WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. — Most seventh-round picks in the NHL draft are essentially lottery tickets. If everything goes right in their development, they just might hit. But the Lightning view those late picks in an entirely different way — less about luck, more about projection and even more about process.

In June’s draft, half of the Lightning’s picks — four of eight — were in the seventh and final round. Over the years, they’ve traded many of their first-round picks to upgrade their NHL roster at the deadline; in the process, they’ve acquired a stockpile of late-round selections. In fact, over the last five drafts, 14 of the Lightning’s 33 picks (42.2%) have come out of the seventh round. They have made just one first-round pick and two second-rounders over those five years.

So, many of the players who make up the Lightning’s NHL Prospect Tournament roster were late-round picks, including three of the four seventh-rounders taken this summer. The organization’s player development department is confident that, in their system, seventh-rounders can make it to the NHL.

Remember, Ondrej Palat, selected 208th overall in 2011, might be the best seventh-round pick to carve out an NHL career since the draft moved to seven rounds 20 years ago.

One intangible most seventh-round picks have going for them is an ever-present chip on their shoulder. They’ve constantly had to prove themselves, been consistently overlooked and had to find different ways to stand out.

So, here comes 20-year-old Marco Mignosa, the last of the Lightning’s eight picks in the June draft, selected 215th overall. Not only was he the 10th-to-last pick, he was the oldest player selected.

Prospect camp is short, but Mignosa’s skills stood out during the Lightning’s post-draft development camp. His play in this week’s prospect tournament continued that momentum.

He scored the tying goal in the Lightning’s 3-2 win over Florida Saturday at AdventHealth Center Ice, converting a breakaway opportunity with a nifty forehand move, and he showed his scoring ability with a shootout goal through the five-hole to end the Lightning’s tournament opener against Nashville.

At 6 feet and 172 pounds, Mignosa is not the biggest player. But he’s already shown his resilience, and the Lightning have taken notice.

“They told me they like guys who score,” Mignosa said with a smile. “And every year of my career, I’ve been progressing with my scoring. So I try to bring some offense, and obviously a two-way game as well to be a threat at both ends. ... To be reliable on both ends of the ice is massive, and that gets you more minutes from your coach.”

“I’m trying to do the most I can,” Mignosa added. “I think there’s more in me, too. I’m not going to be on my heels. I’m going to keep playing on my toes and try and impress the organization even more.”

When he leaves prospect camp, Mignosa will return to Sault St. Marie, Ontario, for his fifth season of junior hockey with the OHL’s Soo Greyhounds as an overage player (teams are limited to three 20-year-old players).

Mignosa improved his offensive numbers in each of his four seasons with Soo, most recently leading the team with 85 points, including 36 goals, while serving as an alternate captain.

Still, there were no guarantees going into June’s draft, especially since Mignosa didn’t hear his name called in the previous two. He said he’s been trying to prove people wrong since his OHL draft year five years ago.

“Honestly, I thought I got passed up and went a little late in the OHL draft, and I went in as a 16-year-old with a chip on my shoulder,” Mignosa said. “And then every single year I didn’t get drafted, so it kind of built up and it just made me stronger as a person and it made me go out there and play harder and try to get noticed. I’m just trying to improve every year and go in with that mindset that someone’s going to notice you if you keep working hard.”

In his first season with Soo as a 16-year-old, he saw teammate Tye Kartye use his overage season to get an entry-level contract with the Seattle Kraken. And the Lightning signed goaltender Harrison Meneghin, a late seventh-rounder in 2024, to an entry-level deal in July after a breakout junior season in which he led Medicine Hat to the Memorial Cup tournament.

So, Mignosa has seen others find success after being selected late or not at all.

“After having the year I had last season, I was like, ‘Why don’t I belong here with the other guys that are already here across other organizations and stuff?” Mignosa said. “Fortunately enough, Tampa took me, and I’m going to work my bag off, and hopefully I can make the most of it.”

____

©2025 Tampa Bay Times. Visit tampabay.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.