Growth spurt favors Bolts prospect Ashton

Often the grading curve used to chart the progress of a hockey player is based on numbers, with the primary focus on goals, assists and points.

For former Lightning first-round pick Carter Ashton, however, growth can't be measured solely with statistics, as his goal total in the junior ranks dipped from 30 in 2008-09 to 24 in 2009-10.

Rather, just take a glance at Ashton and it's easy to see how much the 29th overall pick in 2009 has actually grown.

When Ashton checked in to Tampa Bay's prospect development this week, the 19-year-old tipped the scales at a solid 220 pounds, which is 20 more pounds than when he reported to training camp last season, and more than 10 pounds since the end of the season. That added bulk is not the result of hanging out at Tim Horton's munching on donuts and milkshakes.

Most of that added weight comes in the form of muscle from an intensive strengthening program in order to add some bulk to his 6-foot-2 frame, while trimming his body fat to 8.2 percent.

"I knew that was one of the things that I had to do was get bigger and stronger at the same time," Ashton said. "I've been fortunate to put on a couple of pounds of muscle, which is something I thought would help."

Ashton put that newfound strength on display Sunday morning. During a drill in which Lightning strength and conditioning coach Chuck Lobe has players sit on their knees before launching an 8-pound medicine ball as far as possible. While Ashton's distance of 30 feet, 9 inches was behind only Mark Barberio (33-1) and Ty Wishart (32-0), he added 6 feet to his best throw from this time last year.

It's something Ashton said he already notices when he puts on the skates and gets on the ice.

"Absolutely I feel it, and I think I've matured as well as a person from last year," he said. "I have another year under my belt and that's helped me grow from last year and I still want to get some maturity in my muscles. But I definitely feel a lot different on the ice right now, I feel a lot more stable and the extra weight is there and it's going to help."

Last year Ashton hung around training camp longer than expected and signed an entry-level contract shortly after being sent back to his junior team in Lethbridge of the Western Hockey League. Later in the season he was traded to Regina, which finished out of the playoffs allowing Ashton to get in 11 games with Norfolk of the American Hockey League, where he scored his first professional goal.

Odds are it won't be his last with the dedication he's shown to improving himself in the past year.

"I think last year was a learning experience for him. He was on two bad teams which didn't help, but from this time last year he has added 20 pounds, looks 20 pounds more confident and had a good year that way," Lightning director of amateur scouting Darryl Plandowski said. "We always talk about staying focused and having a plan and continuing to get better and he's done that."

Although Ashton signed his contract, it won't kick in until he starts playing professionally. With one year of junior eligibility left, that means he will either play for the Lightning this season or head back to Regina. But another year of junior hockey wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to help him grow even more on the ice. Ashton already has been invited as one of 24 forwards to participate in Team Canada's National Junior Team Development Camp in August with the chance to make the team that will compete at the World Junior Championships in Buffalo this winter.

"It should never be a big rush; it's about development and it's a process," Plandowski said. "You should be ready, and that's adding weight, maturing as a person and that allows you to be ready."

When training camp comes around in September, Ashton plans on showing up with the right mindset.

"I want to do the best I can and I still have a couple of months to prepare myself and I want to put myself in the best position I can to make the team," he said. "In the two months, there is obviously a lot more I can mature and grow as a player and that's what I want to do."