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

[Oddbob]

They have a cup.

This version is obviously what is being discussed and none of the current roster played on the '04 team!

 

[Oddbob]

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.

So when, Detroit lost in 95-96 after blowing the league away with 62 Wins, how come they were called chokers then?

 

[dbieon12]

It will be a huge choke. I understand it's difficult, but the margin (at least right now, assuming the team stays healthy) is pretty wide.

 

[Aceboogie]

No

The NHL is 40% luck, and the playoffs are even more of a crapshoot. A cold 10 game stretch at the wrong time could sink the best NHL team, and a hot 10 game stretch could win a average team the cup. Every team goes thru hot/cold stretches, unfortunately, no team can plan when these stretches will happen

 

[AD1066]

Too much variance / luck involved. I don't think any team in this league, no matter how good, has a > 50% chance of winning the Cup in a given season. If they were to get swept in the first round or something, then you could reasonably say they choked. But simply losing to another strong team at some point over the course of four grueling series isn't choking.

 

[haveandare]

Maybe if they were up 3-0 and blew it but at this point in the year not winning a cup can't be a true choke imo.

Having said that, I'm already pretty bored of the constant updates about their regular season successes that don't lead to cups. I'll care even less if they fall short again.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Absolutely not.

It's anyone's game once the playoffs start. Regular season goes out the window.

 

[Tifosi]

They already choked in 2015 when they lost to the Hawks, if they don’t win this year it’s another choke job.

San Jose, Vancouver, Washington, get labelled chokers for years why is it any different for Tampa?

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Unless they suffer a serious run of injuries, then I would say yes. At this point there's them and a bunch of teams fighting to be the teams that lose to them in the East finals, then Cup finals

 

[pucksakes666]

Not necessarily your post if flawed say if they lose in game 7 of the finals by a score of 2-1 and hit the post 3 or 4 times in the final 10 minutes. That really considered a choke ?

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I don't think so. Depends on how they lose though.

 

[3074326]

Yes, it's the best NHL team we've seen in a while. Anything less than the cup is a failure. They've done everything else - it's time to win.

 

[Goose]

Yeah, one team can’t “choke” not winning the cup before the Playoffs start. Even if you say they’re good enough that they have 80%/20% chance of winning/losing every series they play, they still only have a 40% chance of winning the cup. That’s how tough four rounds is.

I also don’t think any team in the modern era has close to an 80/20 advantage in a given series, let alone in the Conference or Stanley Cup Finals.

I think some realistic odds for a Team such as the Lightning in terms of their chances of winning a series, even as favourites, are something more like:

Round 1: 70%
Round 2: 65%
Round 3: 60%
SCF: 60%

When you calculate those odds, the team only has a 16% chance of winning the Cup when calculated from the beginning of the playoffs.

Anyone who says not winning a cup in any given year is “choking” fundamentally misunderstands how difficult it is to win a 30+ team league with four rounds of playoffs.

 

[Mick Riddleton]

Not a choke but they are the clear favs. They should win and if they do not it will be a big let down for the franchise, that team is stacked

 

[Master P]

They already choked in 2015 when they lost to the Hawks, if they don’t win this year it’s another choke job.

San Jose, Vancouver, Washington, get labelled chokers for years why is it any different for Tampa?

How is losing in game 6 of the scf a choke job?

I mean the caps earned that title by having great teams and failing to make it past the second round for a f***ing decade.

 

[Loosie]

No....otherwise every President's Trophy winning team that doesn't win the cup would be considered a choke.

 

[steveayres35]

Only if they lost in the conference finals against Pittsburgh, then everyone on here, except for Penguin fans, would cheer on the Western conference team in the finals.

 

[c9777666]

If the 2006 Red Wings and 2010 Capitals can lose in round 1, anything's possible

 

[c9777666]

Only if they lost in the conference finals against Pittsburgh, then everyone on here, except for Penguin fans, would cheer on the Western conference team in the finals.

Getting out of their own division (BOS/TOR, maybe MON) is no guarantee

 

[Hoek]

It will absolutely be considered a choke. Would it actually be one? As many said it depends on circumstances.

 

[Stephen]

Let's just say the Lightning have been chokers for a few years now, and winning the cup would be like the Heimlich Maneuver successfully applied. Right now, what they are doing amounts to the 1996 Detroit Red Wings. No one should be that impressed.

 

[BKIsles]

Yes, it's the best NHL team we've seen in a while. Anything less than the cup is a failure. They've done everything else - it's time to win.

Exactly, if the Lightning keep their pace up, they could win the Presidents' Trophy by almost 20 points, that's uncommon dominance. Barring significant injuries in the SCP, it would be considered a choke job if they can't get it done.

 

[mw2noobbuster]

Nah. The Lighting haven't had this dominant team for long. Really only last season have they imposed themselves in the regular season. If they go this playoffs and next without doing much, then we're approaching Washington territory.

 

[Trade]

They're gonna get swept in 5 by the Pens in round 1.

 

[Master P]

They're gonna get swept in 5 by the Pens in round 1.