Heartbreak in Game 7, Hope in the Future

It was a year ago at this time that Tampa Bay Lightning General Manager Julien BriseBois told the team’s fan base to take a breath (literally) and believe in the franchise.

The Lightning had performed well for an entire season, both according to the measurable metrics, as well as the subjective eye test. 

BriseBois’s dilemma was that the team had fallen – quickly – in the postseason for a third consecutive spring. He wanted to be cautious about making major changes to the locker room, but he also had to assure the fan base that all was OK when taking a broader view.

Fast forward to today, and BriseBois may just want to play the video from last spring’s post-mortem on that season.

Tampa Bay fell 2-1 to Montreal on Sunday in Game 7 of the opening series in the National Hockey League Playoffs. It wrapped up, arguably, the closest playoff series in NHL history. But, it also stretched an ugly streak to four years without winning a playoff series for the Lightning. 

“There were a lot of blank stares,” veteran Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said following the loss, “wondering how that (game) got away from us.”

The epic series was nearly 500 minutes in length, yet a two-goal lead was only enjoyed by the Canadians for 5 minutes total, and never by Tampa Bay. 

It’s an indisputable fact that needs to be comprehended by BriseBois AND the Lightning fans.

Absolutely, there is a level of angst hovering over the Bay area this morning like a summer storm coming off the Gulf. And that is understandable.

However, any objective observer of this team can’t come to any other conclusion than it is a very good team, that is very close to being as good as any team in the Eastern Conference. 

“I have zero complaints about any team that I have coached for the Tampa Bay Lightning,” Cooper continued. “But, this team was different. They deserved better than what happened to them.”

Though Sunday’s outcome is difficult to deal with, it shouldn’t be difficult to realize what just transpired with this team over the past eight-plus months.

Tampa Bay was in the chase for an Atlantic Division title until the final days of the regular season, all the while, several critically important players were mired in the worst seasons of their careers.

Ten-year forward Brayden Point played the least number of games (63) in his career this season, and subsequently had the least amount of goals (18) since his rookie season. 

That malaise carried over into the postseason, where Point tallied just one more point than Thunderbug. 

The same can be said about team captain Victor Hedman.

The defenseman was limited to a career-low 33 games before taking a leave of absence for personal reasons in late March. 

Hedman, who scored just one time this season, was on the ice skating during practices in the postseason, but never dressed. His remaining $24,000,000 over three years will be a financial albatross on the Tampa Bay neck, probably, until his retirement.

Oliver Bjorkstrand had the least productive season (32 points) since his second season in 2016-17, and was a healthy scratch for three of the games against Montreal. 

With a $5,400,000 cap hit expired as of this morning, it is unlikely he returns to the Lightning, though to his credit, Bjorkstrand played fairly well in the postseason when he did play. 

Veteran forward Nick Paul had health issues dating back to training camp in September.

He too, had the least productive season (33 games, 15 points, seven goals) in his four-plus seasons with the Lightning. 

He has nearly $10,000,000 owed to him over the next three years.

Those player’s problems were evident against Montreal, where depth scoring was severely limited. 

The Lightning notched just 15 goals in the seven games, with six coming from one player (Brandon Hagel). 

If Lightning Nation want some (truthful) positivity today, in the absence of those aforementioned older players producing, opportunities for younger players to shine were created. 

Defenseman Darren Raddysh had an astounding year (22 goals, 70 points), though that production dissipated in the postseason. 

Raddysh and J.J. Moser could form a top line for years to come, IF, the Lightning can re-sign Raddysh this offseason.

Rookies Charle-Edourd D’Astous and Dominc James weren’t on anyone’s radar in training camp, but both had tremendous seasons given their amount of experience. 

And third-year forward Gage Goncalves continues to get better every time the sun rises. 

“It’s too bad,” Cooper said of the ending of the season. “Because of how hard they worked. They committed and did everything we asked.”

BriseBois rarely acts in an overly-emotional or irrational manner, and he more than likely won’t this offseason either. 

Certainly, there will be moves made. However, they won’t be seismic.

And they shouldn’t be.

Depth scoring should be addressed. 

Raddysh should be re-signed – within reason (though it may hurt financially).

Figuring out how to get Hedman back to some semblance of his former self is a priority.

This team is really good. It has a very good blend of experience and youth moving forward.

It has the talent to advance in the postseason, the team just hasn’t of late.

Tampa Bay fans need to breathe today. 

The playoff series was lost, but all is not lost with this franchise, as it looks towards the future.