The Tampa Bay Lightning set a franchise record with 108 points last season before losing the Stanley Cup Final in six games to the Chicago Blackhawks.

Returning most of the same team, then, expectations are going to be sky-high for the Lightning this year; Cup or bust, presumably.

Last year’s emergence of The Triplets – second-year forwards Ondrej Palat, Tyler Johnson and Nikita Kucherov – gave Tampa Bay two legitimate top lines and the question going forward is whether The Triplets are for real. They rode some spectacular percentages last season, but there’s a lot to like about all three players. Their ascension eased some of the pressure on Steven Stamkos, who shuffled back and forth between centre and right wing, depending on who skated on his line, but some combination of Alex Killorn, Valtteri Filppula and Ryan Callahan supported the Lightning captain. Moving forward, the wildcard for the Lightning is skilled winger Jonathan Drouin, whose role was quite limited as a rookie. If Drouin develops into a productive forward, the Lightning could be scary.

Last summer’s addition of Anton Stralman was a master stroke for the Lightning as he was a first-pair defender alongside Victor Hedman, who could be a Norris Trophy contender. The depth isn’t ideal, given the cost, but Jason Garrison, Braydon Coburn and Matt Carle have all played big minutes while Andrej Sustr and Nikita Nesterov are on their way up.

What appeared to be a strength for the Lightning last season, goaltending, will start out as a question mark because of Andrei Vasilevskiy’s vascular surgery. Ben Bishop is an above-average starter, but Vasilevskiy appears to be a future star and that is going to take some time now. In the meantime, the Lightning need to come up with a reasonable backup that can give Bishop a breather.

There’s a reason that the Lightning didn’t make dramatic changes to their roster, and that is because they were close to winning it all with this group last season. Maybe this year, they finish the job.

 

OFF-SEASON HEADLINES

July 1: Lightning, free agent forward Erik Condra agree on three-year deal

September 4: Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy undergoes vascular surgery

September 14: Season likely to start without 2016 UFA Stamkos being signed

 

2015-16 TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

* Off-season Addition

 

Projected Lines

LW C RW
Alex Killorn Valtteri Filppula Steven Stamkos
Ondrej Palat Tyler Johnson Nikita Kucherov
Jonathan Drouin Cedric Paquette Ryan Callahan
Erik Condra* Brian Boyle J.T. Brown
  Vladislav Namestnikov  

Fighting For Jobs: C Ryan Martindale*

 

Projected Pairs

LD RD
Victor Hedman Anton Stralman
Braydon Coburn Jason Garrison
Matt Carle Andrej Sustr
Nikita Nesterov  

Fighting For Jobs: LD Slater Koekkoek, RD Luke Witkowski

 

This is the title of the table

No. 1 No. 2 No. 3
Ben Bishop Kristers Gudlevskis/Ray Emery (PTO) Andrei Vasilevsky (inj.)

Off-season Departures: LW Brenden Morrow, D Mark Barberio

Projected Lineup: Joe Smith/Tampa Bay Times

 

SERAVALLI'S THREE QUESTIONS

1. Will Steven Stamkos start the season at right wing as opposed to centre?

2. Who will be Bolts’ No. 2 goaltender with Andrei Vasilevsky out?

3. How will sophomore Jonathan Drouin respond after playoff benching?

 

BUTTON'S TOP PROSPECTS

Top 2015-16 Prospect

D Anthony DeAngelo (Sarnia/Sault Ste. Marie, OHL): Outstanding confidence playing. Adds element of creativity and puck play that creates offence.

Long-Term Prospect

C Brayden Point (Moose Jaw, WHL): Diminutive in stature only. Plays big, plays with great determination and has outstanding feel for game.

* Listed with 2014-15 teams

 

 

BY THE NUMBERS

 

Three-Year Breakdown (League Rank)

  2012-13 2013-14 2014-15
Points 68 (28th)* 101 (8th) 108 (5th)
Goals For 3.1 (3rd) 2.8 (9th) 3.2 (1st)
Goals Against 3.1 (26th) 2.6 (11th) 2.5 (12th)
Power Play 19% (13th) 19% (13th) 19% (T-13th)
Penalty Killing 81% (6th) 81% (T-23rd) 84% (T-7th)
SAT% Possession 47.2% (25th) 51% (11th) 53% (4th)

* 2012-13 points: Pro-rated lockout-shortened total

 

ESTIMATED PAYROLL vs. CAP - $72.8M/$71.4M

It costs money to be a Cup contender and the Lightning have reached the point at which salary cap considerations are going to force difficult decisions. This current payroll includes defenceman Mattias Ohlund, who has one more year on LTIR, so there will be another $3.6M in space, but pushing up against the limit could affect just how much Tampa Bay is prepared to pay for Steven Stamkos, who will be an unrestricted free agent after next season.

 

PARTING SHOT