Will The Tampa Bay Lightning Stay a Playoff Workforce?
NHL Community: Final week on NHL Community, Tony Luftman and Bruce Boudreau mentioned the 2 divisions within the Japanese Convention. They moved to the Atlantic Division, and Boudreau was requested which group could be probably the most stunning this season. He mentioned the Tampa Bay Lightning.
** NHLRumors.com Transcriptions
Tony Luftman: “So coach your group more than likely to shock. These Lightning, Why?”
Bruce Boudreau: “You understand what I simply suppose that they didn’t, , they, all people talks about dropping Stamkos and the whole lot, and I get it, nice participant unimaginable historical past. However you add Jake Guentzel. I feel it’s a wash.
And folks say, Nicely, what in regards to the energy play? And I’m taking a look at it proper now, and I’m going, Okay, you bought Kucherov on the suitable hash mark. Why don’t we transfer Brayden Level, who was nice within the center, however so Jake Guentzel, let’s put him within the buffer place and put Level on that on the opposite half wall. So now Guentzel turns into the shooter somewhat bit extra.
And from that facet the place I feel, will probably be simply nearly as good, and the remainder of the facility play stays the identical. And I feel he’s a greater five-on-five participant than Steve is and I imply, once I look, they lose Sergachev and despite the fact that Ryan McDonagh is a pair years older than once they final had him, I nonetheless suppose he’s actually stable, stable defenseman.
And, I imply, who is aware of if Cam Atkinson has something left within the tank? Then he’s a very good addition to. Plus I imply, , I imply, Vasilevskiy is attending to the age the place he’s going to say, hey, this has acquired to be, I acquired to get again utterly to kind. And if he does, you bought the nice goaltender you bought.
And the one factor we didn’t discuss within the when the manufacturing room was I feel they acquired the most effective coach, I’m fairly certain they acquired the most effective coach, longest tenured, in Jon Cooper. And I don’t suppose he’ll permit them to lose. He’s by no means had a dropping yr. Even within the final yr within the American League, he gained the Calder Cup going away, after which he simply continued to do it proper via the NHL.
So, I imply, I feel you add all these issues, and all people is saying, Oh, they’re getting previous. They’re getting previous. They’re going to be accomplished. They’ve been saying it for 2 years now. I don’t suppose they’re accomplished. I feel they’re going to be proper there. I feel they’re going to be higher than they have been final yr.”
