With the Lightning putting Luke Witkowski on waivers Friday, it made it clear what's been expected all along.
Defenseman Slater Koekkoek is set to make his first opening night roster.
The former first-round pick, who emerged in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, just had to play his game in training camp. And Koekkoek, who is the team's sixth/seventh defenseman, certainly has.
"It's a lot of gradual steps," coach Jon Cooper said. "Everything from his awareness in his d-zone or ability to jump in the play. He's really figured out taht his skating is his biggest asset, and how he can take advantage of that, closing on guys, angling, gapping, all those things that he was maybe a little bit tentative to do in the past he's doing much better now.