By Mark Pukalo
Tampa Bay Lightning fans have gotten a little greedy. It's hard not to when you win back-to-back Cups and reach three straight finals.
However. it can't happen every season. It's also difficult to get out of the first round in the toughest division the NHL has to offer.
Please, don't over react.
The Bolts ended their season in the first round for a third straight year on Wednesday night, and each of the series had their own heartbreaking scenario.
2023: The Lightning lost all three outings at home against the Maple Leafs, blowing one-goal lead with 1:00 left in Game 3, a three-goal lead in Game 4 and dropping all three in overtime. Michael Bunting knocked Erik Cernak in Game 1 with a cheap shot, Ian Cole was awful and Mikhail Sergachev had a rough series on defense.
Could have, should have finished those games.
2024: Sergei Bobrovsky makes a huge save on Matt Dumba, preserving a tie in the third period of Game 2 and former Bolt Carter Verhaeghe wins it in overtime. That was the series right there.
Ultimately, the Florida Panthers were just better and went on to win the Cup.
2025: Florida has the in-your-face defensive style that bothers the Lightning's high-powered offense. But, again, Tampa Bay goes 0-3 at home in the first round. They played better on the road and should have won Game 4. One minute of mental fatigue and a strange deflection all but ended the series in that contest.
I'm not sure Florida is better. But the Panthers were better in the key moments. I told everyone this would happen when they hired Paul Maurice. No one believed me.
Tampa Bay also did not have Brandon Hagel for two games. He is one of the most important players on both sides of the puck. Anthony Cirelli was far less than 100 percent. The Lightning's vaunted power play went 2-for-18 in the series They also didn't have Oliver Bjorkstrand (injury), who was brought in to help in the playoffs.
A perfect storm against a team that is a pain to play.
So, who do we blame? Who needs to go. What changes need to be made?
No one. A few. A few.
I was critical of the Lightning brass not figuring out a way to keep Steven Stamkos. We will never know if Stamkos at $4.5 million could have happened. He sure would have helped on the power play this series. GM Julien Brisebois was right about Jake Guentzel. I knew he was a good player. He is way better than I thought.
The trade of Mikhail Sergachev has potential to work very well. J.J. Moser was great early on, but not as good after his injury. If he isn't dealt, the first half of next season will be important. Conor Geekie has potential. Coach Jon Cooper must figure out if he is better as a center or wing.
The return of Ryan McDonagh was a major success. He was outstanding, he helped Cernak find another level and led a major improvement for the Lightning's scoring defense
What went wrong? The Lightning just could not respond to Florida's pressure all over the ice. They should have been prepared. Somehow, they weren't. I don't really put that on the coaches. I just think it was a mental freeze.
With time and space, the Bolts are magic. Nikita Kucherov should win the Hart, Brayden Point and Guentzel scored 40 goals, Anthony Cirelli had career highs in goals, points and should be in the Selke race while Hagel was fabulous all season.
The Lightning are good enough. They had a great regular season. They are just in a tough spot with a loaded Atlantic Division. If the matchups went by conference, Tampa Bay would have played Ottawa in the first round. Not easy, but easier. The Bolts just need to get over the hump in key spots like they did in their Cup years.
The cap goes up, which will help. Forwards Luke Glendening, Cam Atkinson, Yanni Gourde, defenseman Nick Perbix and backup goalie are Jonas Johansson are unrestricted free agents. Gage Goncalves and Max Crozier are the key restricted FAs and should be back.
The important decision is Glendening. Do they bring him back or use Zemgus Girgensons in his role? They should let Perbix go because Crozier is better. I just wish Perbix had a year left so he could be traded. Perbix is not a bad player. His numbers look good. He is just not consistently solid.
The trade possibilities are these. Moser is a lefty playing on the right side. Bjorkstrand has one year left at $5.4 million and Nick Paul may have major value at his price tag. Perhaps someone wants Darren Raddysh as a depth defenseman for a pick. Perhaps they can unload Conor Sheary on a team.
Maybe they all stay. Perhaps I am being too tough on Paul, but his inconsistency bothers me at times. No way I would dump him, though. He's big, wins faceoffs and scores 20 goals. Maybe it's just me..
It might be that former first-round pick Isaac Howard is the Lightning best asset to trade. Howard seems like he could want to be a free agent. If they can't get something done this summer, they better get something for the Hobey Baker winner.
Who has potential to help from Syracuse? Hard-working Dylan Duke is coming, big center Jack Finley is getting closer, wing Ethan Gauthier will have a full season to prove himself up front next season and Fin Niko Huuhtanen showed some signs. Roman Schmidt is a big righty defenseman who is coming along, but next season is very important. Can they ever get lefty defenseman Daniil Pylenkov from Russia?
It will be an interesting summer. I don't expect anything huge. But who knows?
However, for the third straight season I will say the same thing. Enjoy the way the Lightning put themselves in position every year. You keep knocking at the door with the nucleus and organization they have, a fourth Cup could come any year.
Relax. There is absolutely no reason to blow everything up.
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