Post-Game Talk: GAME #6 Florida Panthers vs Tampa Bay Lighting (Knight's in White Satin)

[KW]

don't really agree here. zito managed to change the culture and, to an extent, the identity, with one or ntwo pickups. i posted an anecdote elsewhere about horny.

the team seems to be running with its identity as a quick, attacking team with lots of skill. and they managed to round that out with some new grit in lom, marchy and horny, et al. that identity was on display in the playoffs and i think they got some confirmation that it can work.

in my opinion, they are in pretty good shape in terms of the overall identity.

i expect zito to again, look for a few complimentary pieces to solidify that identity and i don't think we need that much.

I agree with this. We are one or maybe up to two subtractions and one or two additions away from a contending team.

Yandle (doable) and if it were somehow possible (this is very tough) Bob shipped out. One 3-4D (doable) and one (this is tough) top-6F. There may also always be some surprises from what we already have, so the above may not be all trades only. Duke might just find the extra finesse/vision. Someone like Luostarinen could just gain the stamina to play through the whole season at the high level he’s capable of. Lundell may be an instant fit. One of our D prospects might make the impact. Thing being, we have a great pool that’s got a lot of good players, it’s not unreasonable to find enough to fill in almost all of the roster needs.

One last thing is the stamina to get through the playoffs. As an example, look at the Bruins top line. Bergeron and Marchand didn’t get there immediately but they have what’s needed to get through the finals at the highest levels. Barring injuries, their bodies are now built to last. Pastrnak to my eye only now-ish is really starting to have gained the stamina needed. He probably had it last year but was injured. It doesn’t come instantly. I think Barky and Hubie have it now. I don’t think Knight is close yet for the full season plus playoffs, which is why having Bob around isn’t the end of the world to me, other than the cap hit.

Overall, we’re at a good spot. If Tampa goes on to win the Cup again, what will people then say? We were two better goaltending/defensive games away from beating them - and it wasn’t that far off. I think we’re pretty close, but I admit the changes needed are so crucial that Zito definitely needs to show his mastery this off-season.

 

[TampaBayLightning]

You mean like not allowing fans wearing the opposing teams jersey into section(s) of the arena?

Friends of mine went to a Ranger/Lightning game a few years ago, said they'll never go back due to how they were treated. And no, they're not a**holes, they're off duty cops who value their jobs.

I have been going to lightning games my whole life and lightning fans are great, never seen an opposing team fan get any crap. I was just at game 6 and a group of Panther fans sat two rows in front of us and they did their best to start trouble, we just ignored them.

 

[KW]

I have been going to lightning games my whole life and lightning fans are great, never seen an opposing team fan get any crap. I was just at game 6 and a group of Panther fans sat two rows in front of us and they did their best to start trouble, we just ignored them.

Sure

 

[PSLguy]

Maybe he's going to stay

 

[FinlandPanther]

Maybe he's going to stay

Well at least Russia got worse.

 

[KW]

Well at least Russia got worse.

Subtraction by addition.

 

[PSLguy]

I have been going to lightning games my whole life and lightning fans are great, never seen an opposing team fan get any crap. I was just at game 6 and a group of Panther fans sat two rows in front of us and they did their best to start trouble, we just ignored them.

 

[FinlandPanther]

Lmao get f***ed.

 

[KW]

What a smack down of the Bolts fan’s lying.

 

[TampaBayLightning]

Good it was never needed

 

[TampaBayLightning]

What a smack down of the Bolts fan’s lying.

Who was lying?

 

[KW]

Who was lying?

You, by insinuating that there are no Bolts fans who misbehave and in fact only Panthers fans are like that. I know you said that’s what you’ve seen, but you clearly cherry picked and wanted to imply that Bolts fans are all just the nicest people. And you do that by coming on Panthers boards where you should kind of understand that some people aren’t going to be happy about your holier than thou attitude.

 

[TampaBayLightning]

You, by insinuating that there are no Bolts fans who misbehave and in fact only Panthers fans are like that. I know you said that’s what you’ve seen, but you clearly cherry picked and wanted to imply that Bolts fans are all just the nicest people. And you do that by coming on Panthers boards where you should kind of understand that some people aren’t going to be happy about your holier than thou attitude.

Where did i say only panther fans act that way? In fact I have been to 5 panthers home games in full bolts gear and never had a problem.

 

[GigaChad]

Well, at the end of the day, they needed to get past the first round. It's only been 25 years.
Every season is different. Can't say what's going to happen next season. Can't say they will do better next season, can't say they will do worse or the same.
I would feel a little better if we were in a rebuild and it was a bunch of prospects growing together and building a team identity.
Getting to the playoffs and getting beat in the first round is not an improvement.
We'll see what happens next year, but I'm not thinking they've reached perennial contender status.

Getting to the playoffs was an improvement if you have ever followed the Panthers. Just continue doing that!

 

[Vilam]

We should be playing tonight, sigh.