If the Lightning don't win the Stanley Cup this year, Will it be considered a choke?

[OVO16]

The Tampa Bay Lightning are tearing up the League and have solidified themselves as the clear cut Stanley Cup Favorite.

In fact, I think they're so good and above everyone else...that they should win the Stanley Cup with ease.

With the season that they're having, would they be considered "Chokers"...if somehow they don't win it all this season?

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[Rschmitz]

Doesn't matter since they haven't won a cup yet

 

[DistantThunderRep]

On paper...maybe

 

[TheStroker]

If they get swept after dominating the regular season, then yes it's a choke.

If it's a hard fought playoff series against a team that's a good match up and it comes down to an OT winner to decide who moves on, no it's not a choke.

 

[bukwas]

It would be a disappointment but a choke label would depend on the circumstances.

 

[JoVel]

Get out.

 

[AllAbout813]

This is just silly.

Edit: but to answer your question, yes. Which seems like the obvious answer.

 

[MettleMcOiler]

Doesn't matter since they haven't won a cup yet

They have a cup.

 

[Doctor No]

they should win the Stanley Cup with ease.

No one wins the Stanley Cup with ease.

A team that's a heavy favorite in all of their series (say, 2-to-1 favorites) will win the Stanley Cup less than 20% of the time.

In fact, to be an even money (50% chance) bet to win the Stanley Cup, a team needs to be an 84% favorite (more than 5-to-1 favorites) in every one of their individual series.

 

[HockeyGuy1964]

It would be a disappointment but a choke label would depend on the circumstances.

Obviously this.

It's a long grind & a few key injuries can sabotage any team's SC hopes. Hot goalies happen too.

 

[God King Fudge]

If we don't fill the first page main boards up with 400 threads about the Lightning, is it a choke?

 

[Frelimo]

Oh C'mon. A disappointment sure, but not necessarily a choke. Wouldn't be the first time a run-away President's Trophy winner doesn't win the Cup.

 

[OVO16]

Obviously this.

It's a long grind & a few key injuries can sabotage any team's SC hopes. Hot goalies happen too.

Lets forget about injuries then. If completely healthy, you wouldnt think this Tampa Team...say losing in the ECF or the 2nd rd...would be considered a choke?

 

[Taluss]

The only way I'd consider them choking is if they lost in the 1st or if they got swept anywhere after the 1st.

 

[SabresSharks]

In the past 10 seasons, the only President's Trophy winner to win the Cup was the 2012-13 Blackhawks, in a lockout-shortened, 48-game season. Admittedly, the Lightning are having a dominant season, 15 points clear of the 2nd-place Flames with one more game played, but it shouldn't be considered earth-shattering news if they don't win the Cup.

I hate the word "choke". Why can't we just give credit to an underdog who played better, and maybe got enough lucky bounces as well, in a best-of-7?

 

[HockeyGuy1964]

Lets forget about injuries then. If completely healthy, you wouldnt think this Tampa Team...say losing in the ECF or the 2nd rd...would be considered a choke?

You must have missed the 2nd sentence. We've all seen goalies play like they're GOD & absolutely steal a playoff series.

 

[hotcabbagesoup]

Absolutely.
They have the four major awards essentially locked up 55 games in already.

Hart
Art Ross
Vezina
Norris

If they don't win it all with the top top players in the league, they are gigantic chokers.

 

[AlphaCatalyst]

On paper...maybe

 

[JoVel]

Absolutely.
They have the four major awards essentially locked up 55 games in already.

Hart
Art Ross
Vezina
Norris

If they don't win it all with the top top players in the league, they are gigantic chokers.

The odds are still like 20-25%. It would be disappointing as f*** but people throw the word choke around way too much.

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

The plan started many years ago by Yzerman was to make us a contender each year and we've done that making it to the Finals in 2015 and game 7 of the ECFs in 2016 and 2018. Some teams have constructed small windows for themselves to get the job done. Cup or bust situations. We're not them, so I don't really see the pressure. Is this the best Lightning team of the past couple years? Yes. But there's no guarantees in the playoffs. The "better" team doesn't always win it all. So even if we don't get it done this season, I think we can all say with confidence we'll still be back here again next year in a good place, prepared for another shot.

 

[I am not exposed]

No.

 

[Rowlet]

sometimes you can do everything in your power to win and you still lose, that's not a choke, sometimes you just lose

 

[izzy]

eh not really, but if they cant get it done over the next few years with this core then the answer will be yes

 

[JasonRoseEh]

Cups aren't won on paper, but anything short of the Eastern Conference Finals again will definitely be considered a choke job. At that point there's no givens, you aren't handed a trip to the Cup Finals. Sure it will be a disappointment since they're the favorites but I don't consider losing in the ECF/WCF choking unless you're up like 3-1 in the series or something.

 

[Metroid]

Definitely a choke if they don't atleast make the finals.