By Mark Pukalo
It’s pretty easy to figure
out the Tampa Bay Lightning’s biggest problems this season.
It’s not that difficult to
name the many viable excuses for their position in the standings, either.
However, the best solutions
for their dilemma are not going to be so simple to find.
The good news is the Bolts
are just a few points out of a playoff spot with half a season to go. The bad
news is they don’t look like a team just biding its time before making a big
run. Honestly, they haven’t all season long – except for a few brief stretches.
It’s not just one thing, but
it starts with the bottom four on defense. While the forwards have been
inconsistent and not as interested defensively at times, the level of play from
the five regular blue liners aside from Victor Hedman and Anton Stralman has
not been good enough. Not even close. When the puck isn’t getting out of the
zone efficiently, it does not allow the Lightning to use their speed and
creativity. They look disjointed. Their energy is sapped.
So, what can they do?
Make a few minor trades?
Change the coach? Make a big gutsy deal? Wait it out?
Right now, Lightning GM
Steve Yzerman is probably stuck with the fourth option while having a chance to
get a look at some of his young players in the system. The difficult thing for
him to consider is that if the Lightning can just get healthy enough and play a
little better to sneak into the playoffs, the route to the Eastern Conference
final is not all that difficult in the Atlantic Division. But if you just go
with the same crew because they have gotten the job done before, you risk a
lost season.
Yes, we’re talking about a
19-17-4 team here. In a way, that’s not too bad with all the injuries they have
suffered. But the Lightning have higher expectations. Their fans do, too.
As critical as I have been of
coach Jon Cooper at times, I’m not sure it’s fair to evaluate his performance
this season with all the injuries he has had to deal with. His constant line
shuffling and affection for Nikita Nesterov has been perplexing at times, but
for the most part it has been the players who have not produced. Cooper should
probably get at least the rest of the season to right the ship. … but, Gerard
Gallant is out there.
Yzerman does not like to
trade draft picks or players in their first two years with the team – except
when there is a character issue like Anthony DeAngelo. That may have to change
if he is going to fill the Bolts’ most pressing needs. They made some excellent
picks the last two years, and giving up a No. 1 in the 2017 or 2018 draft won’t
kill them if what’s coming back is substantial.
It is probably the time to
make some type of minor or middling move just to shake things up. Pick up
right-hand shot rearguard Frank Corrado from Toronto for a fifth-round pick or
something similar to that? Make a serious play for right-hand D man Michael
Stone (assuming he’s healthy) or even better Connor Murphy in Arizona? Dangle
Vladislav Namestnikov to teams that might need center or skill up front? Offer
veteran defenseman Jason Garrison cheap to clear cap space and acquire a
younger No. 3-4 D man?
It’s all easy on paper. But
it is very difficult in this day and age to make a trade with the salary cap –
especially a major deal.
While I don’t believe Jacob
Trouba has rescinded his trade demand, Winnipeg is not going to be in any rush
to deal him as long as he’s in the lineup. They will wait for someone to blow
them away. Trouba is the absolute perfect player for the Lightning to add. He’s
a smooth, composed, a two-way defenseman who shoots right-handed. You could
slip him nicely behind Stralman and Hedman on the blue line depth chart. But
the Jets are probably asking for Jonathan Drouin and some of Tampa Bay’s top
prospects. A package of Namestnikov, Dylan Blujus and a second-round pick won’t
get it done. Aside from Drouin and perhaps Brayden Point, the “almost” untouchables
are probably Dominik Masin, Taylor Raddysh, Brett Howden and Libor Hajek. I’m
sure Yzerman would rather not deal Adam Erne or Mathieu Joseph at this time,
either.
It doesn’t look as though
the Blues are interested in trading Kevin Shattenkirk and Calgary isn’t dealing
fellow defenseman Dougie Hamilton, either. While it’s not out of the question
Colorado would trade Tyson Barrie, I’m not sure he’s the type of defenseman that
would help Lightning right now. Yes, he could aid the offense but he is not all
that good in his own end – which is the Bolts’ biggest weakness. While a legitimate
power-play quarterback would be nice, they are third in the league with a man
advantage without one this season. It’s possible someone like Cody Franson of
Buffalo or Stone could help if the price is right.
Carolina has a host of
defensemen, needs forwards to fill out its lineup and owns loads of cap space.
Vancouver could use more depth up front, but might not have the right pieces (or
want a center) to make a deal work for someone like Tyler Johnson – who is from
Spokane, Wash. New Jersey also has plenty of cap space. No doubt, Yzerman is
turning over every stone.
Goalie Ben Bishop becomes a
major chip soon, but there only seems to be one logical destination for him –
Dallas. The two problems are, the Stars would need to send a goalie back that
makes at least $4.5 million for another year and they are probably not
interested in trading major defense prospect Julius Honka or John Klingberg – a
pair of righties.
By the way, Andrei
Vasilevskiy is fine. He was outstanding in five of the first six games after
Bishop went down and probably shouldn’t have started the Washington game when
his team was out of gas. Vasy wasn’t good against Nashville on Thursday, but
his teammates were downright awful in front of him against Winnipeg. There is
no cap room for Bishop, Lightning fans. Live with it.
Yzerman must also think of
the expansion draft. Not counting Namestnikov, there are nine forwards for
seven spots on the list he must submit to keep – assuming there’s no deals
between now and then. If Yzerman cannot get Ryan Callahan or Valtteri Filppula
to waive their no-move clauses, they will have to be protected. Assuming that
worst-case scenario, you likely add Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos and
Jonathan Drouin to make five. That leaves Ondrej Palat, Johnson, unrestricted
free agent Brian Boyle and Alex Killorn for two spots – in my opinion. It would
be hard to imagine Las Vegas taking Callahan with his injury concerns and big
contract or Filppula with one year at $5 million left, so exposing the two
forwards would allow them to stay and help the team long term. But it’s their
decision. You could take a chance and expose Boyle, assuming that Vegas
wouldn’t pick UFAs.
Evaluating the forwards this
season is difficult. They have all been up and down – even Kucherov, who was a
turnover machine last week against Toronto. Palat has had a rough season, but
he is so versatile it’s hard to let him go. The thought of replacing Boyle after
this season seems silly now. He’s so darn important to this team. You can
complain about Killorn’s so-so play and his penalties occasionally, but he’s a
big-game player and is on pace for a season high in goals. Filppula started the
season strong, but has struggled lately. Johnson has been either really good or
invisible. Drouin has been one of the best three forwards in probably 75
percent of the games, but turned the puck over a little too much lately. Cedric
Paquette can’t stay healthy. J.T. Brown is a solid complimentary player you
like to have around, but not necessarily vital. Namestnikov only seems to
produce when he plays with Stamkos. They are all good, valuable players. But at
some point you need change.
It’s time for Yzerman to
make some moves. He’ll probably start small. But he must be bold eventually.
No doubt, there are a few
huge decisions coming. They may hurt. They may disappoint fans who love certain
players that head out of town. This franchise has the depth young talent to
compete long term, though. That is the comforting thought during the most difficult
stretch for the Lightning in four seasons.
"You're not going to see this team fold," Hedman said. "You're going to see this team rise to the occasion. We've seen it so many times before."
Bolts’ fans just have to
hope solutions can he found this time.
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