Geekie making immediate impact with Lightning

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This article was published 14/11/2024 (331 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TAMPA — This was a call Conor Geekie wasn’t expecting to field.

Geekie was enjoying a relaxing summer morning when word came down that he was going to be involved in a blockbuster trade on Day 2 of the 2024 NHL Draft.

The Strathclair, Man., product had been traded in the Western Hockey League last season by the Wenatchee Wild to the Swift Current Broncos, but that move was expected and he knew he would be a contender.

This move caught him completely off guard initially after hearing he’d been traded to the Lightning with defenceman JJ Moser and a second round pick from Utah HC for defenceman Mikhail Sergachev.

“It was different in pro, especially being a young guy it feels a little more blatant,” said Geekie, who was originally chosen 11th overall by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2022 NHL Draft. “I got a call that said I was being traded. It happened on the draft floor (in Las Vegas), so nobody called me from the Lightning for about 20 minutes. So, I was kind of shaking in my boots a bit, wondering if this was real. Julien (BriseBois) ended up calling me and introduced me to everybody.

“We tried to play it off like it was pretty minimal, but it was obviously a big deal in my world.”

When you’ve yet to suit up in a game with the team that drafts you, it’s always going to be a big deal.

“Utah is a great organization and what they did for me as an organization growing up as a player when it comes to skating and strength and stuff like that. But it’s starting to feel like Tampa is my home, for sure,” said Geekie, who was asked why he thought the Lightning pushed to include him in the deal. “I don’t think I can really answer that. I’m very happy that they did and I love the spot. I’ll never take it for granted. I cherished it.

“Don’t get me wrong, it was a little weird in the moment. It’s definitely a good fit for me and my family.”

Geekie, 20, is suiting up in Game 15 of his NHL career on Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets.

“I wouldn’t say I’ve been consistent every single night, but everyone here, when they don’t have their A-game, they have their B-game and not their D-game,” said Geekie. “The biggest thing for me is that if I don’t have it, don’t have it everywhere, if that makes sense. I just try and maintain what I’ve got. Everyone here is supporting me and keeping me on my feet.

“I do everything I can to win. I’m a competitive guy, whether it’s ping pong or what-not. Whatever I can do to help.”

Geekie has been impressed by the winning culture around the Lightning, who won consecutive Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021 and lost in the Cup final to the Colorado Avalanche in 2022.

“When you come into an organization like this, it’s unbelievable,” said Geekie, who joined the Tuscon Roadrunners of the AHL at the end of last season. “Everyone is so professional and they take it very seriously in every thing that they do.”

Although he moved back to his natural position of centre on the third line on Thursday against the Jets, Geekie has spent a lot of time on the wing on the second line with Anthony Cirelli and Brandon Hagel to start the season.

He experienced the thrill of scoring his first NHL goal, burying a one-timer against Washington Capitals goalie Charlie Lindgren in a 3-0 victory.

A little while later he ended up on the highlight reels by converting a perfect tick-tack-toe play with Cirelli and Hagel against the Colorado Avalanche.

Geekie, who starred with the Winnipeg Ice for three seasons, faced his home province NHL team earlier this month in Winnipeg, with plenty of friends and family members taking in the action.

“I played in Winnipeg a little bit and went to a couple of games. My grandpa was a fan of the Jets until my brother (Morgan) made his way into the NHL,” said Geekie, whose older brother currently suits up with the Boston Bruins after spending time with the Seattle Kraken and Carolina Hurricanes before that. “It’s also so cool to play in your home province and where you grew up playing summer hockey and junior hockey. I take it with a lot of pride.”

Geekie has endeared himself to his new teammates with his outgoing nature and positive demeanour.

“He’s fit in so well with the guys,” said Lightning captain Victor Hedman. “He’s got a cannon of a shot and he takes a lot of pride in being good defensively and he’s got a lot of offensive upside as well.

“He’s still young and he’s still learning but the sky is the limit for him.”

Geekie clearly made an impression on Lightning head coach Jon Cooper during training camp, as rookie professionals in the organization usually require extensive time in the American Hockey League with the Syracuse Crunch before they graduate to the big club.

“We haven’t had somebody of his age in quite some time here,” said Cooper, whose personal journey included time in the AHL that included winning a Calder Cup with the Norfolk Admirals. “The one thing about Conor is he’s big, he’s strong, he’s powerful. He’s got all of these attributes that you don’t have at such a young age. The only thing he’s lacking is experience. You see there are little things, at times, in his game where it’s inexperience and the more he develops and learns. Every shift he gets in this league, he’s going to get better.

“He can play a man’s game. We’re not the biggest team in this league, so he gives us that power forward look.”

That ability to blend his skill and strength has allowed Geekie to succeed at every level, so it’s no surprise he’s made an impact so quickly in his career.

“I knew they were a good team, but my goal from the start was to play a game and then feel things out,” said Geekie. “One game turned into five, five turned into nine and we’re here right now. You can get sent down at any time, so just live in the moment and that’s always been my family’s biggest philosophy.”

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

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