2006-07 record: 44-33-5, 93 points. 2nd in division/7th in conference. Lost in Eastern Conference Quarterfinal to New Jersey Devils.
|
Head Coach: |
John Tortorella (7th season) |
|
General Manager: |
Jay Feaster (6th season) |
|
Home Arena: |
St. Pete Times Forum |
|
Capacity: |
19,758 |
Another team just a few years removed from a Stanley Cup victory, the Tampa Bay Lightning did not fall quite as far as the Carolina Hurricanes after their win, but Tampa Bay has yet to return to elite status following their championship in 2004. After the lockout, the Lightning’s lack of depth was exposed as the trio known as the “Big Three” was expected to carry much of the scoring load, especially since Tampa Bay was strapped for cash in the new salary cap era. The Bolts also lost Stanley Cup winning goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin after the Cup win, and have yet to find a suitable replacement of the same caliber. While making the playoffs the two seasons after 2004, the Lightning have been the prime example of a top-heavy team, with one or two studs at each position and a severe drop off after that.
Last season, however, the Lightning began to nurture a few of the team’s younger players, and the hopes that Tampa can grow a deeper roster while maintaining the services of its superstars is slowly growing. The team may have found some stability in net last season, and will get even more opportunity for success playing in the historically weak Southeast Division.
Depth Chart
|
Left Wing |
Center |
Right Wing |
|
Vaclav Prospal |
Vincent Lecavalier |
Martin St. Louis |
|
Jan Hlavac |
Brad Richards |
Michal Ouellet |
|
Ryan Craig |
Chris Gratton |
Jason Ward |
|
Andre Roy |
Tim Taylor |
Craig MacDonald |
|
Karl Stewart |
Nick Tarnasky |
Andreas Karlsson |
|
|
|
Kyle Wanvig |
|
|
|
|
|
Defence |
Defence |
Goaltending |
|
Dan Boyle |
Filip Kuba |
Johan Holmqvist |
|
Paul Ranger |
Shane O'Brien |
Marc Denis |
|
Brad Lukowich |
Doug Janik |
Karri Ramo |
|
Dan Jancevski |
Bryce Lampman |
|
Forwards
We’re used to talking about Tampa’s “Big Three” when discussing the Bolts’ offence, but last season the “Big Two” could have been more accurate. While Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis each registered over 100 points, the Lightning’s third big offensive gun was unusually silent. Brad Richards, after signing a monster contract that made him the team’s highest paid player—and one of the highest paid players in the league—could not keep up with his high-profile teammates, scoring just 70 points (25 goals, 45 assists) and registering a -19 rating on the season while playing all 82 games. The total was down from the 91 points Richards put up in 2005-06, and was his lowest total since his sophomore season in the NHL. The -19 was also the lowest in Richards’ career.
Lecavalier, on the other hand, finally proved why he was once a first overall draft pick, having a career year with 52 goals and 56 assists, winning the Rocket Richard Trophy as the league’s leading goal scorer. Because he hasn’t been considered among the top elite in the NHL in years past, Lecavalier might be a nice first or second round pick in most fantasy leagues. St. Louis also snapped out of his slump after winning the Art Ross Trophy a few seasons back, scoring 43 goals and 59 assists.
Beyond the ‘Big Three’, winger Vaclav Prospal benefited from the playing time he received with Lecavalier, scoring 14 goals and 41 assists. The totals were lower than in years past for Prospal, however, who also recorded a horrendous -24 rating. The team will attempt to replace the combined 68 points put up by departed forwards Eric Perrin and Ruslan Fedotenko with a couple of newcomers. Chris Gratton, now in his third tour of duty with the Lightning, brings size and strength up the middle and is a solid third-line center, while Michel Ouellet provides a second-line scoring punch since being acquired from the Penguins. Ouellet could thrive if he gets playing time with any of the Big Three, which is likely considering the loss of Fedotenko. The team also signed veteran winger Jan Hlavac out of Europe, who could also play on a top line, possibly with Richards and Ouellet.
The team hopes that youngster Ryan Craig can continue his development into a quality second line talent, although he probably will not get second line minutes this season. Rounding out the forward ranks should be checkers Jason Ward, Andre Roy and Nick Tarnasky, with the final spot probably going to winger/center Andreas Karlsson. Kyle Wanvig and Craig MacDonald will be given shots as well.
Defence
Tampa has a fairly balanced attack from the blueline, headed by All-Stars Dan Boyle Filip Kuba. Both players are capable of quarterbacking a powerplay, and shared duties last season. Boyle was undoubtedly the team’s No. 1 defenceman, however, with 20 goals and 43 points to show for his efforts. Although he landed on the minus side (-5), Boyle’s defensive play was all the Bolts could ask for. Kuba struggled a bit at times last season, but still finished with a respectable 15 goals and 22 assists. Young defender Paul Ranger has developed into a quality force as well offensively, and even put up a +5 rating to lead all Tampa Bay defencemen. 24-year-old Shane O’Brien was brought in from Anaheim at the trade deadline last year for a first-round pick, and must show this season why he was worth it. O’Brien is primarily known in fantasy circles for racking up the penalty minutes (176 last season), but he owns limited offensive potential as well, scoring two goals and 14 assists last year. Veteran Brad Lukowich was brought in during the offseason for another go-round with the Lightning, and will provide a steady defensive presence and is an excellent penalty killer. Lukowich will likely take the spot vacated by Cory Sarich. The final spot will likely go to either Doug Janik or Nolan Pratt, both of whom played over 70 games with the Lightning last season. The edge probably goes to Pratt, who has a little more experience and is more dependable in his own end. 26-year-old Dan Jancevski could also make the lineup in case of an injury.
Goaltending
After the Marc Denis experiment did not work out exactly as planned last season, career minor-leaguer Johan Holmqvist stepped in last season and all but won himself the starting job. Although Holmqvist’s numbers were not spectacular last season by any means (27-15-3, 2.85 GAA, .893 SV%), they were better than Denis’s who did not even dress during the playoffs. The Lightning will enter training camp with Holmqvist as the odds-on favourite to win the starting gig, but the team will also be virtually forced to retain Denis, who is entering the second year of his three-year, $8.6 million contract. With a strong camp, Denis could conceivably win the job back, or at least end up splitting time with Holmqvist. Rookie Karri Ramo will also be given a long look in camp, and could end up cracking the roster if either Denis or Holmqvist falter badly.
Outlook
The Lightning do not look substantially better than they did last season, but they did do a nice job patching the holes left by vacated players from last year. Sarich was replaced by Lukowich, Fedotenko was replaced by Ouellet, and Perrin was replaced by Gratton. Other than that, however, the Bolts did not do much tinkering during the offseason, and do not look to have any impact rookies coming into the system, other than the possibility of Ramo in goal. Tampa will need a better performance out of Richards next season, who must be the catalyst for the second line to have any sort of impact. More than likely, however, the Bolts are looking at another middle-of-the-pack finish and a seventh or eighth seed in the Eastern Conference.
