Speculation: 2024-2025 General Lightning Discussion II: "Atlanticly" challenged

[JTBF81]

I get that with his toolset that's where he should be, but we haven't seen him play an NHL game yet. I'm not saying we shouldn't give him a chance, but I wouldn't want to go into the playoffs with him playing a major role when he's just being introduced to the league. I'm just saying that I hope we address our depth scoring/2rw at the deadline instead of just hoping that a 20 year old can fill those really big holes.

Next season with a full pre-season/training, absolutely give him a chance in the top 6/9.

Ideally, he would get some games in before the playoffs start, but yes, I would still rather add an NHl proven 2RW and/or middle 6 F (depending on whether the plan is to keep Paul on the 2nd line or not) than roll the dice on Howard all playoffs. Cooper has pretty much never done that anyway, so I'm sure it won't be the case this year either. I hope for one of 5 or 6 players added at 2RW at/near the tdl, then one additional add to play with Paul and Geekke on line 3 (or two here if Paul is now 2RW.for the rest of the year). Howard I'm guessing gets a cup of coffee and may get some looks between the 2nd and 3rd line, but is likely only used more in the playoffs if he has really taken off or meshed well with a specific line combo.

 

[RussianGuyovich]

I get that with his toolset that's where he should be, but we haven't seen him play an NHL game yet. I'm not saying we shouldn't give him a chance, but I wouldn't want to go into the playoffs with him playing a major role when he's just being introduced to the league. I'm just saying that I hope we address our depth scoring/2rw at the deadline instead of just hoping that a 20 year old can fill those really big holes.

Next season with a full pre-season/training, absolutely give him a chance in the top 6/9.

it's a fair concern, but generally speaking players coming out of the NCAA are in a much better position to make an impact in the NHL than ones coming out of juniors who may have been feasting on smaller competition.

i, too, fear that cooper will bury new players and not give them a fair shot, but then again geekie has gotten a much longer rope than most so maybe the old gum chewing son of a bitch is changing.

also, even if howard does go to the third line, it hopefully bumps someone else up, and alternately bumps someone else down into roles more aligned with their, uhhhhh ...talent.

 

[Soul Assumption]

Plot twist: Сooper loses every game on purpose to get the 2nd WC and play against Washington.

 

[Lightning1995]

Plot twist: Сooper loses every game on purpose to get the 2nd WC and play against Washington.

It’s the only play since winning the division is out at this point. Tank for the 8 seed!

 

[aylib]

Who goes out when Cernak AND Moser are back? I have my thoughts, but I'd like to hear what the board thinks. And secondly, whoever goes would be part of a package to get a Rakell/Bjornstrand type?

Guessing Crozier is sent down and Perbix is a 7th D, in and out of rotation.
I’d rather see Crozier remain with the club.

 

[Stammertime91]

Guessing Crozier is sent down and Perbix is a 7th D, in and out of rotation.
I’d rather see Crozier remain with the club.

This, then brought up for playoffs.

If we went into postseason with minimal experience Raddysh and Perbix back to back years, I don't see why we'd spend for an LD. Let Lilleberg just ride it out. If anything, Moser could move to the left and we target a RD with term. That would be the move to make if we are looking at the blue line beyond just this year imo.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Need to give Lilleberg and Perbix nights off when Moser & Cernak are back.

 

[Webster]

Need to give Lilleberg and Perbix nights off when Moser & Cernak are back.

Looked like a Lilleberg fight last night, but Xhekaj backed off after first trying to go after Guentzel. Sure you want that physical element out of the lineup? He's doing his job, classic teammate protection.

 

[JTBF81]

I doubt Lilleberg gets many games off, even when Moser and Cernak return, unless Tampa trades for a LD. I'm guessing it will be
Hedman-Moser
McD-Cernak
Lilleberg-Raddysh
Perbix
The 3rd pairing isn't great regardless of the combo, but I'd rather keep a strong top 4 and address the 3rd pairing with a depth add with one of the names I've seen around-Dumoulin, Forbort, Kesselring etc. I'm guessing Crozier gets sent down, but he should be a full time member of the team soon.

 

[Todd1a]

Anyone else would be open to exploring the option of swapping Cernak for a top/middle six forward?

Nope because I’ve seen our defense without cernak and moser and I don’t like it

 

[ccman68]

Wish we had literally any left handed D in the AHL so Lilleberg could be yeeted to the sun. We probably have to go for Marcus Pettersson since we can't be playing with such a huge liability in the playoffs. If we even get there.

 

[LTIR Trickery]

Wish we had literally any left handed D in the AHL so Lilleberg could be yeeted to the sun. We probably have to go for Marcus Pettersson since we can't be playing with such a huge liability in the playoffs. If we even get there.

Damn man how did he hurt you

 

[RussianGuyovich]

seems, to me, that we actually need some RD in the AHL, you know...ones that we haven't traded away to SJ for a rental.

 

[Rschmitz]

Wish we had literally any left handed D in the AHL so Lilleberg could be yeeted to the sun. We probably have to go for Marcus Pettersson since we can't be playing with such a huge liability in the playoffs. If we even get there.

Hedman and McDonagh will be playing 30 minutes a night, Moser and Cernak will be playing ~25 minutes. It'll be fine.

 

[LightningStrikes]

Hedman and McDonagh will be playing 30 minutes a night, Moser and Cernak will be playing ~25 minutes. It'll be fine.

I think they’ll run 11/7 as they always do to compensate for lack of D depth.

 

[Peacefool]

I think they’ll run 11/7 as they always do to compensate for lack of D depth.

watching last games I think we played like 60% of with 7-8/6 First 2 lines and Paul with Geekie/Girg/Ace

 

[LightningStrikes]

Boston, Montreal and Ottawa all have a chance to (temporarily) jump us in the standings tonight.

 

[DFC]

Hedman and McDonagh will be playing 30 minutes a night, Moser and Cernak will be playing ~25 minutes. It'll be fine.

Adding a RHD does give us the option to go Hedman - McDonagh - Moser down the left side, which is similar to what we did in the cup years. Right will be weak, but everyone will have a babysitter.

 

[Rschmitz]

Adding a RHD does give us the option to go Hedman - McDonagh - Moser down the left side, which is similar to what we did in the cup years. Right will be weak, but everyone will have a babysitter.

I'm just concerned we won't have the assets.

 

[DFC]

I'm just concerned we won't have the assets.

We might not. RHD always come at a premium and rarely pan out.

 

[JTBF81]

I'm not as worried about assets, as given how JBB has been willing to use picks and prospects, I'd say the 1sts in 26 and 27 could be on the table, as well as both 2nds this year and future 2mds and 3rds. Howard may be the only prospect off limits, but if JBB was going after a big name with term (or had an extension all but locked up with a ufa), it wouldn't surprise if he was on the table as well. I think Howard stays, but the '26 1st, at least one 2nd, and prospects such as Gauthier, Duke, Huuhtanen, as well as roster players Chaffee, Ace, Perbix, Crozier and Finley could be easily moved to secure deals.

 

[Rschmitz]

I'm not as worried about assets, as given how JBB has been willing to use picks and prospects, I'd say the 1sts in 26 and 27 could be on the table, as well as both 2nds this year and future 2mds and 3rds. Howard may be the only prospect off limits, but if JBB was going after a big name with term (or had an extension all but locked up with a ufa), it wouldn't surprise if he was on the table as well. I think Howard stays, but the '26 1st, at least one 2nd, and prospects such as Gauthier, Duke, Huuhtanen, as well as roster players Chaffee, Ace, Perbix, Crozier and Finley could be easily moved to secure deals.

It's not that we couldn't, I just think we shouldn't, this is a weird year to be throwing around a lot of assets at upgrades. Some value deals like last year where we gave up some middling stuff sure, but we aren't really playing like JBB should go out and make a big splash to put us over the top. I think I'm one of the more optimistic people on here, but we should hold our cards for now, when our outlook is better we can go in on bigger moves.

Having said that, I'd be all in on on the right deal. The same criteria doesn't apply if we're talking about young stars. The Hagel deal is probably the best move we've made in the last 20 years, would be pretty sweet to find another deal like that.

 

[creg]

The only RHD I'd be remotely interested in that's in trade talks is Rasmus Andersson, but given Calgary's desperation to be mid for as long as possible I'm sure they'll sign him to an 8 year deal.

It's not that we couldn't, I just think we shouldn't, this is a weird year to be throwing around a lot of assets at upgrades. Some value deals like last year where we gave up some middling stuff sure, but we aren't really playing like JBB should go out and make a big splash to put us over the top. I think I'm one of the more optimistic people on here, but we should hold our cards for now, when our outlook is better we can go in on bigger moves.

I get this sentiment, but realistically how many more years do we have in contention? Maybe I'm too optimistic, but I don't think that our recent play should warrant management to not go in - I think our struggles have been fatigue/injury related rather than poor performance. A lot of our recent losses wouldn't be bad in a vacuum but when next to each other they don't inspire confidence, I still think this is the best lightning roster we've had since our last cup run.

If Doumolin is available and is a budget defense option as insiders have mentioned, I'd try to grab him and (if he's good) sign him to an Ian Cole style deal. Use the remaining cap to go for a player like Bjorkstrand or any other good middle 6 forward with term and fill the remaining holes in the off season.

The one fortunate thing about our position is that most of our needs are pretty easy to acquire (outside of 2RW).

 

[Stammertime91]

The only RHD I'd be remotely interested in that's in trade talks is Rasmus Andersson, but given Calgary's desperation to be mid for as long as possible I'm sure they'll sign him to an 8 year deal.

I get this sentiment, but realistically how many more years do we have in contention? Maybe I'm too optimistic, but I don't think that our recent play should warrant management to not go in - I think our struggles have been fatigue/injury related rather than poor performance. A lot of our recent losses wouldn't be bad in a vacuum but when next to each other they don't inspire confidence, I still think this is the best lightning roster we've had since our last cup run.

If Doumolin is available and is a budget defense option as insiders have mentioned, I'd try to grab him and (if he's good) sign him to an Ian Cole style deal. Use the remaining cap to go for a player like Bjorkstrand or any other good middle 6 forward with term and fill the remaining holes in the off season.

The one fortunate thing about our position is that most of our needs are pretty easy to acquire (outside of 2RW).

I think we have 3-5 years left depending on how Hedman ages. McD ideally gets surpassed by Moser and whoever emerges by then. He probably only has a few years left, too. On the right side, we need a RD long term. We can keep throwing whoever at 3RD, the corpse of Cernak at 2RD but to me, we need a 1RD. Not quality or potential perhaps, but another reiteration of Rutta. We need to sort out the bottom six in the off-season. Start with an identity and fix it. Girgensons, Atkinson, Sheary, Goncalves, and Glendening should not be in the mix next year. Chaffee and Geekie should be penciled in. Mikey needs to have a better second half for me to put the homer glasses on and say he's worth rolling out again. He plays a unique style, but he's small. His scoring touch and the tools are below average and this is someone that really wants him to succeed.

Short term, one middle six forward and a RD.

Long term, damn near entire bottom six and a top 4RD.

If Howard can comfortably push Paul down, we might be fine with just one bottom six guy but that's a lot to ask of a rookie when teams are pushing for a spot and heading into the playoffs.