By Mark Pukalo
There are two simple words
for Tampa Bay Lightning fans to live by through the first half of the 2015-16
NHL season.
Don’t panic.
Only a small part of
that is about the worry over secret contract negotiations with captain Steven
Stamkos. More than 90 percent of the reason to show patience for the next
campaign is the hangover the Lightning is likely to experience after playing 108 games – two shy of the most they could have in 2014-15.
You add in the
recovery from injuries for goalie Ben Bishop and Tyler Johnson, along with the
news of Andrei Vasilevskiy’s blood clot that will keep him out at least the
first month or two, and there is more uncertainty.
It is often difficult
for a team to find that magic, that emotion after a long, physical and mental
slog of the postseason. The Lightning could be in that position early on and a
rough four-game trip in October that includes a rematch with the Stanley Cup
champion Chicago Blackhawks doesn’t help.
Don’t worry about it,
though, Lightning fans. Ultimately, this team is too good to fail unless they
are ravaged with injuries. The best scenario may be to find their best stride
in the second half anyway, and take that momentum into the playoffs where they
have already proven they can win on the road.
However, there are
some things that can help produce better results in the first half of the
season. Lightning GM Steve Yzerman said -- clearly -- after last season that
youngsters Jonathan Drouin and Vladislav Namestnikov are going to get bigger
roles. That new blood from players who showed flashes last season can
invigorate a squad and coach Jon Cooper needs to put them in positions where
they can succeed.
Where is that? We all
have our own opinions. Here’s mine, before camp opens Friday:
I admit I may end up
being wrong about this down the line, but I think Drouin will be better as a
winger rather than a centre. Whether Ryan Callahan or Alex Killorn (more
likely) is on the other wing, Drouin has to be given a real chance as a set-up
man for Stamkos. It cannot be a few so-so games and that’s it. Stick the former
Halifax Moosehead there and let him build real chemistry with Stammer and
Killer. I can’t imagine that line wouldn’t work at some level. They are all too
smart, too crafty, too talented. Maybe Drouin and Killorn are both at their
best on the left side, but the 20-year-old Drouin has already showed he can
play on the right side during his rookie season. No doubt Drouin should be on
one of the power-play units as well, whether he plays with Stamkos or not.
It sounds like
blasphemy to break up the triplets, but I don’t think it’s out of the question
if you can find out that other combinations may give you three dangerous
scoring lines that are capable defensively -- instead of two. You certainly
don’t start that way, though. Cooper might feel differently, but Namestnikov
seems to fit on the left side with centre Valterri Filppula and Ryan Callahan
on the third line while Cedric Paquette should play with Brian Boyle and J.T.
Brown to start. The Bolts need to find out once and for all whether Namestnikov
can be a productive winger, or is he only noticeable at centre. Can Filppula
move to the left side with Vladdy in the middle? Maybe.
I don’t disregard the
prevailing thought that positions don’t matter, except on faceoffs. But I still
think forwards patrol certain areas of the ice and it is important to be strong
up the middle. Stamkos can certainly play the wing and it worked for part of
the postseason. But, to me, he belongs in the middle with Killorn and Drouin
working to get him the puck in shooting areas. Both of them can score as well
with defenses sagging toward Stamkos. The flexibility the Lightning have up
front can be a plus, but in my opinion Cooper must avoid the temptation to
over-coach with so many options.
That is what this
training camp will be about. The staff needs to find the right combinations to
light a fire while allowing Drouin and – to a lesser extent – Namestnikov to
grow. The roster is pretty much set with newcomer Erik Condra taking a spot
among the 13 forwards in place of Brenden Morrow. Adam Erne could become a factor down the road if there
are injuries and he starts very fast in the AHL like Nikita Kucherov did two
years ago.
The Lightning likely
will keep eight defensemen unless they send Nikita Nesterov down so he can play
20 minutes a game in October. Luke Witkowski cannot get to Syracuse without
waivers this season and should be kept around because he is the type of
hard-nosed, physical defenseman another team (wouldn't Toronto or Ottawa love to have him?) will grab in a second. Plus, I
think he can push Andrej Sustr on the right side. The biggest objective in the
preseason for the Lightning is keeping the top four healthy. You might also see
Braydon Coburn play a little with Matt Carle and Sustr with Jason Garrison to
see if those combinations will be better than using Sustr and Carle together as
the third pair – a dumpster fire most of the playoffs – the whole game. In some
ways, I think the Lightning would be better with Nesterov and Witkowski as the
third pair with Nesty getting some power-play time and Luke killing penalties.
But, no doubt, Carle has the experience advantage and Sustr owns the most
upside.
Another thing to watch
on defense is Victor Hedman’s health. If the Big Swede can play at least 70-75
games this season, you might finally see him in the Norris Trophy conversation.
If the Bolts had won the Cup, I fully believe Hedman would have won the Conn
Smythe.
The other issue in
camp is the clean slate for goalie Kristers Gudlevskis. The Latvian had a promising
2013-14 campaign and struggled mightily last season. The Lightning has to see
if Gudlevskis can be a viable option down the road and the first month or two
of this season could be that showcase. If he plays well on the NHL stage, it
can both give the Lightning more confidence in him and add trade value.
Ray Emery, in camp on
a tryout contract, is most likely here for insurance purposes. If there is an
injury or Goody falters in the preseason, the veteran gets a contract offer.
You’d have to be a
mind reader to know where the Stamkos contract talks stand right now. Yzerman
is too smart not to have the parameters of a deal outlined for the two-time
Rocket Richard Trophy winner. It would seem easy to plug in numbers similar to
Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane and plow forward, but it looks as though one or
both sides are trying to be a little more creative which makes everything more
complicated. More money for a shorter term? Big money early in the deal? Not
sure, but, honestly, it shouldn’t worry Lightning fans. As another blogger wrote
recently, the Bolts can live without Stamkos -- if he wants to be blown away
with cash or play in Canada. I agree. They are loaded with good young players
and would get back plenty in return for Stammer if he needed to be dealt.
So enjoy the season
and certainly don’t panic – especially when Mike Milbury shows concern in
between periods on NBC Sports Network as the Lightning hosts Buffalo on Nov. 10
while standing at 6-7-3. The key will be how they are playing in April – not in
the fall.
