By Mark Pukalo
One more chance.
Steve Yzerman has built the organization to where he wanted it, turning the Tampa Bay Lightning into a consistent playoff team and a contender for the Stanley Cup every season. New general manager Julien Brisebois has the ability to continue along that path.
The Bolts have made the final four three of the last four seasons and injuries took the chance away in 2016-17. But this might be the last opportunity for the entirety of a special core group to win a championship together. It should also be coach Jon Cooper’s final chance to find a way to get his team over the hump.
Three veteran defensemen are in the last year of their contract. Nikita Kucherov’s gigantic cap hit starts up next season and Brayden Point will get a big raise after his entry deal ends July 1. In addition, Yanni Gourde is due for a new contract if they can keep him while Andrei Vasilevskiy and Mikhail Sergachev have two years left starting now.
There will be changes and, if Tampa Bay fails to win a Cup this season, there must be some type of shake up.
The keys for 2018-19 are virtually the same as last season, but the tools the Lightning boast to get it done are more clear. The Bolts were able to win the Atlantic Division in 2017-18 with way better than expected secondary scoring, fantastic goaltending from Vasilevskiy, a power play that was lethal at times and by making big plays at the right times.
While Vasilevskiy saved them most nights during the first half of the season, they played just enough defense to get by with Norris Trophy winner Victor Hedman leading the way. But with a full season of Ryan McDonagh, an older and expected better Sergachev along with a few burgeoning youngsters, the Lightning should be improved on the back end. One major goal is limiting shots on net against (32.7, ninth-most in the league last season).
Brisebois may look to create some cap space, perhaps by moving Coburn and taking back some salary, to give the Bolts a chance to make a pickup at the deadline on defense. Ultimately, that move may be the most important to unlock the door to a championship.
There are a few reasons I was against acquiring Erik Karlsson to improve the right side of the defense. There’s no doubt he is one of the best in the NHL. Love his game. But he is an offensive defenseman and that is not a need on this team. He also would have cost an abundance of good young players - in July - and another $9-10 million contract on the cap. His foot injury scares me long term as well. But honestly, I didn’t really want the Lightning to become the Yankees or the Red Sox. I would rather see them win it with mostly home-grown talent and heady moves.
Tampa Bay is plenty good enough to win the Cup. It’s time. The Bolts will have to get through Boston and Toronto, then probably Pittsburgh or Washington. The biggest obstacle is being able to navigate through the ups and downs of the postseason. They have seemed to hit a wall three times in four years.
Tampa Bay had a 2-1 lead and home-ice advantage in the Cup final. They have had a chance to win the Eastern Conference on home ice two of the past three years. They just could not finish.
There was plenty of blame to go around in those situations. In five Game 6s and 7s combined during the last series of those three runs, they totaled three goals. Three!
The players did not come up big. But, often, Cooper was slow or did not make the adjustments needed to give the Lightning a better chance to succeed in all three of those series. I have been a critic in the past, but Cooper seemed to be pushing all the right buttons last season, even through the first two rounds of the playoffs. But he was hesitant to make big adjustments to his forward lines against Washington. The Bolts were lucky to be up three games to two while being outplayed throughout. Adjustments were needed up front and they did not score in the final two games. They needed a creative, aggressive coach to beat the Caps. He failed.
Let’s hope Cooper has learned from his mistakes or the players can just plow through the postseason and finally do enough to sip from the Cup.
Heck, I’m picking the Bolts this season. Tampa Bay over Winnipeg in six games.
Listen, if they can get through the Eastern Conference they have an edge in goal during the finals. I'm taking Vasy over Connor Hellebuyck, Martin Jones or even Pekka Rinne. Easy.
They will have to be alert and find motivation through the first 50 games of the regular season. They will have to give Vasilevskiy easier nights. The veterans and most productive players must stay healthy. Young guys like Adam Erne, Tony Cirelli and Mathieu Joseph can add some spark. Brisebois must find Yzerman’s magic at the deadline.
It’s time for a parade. June, 2019. Or Bust.
