Expectations of Lightning raised with pieces in place for special season
TAMPA, Fla. -- A campaign of great hope begins now. If all goes according to plan, the Tampa Bay Lightning will improve on their 101 points from last season. If all goes according to plan, they'll go deeper than their appearance in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.
Rightfully so, their sights are set higher. Rightfully so, they want more.
That's the way it should be. Now the Lightning, a tested group that survived the strains and trials of 2013-14, must prove they can handle the hype.
Some faces have changed, but the hunger that stayed with players as they packed their belongings last April after a sweep by the Montreal Canadiens has remained the same. Steven Stamkos will be the star, but young faces like Ondrej Palat and Tyler Johnson should strive to make more progress from a season that resulted in both being named Calder Trophy finalists. The addition of two former New York Rangers players, Brian Boyle and Anton Stralman, bolsters depth. The ability to re-sign Ryan Callahan was big as well.
So much about this team feels more grown up than this time last year. Coach Jon Cooper is no longer a question. Neither is goaltender Ben Bishop, whose value to Tampa Bay became crystal clear with his absence in the playoffs. Now Palat and Johnson are proven assets.
In the months ahead, the task will be continued growth, not discovery.
"We're anxious to get going," said Steve Yzerman, Tampa Bay's vice president and general manager. "Obviously, the changes we made, they're designed to improve the team. We're looking forward to getting back. Our season ended abruptly. ... With all the changes we made, we're optimistic. But it takes time."
Here's an overview of how the Lightning look before opening the regular season against the Florida Panthers at Amalie Arena on Thursday.
KEY ADDITIONS
F Brian Boyle (New York Rangers)
His addition adds strong depth. He has played in 391 NHL games under a large-market glare with the Rangers and Los Angeles Kings. He owns 52 goals and 100 points. He's a physical presence, ranking second on the Rangers in hits last season with 154.
D Anton Stralman (New York Rangers)
Another addition formerly of the Rangers, he should bolster Tampa Bay's defensemen ranks because of his experience. He has 18 goals and 112 points in 394 NHL games. Last year, he had 12 assists and 104 shots on goal, both of which ranked third among all New York defensemen.
F Brenden Morrow (St. Louis Blues)
He offers valuable experience as a veteran of 921 NHL games. He has produced 262 goals, 567 points and he has reached the 30-goal mark in two seasons. A former captain, his leadership skills should prove beneficial.
G Evgeni Nabokov (New York Islanders)
The Lightning looked to upgrade their reserve goaltender situation in the offseason, and Nabokov's veteran eye should hold value. He has played in 686 career NHL games, and he owns an all-time record of 350-221-98 with a .912 save percentage and a 2.43 goals-against average. He's no stranger to the postseason as well, having appeared in 86 career games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
KEY LOSSES
F Ryan Malone (New York Rangers) G Cedric Desjardins (New York Rangers) G Anders Lindback (Dallas Stars) D Keith Aulie (Edmonton Oilers) F Pierre-Cedric Labrie (Chicago Blackhawks)
PROJECTED LINEUP
Forwards: C Brian Boyle, R J.T. Brown, R Ryan Callahan, R Brett Connolly, L Jonathan Drouin, C Valtteri Filppula, C Tyler Johnson, C Alex Killorn, R Nikita Kucherov, L Brenden Morrow, C Vladislav Namestnikov, L Ondrej Palat, C Steven Stamkos
Defensemen: Mark Barberio, Eric Brewer, Matthew Carle, Jason Garrison, Radko Gudas, Victor Hedman, Anton Stralman, Andrej Sustr
Goalies: Ben Bishop, Evgeni Nabokov
1. Can Bishop stay healthy?
The Lightning saw how important he was to their success last season. He finished 37-14-7 with a 2.23 goals-against average. He also boasted a .924 save percentage with 1,758 shots against him, lifting him to a memorable campaign after he entered the season as a question. The Lightning bolstered their reserve goaltender situation by signing Nabokov in the offseason, but Tampa Bay has the potential to go far if Bishop plays as much as possible.
2. Will Stamkos fully embrace that this is his team?
The departures of Marty St. Louis and Vinny Lecavalier make one thing clear: Stamkos is the main man in Tampa. The Lightning will go as far as he carries them, and it's fascinating to consider how much he can do if he stays on the ice. He finished with 25 goals and 40 points over 37 regular-season games in an injury-shorted season. He should take another step forward with, presumably, a full schedule ahead of him. Look for him to embrace a larger mentor role as well. His guidance for other young forwards like Palat, Johnson and Drouin should pay dividends.
3. Will Drouin live up to the hype?
There's no shortage of intrigue around the former first-round pick. He was expected to have a strong preseason and be a no-brainer selection to make the roster. A slight fracture of his right thumb, sustained in September, was an unfortunate setback. Still, he's expected to make an impact this year in his first NHL season. Talk of Calder Trophy possibilities will grow if he's as good as some suspect. Drouin is expected to miss the opener Thursday, but the team doesn't expect to place him on injured reserve.
GAME TO WATCH
Nov. 26 vs. New York Rangers
It's St. Louis' return to Tampa. Enough said. But if you're hungry for more, there are many other story lines. Callahan, Boyle and Stralman will face their former team, and Malone also could return after the Lightning used their second compliance buyout on him in June. Don't count on a warm reception for St. Louis, who spent 12-plus seasons with the Lightning before his unceremonious exit. One day, time could heal all remaining wounds in Tampa. But some hard feelings remain.
FINAL THOUGHT
The Lightning carry great expectations into their second full season under Cooper for good reason. They have a mature star in Stamkos, and the return of Callahan was a major coup for Tampa Bay in the offseason. The additions of Boyle and Stralman are also pluses, and if Palat and Johnson build on their breakout seasons, then there's much to anticipate. Bishop's health will be key, though Nabokov could prove to be a capable reserve goaltender. Winning at least one playoff series should be the mission.
You can follow Andrew Astleford on Twitter @aastleford or email him at aastleford@gmail.com.
