The Tampa Bay Lightning have a decision coming up in just a few days. On June 1st, just days from today, their exclusive negotiating rights with 2015 6th round draft pick Bokondji Imama expire.

Many teams draft players and let them go, it happens every year. There’s something about this player however, that makes me think it would be a bad idea to see him leave the organization. Granted, I only started following the Lightning prospects in the CHL this year, but Imama has stood out for me, and has been someone I’ve kept my eye on throughout the season.

From the high level view, there’s not a lot outstanding about Imama’s numbers if you just take a look at them without context. His jump in scoring this year could be brushed off as a typical overager. Bigger, stronger, older than his opponents, so of course he’s doing better.

Bokondji Imama stats via eliteprospects.com SEASON TEAM LEAGUE GP G A TP PIM POST GP G A TP PIM SEASON TEAM LEAGUE GP G A TP PIM POST GP G A TP PIM 2012-13 Baie-Comeau Drakkar QMJHL 44 3 3 6 34 Playoffs 5 0 0 0 9 2013-14 Baie-Comeau Drakkar QMJHL 59 7 8 15 101 Playoffs 13 0 4 4 14 2014-15 Baie-Comeau Drakkar QMJHL 36 10 9 19 89 Saint John Sea Dogs QMJHL 23 3 6 9 48 Playoffs 5 0 1 1 6 2015-16 Saint John Sea Dogs QMJHL 48 7 12 19 86 Playoffs 10 1 3 4 15 2016-17 Saint John Sea Dogs QMJHL 66 41 14 55 105 Playoffs 18 8 7 15 22

When you take a deeper look, you find out that the change in his game was part of the plan, and something he was eager to jump into. When he was cut from Lightning camp in the fall, the message was clear: Show us your offensive game.

In an interview with Colour of Hockey earlier this year he said:

“From the first day they released me from camp, it was clear: they don’t want to see me fight, they don’t want to see me get suspended,” Imama said. “They want to see me on the ice, working on my game, scoring goals obviously, making some good plays, being an effective hockey player for my team.”

Taking this advice to heart, and seeing his coach use him in new ways, new lines, new shifts, talking to him today about what he did to get ready for his final year in junior.

I’ve been working so hard over the off-season. I’m a big guy, tough, energy forward, in the NHL now the big guys have to be really reliable on the ice. That’s what I’ve been working on these past two year, and last summer I really worked on my shot release, my skills, my skating. It’s given me a lot of confidence, coming back as an overager helped me to work on my game even more. It helped me to become a better overall player.

Imama outscored his entire QMJHL career this year. His play on a line with Matthew Highmore and fellow Lightning Prospect Mathieu Jospeh has been amazing, making them one of the most solid lines of the tournament. In an RDS article from earlier this season (translated from French):

“People do not realize maybe but Boko is also a very good hockey player," Mathieu Joseph emphatically told RDS, before describing the the skill of the colossal 6’1” Imama "He's a very fast guy. He has an excellent skate while he has a lot to move and is heavy. He was asked to work on his game in general, not just his checks and battles, and that's what he did. He improved his hands and his passing, which is probably one of the best of our team. "

Imama hasn’t shied away from the physical side of the game however, he had the second most penalty minutes this year with 105, up from 86 last year, but down from 137 two seasons ago. This is a product of his early years in Baie-Comeau, where he was a fourth liner expected to use his strength more than his skills.

So what can a 20 year old playing in major junior have to offer the Lightning long term?

Perhaps team depth, maybe a strong wing in Syracuse, but he’s loyal to his team to a fault. He left the bench December 2015 to protect a rookie on Saint John. Joe Veleno was the first player in the QMJHL to be given exceptional status - allowing him to enter the league a year early at 15. Connor McDavid, John Tavares, Sean Day, and Aaron Ekblad all used this rule in the OHL as well. Veleno was 15 and was hit from behind into the boards one game and when Halifax Mooseheads overage player (20 years old) Kelley Brent started to fight Veleno. Imama left the bench to defend the young player, and while kept the kid from getting injured, he was handed a 15 game suspension for his actions.

Imama told Sunaya Sapurji of Loose Pucks that last season wasn’t the best but that he had to work through it:

“I'm not making any excuses," said Imama. "Last year was not a good year, but it's only me that is responsible. If this year is a good year – it's only me that is responsible. Obviously I have the help of my teammates, but that's how I see it."

He keeps a positive outlook off the ice, and is held in high regard by his teammates. He’s trusted with one of the most important tasks a teenager could ask for: team barber. His attitude and work was inspired by his parents, immigrants from the Democratic Republic of Congo:

The following year he was traded from the Drakkar to the SeaDogs. After the trade, he attempted to drive to Saint John in bad weather only to hit a patch of ice three hours outside of Rimouski, Que., and total his new car. Imama was unhurt, and the Drakkar paid for a flight so he could join his new team. When he finally made it, he went straight to the rink for a game and suited up even though the game had already started. Now, telling these stories serve as lessons in perseverance for Imama. "That's the way I was brought up," said Imama. "My parents came from far away and they didn't always have it easy here or (in the Congo). I always tell my mom and dad that I’m grateful for this and that I love them for this (opportunity). "I'm lucky enough to be playing hockey and living my dream, so I know when things are not going well I don't have any excuses – I just have to make sure I go up the hill and not down it."

The Tampa Bay Lighting have a decision to make this week. Sign Boko to an NHL deal, or lose their exclusive window with him next Thursday. There’s still a chance to sign him after that, but the risk is seeing him go to another team. I asked what he was looking for in this regard but he said he was focused only on the Memorial Cup, and his agent would take care of the rest.

Imama’s already scored one goal while wearing the Lightning jersey. Hopefully it isn’t the last.