Jimmy Huntington

July 2019 – Jimmy Huntington was signed to an entry-level contract by the Tampa Bay Lightning after an impressive 20-year-old season for the Rimouski Oceanic. Centering the line of 2020-eligible Alexis Lafreniere, Huntington’s production spiked in 2018-2019, as he posted a gaudy total of 40 goals and 92 points in 66 regular-season games before tallying an additional 16 points in the playoffs for Rimouski.

Huntington’s skill set appears to have taken a major step forward this past year, as his skill level has gotten much better since going undrafted. Huntington has become smoother with the puck on his stick, allowing him the ability to deke out goaltenders in tight or find gaps in defenses with his hands in order to generate scoring opportunities. His vision is quite good, as he can make occasional flashy passes and can find teammates in the slot with a good amount of regularity. The reservation with Huntington lies in his ability to drive his own line; Lafreniere was the perfect linemate which allowed him to find more time and open space to make an offensive impact on the game, however, Huntington was not a top-line QMJHL player before arriving in Rimouski. If Huntington can succeed at the AHL level without the power of a phenom on his line, he projects optimistically as a middle six role player in the NHL. Brandon Holmes