Series Talk: [A2] Tampa Bay Lightning vs [A3] Florida Panthers (FLA Leads 3-1)

[Crunchrulz]

If TB loses in 4 or 5 games does Cooper get fired?

Once a team doesn't compete with all they have until the end they have shut out the coach

No. The problem is not Cooper as he would be hired within a week by another organization. The problem is the roster he is being given to use.

While the core six is still solid, they are getting older and more physically wore down. Tampa Bay sacrificed the majority of their future, both the young talent and draft picks, to win back-to-back Cups and make three straight Finals appearances. There is not an organization in professional sports that would not have done the same thing to achieve that level of success and if they tell you different, they are lying. In addition, they gave the core group a lot of incentives around limited and/or no trade clauses, plus large chunks of the salary cap that have come due. They have had six players taking over 60 percent of their CAP space over much of the last five years. Hard to find quality support players with that little Cap space.

The Lightning teams of the back-to-back-to-back Finals run had third and fourth lines that could compete game in and game out, not to mention a core that was five years younger than they are today. Players in the pipeline were available to either use as trade bait to bring in players to contribute or were able to contribute themselves. Tampa Bay's pipeline was the best in the NHL, and one of the best in Professional sports. That once overflowing pipeline is now but a mere trickle, going from top of the pile to somewhere at or near the bottom.

While many Tampa Bay fans may not admit it, they are rapidly falling into the same dilemma the Penguins did of keeping an aging core of high-priced older fan favorites at the cost of on ice success. The Lightning are not quite there yet, but that light is at the end of one of the tunnel options the organization has to decide which to take.

 

[Iwishihadaspacebar]

I know it sounds insane, and is unlikely, but is there a chance Kucherov is traded for the long-term benefit of the team?

Tampa have made some huge and brave decisions over the past few years to ensure they are competitive, including letting their captain walk.

Kucherov will be 32 this summer, only has 2 years left and has a M-NTC. The haul they could get for him, could keep them a cup team for the next 5+ years rather than 2.

Edit - to be clear the above is if they don't have a deep run this year.

 

[Power Surge]

I know it sounds insane, and is unlikely, but is there a chance Kucherov is traded for the long-term benefit of the team?

Tampa have made some huge and brave decisions over the past few years to ensure they are competitive, including letting their captain walk.

Kucherov will be 32 this summer, only has 2 years left and has a M-NTC. The haul they could get for him, could keep them a cup team for the next 5+ years rather than 2.

Edit - to be clear the above is if they don't have a deep run this year.

I could see it at the earliest in 2 years after the 26-27 season. Before that not a chance.

Edit: Since his contract ends in 2 years I would imagine an extension then trade during the 27-28 season. (Going off my theory at the earliest)

 

[Evilhomer]

No. The problem is not Cooper as he would be hired within a week by another organization. The problem is the roster he is being given to use.

While the core six is still solid, they are getting older and more physically wore down. Tampa Bay sacrificed the majority of their future, both the young talent and draft picks, to win back-to-back Cups and make three straight Finals appearances. There is not an organization in professional sports that would not have done the same thing to achieve that level of success and if they tell you different, they are lying. In addition, they gave the core group a lot of incentives around limited and/or no trade clauses, plus large chunks of the salary cap that have come due. They have had six players taking over 60 percent of their CAP space over much of the last five years. Hard to find quality support players with that little Cap space.

The Lightning teams of the back-to-back-to-back Finals run had third and fourth lines that could compete game in and game out, not to mention a core that was five years younger than they are today. Players in the pipeline were available to either use as trade bait to bring in players to contribute or were able to contribute themselves. Tampa Bay's pipeline was the best in the NHL, and one of the best in Professional sports. That once overflowing pipeline is now but a mere trickle, going from top of the pile to somewhere at or near the bottom.

While many Tampa Bay fans may not admit it, they are rapidly falling into the same dilemma the Penguins did of keeping an aging core of high-priced older fan favorites at the cost of on ice success. The Lightning are not quite there yet, but that light is at the end of one of the tunnel options the organization has to decide which to take.

Very well said, and it happens to all successful franchises at some point. I would say it's a testament to how good Tampa's management is that they have kept this team competitive for as long as they have following those Cup runs.

 

[LightningStrikes]

So we’ve got ourselves a series, that’s nice right?

 

[895]

You sure about that?

I like how both Bolts and Panthers fans are quoting me every time there's a momentum switch.

Guys, I don't care! Please injure and murder each other. Thank you!

 

[Gizmoskevich]

I like how both Bolts and Panthers fans are quoting me every time there's a momentum switch.

Guys, I don't care! Please injure and murder each other. Thank you!

OH YOU DON’T LIKE BEING QUOTED?

 

[IdleTraveller]

Even as a Cats fan, I feel it's a bit premature to write eulogies to Tampa's cup winning days when they just won a convincing victory yesterday and definitely have the talent to come back! I remember seeing Tampa topping a lot of lists as the team most likely to win it all this year, and I don't think that has changed at all.

I wasn't able to watch yesterday's game but sounds like no one can win at home in this series... Let's see what happens in the next game but not exactly happy with Ekblad/Forsling's -4 and our complete lack of offense. It looks like we used up all our goals in the series in that first game. Let's hope our blue line settles and our forwards remember how to score goals.

Edit: Wow - Vasy... That's, er, not good for us.

 

[OffBy1]

FL beat the crap out of us in game 1 as the Lightning, a team of cup winning vets, looked like they didn't know the series started. The last two games I think Tampa has outplayed them 5 on 5, winning the last game minus Hagel and with FL gaining Ekblad. I don't know how the rest of the series will go, but I hope we continue getting more games like the last two (minus the bad hits from Hagel and Tkachuk). Tampa's hope rests on Vasy playing like he did in game 3 when FL was getting quality chances throughout the first 10 minutes.

 

[LightningStrikes]

Even as a Cats fan, I feel it's a bit premature to write eulogies to Tampa's cup winning days when they just won a convincing victory yesterday and definitely have the talent to come back! I remember seeing Tampa topping a lot of lists as the team most likely to win it all this year, and I don't think that has changed at all.

I wasn't able to watch yesterday's game but sounds like no one can win at home in this series... Let's see what happens in the next game but not exactly happy with Ekblad/Forsling's -4 and our complete lack of offense. It looks like we used up all our goals in the series in that first game. Let's hope our blue line settles and our forwards remember how to score goals.

Edit: Wow - Vasy... That's, er, not good for us.

It’s weird, the Panthers completely dominated us in the first period. Nothing worked for us, no pass found their target, we couldn’t even exit our zone, no space and no time no matter what. After the first 15 minutes I thought the series was over.

And then they just let up and/or Tampa simplified and played a more north-south game and Florida suddenly had no answers anymore. They had more shots but most of them weren’t dangerous.

 

[Crunchrulz]

I know it sounds insane, and is unlikely, but is there a chance Kucherov is traded for the long-term benefit of the team?

Tampa have made some huge and brave decisions over the past few years to ensure they are competitive, including letting their captain walk.

Kucherov will be 32 this summer, only has 2 years left and has a M-NTC. The haul they could get for him, could keep them a cup team for the next 5+ years rather than 2.

Edit - to be clear the above is if they don't have a deep run this year.

If Wayne Gretzky can be traded at 27, no NHL player should be considered "untradeable" if the right pieces are offered. Even by today's standards.

 

[Stephen]

It’s weird, the Panthers completely dominated us in the first period. Nothing worked for us, no pass found their target, we couldn’t even exit our zone, no space and no time no matter what. After the first 15 minutes I thought the series was over.

And then they just let up and/or Tampa simplified and played a more north-south game and Florida suddenly had no answers anymore. They had more shots but most of them weren’t dangerous.

That's what it looked like to me too. The Florida storm just kind of broke up and Tampa could breathe and play their game. That said, the Florida ceiling has looked a lot more dominant than the Lightning game, and think Florida has the real upper hand here unless they run out of steam and start feeling the mileage for whatever reason.

 

[CupsOverCash]

That's what it looked like to me too. The Florida storm just kind of broke up and Tampa could breathe and play their game. That said, the Florida ceiling has looked a lot more dominant than the Lightning game, and think Florida has the real upper hand here unless they run out of steam and start feeling the mileage for whatever reason.

Tampa has to prove it still. Next game is more important for tampa than fl. I think fl is the better team at this point. Its pretty important to score and get the lead because both teams know how to play with it.

 

[behemolari]

If Wayne Gretzky can be traded at 27, no NHL player should be considered "untradeable" if the right pieces are offered. Even by today's standards.

I cant see Barkov traded, ever

 

[RussianBum86]

Time to win on the scoreboard and bully the bullies. Love Maurice we only check players with the puck then his goon tkachuk does the opposite next game. The dpos and nhl dropped the ball without suspending a repeat offense. Time to return the favor against Tkachuk and win on the scoreboard. No one is scared of some kitty cats. Ironically the panthers werent even the first sports pa thers sports team in South Florida fiu was playing their first football game in 1989. Maybe they should rebrand to South Florida rats .

 

[SatanicToedrag]

Time to win on the scoreboard and bully the bullies. Love Maurice we only check players with the buck then his goon does the opposite next game. The dpos and nhl dropped the ball without suspending a repeat offense. Time to return the favor against Tkachuk and win on the scoreboard. No one is scared of some kitty cats.

Aptly put mr. russian rear area

 

[atlanticobserver]

It's been an interesting series. For the last 5 periods TB has probably been the better team but still trails. Florida at their best has looked better but we haven't really seen the best of Kucherov, Hagel, Cirelli, or Hedman to this point, and the Lightning power play really has not gotten going at all. Vasilevskiy seems to be trending in the right direction now, after that early goal in game 3 he was just lockdown. If TB continues to build on game 3 they could really turn the tide. If Florida continues to play with a lead and shut things down it could be over quick. Big one tonight.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Down 3-1 in the series to Florida. Unless they win three in a row, they’ll have lost in the first round three straight years. Their team isn’t exactly young or overflowing with prospects on the way. What do you think? Can they comeback? If they don’t, do they have more kicks in the can in them?

 

[TotalHomer]

Both teams scoring two goals 11 seconds apart is some epic shit.

 

[TheImpatientBoomer]

Cooper mocking Maurice and then the boys defending him by mocking the Bolts fastest 2 goals in franchise history was the whip cream, just need to close it out in Tampa for the cherry on top.

 

[Fatass]

Panthers in five. It’s o.v.e.r.

 

[drktmplr12]

Oh my

 

[Vasilevskiy]

Even though that P.O.S should not be playing there's no excuse for not doing something on the PP, again

 

[Jean Luc Discard]

The Panthers' style of playoff hockey is clearly too much for the Bolts to handle. Hagle finally got to pay the price for his dirty hit.

 

[Pablo El Perro]

View attachment 1025341

The Panthers' style of playoff hockey is clearly too much for the Bolts to handle. Hagle finally got to pay the price for his dirty hit.

I'm waiting for Mister P to give us a LOL breakdown of the game.