Should The Lightning Make A Big Splash At The Deadline ?

[Pablo El Perro]

Trade a 3rd for Vladar

 

[ffh]

Stamkos might be available. I'm sure he'll waive his no move

 

[Nikolajs Sillers]

No ammo left. All spent on Jeannot.

 

[Vasilevskiy]

In a best of 7, I still think Florida/Carolina/Washington would all be favored, and they would be in a pick 'em type series against Toronto/NYR/NJD

So no, they should stay the course.

Florida, ok. No to the rest

 

[BoHorvat 53]

Florida, ok. No to the rest

You are crazy if you don’t agree lmao the Caps/Canes underlying numbers would suggest they’re better than the Lightning, while the Leafs/Rangers (post Miller trade)/Devils are all around the same level.

 

[JTBF81]

You are crazy if you don’t agree lmao the Caps/Canes underlying numbers would suggest they’re better than the Lightning, while the Leafs/Rangers (post Miller trade)/Devils are all around the same level.

Tampa is 2nd in gf/g, 2nd in sv%, 3td in goal differential, top 5 power play and 6th in ga/g, barely outside of top 5 there too. The PK could be a little better, but even there, they have been hovering around 8th-10th. Please say how their underlying numbers don't compare to just about any team you listed.

 

[BoHorvat 53]

Tampa is 2nd in gf/g, 2nd in sv%, 3td in goal differential, top 5 power play and 6th in ga/g, barely outside of top 5 there too. The PK could be a little better, but even there, they have been hovering around 8th-10th. Please say how their underlying numbers don't compare to just about any team you listed.

Lightning are 12th in xGF%, 13th in FF% with a 0.2 xGoal Differential/60 - they're really average.

 

[thrillhous]

Stamkos 50% retained

 

[bov]

I have Florida and Toronto above TB in the east, Washington or Carolina would give them a hard time too. Rangers if they make the playoffs could be tough one as well. But TB is not far off, and when you have the best goalie in the world and a core like that, you have to go for it.

 

[Vasilevskiy]

You are crazy if you don’t agree lmao the Caps/Canes underlying numbers would suggest they’re better than the Lightning, while the Leafs/Rangers (post Miller trade)/Devils are all around the same level.

Canes fold on playoffs. We've seen this many times, and I don't see any reason why it would change this year around. Caps are good but tonight you could see why it should be 50/50 if anything. Same for Leafs.

Panthers the only team that I don't want to face

 

[DownIsTheNewUp]

Lightning are 12th in xGF%, 13th in FF% with a 0.2 xGoal Differential/60 - they're really average.

Actually results mean a lot more than imaginary ones. I have yet to see an "xGF% champions" banner hanging in the rafters.

 

[JTBF81]

Lightning are 12th in xGF%, 13th in FF% with a 0.2 xGoal Differential/60 - they're really average.

Lol, okay, so stats no one really cares about, I see.

 

[JTBF81]

Tampa probably goes after someone like Palmieri (if made available), if a ufa is the target. For the bottom/middle 6, it could be someone like Kunin, Evans, Armia, Donato etc. For players with term, it wouldn't surprise if they went after Laughton or perhaps make a bigger offer for Bjorkstrand or maybe Rakell. Tuch would be ideal, but Tampa doesn't have the quality current NHL players they are willing to move for him. Boeser is also a name that has been mentioned, but I have my doubts JBB goes after him unless he's pretty confident in an extension (which I have my doubts on).

 

[kanucks25]

Of course they should, their window is still open.

If they address whatever holes they have, they have as much of a chance as anyone.

 

[SympathyForTheDevils]

They should, while they still can. Brisebois reopened their window this summer, but it's likely a temporary fix. How long can Hedman and McDonagh carry that defence? Another 2 years maybe?

That said, I don't know that they can really make that big a splash. They have a little over 5M, enough to get a nice upgrade, likely to the middle 6, but not much more than that. And there isn't much cap fat to trim off this roster, aside from Sheary's 2M.

 

[olli]

They don’t really need another high impact forward. Kuch/Point/Hagel/Guentzel are all pacing for 35+ goal 80+ point seasons and Cirelli is better than ever offensively. Their issue is their bottom 6 which is one of the worst of all of the top 10-15 teams in the league. They should look to add some solid middle 6 guys and maybe and probably a D then they’ll be good. When they were winning cups their biggest additions up front were Coleman and Goodrow and Guentzel and Hagel have replaced Stamkos and killorn except Guentzel and Hagel are better. The D isn’t as good as it used to be but it’s probably good enough with 1 more depth addition. Vasi is back to being as good as he ever has been in the regular season so I don’t see why they aren’t on the same level as Nj/Carolina/Washington/Toronto. Still think Florida is the best team in the east when they turn it on though but Bob needs to get back to last years playoff form.

 

[killa3312]

Actually results mean a lot more than imaginary ones. I have yet to see an "xGF% champions" banner hanging in the rafters.

Advanced stats have ruined sports. They’re great to use as a predictive tool in many aspects, but so many people take them as gospel when teams and players regularly outperform them. Nobody thinks Carolina is a bigger threat than Tampa Bay in the playoffs, get real. Lol.

 

[The Macho King]

If not now then when?

Hedman and Kucherov ain't getting younger.

 

[AlwaysSunnyInTampa]

You all DO realize we got Hagel, Paul, Coleman and Goodrow for prospects or roster players who aren't even as good the ones we have now. Right Nolan Foote and Boris Katchouk are AHL players, no one misses Mathieu Joseph and Darren Raddysh has 1 point leas than Taylor.


If the Lightning make a move, they have plenty of assets

 

[DownIsTheNewUp]

This years deadline and off-season could be huge for Tampa to stay contenders for several more years. JBB likes to go all in, I doubt this time will be any different.
This time the scenario is way different. Before it was all about cheap contracts with term because there was no cap space. Now there’s cap space and all core players locked up for several years.

 

[Schennanigans]

I like their chances against Florida this year. Imo they can beat a few others too like Washington or whoever else, they should be able to compete against anyone.

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

They don’t really need another high impact forward. Kuch/Point/Hagel/Guentzel are all pacing for 35+ goal 80+ point seasons and Cirelli is better than ever offensively. Their issue is their bottom 6 which is one of the worst of all of the top 10-15 teams in the league. They should look to add some solid middle 6 guys and maybe and probably a D then they’ll be good. When they were winning cups their biggest additions up front were Coleman and Goodrow and Guentzel and Hagel have replaced Stamkos and killorn except Guentzel and Hagel are better. The D isn’t as good as it used to be but it’s probably good enough with 1 more depth addition. Vasi is back to being as good as he ever has been in the regular season so I don’t see why they aren’t on the same level as Nj/Carolina/Washington/Toronto. Still think Florida is the best team in the east when they turn it on though but Bob needs to get back to last years playoff form.

Good analysis, just curious- do you envision Girgensons playing 4C going into playoffs? Love the dude, and he’s been on fire lately with 2 points in his last 5 games, which doesn’t sound fire until I tell you he has 4 points all year. So- do you replace him or one of his wingers? Who is responsible, is Gus’ D so smothering that it’s fine?

 

[DownIsTheNewUp]

Advanced stats have ruined sports. They’re great to use as a predictive tool in many aspects, but so many people take them as gospel when teams and players regularly outperform them. Nobody thinks Carolina is a bigger threat than Tampa Bay in the playoffs, get real. Lol.

Exactly, Tampa's goal differential has outperformed their expected differential 7 of the last 8 years. That's not 7 years of luck, that's what good goaltending and shooting does. Only year it didn't was last year when they had nearly the worst goaltending in the league.

 

[bov]

Their 1st rounders in 2026 and 2027 have value. Plus an extra 2nd and 4th this year. TB has plenty of prospects with upside too, they don't get enough credit for that. Geekie, Howard, Gauthier, Duke, Huuhtanen, Crozier, Finley, Kurth all look like future NHL players to varying degrees. There's not much on the current roster, but someone like Perbix could net you a pick or be a throw-in to add some further cap space.

There are plenty of assets for TB to work with, and project to have anywhere from 6-8 mil in deadline space depending on who they can move around or send out.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

If they have the chips, I think they go for it again. As a Caps fan, I think they have as good of a shot as any other team in the East. The Lightning and Panthers are the only two teams I hope the Caps can avoid somehow.