NHL draft | Tampa Bay Lightning stock up on forwards

Despite leading the NHL in scoring on their way to the Stanley Cup Final this past season, the Tampa Bay Lightning stocked up on forwards Saturday in the NHL Draft.

The Lightning, who traded out of the first round on Friday night, selected forwards with five of their first six picks Saturday.

Tampa Bay's first pick at No. 33 was Mitchell Stephens, an 18-year-old center from Peterborough, Ontario, who scored 22 goals for Saginaw of the OHL in 2014-15.

"I'm a two-way player," Stephens told the team's website. "I bring a lot of high energy, high compete to the game. I'm a very good skater. I think with the systems that Tampa Bay plays, a high-energy, high-paced game, I think I'm going to fit in well."

The Lightning went with a defenseman with their second pick in the second round at No. 44, taking Matthew Spencer out of Petersborough of the OHL. The 18-year-old had six goals and 24 assists with the Petes.

"I consider myself a very strong defensive defenseman, someone that can contribute offensively as well," Spencer said. "I think that style of play is good in any situation."

Tampa Bay GM Steve Yzerman, named the league's top general manager, then went with four consecutive forwards in left wing Dennis Yan (third round, No. 64), center Anthony Cirelli (third round, No. 72), right wing Jonne Tammela (fourth round, No. 118) and right wing Mathieu Joseph (fourth round, No. 120).

The 18-year-old Yan, who scored 33 goals with Shawinigan of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, said the Lightning were his favorite team growing up.

"I'm a goal scorer, and I like to be with the puck and make the guys around me better," he said.

Cirelli, 17, had 36 points for the Oshawa Generals for the OHL and had a goal and five assists in the postseason. Tammela, 17, played in Findland's top professional league, scoring four goals in 32 games, and was a member of the Finnish Under-18 team. Joseph, 18, scored 21 goals for the Saint John Sea Dogs of the QMJHL.

Tampa Bay finished up by taking defenseman Ryan Zuhlsdorf (fifth round, No. 150), a 17-year-old from Edina, Minn.; Kristian Oldham (sixth round, No. 153), an 18-year-old goaltender from Anchorage, Alaska; and left wing Bokondji Imama (sixth round, No. 180), an 18-year-old left wing from Montreal.

If he ever gets to Amalie Arena, Imama might become a fan favorite.

"I'm a physical player," Imama said. "I love to fight, but I can play the game too. I like to create energy, step up for my teammates."

This story was originally published June 27, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "NHL draft | Tampa Bay Lightning stock up on forwards."