I just want to point out the Lightning are cheaters even in my current EHM game. I'm playing as Arizona, and have at no point managed any team within the Lightning organization with my current save file.
My strategy with AZ has been to build from within, and leave the tactics to the AI, as single player gets far too easy if you start messing with tactics. (or you get too aggressive with trading)
Since I started this save file, the Lightning have won the cup every year, adding another 4 cups to the one in 2020. Bad moves, doesn't matter. They steamroll everyone in the playoffs. They traded me Sergachev for Ryan Strome. Didn't matter. They waived McD, Foote, and Cirelli all to Minnesota during a playoff run (?). Didn't matter.
They were never able to find a taker for TJ though. They've also got Mackenzie Weegar as their #2 defenseman.
edit: they can't keep getting away with this. After Coop was fired mid-season, the team rallied to win a 6th straight. 5th in-game. TJ also had his number retired despite being waived twice a season and playing for the Crunch quite a bit.
edit2: once again. Even after losing Hedman and Palat to free agency. I have no real ambition at this point to win with the Coyotes. I just want to see how many cups the AI can rack up for TB.