Is Tampa for real or just a matter of a weak division?

[Fighting Major]

Title says it all. Thoughts?

Click to read more...

 

[Alex K]

Lol! If East is weak, then West is ECHL level.

 

[JoVel]

Pretty much yeah, just because the Atlantic is weak. And also because the Metro is weak, we're 21-2-0 against them after all. And oh yeah the Pacific is pretty weak too, blame them for Tampa's success. They've had trouble against Central so it's safe to say they wouldn't make the playoffs there.

 

[93LEAFS]

Look at their record outside there division. The Atlantic also isn't easy considering it has 3 of the top 7 teams in the league. Tampa's done extremely well vs the Atlantic, but they've beat the crap out of the Metro (21-2-0).

 

[Fighting Major]

On the other hand two of the three worst teams are from the Atlantic plus the Sabres. And couldn‘t it be that the other leaders also are strong because of the weak division? Talking about the Metropolitan: Extremely hard competition so far, no one qualified yet and a bunch of cups the last few years ...

 

[JoVel]

On the other hand two of the three worst teams are from the Atlantic plus the Sabres. And couldn‘t it be that the other leaders also are strong because of the weak division? Talking about the Metropolitan: Extremely hard competition so far, no one qualified yet and a bunch of cups the last few years ...

You're right. Metro is so tough that Tampa is 21-2 against them instead of 23-0.

 

[Michoulicious]

Title says it all. Thoughts?

Hahaha.

Real question is; are YOU for real?

 

[Fighting Major]

Lol! If East is weak, then West is ECHL level.

No one said that the East is weak. And it was a question

 

[93LEAFS]

On the other hand two of the three worst teams are from the Atlantic plus the Sabres. And couldn‘t it be that the other leaders also are strong because of the weak division? Talking about the Metropolitan: Extremely hard competition so far, no one qualified yet and a bunch of cups the last few years ...

Except in the Leafs and Bruins case, their best record is vs the West (especially the Pacific), and the Leafs have essentially the same record vs the Metro as they do vs the Atlantic. So, no. Tampa's record isn't a product of beating up primarily on the Atlantic. They have completely destroyed the Metro, Atlantic and Pacific.

 

[daver]

Title says it all. Thoughts?

Their division is marginally weaker than the others. Metro is marginally the strongest.

Their record vs. their division: 20 W - 4 L

Their record vs. the Metro: 21 W - 2 L

Their record vs. the West: 18 W - 8 L - 4T

The answer is no.

 

[TampaBayLightning]

Yes, Tampa is really an AHL caliber team, all smoke and mirrors.

 

[Kevs Security]

Yea I mean it's kinda like the Draisatl-argument. "He plays with McDavid, of course he scores a lot". Team version of that being: "they face weaker opponents all the time, that's why they're on the top". I find it odd how Edmonton management haven't just filled the roster with shitty players, as they would be 100p players when put in the same line with McDavid. Oh, they have? And OH, Kassian and Lucic still aren't 100p players? And OOOH, Tampa Bay is still the only team with a 21-2-0 record against the Metro teams even though they are so, so bad?

Yes, playing against bad teams will help with collecting points. But they wouldn't win as many games as they're winning, if they were bad or even mediocre. Tampa Bay is a really good team. No other way to say it.

 

[MXD]

I'm not a mod, but these "Title says it all" OPs following what can be considered an ill-advised Title (and I'm putting it mildly) have absolutely no redeeming value.

 

[killa3312]

Tampa is currently 18-4 against teams in playoff contention in the East. The Central division in the West surprisingly is the one that gives them the most problems.

 

[KingsFan7824]

The Atlantic does suck, haha.

What? The Kings are 2-11-3 against the Atlantic? The worst points% by any team against any division this year? Ottawa is 2-0 against the Kings, outscoring them 9-2? Nevermind.

 

[daver]

Off topic, they do need to win the Cup to be "for real".

 

[Dr Pepper]

Off topic, they do need to win the Cup to be "for real".

How is that "off topic"?

 

[daver]

How is that "off topic"?

The OP is questioning their regular season success. It will all be for naught if they don't win the Cup

 

[Eisen]

Tampa is mediocre. It's just the entire league stinks.

 

[BeingTheThunder]

Tampa is mediocre. It's just the entire league stinks.

Agree. Tampa is historically mediocre. This is the worst the league has ever been.

 

[JoVel]

Albert Einstein wasn't even smart. The rest of humanity was just dumb.

 

[Oogie Boogie]

Yikes.

 

[Fighting Major]

For explanation: I am living in Austria and have a quite low sample of games for obvious reasons (games in the night and a daytime job). I am not trolling and I ask for reasons for the success of a very good team. I didn‘t write something about a weak East or AHL-caliber.
And some of you (93LEAFS, daver e.g. - sorry if I forgot a few) have brought good arguments for the Bolts to be for real. I personally like that team and think that Steve Stamkos and a few others should have a cup under their belt - at least one. This could be their year. And it should. Not a fan though.
Personally I am glad that some aren‘t mods. The question was about an idea with a too small sample to find too many arguments in favor so I was Auskunft for your opinions. Which is legitimate I think. Yes the title could have been less provocative and for that matter less trolly. More something like: „Is Tampa really that good or is their success to a certain extent also a matter of a weaker division?“ Way less sexy

 

[Fighting Major]

Albert Einstein wasn't even smart. The rest of humanity was just dumb.

You just made a strong argument for that thesis , Sir

 

[sharks9]

Great thread, Tampa hasn't faced a single team better than them all season. SMH at their weak schedule