Jan Goličič

September 2024 – Drafted in the fourth round, 118th overall in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning. The first pick by the Lightning in 2024, Goličič, a physical 6-6 defenseman with a long reach to poke and force any puck carrier to take wide angles around him. He has better offensive potential than your average mid-round shutdown prospect. A poor skater with bad agility limits what Goličič can do on the ice. Skating is crucial to his future; he will never make it to the NHL if he can’t improve. If he can work on and improve his skating, he will be projected as a bottom-pairing shutdown defenseman. Better skating might be able to unlock more of his offensive game. Goličič will need at least another three years before he might be able to make the Lightning. Markus Roach