Is Tampa cooked?

[JTToilinginToronto]

Are the players on our roster going to die in the off-season? just move them then, coincidentally when all of their nmc's/ntc's open up! crazy concept!

you're the expert though, just try not to think to deeply about any of your yapping

Protip: younger players who show less decline have more trade value, so the returns on the 2025 versions of the Lightning players would probably be more than the 2026 or 2027 versions.

But okay, trade them later for less value.

 

[Crunchrulz]

Protip: younger players who show less decline have more trade value, so the returns on the 2025 versions of the Lightning players would probably be more than the 2026 or 2027 versions.

But okay, trade them later for less value.

Sadly, there are far more who are satisfied with back-to-back-to-back first round losses and would rather keep an aging core of fan favorites than make changes by using the value of those players to get younger assets back.

As long as those fans keep their rose-colored glasses Super Glued to their heads, they will refuse to see the reality that the Lightning are quickly following the same path as the Penguins of hanging on to their aging core of fan favorites and blaming the bottom six and third pairing rather than admitting the truth that it is the failure of that core group to play like they are being paid to play that is the far more significant issue.

 

[LightningStrikes]

Honestly reading the injuries they might have a few more seasons they could go on a run on.

Bjorkstrand: (too complicated to write)
Cirelli: MCL Sprain Game 1
Glendening: AC Joint separation
Gourde: Broke a finger Game 1
Hagel: Concussion
Hedman: Broke foot Game 4
Kucherov: Suffered an injury in Feb he was managing
Paul: Tear in left wrist

Cernak also had a left knee contusion.

So basically only Point doesn’t have an excuse.

 

[KingsFan7824]

There's a reason every winning team ends up in the same place, doing the same things. It's just part of the business. TB made the smart Brad Pitt kind of move to let Stamkos walk, but all they did with that cap space was sign a 30 year old UFA winger, because they already re-signed so many of the other Cup winners, that you can't not continue to invest in the roster. Even if you're not going to win. And I would bet that TB management knows full well they're not winning again, but you can't just let everyone walk, or trade everyone at their fullest value. That's not how pro sports works. If you don't hand out big contracts, you're cheap. If you do do it, you're dumb.

 

[JTBF81]

The core is getting really old and the pipeline and draft capital isn't there.

They are still a playoff team but no longer a serious SC contender.

Outside of Hedman and the recently brought back McD, their main group still ranges in the 25-31 range, so not a core that's "really old". With the right moves, they could still be a real contender for at least a couple more seasons. Despite the loss to Florida, any team with a top 3 goal differential, #1 offense, #4 defense, a top 3 goalie and top 5/6 in power play and pk still has contender potential

 

[majormajor]

You'd think reading this thread that Kucherov and Point were 35 and Guentzel 37 or something. Vasi maybe 38? Hagel is 40?

These guys are all in the 26-31 range.

They have an issue on defense - the old plan of having Hedman carrying a top pairing by himself will have to change. But that's not an insurmountable challenge. Who are Florida's top 4 D? Teams have found a way to contend with less to work with than Tampa has right now.

 

[Kshahdoo]

this is such a brain dead take, ah yes sell what we can now when we don't have any picks to take advantage of tanking. don't look at our countless nmc/ntc's

one of the wild cards? we were one of the top teams in goals scored/goals against and we're running literally the exact same roster back with an extra $10 mil to spend on our depth players

unless we get completely f***ed with injuries what reason is their to believe that we won't be competing for the top of the division next year again?

The topic isn't about whether Tampa is able to win another division title or not, though. It's about the team's SC window is closed, and in 2-3 years even making playoffs will be problematic for it.

I remember time when HF was full of topics about Detroit greatness. Now people talk about how much Red Wings suck and how badly Yzerplan fails. That's what awaits Tampa in 6 years...

 

[Diablo2020]

Please dont disrespect me and the other midguided fans of piss poor teams that cant get out of their own way.

I seen some guy named Nick Perbix was a UFA.

220 games played and somehow ive never heard of him.

Solid stats even, former 6th round pick in 2017.

I said to myself, oh tampa of course. Makes sense.

Then I seen Brandon Hagel got 90 points at age 26.

Offffff course.

My team is GLOATING that Elias Pettersson stayed in the city a whole whopping week to workout before leaving town.

Kucherov was just quoted with an alltimer motivational quote of the century.

Even on the day news breaks that your Isaac Howard may spurn you, please dont ask stupid questions like 'are tbay cooked'. Its disrespectful to us bottom dwellers.

*nah your good -signed a Canucks fan

 

[dirtydanglez]

their windows is closed but they are good enough to hang around for a couple seasons

 

[John Mandalorian]

their windows is closed but they are good enough to hang around for a couple seasons

“Hanging around”? You make them sound like creepy old guys at the bar buying 17 year old girls cocktails.

 

[dirtydanglez]

“Hanging around”? You make them sound like creepy old guys at the bar buying 17 year old girls cocktails.

soon.

from here on out i don't see how they get past florida to get out of the division.

 

[Howboutthempanthers]

I think they really played at a high level. But sometimes there's just a team that gets in your way.

 

[creg]

The topic isn't about whether Tampa is able to win another division title or not, though. It's about the team's SC window is closed, and in 2-3 years even making playoffs will be problematic for it.

I remember time when HF was full of topics about Detroit greatness. Now people talk about how much Red Wings suck and how badly Yzerplan fails. That's what awaits Tampa in 6 years...

Sure I guess I disagree, our roster was solid this year and we were pretty great at nearly every advanced stat the predicts success in the post-season. We dealt with injuries at literally the worst time of the season and are playing a team that's depth makes it unbelievably easy to exploit these issues.

Our biggest opponents in the division are in a position where they're probably either going to be taking a step back or at best will stay the same whereas we have cap opening up with our entire core locked up. Assuming Hedman/McDonagh don't like completely trainwreck in a single season I don't see a reason why we can't be a competitive team in the post season next year.

 

[wetcoast]

Outside of Hedman and the recently brought back McD, their main group still ranges in the 25-31 range, so not a core that's "really old". With the right moves, they could still be a real contender for at least a couple more seasons. Despite the loss to Florida, any team with a top 3 goal differential, #1 offense, #4 defense, a top 3 goalie and top 5/6 in power play and pk still has contender potential

You'd think reading this thread that Kucherov and Point were 35 and Guentzel 37 or something. Vasi maybe 38? Hagel is 40?

These guys are all in the 26-31 range.

They have an issue on defense - the old plan of having Hedman carrying a top pairing by himself will have to change. But that's not an insurmountable challenge. Who are Florida's top 4 D? Teams have found a way to contend with less to work with than Tampa has right now.

The problem is the lack of assets in the system and most of the guys at their ages are going to be unable to repeat their performances, aging is a real thing.

Their window is closing and they are no longer a serious SC contender it happens.

 

[Kshahdoo]

Sure I guess I disagree, our roster was solid this year and we were pretty great at nearly every advanced stat the predicts success in the post-season. We dealt with injuries at literally the worst time of the season and are playing a team that's depth makes it unbelievably easy to exploit these issues.

Our biggest opponents in the division are in a position where they're probably either going to be taking a step back or at best will stay the same whereas we have cap opening up with our entire core locked up. Assuming Hedman/McDonagh don't like completely trainwreck in a single season I don't see a reason why we can't be a competitive team in the post season next year.

You dealt with injuries not because you were unlucky, but because your core getting old. And age and injuries are like twins...

 

[creg]

You dealt with injuries not because you were unlucky, but because your core getting old. And age and injuries are like twins...

What? Most of the players that were impacted by injuries were on our younger side - Hagel, Cirelli, Bjorkstrand. Like obviously losing our entire second line against the deepest team in the league is going to leave a hole in our roster.

 

[Kshahdoo]

What? Most of the players that were impacted by injuries were on our younger side - Hagel, Cirelli, Bjorkstrand. Like obviously losing our entire second line against the deepest team in the league is going to leave a hole in our roster.

And Hedman...

 

[creg]

And Hedman...

Hedman was injured in game 4 but I do think that the bolts need to make adjustments in the off-season to ensure that we're putting him into an a position where he can succeed. Not trusting our bottom pair to take defensive zone starts requires us to ice him in positions where he would be forced to eat shots/take tougher assignments and with his age that shouldn't be the case.

 

[Coach Reggie Dunlop]

They are in the same stage the red wings were at the end of their dynasty. They made 4 finals within 10 years. They are too good to tear it down but not good enough anymore to be true Stanley cup contenders. They have a few more years of still being a good team before they fall off.

 

[majormajor]

The problem is the lack of assets in the system and most of the guys at their ages are going to be unable to repeat their performances, aging is a real thing.

Their window is closing and they are no longer a serious SC contender it happens.

Let's be clear about which guys you are talking about.

Pretty much none of the forwards and G are in a position where they can't have one of their strongest seasons. They're not old at all.

 

[Crunchrulz]

“Hanging around”? You make them sound like creepy old guys at the bar buying 17 year old girls cocktails.

While they aren't those creepy old guys, what they are is the creepy getting older guys who just had their third straight one and done postseason while their fans continue to blame the bottom six and third pairing and pretty much ignore the failures of those getting paid rather well to perform in the regular AND postseason.

 

[GrumpyKoala]

They are still a top 10 team in the league, just not top 5 anymore. It's the cycle of life.

They still have a couple of years (5 ish) they can hover in that spot, where you either hope to hit home run in trades or draft to get back into that top 5 spot where everything possible.

Retool is all fun, but you need to work it and get somewhat lucky.

 

[LightningStrikes]

They played the best team in the East in round 1 and had tons of injuries before and during. All that paired with a lack of depth quality and some lackluster performances by the few unhurt star players (cough Point cough) and that’s all it takes for an(other) early playoff exit despite a great regular season.

 

[glenngineer]

They are in the same stage the red wings were at the end of their dynasty. They made 4 finals within 10 years. They are too good to tear it down but not good enough anymore to be true Stanley cup contenders. They have a few more years of still being a good team before they fall off.

Do you think there's a way for them to retool to get better and extend their window? If so what should they do?

On the flip side, if they can't do the retool, do they blow it up and try to get maximum value for guys like Kucherov and Point and whoever else they could move to start building for a new window? If so, how do you convince your fan base to buy into it?

 

[wetcoast]

Let's be clear about which guys you are talking about.

Pretty much none of the forwards and G are in a position where they can't have one of their strongest seasons. They're not old at all.

I disagree as many of the core players won't repeat what they did this year IMO.

Or maybe they do the Boston thing and over perform for one more year but how many players keep their production up at 26,27,28, ect...?

It's a % thing and aging always wins out.

To me the biggest problem is on the back end, who replaces Hedman if he is out or even McDonagh as last season was the first time in a while that he didn't miss any games.

It's a cumulative problem waiting to happen just watch.