to his junior team in Lethbridge on Friday might speak volumes as to his where he sits on the depth chart right now. And while a dozen or so players remained in Norfolk after Friday's game pending re-assignment, Wright continued on with the rest of the team to Atlanta.

Before earning a spot, however, Wright would first have to be signed to an entry-level contract. He could play up to nine regular-season games before the team would have to decide whether to keep him or return him to his junior team.

"It's not determined yet (if he remains), we'll meet (this) morning and take a look at what we got," GM Brian Lawton said.

"I guess I allow (the thought of making the team) in my head, but I know it takes a lot of work," Wright said. "It's going to take a lot of effort, it's going to take me working my ... well, working really hard every single day to be able to put myself in a good situation like that."

Nuts and Bolts

The Lightning lost RW Radek Smolenak on waivers to the Blackhawks on Friday. ... RW Martins Karsums and Blair Jones did not play as both were placed on waivers Friday.

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