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Are the Lightning Still a Cup Contender After Another Early Exit?



Tampa has been struggling in the playoffs since making the Final for a third straight year in 2022.

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20 Comments

  1. The Bolts, 3 seasons removed from a Stanley Cup final appearance, may not have as much pressure to win a Stanley Cup as some of the Canadian teams have bots are faced with an off-season, no shorter than either of the previous two after yet another early playoff exit.

  2. Tampa still has so much star power, but they lost a ton of depth over the years, as in their role players aren't as good due to cap constraints. The team is getting older after another year, but if they get bounced in the first round again, then I would expect Cooper to get fired…

  3. The reason the Lightning have not won a cup since 2021 is purely because they haven't replaced the Coleman-Gourde-Goodrow line. That was the best shutdown line I've ever watched in decades of watching this team, and there hasn't been a better PK, killing time at the end of games or gritty goal producing line that they've put together since. Too much gets made of the top 6, or in Toronto's case, the "core four", when it's really the lower lines you build that make the difference in cup runs. So if they want to keep the window open, they need to build another shutdown third or fourth line.

  4. Penguins fan here, no surprise to see Guentzel as the bolts leading scorer in the playoffs. Guentzel always brought his A game in the playoffs for the Pens during his time with them.

  5. As a Tampa fan im happy to see this team just be competitive. We got the two cups with four finals appearances. We have no first round picks for a while and will likely be terrible in about 5 years. Might as well run it back

  6. they need to get tougher. the panthers were pushing them around. they need a solid enforcer. that can score goals.

  7. I worry about Tampa becoming the penguins too, but as hard as it was to watch stammer go i understand that it's exactly what we're trying to avoid, hopefully the cap goes up as much as they're saying so we can bring in some speed and youth and muscle i feel that the bolts get pushed around a little too easy, well time to have a coupla drinks, and see a coupla things, way she goes boys fukn way she goes.

  8. As a lightning fan im thinking the biggest issue is our Defense. Our forwards can score but we have 2 lines of D that give up gross breakaways or leave guys wide open. We can't ask Vasi, no matter how good he plays, to do everything for us. The focus should be Defense and suring up the 3rd/4th lines if possible

  9. They are still good but their glory days are probably over. I would say they are still a contender, but not good enough to win it, compared to other teams like the panthers or oilers.

  10. They might have to trade some of their core players soon as if this happens a couple more times, a retool might be in order.

  11. Dynasties need major retool after their main guy hit 31/32. Crosby hasn't won a series since that age, Toews didn't either and neither did Kopitar. It's really tough.

  12. If Bjorkstrand didnt get injured we might be having a totally different discussion. That injury killed their trade deadline and he was exactly the kind of player they were missing against Florida. The Bolts will be back and fine next season because signing Guentzel to replace a declining Stammer extended their window considerably.

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