The Tampa Bay Lightning have shaken up their front office staff, announcing three promotions and six additions today. The team has hired Jean-Philippe Cote as director of player development, Mike Ellis as director of skill development and four scouts: Stephen Gionta, Grant Armstrong, Josh Dye and Jared Waimon. Promoted are Darryl Plandowski and Brad Whelen who will become the assistant directors of amateur scouting as well as John Rosso who will become the assistant director of player personnel.
Perhaps most notable among that group are Gionta, who played for the New York Islanders and Bridgeport Sound Tigers last year and Cote who previously played 19 games with the Lightning and 27 overall in the NHL.
The Lightning saw some of their front office members leave town recently to follow Steve Yzerman to the Detroit Red Wings, meaning there were always going to be some changes coming. These names will only help to insulate an already very successful scouting and development department that has unearthed hidden gems near countless times over the last several years.