Tampa Bay Lightning: A New Era Begins

A corner has been turned. Supposedly. A plan hatched nearly eight months ago is coming together. Thankfully. A three-year downturn is finally coming to an end in Tampa Bay. Hopefully. When they return to Amalie Arena on Sunday evening against Seattle, it should be the best version of the Lightning we have seen since they left the ice in Colorado following a Game 6 loss in the Stanley Cup Final in the summer of 2022. They have adapted to life without franchise icon Steven Stamkos, they underwent a makeover on the blue line, they survived the nightmare schedule-makers cooked up for them in January, and they will be welcoming back defenseman J.J. Moser after nearly 10 weeks of rest and rehab. The only remaining chore? Prove they are, once again, elite.

The Resurgence of Tampa Bay

Challenges and Triumphs

Because, let’s face it, time is running out. Five of their six highest-paid players are in their 30s. Victor Hedman is still a force of nature but not quite the player he was from 2016-17 to 2021-22, when he was a Norris Trophy finalist for six consecutive seasons. Andrei Vasilevskiy also may not be as dominant as you once recall. To get a sense of the direction they were heading, in Jon Cooper’s first nine seasons as head coach, the Lightning had a points percentage of .654 in the regular season. The last three years, the percentage dipped to .598. Even worse, the Lightning were 18-6 in an NHL-high 24 postseason series during that nine-year run. They are 0-2 since then.

A Promising Future

And yet, today there is legitimate hope that this group has some of the same qualities that made Tampa Bay the most feared team in the league for so many years. The defense is back in the top 10 for the first time since 2022. The offense is second in the league in goals scored. And, with Moser returning for the first time since mid-December, the Lightning appear deeper and more well-balanced than in years.

Quotes and Remarks

“I think this team has played some really good hockey but just in spurts,” said forward Nick Paul. “I think we had trouble playing a full 60 minutes and having the right identity and having the right mindset on how to win games. At the beginning of the year, everything was going in for us, a high-shooting percentage, high-flying and a lot of turnovers.”

Continued Growth and Potential

“I hope we continue to grow,” said assistant coach Jeff Blashill. “You have to not just play your best at the end of the year, but you have to have improved as a hockey team. Certainly, getting J.J. back as a guy who played top-four minutes for us gives us another really good option back there. We’ve still got better hockey in us, but we have to go out there and prove it.”

All the numbers are there. The talent — with Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Anthony Cirelli, Hagel, Hedman, Vasilevskiy, and McDonagh — is there. And the mini hot streak before the break has put the Lightning in a decent position for playoff seeding. Now, it’s possible this is just part of the ebb and flow of a season. After all, the rest of the world seems unconvinced that the Lightning can return to prominence.

Conclusion

Twenty-seven games remain, and a world of possibilities after that. The Lightning do not yet have the rest of the NHL shaking in their skates, but they have given you a reason to believe in them again. “We’ve still got better hockey in us, but we have to go out there and prove it.”

FAQs

1. What is the current status of the Tampa Bay Lightning?

The Lightning are on a path to resurgence after facing challenges in recent years.

2. Who are some key players contributing to the team’s success?

Players like Ryan McDonagh, Jake Guentzel, and J.J. Moser have made significant impacts on the team.

3. What are the expectations for the Lightning moving forward?

The team aims to continue growing and proving themselves as elite contenders in the NHL.