Steven Stamkos and the New Era of Lightning Hockey
For essentially the most half, the argument has been all ardour and no logic. Steven Stamkos is gone? What have the Lightning executed? Where is the loyalty? Tampa Bay won’t ever be the identical! Or will it? While this may occasionally really feel like a seismic shift in our hockey panorama, historical past says the departure of an iconic participant or coach doesn’t result in disaster. It has, at occasions, been a crucial flip towards resurgence. One 12 months after Marty St. Louis was traded, the Lightning have been within the Stanley Cup Final. Three years after Evan Longoria was traded, the Rays have been within the World Series. One 12 months after Tony Dungy was fired, the Bucs received a Super Bowl. These should not simply random situations. Teams don’t haphazardly solid megastars apart. It’s typically solid as an financial choice, however it normally entails a participant on the bottom of a profession. Or a group that should reinvent itself. Sure, there’s a void when a Vinny Lecavalier is traded, however you neglect the Lightning have been 18-26-4 and coach Guy Boucher was fired that season. Yes, it was surprising when John Lynch and Warren Sapp have been minimize unfastened, however they have been of their 30s and the Bucs had simply completed 7-9. So it’s with the Lightning as we speak. After successive first-round exits within the playoffs, normal supervisor Julien BriseBois needed to behave shortly earlier than the window of alternative with Nikita Kucherov/Victor Hedman/Andrei Vasilevskiy/Brayden Point closed. Stamkos remains to be a extremely productive offensive participant, notably on the facility play, however the Lightning wanted to spend money on a ahead with a stronger defensive recreation. And similar to that, now we have a brand new period of Lightning hockey. Will this find yourself being a mistake? That’s definitely doable. But I might argue the time was proper for the Lightning to make a daring transfer earlier than their gradual decline became an out-of-control freefall. Around right here, the true franchise-killers haven’t been the discharge of fan favorites however moderately strikes that generated much less outrage. Smaller selections that led to missed alternatives and a lifetime of remorse. Putting apart Stamkos, Lecavalier, St. Louis, Derrick Brooks, Lynch, Sapp, and Longoria, listed here are 5 departures that ought to have been mourned.
Josh Hamilton
The No. 1 decide within the 1999 draft, his profession in Tampa Bay was derailed by accidents and drug issues. He went almost 4 full seasons with out taking part in any organized baseball earlier than lastly getting his life collectively and showing in 15 video games with a Rays rookie league group in 2006. Gambling that no group would take him within the Rule 5 draft — which meant he needed to spend the complete 2007 season within the majors — the Rays left Hamilton unprotected within the offseason. It was a foolhardy threat and a horrible misreading of what different groups have been considering. Several GMs later expressed curiosity in Hamilton, and the Reds ended up getting him through a commerce with the Cubs. Two years later, he made the primary of 5 consecutive All-Star groups. From 2008-12, Hamilton hit .305 and averaged 36 dwelling runs and 126 RBIs per 162 video games. Think about that. In these 5 seasons, the Rays averaged 92 wins a 12 months and received the 2008 American League pennant. Would they’ve received a World Series with Hamilton in the midst of the order? Who did the Rays shield on the 40-man roster as an alternative of Hamilton? Jon Switzer, who went 0-2 with an 8.05 ERA for the Rays in 2007. Mitch Talbot, who was 0-0 with an 11.17 ERA in 2008. Damon Hollins, who by no means performed one other day within the huge leagues.
Rich McKay
Brooks, Sapp, Lynch. Ronde Barber, Mike Alstott, Warrick Dunn. Some of the largest names in Bucs historical past have been drafted whereas McKay was normal supervisor. It was his entrance workplace who assembled the roster that may ultimately win the 2002 Super Bowl. However, an influence wrestle with Jon Gruden led to McKay’s departure late within the 2003 season. Gruden introduced in Bruce Allen as his handpicked GM, and the Bucs launched into a decade-long stroll by way of irrelevance. Allen spent 13 seasons as a GM/president in Tampa Bay and Washington, and his groups by no means received a single playoff recreation. In the ten years earlier than McKay took over as GM, the Bucs have been 43-116. In the ten years after he left, they have been 66-94. In between, with McKay on the helm, the Bucs went 86-74 with 5 playoff appearances and a Super Bowl.
Ryan McDonagh
Plenty of gamers have left the Lightning for salary-cap causes the previous few years, however none had the affect of McDonagh. The Lightning misinterpret how essential he was to their roster once they traded him in 2022, which explains why they reacquired him seven weeks in the past. He doesn’t rating so much, so he’s by no means been a critical Norris contender, however McDonagh is likely one of the prime shutdown defenders of the previous 20 years. Of the gamers whose NHL careers started after 2000, McDonagh’s plus-246 score is fourth within the league. The Lightning have been 58-31 within the postseason with McDonagh. They are 3-8 since he left.
Charlie Morton
With the cash they saved by dealing Longoria to the Giants, the Rays signed Morton to one of many richest free-agent offers in franchise historical past. Two years later, they have been within the World Series. However, the Rays failed to choose up Morton’s possibility in 2021, and it might need price them one other shot on the Series. Tampa Bay received 100 video games with out Morton in 2021, however their beginning pitching was critically weakened by accidents and trades. By the time they received to the playoffs, they have been working on fumes and have been eradicated within the division spherical by Boston. Morton, in the meantime, has gone 42-29 with a 3.79 ERA for the Braves.
Bruce Arians
This one isn’t as clear-cut, however nonetheless value mourning. The official story is that Arians opted to retire — instantly and surprisingly — after the Bucs misplaced within the 2021 NFC Championship Game. The suspicion is that Tom Brady pushed him out the door. The Bucs have gone on to make the playoffs in back-to-back seasons with Todd Bowles as head coach, however the true loss was in Arians’ offensive acumen. Maybe it had extra to do with Tampa Bay’s offensive line struggling accidents and defections in 2022, however the Bucs went from averaging 30.1 factors a recreation with Arians working the offense in 2021 to 18.4 factors with out him. As a outcome, Brady’s last NFL season ended with an 8-9 document.
Conclusion:
The departure of key gamers and coaches in sports activities can have a big affect on a group’s efficiency. While some strikes could seem controversial on the time, historical past has proven that groups can overcome such losses and even discover success within the aftermath. It’s important for organizations to make daring selections to make sure continued competitiveness and development.
FAQs:
- How essential is loyalty in sports activities groups?
Loyalty is essential in constructing a powerful group tradition, however typically tough selections have to be made for the larger good of the group. - Can groups get better from the lack of iconic gamers?
Yes, groups can get better and even thrive after the departure of iconic gamers by rebuilding and adapting to new dynamics. - What elements contribute to profitable group transitions?
Successful group transitions typically contain strategic planning, sturdy management, and a willingness to adapt to altering circumstances.
