With the 2013 season over, the Tampa Bay Lightning and fans of the team are left to think about what could have been. At times this past year, the Bolts looked like a team with so much potential. At other times, however, the team looked like nothing more than primed for American Hockey League action. Mired by inconsistency, the Bolts just weren’t good enough to finish with anything but the 3rd overall draft selection. With all that said, the post-mortem analysis begins right now. After grading the goaltenders last week, the time has come to grade the defensemen. To keep things simple, only players who suited up for more than twenty games will be included in this analysis.
After the 2011-12 season ended with the Lightning’s defense in shambles, general manager Steve Yzerman made moves to drastically transform his team’s blue line. By adding Sami Salo and Matt Carle, the Lightning’s defense got a whole lot more experienced and a whole lot more reliable. With youngsters projected to play big minutes and veterans set to hold the balance of power, the Lightning’s blue line looked great at the outset of the shortened 2013 season. Of course, things don’t always end up as expected. To be blunt – the Lightning’s defense struggled for most of the season. With that said, let’s get to the grading.
#25 Matt Carle – GP38, G5, A17, P22, +/- 1
Matt Carle was the Lightning’s marquee signing in the summer of 2012. With a six year deal that carries a cap hit of $5.5million, Carle came to town with big expectations. Billed as a mobile, offensively gifted defenseman capable of munching big minutes, it’s fair to say that Carle was underwhelming in his return to the Lightning organization. While he was far from terrible, it’s clear that he has more to give. Glimpses of brilliance were often on display, but they were marred by mistakes on a semi-consistent basis. For a guy making big money and playing a big role, that’s simply not good enough.
Next season, the Lightning need Carle to be that much better. He is a leader, and he can be incredibly effective out on the ice. Given that he did bring a lot of really good and exciting things to the Bolts this past year, it’s hard not to be excited about what he can do next season. With time to refresh after a disappointing season and a training camp under Jon Cooper still to come, expect Matt Carle to head into 2013-14 ready to succeed.
Matt Carle’s Grade: B-
#77 Victor Hedman – GP44, G4, A16, P20, +/- 1
Drafted second overall back in 2009, Victor Hedman is an absolute treat to watch at the National Hockey League level. While he isn’t an ‘elite’ defenseman quite yet, his potential is always on display. After playing in the KHL during the lockout, Hedman took his game to another level this past year and proved to Bolts Nation and the rest of the hockey world that he is ready to be the Lightning’s big stud on the blue line. His confident, slick stride combined with his unique ability to see the ice make him one heck of a hockey player.
Hedman’s 2013 season started off real nicely. He was contributing offensively, making smart decisions defensively, and he really meshed with Sami Salo to create a great number one pairing. Unfortunately, as the season went on, Hedman’s game deteriorated a little bit and he started making odd giveaways. While he was far from dreadful, he needed to be better. At only 22 years old, Hedman still has a ton of developing to do. For fans of the Lightning, that’s really quite exciting. For anyone outside Tampa, that’s pretty scary. If Jon Cooper can help to eliminate the weaknesses in Hedman’s defensive game, he could turn into an incredibly good player as soon as next season.
With that said, Hedman often leaves Lightning fans wanting more. With his big frame, it’s hard not to want more physicality. With his great passing ability, it’s hard not to want more powerplay points. With his booming shot, it’s hard not to want more goals. Hopefully, with more development, Hedman can become the player we all know he can be.
Victor Hedman’s Grade: B+
#6 Sami Salo – GP46, G2, A15, P17, +/- 5
When the Lightning signed Sami Salo to a fairly sizeable two year contract in the summer of 2012, many around the hockey world snickered. Well, Salo quickly silenced both Yzerman’s critics and his own with strong play at both ends of the ice. Despite being injury prone throughout his career, Salo played number one pairing minutes with Victor Hedman and was mighty effective while doing so. His calm demeanor and smart decision making skills were on display night in and night out. On a team with so much youthful energy, Salo’s presence was so incredibly needed and respected. He’s a leader, a great mentor for many on the team, and an effective hockey player. To be blunt, at $3.75million he is a bargain.
There’s really not much more to say about Salo. His play this past year speaks for itself, and hopefully he brings it all back to Tampa next year.
Sami Salo’s Grade: A
#2 Eric Brewer – GP48, G4, A8, P12, +/- 3
Other than his ability to stay healthy, Eric Brewer just didn’t bring a whole lot to the 2013 Tampa Bay Lightning. After playing a big role in the Lightning’s run to the Eastern Conference Final just a couple seasons ago, Brewer has struggled to find his place on the team’s blue line. Plagued by chronic giveaways and weaker foot speed, Brewer just didn’t look good this past season. Unfortunately, with a fairly sizeable contract, Brewer is another player from which the Lightning needed more.
It’s hard to roast Brewer, because it’s not like he’s an ineffective National Hockey League player. At his best, he’s physical, smart, and defensively sound. At his worst, he hurts the team on a consistent basis. Unfortunately, we saw more of the latter in 2013. While many are hoping that Brewer gets bought out this summer, it’s hard to imagine Steve Yzerman turning his back on a player who has been very good in Tampa as recently as one year ago. The lockout shortened season was a messy anomaly for many players around the league, and it can only be hoped that Brewer is one of those guys. With the summer ahead of him, hopefully Brewer can hit the reset button and come into 2013-14 prepared to be the player we saw two years ago.
Eric Brewer’s Grade: D-
#3 Keith Aulie – GP45, G2, A5, P7, +/- 1
Decent. That’s the only word to describe Keith Aulie’s play this season. From a bottom pairing guy, it’s silly to expect much more. Aulie wasn’t flashy, he wasn’t dominant, and he wasn’t overly noticeable. That being said, he was decent enough to get the job done on a nightly basis. For that reason, it’s hard not to like what he brought to the table. Playing with different partners from game to game, Aulie was a consistent physical presence. He made smart decisions more often than not, and he certainly didn’t complicate things. Aulie’s game is simple, and that’s all the Lightning really need from him.
Keith Aulie’s Grade: C+
#75 Radko Gudas – GP22, G2, A3, P5, +/- 3
After being called up from the Syracuse Crunch midway through the 2013 season, Radko Gudas established himself as a staple on the Bolts blue line. His calmness, physicality, and smarts are all qualities that endear him to the management and coaching staffs. Despite the fact that he’s still incredibly young, Gudas plays like a ten year veteran. Having just signed a three year contract this past week, he will be with the Lightning for the foreseeable future. Given that he hits like a freight train, this blogger is glad that he plays for the Lightning and not against them. Fans around the league may not know him now, but they soon will.
With a right-handed shot and a very unique skillset, Gudas is the kind of young defender that every franchise covets. While he’s far from an offensive machine, having tallied two goals and five points in 22 career NHL contests, he does have the capabilities necessary to move the puck with speed and precision. On a team that already boasts Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman and a plethora of other young players, Gudas will just be another cog in what is shaping up to be an incredibly impressive machine.
Radko Gudas’ Grade: A+
#15 Brian Lee – GP22, G0, A0, P0, +/- -13
All you really need to know about Brian Lee is that he played himself right out of the National Hockey League. After a very impressive debut with the team post-deadline in 2011-12, Lee was downright terrible when he was with the Lightning in 2013. He was constantly out of position, constantly giving the puck away, and constantly making poor decisions. Under Guy Boucher, Lee just never found his confidence. Under Jon Cooper, Lee was never given a chance. It’s probably safe to say that Lee has played his last game in Tampa, and perhaps even the NHL. It’s sad to see potential go down the drain, but the reality is that Lee just isn’t good enough to play for a Lightning team that has its eye set on the ultimate prize.
Brian Lee’s Grade: F
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The overarching message from this blog is that the Lightning needed more from a lot of players. The names are there, the potential is there, and now it’s time for everything to come together. If that happens, the Lightning could be incredibly scary as soon as next season.
With all that said, it’s time for you to have your say! What did you think of the Lightning’s defense this past season? There’s a lot to be excited about when it comes to the Lightning and a solid defense is a big part of that. As always, thanks for reading.
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