Post by Tampa Bay Lightning on Feb 28, 2023 19:51:43 GMT -6
The Tampa Bay Lightning didn't expect to be in this situation. They certainly didn't hope things would go this way. And no, I'm not talking about having to write a last minute media claim because they thought they already hit this window. I'm talking about their playoff chase.
The Lightning currently sit 12th in the Eastern Conference, 7 points back of the final playoff spot. A 27-30-3 record is not good enough for this team. They are built to win now, and they are losing more than they are winning. Their GM has made some bold moves, bringing in Jack Eichel and Chris Kreider at the cost of defensive stalwart Alex Pietrangelo and valuable future assets. It was an attempt to address their lack of scoring. But they still with just 168 goals on the season, 28th in the NHL. An optimist would say they've only given up 168, tops in the league. Andrei Vasilevskiy has been stellar. And you'd think a team with a positive goal differential would be in a better position. But in their inability to score has hurt them.
So what next? With the deadline approaching, this team needs to do something to spur a playoff push. With limited cap space, they're probably looking at depth moves. That might be the right approach regardless given the firepower they have at the top of the lineup. But they are not getting the contributions they need outside of a few star players. The time for this team to load up is now. Last year it was Dustin Brown, Jamie Benn, and James van Riemsdyk as pending UFA rentals. Maybe a similar approach is in store. But it better be something.
And it better work.
The Lightning currently sit 12th in the Eastern Conference, 7 points back of the final playoff spot. A 27-30-3 record is not good enough for this team. They are built to win now, and they are losing more than they are winning. Their GM has made some bold moves, bringing in Jack Eichel and Chris Kreider at the cost of defensive stalwart Alex Pietrangelo and valuable future assets. It was an attempt to address their lack of scoring. But they still with just 168 goals on the season, 28th in the NHL. An optimist would say they've only given up 168, tops in the league. Andrei Vasilevskiy has been stellar. And you'd think a team with a positive goal differential would be in a better position. But in their inability to score has hurt them.
So what next? With the deadline approaching, this team needs to do something to spur a playoff push. With limited cap space, they're probably looking at depth moves. That might be the right approach regardless given the firepower they have at the top of the lineup. But they are not getting the contributions they need outside of a few star players. The time for this team to load up is now. Last year it was Dustin Brown, Jamie Benn, and James van Riemsdyk as pending UFA rentals. Maybe a similar approach is in store. But it better be something.
And it better work.
