You know that multi-part series, in which I’m slowly releasing my ideal Tampa Bay Lightning lineup for 2014-15? It continues right now.
So far I’ve built four forward lines and a top defense pairing. For those of you who haven’t been following, here’s a snapshot:
Jonathan Drouin-Steven Stamkos-Ryan Callahan Alex Killorn-Valtteri Filppula-Brett Connolly Ondrej Palat-Tyler Johnson-Richard Panik Brenden Morrow-Brian Boyle-J.T. Brown
Victor-Hedman-Jason Garrison
As you can see, it’s starting to look more and more like an actual National Hockey League lineup. With the addition of today’s blog, in which I’ll tell you about my ideal second pairing, things will really take shape.
Given the team’s contract situation, there are six potential fits on a second pairing. You’re looking at Mark Barberio, Andrej Sustr, Eric Brewer, Radko Gudas, Matt Carle, and Anton Stralman. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to immediately cross off some of those names, as they clearly don’t fit on a competitive team’s second pairing.
Radko Gudas, for example, proved last season that he just wasn’t quite ready for top-four billing. Don’t take that as a shot at the young defenseman; he’s loaded with potential. The Lightning, and Gudas for that matter, are probably better served by sheltering him in another area, where he isn’t tasked with defending against top offensive players. Let him develop in a more controlled environment.
Another player who we can eliminate is Eric Brewer. Last season, Jon Cooper took Eric Brewer and put him in a more sheltered role on that third pairing. The move paid immediate and noticeable dividends, as Brewer really had a resurgent year in 2013-14. After struggling when counted on as one of the Lightning’s top guys for over a season, Brewer really established himself as a solid option last year. Look for that to continue into 2014-15.
You probably see where I’m going with this. Does it make sense for either Andrej Sustr or Mark Barberio to sit up on that second pairing, given who I have left on my list? Probably not.
Your Tampa Bay Lightning’s second pairing for 2014-15 should be Matt Carle and Anton Stralman. This isn’t brain surgery. This is just common sense.
Again, I’ll draw your attention to a previous blog post:
The key for the Lightning now is to build a second pairing, likely one with Carle on the left side, that can contribute solid minutes.I spent a great deal of time earlier this summer discussing Stralman’s possession heroics, so I won’t go into great detail here. What I will say is that the Lightning signed a player who has consistently proven that he has the ability to improve the players with whom he’s playing.
That, if you ask this blogger, is exactly what Matt Carle needs. He’s had success with possession drivers before. As uf1910 noted in the comments section of the last blog, Carle can be a solid top-four contributor with the right partner. Given his body of work prior to joining the Lightning, Stralman could be that partner.
That pretty much sums it up. Carle, quite frankly, has been a bit of a drag on the team’s second pairing. Adding a player like Anton Stralman, who effectively carried Marc Staal’s possession game for a few years, can only help. Stralman is a player who has proven that he can make the players around him better. That’s what Carle needs.
Mike’s Second Pairing: Matt Carle-Anton Stralman
Who do you have lining up on your second pairing? Let me know in the comments section.
As always, thanks for reading.
Michael Stuart has been the Tampa Bay Lightning writer for HockeyBuzz since 2012. Visit his archive to read more or follow him on Twitter.