Team: Tampa Bay Lightning
Photo Courtesy of UMD

Fantasy Summary

Pure goal-scoring forward with a lethal wrist shot; foot speed is an issue, but projects as a middle-six NHL forward.


Observations

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June 2023 – Koepke failed to hold a fourth line role with Tampa Bay this season, and spent most of his time in the AHL with Syracuse as a result. His two year entry level contract with the Lightning expires this summer, and as of now he has not been signed to an extension. While he once showed promise in the NCAA as a middle-six scorer, his role if he ever makes the NHL will likely be a bottom-six, checking role. In hindsight, another year of NCAA hockey wouldn’t have hurt Koepke’s development. Wade Messier
June 2020 – After winning an NCAA championship in his freshman season at Minnesota-Duluth, Cole Koepke finished off his sophomore with a large spike in production, increasing his goal output from seven to 16 and his point total from 19 to 33. Koepke tied for the team lead in points among forwards with Noah Cates and ended the season with the team lead in goals as well. Koepke’sshot remains his strongest asset and will be the attribute that could propel him into an NHL top nine someday, however, his foot speed still remains about average, which is an obstacle he will need to overcome. Brandon Holmes

June 2018 – One of the most pure sniper’s to be drafted from the Sioux City Musketeers went on to have an almost Rookie of the year campaign in the KHL in his D+1 campaign was Eeli Tolvanen. Well, Koepke’s 28 tally’s in the USHL were only two short of Tolvanen’s total a year prior to his breakout year with Jokerit Helsinki. Koepke is a high energy player who gives a full effort each and every shift, a large reason why he was recruited by the University of Minnesota-Duluth. In the NCAA Koepke will be forced to improve his skating before he’s able to show off his high-level shot in peer-peer competition. He could turn out to be one of the highest value picks at this point in the draft for the Lightning. Brayden Olafson

Attributes
Fantasy Upside 4.5
NHL Certainty 5.0
Country USA
Position LW
Roster Type Minors
Shoot/Glove Left
Date of Birth May 17, 1998
Height 6‘1”
Weight 196 lbs
Drafted 2018 Round 6; Overall: 183

Stats

 Season Team League GP G A TP PIM      Playoffs GP G A TP PIM 
 2013-2014 Hermantown HighUSHS-MN25 17 1128 12|Playoffs6 1 34 0 
 2014-2015 Team The Base UMHSEHL19 4 48 8|Playoffs3 0 11 0 
  B16 - Blue (Final 54)MNHP-163 3 25 -|        
  Team Forest USA-S164 3 14 -|        
  Hermantown HighUSHS-MN25 17 1936 12|Playoffs6 4 48 2 
 2015-2016 Team The Base UMHSEHL20 7 714 4|Playoffs3 3 14 2 
  Hermantown HighUSHS-MN24 31 2253 23|Playoffs6 10 515 2 
  Minnesota WildernessNAHL9 2 13 4|Playoffs8 0 00 4 
 2016-2017 Sioux City MusketeersUSHL22 3 25 19|        
 2017-2018 Sioux City MusketeersUSHL60 28 1139 34|        
 2018-2019 Univ. of Minnesota-DuluthNCAA42 7 1219 14|        
 2019-2020 Univ. of Minnesota-DuluthNCAA34 16 1733 16|        
 2020-2021 Univ. of Minnesota-DuluthNCAA28 15 823 22|        
  Syracuse CrunchAHL9 2 13 2|        
 2021-2022 Syracuse CrunchAHL69 20 1939 55|Playoffs5 2 13 0 
 2022-2023 Tampa Bay LightningNHL17 1 01 2|        
  Syracuse CrunchAHL52 7 1219 23|Playoffs5 0 33 2 
 2023-2024 Tampa Bay LightningNHL9 0 22 0|        
  Syracuse CrunchAHL53 20 1939 14|        

Highlights