Riley the Bolts showed heart and went down swinging... they fought hard without their top goal tender... the Stammer injury and St Louis debacle... they are so young... they learned so much... Stamkos is now the C... I am proud of this team, can't wait to see what they do in the offseason, Drouin with the big club, a healthy Stamkos all year, a year under the belt of all the rookies. I do feel the Bolts are going to be for real for a while to come.
- stammerman

Yup! Very promising crew . One of the most promise in the NHL.

Michael, i have a question for you. Guy Boucher lost is job because he didn't have a goaler. Will the same thing apply for Cooper?

I said from the beginning, Kristers was the answer.
- mykokes

Vasi is the guy lol he will push Ben out in two years

Yup! Very promising crew . One of the most promise in the NHL.
- RileyB77

I mean, really, your lineup was laced with rookies who were big parts of your regular season success. Tempering one's expectations going into the playoffs, you have a great, young core of new players stepping up, and that's not even including Droiun, and they now have a full year under their belts. Granted it wasn't a season-long fluke, it seems like Tampa will be near the top of the East for the next few years or so.

Michael, i have a question for you. Guy Boucher lost is job because he didn't have a goaler. Will the same thing apply for Cooper?
- andrest

Michael, i have a question for you. Guy Boucher lost is job because he didn't have a goaler. Will the same thing apply for Cooper?
- andrest

It's insane how much people reduce the game to such simplistic observations. Cooper coaches nothing like Boucher.

I mean, really, your lineup was laced with rookies who were big parts of your regular season success. Tempering one's expectations going into the playoffs, you have a great, young core of new players stepping up, and that's not even including Droiun, and they now have a full year under their belts. Granted it wasn't a season-long fluke, it seems like Tampa will be near the top of the East for the next few years or so.
- Blackstrom2

Yup. The addition of Kucherov full time, Drouin full time, Namestnikov may be in. There's many players and not many spots. Get rid of malone and purcell, they're dead weight. Imagine this : A line consisting of kucherov, stamkos, and drouin. OR Palat, Stamkos, Drouin. Deadly.

It's insane how much people reduce the game to such simplistic observations. Cooper coaches nothing like Boucher.
- Blackstrom2

You got that right... Cooper's style I like so much better. Cooper has Bishop and two young goalies... I don't think a goalie will be his downfall.

Yup. The addition of Kucherov full time, Drouin full time, Namestnikov may be in. There's many players and not many spots. Get rid of malone and purcell, they're dead weight. Imagine this : A line consisting of kucherov, stamkos, and drouin. OR Palat, Stamkos, Drouin. Deadly.
- RileyB77

Plus all your rookie D's, and I am including Gudas, though not sure if he is technically a rookie.

It's insane how much people reduce the game to such simplistic observations. Cooper coaches nothing like Boucher.
- Blackstrom2

You're right! Boucher was a win away from going to the cup finals in his first year!

You're right! Boucher was a win away from going to the cup finals in his first year!
- andrest

and the next 2 years finished sub .500

You're right! Boucher was a win away from going to the cup finals in his first year!
- andrest

You want to know what's really funny about your comment? I didn't say anything about Cooper's style being superior, I simply said that they don't coach anything alike.

Maybe you should stop drinking.

if only Hedman wasn't a bust


XxNYIxX

You want to know what's really funny about your comment? I didn't say anything about Cooper's style being superior, I simply said that they don't coach anything alike.

Maybe you should stop drinking.
- Blackstrom2

My point is... Without a number 1 goaler, you can't do much!

Plus all your rookie D's, and I am including Gudas, though not sure if he is technically a rookie.
- Blackstrom2

Pete Jensen ‏@NHLJensen 1m
#TBLightning have Vezina-caliber goalie, NHL's best goal-scorer, best rookie duo since Kane & Toews, and... oh yea... Drouin. Bright future!

The D prospect I'm looking forward to the most is Koekkoek, Barberio (if his potential is filled) and a wiser Gudas. That would be a huge boost for us

Michael Stuart: Swept
- Michael_Stuart

Good blog sir. I enjoyed reading them for the most part, keep at it and good luck.

Michael, i have a question for you. Guy Boucher lost is job because he didn't have a goaler. Will the same thing apply for Cooper?
- andrest

Ben Bishop?

And that's not why Boucher lost his job.

if only Hedman wasn't a bust


XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

You're back!

Good blog sir. I enjoyed reading them for the most part, keep at it and good luck.
- Pie

Thanks! Much appreciated.

Pete Jensen ‏@NHLJensen 1m
#TBLightning have Vezina-caliber goalie, NHL's best goal-scorer, best rookie duo since Kane & Toews, and... oh yea... Drouin. Bright future!

The D prospect I'm looking forward to the most is Koekkoek, Barberio (if his potential is filled) and a wiser Gudas. That would be a huge boost for us
- RileyB77

Arguably the best goal-scorer. Hey, Stamkos is a complete player, let him at least have his "best goal scorer" title. Want to do a 1 for 1 trade?

As much as I enjoy the sweep to give the Habs some time off (could be bad), it always sucks to see the flip side of it in the other team.

I've always liked Tampa. They've got a lot of young potential and promise, best of luck next year. Enjoyed all the blogs covering the series, good work!

and the next 2 years finished sub .500
- RileyB77

What would he have done with Bishop? Cooper is winless in the playoffs.

My point is... Without a number 1 goaler, you can't do much!
- andrest

Ben Bishop.
2 bad seasons after 1 game from Cup Finals.


There's a lot of points I can make, but I'll just stop.

Really lacked the sportsmanship of St. Louis. That's what was missing.

(Yes this is sarcasm)

Ben Bishop?

And that's not why Boucher lost his job.
- Michael_Stuart

Why did he... And don't tell me he lost the room!