Is the Tampa Bay Lightning dynasty dream lifeless? Not so quick

I do know it’s onerous to really feel unhealthy for the Tampa Bay Lightning. As a corporation, they got here near profitable three straight Stanley Cups. They’ve an important area, one of many league’s greatest homeowners and a comparatively good likelihood of retaining most of their staff collectively this offseason. As people, most of them have two rings, none pays state revenue taxes they usually can go to the rink in flip flops many of the 12 months. Yup, you gained’t hear too many violins enjoying or discover too many individuals crying in regards to the Bolts’ loss to the Colorado Avalanche within the Stanley Cup Remaining.  

Why is it, then, that I really feel a twinge of sorrow for the Lightning? 

For starters, they confirmed an effort and resolve in defeat that was extremely valiant. Possibly it was the understated and humble ardour from their leaders, Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman, or their head coach, Jon Cooper, that gained me over. Or perhaps it was simply their willingness to launch their our bodies in entrance of pucks time and time once more. They have been higher and extra resilient champions than anybody had given them credit score for, and but, improbably, they felt like big underdogs.

Sadly, the Lightning didn’t get to play the Avalanche on a wonderfully equal footing of well being. The Avs have been so dominant this 12 months that it’s potential even a completely wholesome Lightning staff would nonetheless have been steamrolled, however it could have been good to see Tampa at its greatest. Not solely did the Lightning badly miss one in every of their greatest gamers, Brayden Level, for many of the playoffs, Tampa additionally had various gamers who have been clearly hobbled by the ultimate days of the gruelling playoff event. The willpower confirmed by visibly injured gamers like Anthony Cirelli, Brandon Hagel, Nick Paul and Nikita Kucherov was nothing wanting inspiring. Irrespective of how injured they have been, they continued to grind out shifts and video games, their will to win overpowering their want for well being. I discovered myself rooting for these guys with every grimace from a slapshot that they have been keen to take off an unpadded a part of their legs.

Aside from admiring their will and braveness, it additionally occurred to me that perhaps the Lightning deserved to win a Cup that wasn’t imprinted with the stain of the pandemic. The Lightning’s first Cup was gained in an empty area in Edmonton throughout the bubble event, and their second was performed in opposition to an Jap Division foe that emerged from a pandemic-driven Canadian division which permitted solely a smattering of followers to be in attendance throughout Tampa’s highway video games. It’s not that there’s any asterisk hooked up to the Lightning’s Cup wins — in actual fact, it might have been tougher to win these Cups than in a traditional 12 months, but it surely simply appears that a few of the shine on their accomplishments was diminished by the odd circumstances.

Additional, whereas I perceive the need for parity within the NHL, I don’t thoughts a dynasty one bit. I grew up in a golden age of dynasties — groups just like the Edmonton Oilers, Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers, and extra lately, the New England Patriots and Golden State Warriors. There’s something particular a few staff that dominates, that expects to play for the championship yearly, and that every one different groups must dethrone. It makes for heroes, villains and the very best drama. Had the Lightning captured a 3rd championship, I feel we might have began utilizing the D phrase, however not now. On the very least, that distinction is on pause.

Some folks hate that the Lightning’s Cup win in 2021 included their artistic use of the league’s LTIR wage cap provisions to successfully area a Cup-winning roster that will have been $18 million over the regular-season wage cap. I can perceive the standpoint of these haters, however I also can respect that the Lightning had each the wits, and the stones, to work the system to perfection.

I suppose I’m a Lightning apologist and a Lightning sympathizer. So what can we Lightning sympathizers anticipate going ahead? Nicely, although I’ve already gone out on a limb and picked the New York Rangers to win the Cup subsequent 12 months, I can very simply envision a situation the place the Lightning return to the dance subsequent 12 months to reclaim their title.

The sting of this 12 months’s defeat will encourage them to regroup. There may be a lot expertise, character and can in that dressing room that it could be foolish to guess in opposition to them. The Lightning have most of their roster signed by means of subsequent season, with three exceptions: playoff juggernaut Ondrej Palat, current acquisition Nick Paul and regular veteran blueliner Jan Rutta. They might be over the cap if the brand new season began in the present day, however Brent Seabrook, not retired on paper however performed in the case of his enjoying days, offers them some LTIR flexibility and it could not be stunning within the least to see one of many Lightning’s present strolling wounded find yourself on a rehab timetable that retains him on LTIR to start out the season, giving the Bolts some further flexibility. However, retaining Palat and Paul would require extra {dollars} than they may have accessible, so somebody will have to be sacrificed.

I’m guessing all arrows level to 32 year-old Alex Killorn. He’s nonetheless a really efficient and dependable participant, although his playoff level manufacturing would counsel in any other case. His zero targets and 4 assists in 23 postseason video games was not what anybody anticipated from the 25-goal regular-season performer. He nonetheless performed massive minutes for the Bolts however appeared snake-bitten across the web. Killorn carries a cap hit of $4.45 million for another 12 months, a contract that can be a lot simpler to maneuver than say, Ryan McDonagh’s 4 extra years at $6.75 million. I think the Lightning will prioritize the extra productive playoff performer Palat, and the youthful Paul, over Killorn if push involves shove. Killorn’s contract wouldn’t be an obstacle for groups across the league trying so as to add a stable top-nine ahead for his or her playoff push subsequent season. With the tax benefits, linemates and alternative to win once more that Palat and Paul have, I feel they may acknowledge how good they’ve it and keep in Tampa for moderately discounted costs that match the Bolts’ cap construction.

No matter how the Lightning method the offseason, you’ll be able to assume they may have two of Palat, Paul and Killorn again within the fold. And with these items in place and a wholesome Level, it’s virtually a on condition that Tampa can be within the hunt once more subsequent 12 months. If any of their prospects can emerge — perhaps that is lastly the 12 months Alex Barre-Boulet makes a profitable transition to the NHL — they may solely be that rather more harmful.

Across the league, I feel lots of people see the Avalanche Cup victory as the tip of the road for the Lightning, however I don’t assume they’re performed simply but. There could also be very nicely be one other championship in retailer for the Lightning, and I gained’t be unhappy to see it occur.