Michael Stuart: Top 10 Reasons to Be Excited about the 2014-15 Tampa Bay Lightning

Tampa has good chances to win the atlantic division. it should be close again with boston and montreal, but tampa will win the division

Tampa has good chances to win the atlantic division. it should be close again with boston and montreal, but tampa will win the division
- JawnyS

I think the conference's top four teams are Boston, Pittsburgh, Montreal, and Tampa in no particular order. Anything can happen. It should be fun.

Hey Michael I would like your opinion on something. Im a huge Nikita Kucherov fan. I've been one ever since I went to a prospects camp/ team practice where I witnessed his creativity first hand. At the time I thought wow he's an interesting prospect but I won't most likely won't see him in a bolts uniform for a while. The lightning seasons started and I kept up with the Syracuse Crunch as well and noticed he was the ahl leading scorer. Then when Steven broke his leg I remember the next couple of games the lightning were having scoring woes and line combinations were changing ever game it seemed. When the lightning returned home we were scheduled to face the rangers and me and my best friend got tickets. We checked the lineup/scratches and noticed Kucherov was playing and we both got super excited thinking he could help our squad to some offense. When the game started I kept looking out for his number, then all of a sudden he took a shot(his 1st NHL shot) and scored on king Henrik and we flipped sh!t.Also the fact he got breakaways every game it seemed.

Anyways thats kinda how I became a fan. My question is do you think that with all the young skilled, SMALL forwards on this team he's unique enough to contribute enough and be a fixture in the top 6. I feel like him and Drouins style are a bit similar the way they stickhandle,evade and dish out awesome passes. For that reason yzerman might see him as trade able. I'd hate to lose this kid

Hey Michael I would like your opinion on something. Im a huge Nikita Kucherov fan. I've been one ever since I went to a prospects camp/ team practice where I witnessed his creativity first hand. At the time I thought wow he's an interesting prospect but I won't most likely won't see him in a bolts uniform for a while. The lightning seasons started and I kept up with the Syracuse Crunch as well and noticed he was the ahl leading scorer. Then when Steven broke his leg I remember the next couple of games the lightning were having scoring woes and line combinations were changing ever game it seemed. When the lightning returned home we were scheduled to face the rangers and me and my best friend got tickets. We checked the lineup/scratches and noticed Kucherov was playing and we both got super excited thinking he could help our squad to some offense. When the game started I kept looking out for his number, then all of a sudden he took a shot(his 1st NHL shot) and scored on king Henrik and we flipped sh!t.Also the fact he got breakaways every game it seemed.

Anyways thats kinda how I became a fan. My question is do you think that with all the young skilled, SMALL forwards on this team he's unique enough to contribute enough and be a fixture in the top 6. I feel like him and Drouins style are a bit similar the way they stickhandle,evade and dish out awesome passes. For that reason yzerman might see him as trade able. I'd hate to lose this kid
- DrouinsDrone

I see Kucherov as more of a shooter than Drouin. They both have amazing skill though. I can't see them moving Kucherov. He's one of the organization's best prospects, and one of the organization's only prospects with legitimately elite finishing ability. He has the potential to be a fixture in the top six for a long, long time.

[quote=Michael_Stuart]I see Kucherov as more of a shooter than Drouin. They both have amazing skill though. I can't see them moving Kucherov. He's one of the organization's best prospects, and one of the organization's only prospects with legitimately elite finishing ability. He has the potential to be a fixture in the top six for a long, long ti
Didn't we grab him early 2nd round one year? Wonder why he went later do you think teams put the Russian factor against him, or was he not regarded as high back then as he is now.

1. They're not bankrupt?

[quote=Michael_Stuart]I see Kucherov as more of a shooter than Drouin. They both have amazing skill though. I can't see them moving Kucherov. He's one of the organization's best prospects, and one of the organization's only prospects with legitimately elite finishing ability. He has the potential to be a fixture in the top six for a long, long ti
Didn't we grab him early 2nd round one year? Wonder why he went later do you think teams put the Russian factor against him, or was he not regarded as high back then as he is now.
- DrouinsDrone

He got drafted 58th overall 2011, before he came to America! He had only played in the MHL ( KHL junior league) and I guess that is why he got drafted so late.

Stralman is not Bobby Orr

you have built this guy up so much it's absurd

Stralman is not Bobby Orr

you have built this guy up so much it's absurd
- jimbro83

No one but you said anything like that, maybe a few adjectives too many but a solid possession player. How does will not Wow you with his offence or flashy play compare at least in your mind to Bobby Orr? We're happy to have him that's all, evidently you're not happy he left, get over it.

No one but you said anything like that, maybe a few adjectives too many but a solid possession player. How does will not Wow you with his offence or flashy play compare at least in your mind to Bobby Orr? We're happy to have him that's all, evidently you're not happy he left, get over it.
- tpd11

You paid a guy 4.5 mil for a good playoff run. He was benched during the season several times for his lackluster play.

You paid a guy 4.5 mil for a good playoff run. He was benched during the season several times for his lackluster play.
- lileapers

I don't remember him being benched once let alone several times but yea he's a 2nd pairing guy on a good defensive team.

I don't remember him being benched once let alone several times but yea he's a 2nd pairing guy on a good defensive team.
- rangerdanger94

That's all we want why is it so hard for people to understand.

You paid a guy 4.5 mil for a good playoff run. He was benched during the season several times for his lackluster play.
- lileapers

And you're about to pay a couple for a good playoff run so your point is?

I don't remember him being benched once let alone several times but yea he's a 2nd pairing guy on a good defensive team.
- rangerdanger94

he was benched once and then we all we're wondering if we shouldn't scratch him for a game or so, times can change, and don't get me wrong he is one hell of a player but to say that staal was bringing him down is just stupid, it's not because somebody has better stats he is a better player, especially on defense, anybody who has ever played hockey will agree

he was benched once and then we all we're wondering if we shouldn't scratch him for a game or so, times can change, and don't get me wrong he is one hell of a player but to say that staal was bringing him down is just stupid, it's not because somebody has better stats he is a better player, especially on defense, anybody who has ever played hockey will agree
- webleedblue

You were all wondering if YOU should scratch him, that's funny, who knows what goes on in a season , touch of flu, minor injury, bad game, etc. I don't see you as a coach or trainer or am I missing something? I didn't mention Staal so you're fixating on a week old comment by someone else based on stats I didn't mention, I think it's time you moved on take a mental health day.

Stralman is not Bobby Orr

you have built this guy up so much it's absurd
- jimbro83

Stralman isn't our defensive savior, he will be a good cog in our system. With Hedman and Carle already here and the addition of Garrison and Stralman has improved our defense. Putting Gudas on the third line will help with his development. He showed signs last season of both good and not so good abilities, but puting him with Carle for season with 18 games NHL experience was a little rough.

You were all wondering if YOU should scratch him, that's funny, who knows what goes on in a season , touch of flu, minor injury, bad game, etc. I don't see you as a couch or trainer or am I missing something? I didn't mention Staal so you're fixating on a week old comment by someone else based on stats I didn't mention, I think it's time you moved on take a mental health day.
- tpd11

I just wish we actually had this fictional defenseman the last few years you guys seem to think you are getting.

For what he provides, his cap hit last year of 1.7 million was phenomenal. I really can't believe he got a contract for 4.5 million a year for 5 years. It's a stunner.

he was benched once and then we all we're wondering if we shouldn't scratch him for a game or so, times can change, and don't get me wrong he is one hell of a player but to say that staal was bringing him down is just stupid, it's not because somebody has better stats he is a better player, especially on defense, anybody who has ever played hockey will agree
- webleedblue

Staal WAS bringing his possesion stats down period.

I just wish we actually had this fictional defenseman the last few years you guys seem to think you are getting.

For what he provides, his cap hit last year of 1.7 million was phenomenal. I really can't believe he got a contract for 4.5 million a year for 5 years. It's a stunner.
- jimbro83

So was Richard's contract, live and learn, hindsight is 20/20.

No one but you said anything like that, maybe a few adjectives too many but a solid possession player. How does will not Wow you with his offence or flashy play compare at least in your mind to Bobby Orr? We're happy to have him that's all, evidently you're not happy he left, get over it.
- tpd11

Tampa added two nice stable blue liners . Yes, the price was high for Stralman but Stevie Y went out and made some nice additions.
If healthy, this team under Cooper could take East Conf

I just wish we actually had this fictional defenseman the last few years you guys seem to think you are getting.

For what he provides, his cap hit last year of 1.7 million was phenomenal. I really can't believe he got a contract for 4.5 million a year for 5 years. It's a stunner.
- jimbro83

And the Rangers were offering 4 mil a year? I don't know the talk of the length the rangers were offering, but you're stunned for a half million at free agency?

Tampa added two nice stable blue liners . Yes, the price was high for Stralman but Stevie Y went out and made some nice additions.
If healthy, this team under Cooper could take East Conf
- 3flyerkids

As a Lightning fan, I'm just happy about the improved defense a back-up.

So was Richard's contract, live and learn, hindsight is 20/20.
- tpd11

the Rangers won 6 playoff series in 3 years with Brad Richards.

It was the change in CBA with the new cap re-capture rules that forced the Rangers to amnesty Richards, just like the Lightning were forced to do with Lecavalier.

The Lightning didn't really want to say goodbye to Vinny and the Rangers really didn't want to say goodbye to Brad.

This has nothing to do with the Stralman signing at all. Good try though.

the Rangers won 6 playoff series in 3 years with Brad Richards.

It was the change in CBA with the new cap re-capture rules that forced the Rangers to amnesty Richards, just like the Lightning were forced to do with Lecavalier.

The Lightning didn't really want to say goodbye to Vinny and the Rangers really didn't want to say goodbye to Brad.

This has nothing to do with the Stralman signing at all. Good try though.
- jimbro83

Is your day really that bad that all you can do is come into other threads and be a douche? Nobody said he was the be all/end all in defense. Simpily a good addition.