I’m Convinced

[StammerHammer]

With the ranking of the core the Lightning are a lock for another cup.

Click to read more...

 

[CupsOverCash]

I dont think its a stretch to say but I think it's a little more humble to say they will at least be in the mix..but yea maybe you are right lol.

 

[DistantThunderRep]

Why would do this? Looks like we got someone to blame early this year.

 

[Hedmonster Bolt]

With the ranking of the core the Lightning are a lock for another cup.

 

[StammerHammer]

Now think about this from another angle. I didn’t say anything last year and look what happened.

 

[AlwaysSunnyInTampa]

It's gonna be really hard to go back this year. We sold our soul for the threepeat and we got rekt by an injury list like I've never seen




It be like that




Edit: forgot about 2016. And we still would've won in 5 with 2 OT wins lmao

 

[DMB06]

A healthier roster and much better officiating and we'd be talking about going for a 4-peat right now. The talent is still there but we have no chance of winning if our three new long term extension guys don't take a step forward, as well as our supporting cast of guys like Hagel/Colton.

 

[LightningStrikes]

Just gotta make the playoffs. From there the boys know the drill.

 

[AlwaysSunnyInTampa]

No reason to not be optimistic. It's just that losing Drej is a whole different level of loss. He legit resurrected his career

 

[BeingTheThunder]

No reason to not be optimistic. It's just that losing Drej is a whole different level of loss. He legit resurrected his career

He resurrected his career in the playoffs, sure. That was great. However, he struggled A LOT in the regular season and we did just fine anyway. I dont think his loss is going to hurt that much. Sure, it's hard to say goodbye to long-term core players but that happens... it has to.

 

[LTIR Trickery]

He resurrected his career in the playoffs, sure. That was great. However, he struggled A LOT in the regular season and we did just fine anyway. I dont think his loss is going to hurt that much. Sure, it's hard to say goodbye to long-term core players but that happens... it has to.

Thats what happens when you're the fixer. That was Coops go to when a line wasn't clicking or working together.

It'll be a tough loss but i'm very much looking forward to a full camp and comfort with Hagel and Paul. Hagel I think can be a dark horse for 20-30 with the right linemates.

 

[Rschmitz]

I think many are underestimating the impact that losing McDonagh will have, he changed the identity of the team. If one of these new additions doesn’t have a breakout year or collectively many do not step up, it’ll be very noticeable

 

[Fabiobest]

Especially with another trade deadline, where JBB can do another of his magic tricks, I'm optimistic about a long run again. The 2 reasons that scare me are:
1) The injury list
2) The officiating.
Last year we lost the Cup because of these 2 reasons: I've never seen a injury list such the one we had. We got robbed as well, considering the OT goal in G4 and all the bullshit calls (the 2 men advantage PP in game 1 for example...)
So, if we/the league will solve these 2 problems, we can win again.
Otherwise, it'll be impossible.

 

[Stammertime91]

I think one of the positives this offseason is that a lot of good to great teams didn't really take a step forward. I'm not concerned with Carolina adding Burns and Pacioretty. Boston is a toss up with the old guard trying one last time. Toronto's goaltending is still suspect. Colorado didn't take a step forward and I would argue took a step back with 2C and goaltending.

Our losses definitely hurt us going forward but I see us now falling into those tiers. Still doable to climb out of it as the winner, it'll just be more difficult.

 

[EmptyNetAssassin]

Our core is the best in the business still. Colorado got worse. Stammer,point, kucherov,Hedman, vasi, , cernak, sergachev , and Celly. No one has that. If little Tony and sergachev don't take a step forward the future will be rough.

 

[CupsOverCash]

I mean we did lose McD and I think we will miss him against offensively deep teams. However I feel like we can be somewhat ok if vasi is still godmode in playoffs. Also if our replacements do ok they don't need to be mcd just try to help with limiting the goals against as much as possible and our offensive depth is still one of the best in the business.

They might want to rethink a little bit because we aren't quite as strong defensively as we were but we still have vasi and Hedman there. Hopefully Serg can take a bit of a step forward in a increased role and ice time. He's still young and time to grow. Down the road we might be thrilled that we got him locked up for as long as we did and price we did but let's not get there yet baby steps imo.

I also can't say we might see someone else step up here. I know we don't have much in the cupboard but there's an opportunity here someone to jump into a deep lineup and take advantage of some other teams that aren't as talented there. I dont know need right fit. Hope they can do that. Talented teams seem to have that luxury at times. Hope we can this season find someone there. Someone needs to step up for palat.

It will be an interesting season. I'll be there to watch it all.

 

[DMB06]

Especially with another trade deadline, where JBB can do another of his magic tricks, I'm optimistic about a long run again. The 2 reasons that scare me are:
1) The injury list
2) The officiating.
Last year we lost the Cup because of these 2 reasons: I've never seen a injury list such the one we had. We got robbed as well, considering the OT goal in G4 and all the bullshit calls (the 2 men advantage PP in game 1 for example...)
So, if we/the league will solve these 2 problems, we can win again.
Otherwise, it'll be impossible.

I think a lot of the injuries were a direct result of the number of games we've played over the past few years combined with not much rest. These guys are in shape but they aren't machines, they need rest like everyone else and they've had less of it than any other team in the league for years now.

The officiating is a disgrace, has been for a long time and will continue to be because there's no accountability of any kind for their blown calls. So, not much we can do about that.

 

[Fabiobest]

I think a lot of the injuries were a direct result of the number of games we've played over the past few years combined with not much rest. These guys are in shape but they aren't machines, they need rest like everyone else and they've had less of it than any other team in the league for years now.

The officiating is a disgrace, has been for a long time and will continue to be because there's no accountability of any kind for their blown calls. So, not much we can do about that.

You're right about the injuries. We played a lot of games in the last 3 seasons, in every possible condition. And, considering also the fact hockey is a hard sport to play, it was almost impossible to stay healthy 4ever. Our injuries list, during the last Finals, was absurdly long. All the injuries would have required a serious medical treatment...but our guys played despite all...

We cannot do anything about the officiating. That's for sure.
Sorry about that, but when I see a series like the COL one...I have the right to think that something bad was happening. I mean...something different from "a normal mistake". Because too many bad calls were made. Too many.

 

[BoltzManConstant]

I think many are underestimating the impact that losing McDonagh will have, he changed the identity of the team. If one of these new additions doesn’t have a breakout year or collectively many do not step up, it’ll be very noticeable

"Changed the identity of the team"?

What, as a passenger in the 2018 ECF run? As an established locker in the 2019 first-round sweep to Columbus?

Or did he wait until his 150th game with the team (coincidentally after we had picked up Coleman and Goodrow and had a whole bonus training camp) to "change the identity"?

McDonagh was a valuable force on defense in two cup runs. But let's not overstate it.

 

[BoltzManConstant]

Especially with another trade deadline, where JBB can do another of his magic tricks, I'm optimistic about a long run again. The 2 reasons that scare me are:
1) The injury list
2) The officiating.
Last year we lost the Cup because of these 2 reasons: I've never seen a injury list such the one we had. We got robbed as well, considering the OT goal in G4 and all the bullshit calls (the 2 men advantage PP in game 1 for example...)
So, if we/the league will solve these 2 problems, we can win again.
Otherwise, it'll be impossible.

Whining about the refs is loser talk. I get it, we lost last year, so whining is to be expected.

But this stuff broadly evens out. If you're nitpicking to make excuses, you'll always be able to find *something* that supports your case. But that typically involves turning a blind eye to the calls that went in your favor, which is exactly what you're doing here.

 

[Fabiobest]

Whining about the refs is loser talk. I get it, we lost last year, so whining is to be expected.

But this stuff broadly evens out. If you're nitpicking to make excuses, you'll always be able to find *something* that supports your case. But that typically involves turning a blind eye to the calls that went in your favor, which is exactly what you're doing here.

That OT goal that cost us the Cup is not an excuse. It's a fact.
And it's just one example.
The officiating were, without any question or doubt, a factor in that series.

 

[Rschmitz]

"Changed the identity of the team"?

What, as a passenger in the 2018 ECF run? As an established locker in the 2019 first-round sweep to Columbus?

Or did he wait until his 150th game with the team (coincidentally after we had picked up Coleman and Goodrow and had a whole bonus training camp) to "change the identity"?

McDonagh was a valuable force on defense in two cup runs. But let's not overstate it.

lol what? I love how you just throw out his excellent 2019 season where he was 8th in Norris voting...because the team got swept by Columbus? What a take

When he got here we went from a middle of the pack goal differential team that relied on one defenseman carrying the blueline, to the best puck possession team in the league, and then to one of the top overall defensive teams. We rely on our defense to win games, not our offense, you couldn't say that pre-2019 and McDonagh is a big reason for that shift. To accomplish that he played a significant role in weening Sergachev and Cernak into the top 4, and took over much of the tough defensive matchups that were going to Hedman.

It's crazy to me how some of you are handwaving away the effect easier minutes have had on Hedman, who has quietly had durability question marks throughout his career. Hopefully Cole and Sergachev step up, this team is not a contender with Hedman injured, as evidenced when he went down in the sweep against Columbus, which is the actual biggest reason for the team looking like a dumpster fire.

 

[Five Alarm Fire]

That OT goal that cost us the Cup is not an excuse. It's a fact.
And it's just one example.
The officiating were, without any question or doubt, a factor in that series.

We were getting our teeth kicked in during the OT anyways.

We can't complain about the referees when we were on the favorable side of controversial calls earlier in the playoffs. We lost to the better team in the end, but there's nothing to be ashamed of by that.

 

[Fabiobest]

We were getting our teeth kicked in during the OT anyways.

We can't complain about the referees when we were on the favorable side of controversial calls earlier in the playoffs. We lost to the better team in the end, but there's nothing to be ashamed of by that.

And so?
Did they score during that OT?
Did they win the game before that fake goal?
The answer is no.
In hockey the team that scores more goals wins the game. Not the only who playes well.
Playing well DOES NOT MEAN ANYTHING if you are not able to score.
Did Colorado play a great OT? Sure but the game was tied before that fake goal.
And a team with Hedman, Kucherov, Stamkos and Palat out there needs only 30 seconds (or less) to build a capitalize a scoring chance.
Without that goal, the was would have continued and so anyone...anyone could say "Colorado would have surely won the game".
So, yes, the game and the Cup Finals were over because of that.

Ah, PS: also TB received calls, previously in the playoffs. In every series there're mistakes. No question about it.
But in that series, something absurd happened. That goal, with other missed/bad calls, only pro-Colorado, were brutal.

PS2: was Colorado the better team? Sure. We had like 10 played hardly injured and Point did not play in the series. For sure Colorado was the better team...

 

[RussianGuyovich]

I think many are underestimating the impact that losing McDonagh will have, he changed the identity of the team. If one of these new additions doesn’t have a breakout year or collectively many do not step up, it’ll be very noticeable

cooper changed the identity of the team in the early phase of the 2020 season.

McD was a top four defenseman.