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Steve Yzerman and Guy Boucher have not been overly deceptive regarding their goals for the Tampa Bay Lightning; both want to transform the Lightning into a consistent playoff team with a real chance to win the Stanley Cup. Of course, to compete for the Stanley Cup, a team has to have a solid roster from top to bottom. The Lightning do indeed have some great pieces poised to lead the team to the promise land, but there is still work to be done.
Realistically, if Anders Lindback can come in and surprise a lot of people with consistent, great goaltending, the Lightning could be a Stanley Cup contender as early as this season. With a revamped, solid defense and some of the top forwards in the league, the Lightning are in a great position to compete as long as the goaltending holds up.
Taking an objective look at the Lightning’s forward ranks, it becomes incredibly apparent that the Lightning boast one of the more dominant top-six cores in the NHL. Fans in Bolts Nation, and around the league, don’t need to be reminded of just how good Steven Stamkos, Martin St. Louis, Vincent Lecavalier and Teddy Purcell are. Add in players like Ryan Malone, JT Brown, Brett Connolly and Cory Conacher and, all of a sudden, the Lightning have a bounty of options to work with.
However, things start to change when looking at the bottom-six. On the wing, the Lightning have options. With some of the aforementioned guys slated to fall down the line-up, it could be argued that the Lightning are actually in good shape on the wing throughout the line-up. With Adam Hall, one of the hardest working guys around, set to take to the ice as the Bolts’ fourth line center, there is really only one position left to fiddle with.
The Lightning are lacking a true third line center. As much as Bolts Nation fell in love with Tom Pyatt and Nate Thompson towards the end of last season, neither one of them is set, or ready to take on that important role. Look at recent Stanley Cup finalists and notice a trend – most had an incredibly solid third line pivot; Dave Bolland in Chicago and Manny Malhotra in Vancouver come to mind. So, the question becomes: how will the Lightning fill the third line center position?
Well, for starters, the Lightning could take a chance on Pyatt or Thompson. While that may be the path of least resistance, it doesn’t bode well for the Lightning’s chances down the stretch. From there, Lightning brass needs to take a look at the trade market. However, a far simpler option for the Lightning to explore is the free agent market. Despite being depleted early in the summer, the UFA market still has a lot to offer teams that are simply trying to fill out their rosters.
Looking at the market, it’s interesting to note that most centers still available are veteran guys. While that may serve as a deterrent to some teams, it shouldn’t for the Lightning. This is a team that could certainly use more of a veteran presence in the bottom-six.
Two available names immediately jump off the page as possible fits for the Tampa Bay Lightning – Jason Arnott and former Bolt Daymond Langkow. Each of those gentlemen brings a unique skill-set that could certainly serve the Lightning well.
In Langkow’s case, there’s a lot of offensive potential. Potential is a funny word to use when talking about a 36 year old forward, but after missing all but four games in the 2010-11 season, Langkow came back and put up 30 points last season with the Coyotes. A former 77 point scorer, Langkow is the kind of guy who could make a real difference in key games down the stretch and into the playoffs. Getting key goals at key times from the third line is a trait that is often linked with Stanley Cup champions.
Jason Arnott, a 38 year old grizzled veteran, is nearing the end of his career. Despite his “advanced age,” Arnott, with his size, still has the power to contribute in a great number of ways. His leadership skills are well documented; he’s vocal and he is effective at both ends of the ice. With 17 goals and 34 points last season with the St. Louis Blues, Arnott is a potential great fit for the Lightning.
Over the course of the summer, many have speculated that the Vancouver Canucks, another team in dire need of a third line center, have kicked the tires on Arnott. There’s a reason that he’s in demand – he’s the kind of guy who’s a “final piece” on a competing team. With goaltending, the Lightning could be that sort of team.
So, now comes the time where the decision making is left up to you, the fans. Let me know who you view as the perfect, most reasonable third line center for the Lightning. And, as always, thanks for reading!
Ottawa Senators Blogger • 
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