Sam Hitchcock: Tampa Bay's Season Ends with a Whimper

McDonagh came up very small in place of Hedman in the role of being the man on the Tampa blueline

he's a solid second banana back there, but not a top dog

and now you guys get him throughout his 30's as he slows down

Puck battles, Tampa was losing them too often, their compete level just wasn’t where the Blue Jackets was. Will need to be addressed.

Where's Boltsfan91? He had a big mouth all year

Where's Boltsfan91? He had a big mouth all year
- Markiz

Left the site with his tail between his legs like the female dog that he is.

wow..thanks Rangers South..guess we don't get a first rounder now for Miller. you guys folded like a cheap tent!!! holy sht

Where's Boltsfan91? He had a big mouth all year
- Markiz

Funny how that works isn't it??? Big mouth, fair weather fan!

"The Lightning were too tired and banged up heading into the postseason''

Where's Boltsfan91? He had a big mouth all year
- Markiz

He retired from hockeybuzz

This playoff series was like watching a really bad car accident... I knew exactly what was about to happen but i just couldnt look away. Tough to watch a team this good play like an AHL team when it mattered most. Time to take a long hard look at what went wrong (whether it was Coaching or Personnel or both) and retool accordingly.

They looked like a team that thought the cup would be handed to them as a reward for their outstanding regular season.

This playoff series was like watching a really bad car accident... I knew exactly what was about to happen but i just couldnt look away. Tough to watch a team this good play like an AHL team when it mattered most. Time to take a long hard look at what went wrong (whether it was Coaching or Personnel or both) and retool accordingly.
- headyhedman77

Vasilevskiy bad in first 2 games
No show by the super stars
All that depth...
Cooper is the big problem. Had no answers for Washington and now Columbus. It’s only a 3 year contract. Get rid of him. Problem is who ya gonna hire. Not much left in the scrap heap

Vasilevskiy bad in first 2 games
No show by the super stars
All that depth...
Cooper is the big problem. Had no answers for Washington and now Columbus. It’s only a 3 year contract. Get rid of him. Problem is who ya gonna hire. Not much left in the scrap heap
- leafluver27

Oh yeah I’m so glad now I don’t have to hear Steven “sucker punch” Stamkos say, “it’s our turn” lmfao

Vasilevskiy bad in first 2 games
No show by the super stars
All that depth...
Cooper is the big problem. Had no answers for Washington and now Columbus. It’s only a 3 year contract. Get rid of him. Problem is who ya gonna hire. Not much left in the scrap heap
- leafluver27

No show by everyone is the problem. Its challenging to evaluate this situation because literally everything went wrong. I agree with the Coop statement, frankly i cant believe they signed him before the playoffs considering our shortcomings in the post season. However the execution of play was so bad by all the players that its hard to hang the losses on the game plan because the players couldnt hit a simple break out pass...

Just a perfect storm of events...
Cbus being loads better than most imagined-
Bob going full on brick wall -
Tampa w/o 77 & lack of desire on F backcheck D-
Cooper with poor personnel mngmnt -
Coupled with Cbus relentless pressure adds up too getting broomed-

Probably the most disappointing outcome that could have happened. Regardless, I wanted to thank you Sam for the consistent blogs throughout the season.

Now onto the roster, I agree that BriseBois should be looking to trade players like Callahan, Killorn, Johnson, and Palat, not just for salary cap reasons, but to begin retooling our forward depth.

Before, I thought this roster would be able to win with speed and skill alone. Based on the playoffs in the last two seasons, I'm not so sure anymore. I think that the Lightning could benefit from having a player like Josh Anderson or Tom Wilson to play alongside of Kucherov, Stamkos, Point, or Cirelli. I don't know if we have any power-forward type players in the system, aside from Erne, who seems like he'll just end up as a bottom six player.

In terms of defense, I'd get rid of Ruuta and Girardi, and possibly Coburn and Stralman. Hopefully Foote is ready to go next season. Don't know if it's possible to fire Cooper given that we just gave him an extension. If it is, I hope that they move on from him, although I don't know if there are any better options available right now.

It's nice looking towards next season to try and move past the absolute embarrassment that was the Lightning this post-season

"The Lightning were too tired and banged up heading into the postseason"

Why even say this? That's no excuse. All teams were tired and banged up at the end of the season. If anything, Lightning could have been rested given their lock on the first seed. It's not like they were battling their way trying to make the playoffs LIKE COLUMBUS.

this is what happens when you coast into the playoffs. CBJ have been playing playoff hockey since the end of March

The Curse of the President's Trophy strikes again

Probably the most disappointing outcome that could have happened. Regardless, I wanted to thank you Sam for the consistent blogs throughout the season.

Now onto the roster, I agree that BriseBois should be looking to trade players like Callahan, Killorn, Johnson, and Palat, not just for salary cap reasons, but to begin retooling our forward depth.

Before, I thought this roster would be able to win with speed and skill alone. Based on the playoffs in the last two seasons, I'm not so sure anymore. I think that the Lightning could benefit from having a player like Josh Anderson or Tom Wilson to play alongside of Kucherov, Stamkos, Point, or Cirelli. I don't know if we have any power-forward type players in the system, aside from Erne, who seems like he'll just end up as a bottom six player.

In terms of defense, I'd get rid of Ruuta and Girardi, and possibly Coburn and Stralman. Hopefully Foote is ready to go next season. Don't know if it's possible to fire Cooper given that we just gave him an extension. If it is, I hope that they move on from him, although I don't know if there are any better options available right now.

It's nice looking towards next season to try and move past the absolute embarrassment that was the Lightning this post-season
- jvar17

If we are playing armchair GM, i think the players you move are Callahan (similar to how the caps moved orpik) Miller (no NTC/NMC so hes easy to move at that number) and Palat (He would have to wave his NMC) i agree with basically letting the entire D that is up for contract walk beside 1 of the 2 (Stralman or Coburn) just to help mentor the young ones along. Then let the youth in SYR have a chance to crack the roster and revitalize this group because they need something. Im not sure how we find a Tom wilson without drafting him because its not a common player in the NHL and everyone wants that right now (not including the suspension stuff of course) but one thing is for sure, this off season is gonna be a hell of a show for the TBL

The Curse of the President's Trophy strikes again
- StutzBlackhawk

It's never happened before.

If we are playing armchair GM, i think the players you move are Callahan (similar to how the caps moved orpik) Miller (no NTC/NMC so hes easy to move at that number) and Palat (He would have to wave his NMC) i agree with basically letting the entire D that is up for contract walk beside 1 of the 2 (Stralman or Coburn) just to help mentor the young ones along. Then let the youth in SYR have a chance to crack the roster and revitalize this group because they need something. Im not sure how we find a Tom wilson without drafting him because its not a common player in the NHL and everyone wants that right now (not including the suspension stuff of course) but one thing is for sure, this off season is gonna be a hell of a show for the TBL
- headyhedman77

will Brayden Point be looking for an Austin Matthews deal is the next hurdle, and then Vasilvesky will be a RFA in one more year

Tampa's been lucky getting bargain contracts with their guys for awhile but cap is gonna be tight

The Blue Jackets exposed Cooper not the Lightning.

will Brayden Point be looking for an Austin Matthews deal is the next hurdle, and then Vasilvesky will be a RFA in one more year

Tampa's been lucky getting bargain contracts with their guys for awhile but cap is gonna be tight
- jimbro83

I think he takes a hit on his contract after no showing in the playoffs IMO. Not a major one but still, I also dont think there is any way you give him more money than Stamkos. I would anticipate this is one of the first things that will get done once trades are made to create cap space. They cant sign him yet because then there will be no trade leverage in trying to move anyone and it will only be a cap dump trade. They have to move some of the expensive role players this summer there really isnt a choice considering what just happened.

The Blue Jackets exposed Cooper not the Lightning.
- Feds91Stammer

Cooper in Reg season is mastermind, Cooper in playoffs is a 4 year old who just dropped a load in his pants and doesnt know what to do about it.