Speculation: OT: Do you think the Tampa Bay Lightning can or will be the next NHL dynasty? (Edit: hahaha, nope)

[BobbyJet]

If the Lightning don't win the Cup this year, they are the biggest underachievers in the last five seasons.

As good as any team is, it takes more than dominating in the RS to win it all. Hawks fans are well aware of that fact.

That said, TB is a well-oiled machine right now. Definite favourites to go all the way this year but nothing is guaranteed obviously.

 

[No Fun Shogun]

Let them win one Cup with this core to overcome their choker reputation and then we can talk about anointing them as the next great era.

And even if they win this year, probably not. Cap crunch is coming soon for them so they better win sooner rather than hoping for later.

 

[piteus]

As good as any team is, it takes more than dominating in the RS to win it all. Hawks fans are well aware of that fact.

That said, TB is a well-oiled machine right now. Definite favourites to go all the way this year but nothing is guaranteed obviously.

As far as I'm concerned, they are nothing more than a Tom Thibodeau coached Bulls team. That said, this year is theirs to be had.

 

[x Tame Impala]

As far as I'm concerned, they are nothing more than a Tom Thibodeau coached Bulls team. That said, this year is theirs to be had.

The Bulls were N.E.V.E.R. favorites to win a Championship under Thibs. Not sure what you're talking about there

 

[x Tame Impala]

The Maple Leafs better trade for another really good defenseman, move Nylander out if you have to, otherwise they're going to get absolutely demolished by the Lightning

 

[No Fun Shogun]

The Bulls were N.E.V.E.R. favorites to win a Championship under Thibs. Not sure what you're talking about there

I read that as more of a statement of comparing the regular season Bolts to the regular season Bulls. Bulls had a couple of dominate regular seasons where it was obvious that they were going overdrive while everyone else was in cruise control mode, so everyone else caught up to them and then some when push really came to shove (plus with the Bulls having nothing left in the tank).

I don't agree with that, but I see the analogy.

 

[x Tame Impala]

I read that as more of a statement of comparing the regular season Bolts to the regular season Bulls. Bulls had a couple of dominate regular seasons where it was obvious that they were going overdrive while everyone else was in cruise control mode, so everyone else caught up to them and then some when push really came to shove (plus with the Bulls having nothing left in the tank).

I don't agree with that, but I see the analogy.

I think even in Derrick Rose's MVP season, no one expected the Bulls to get past LeBron. There isn't a single team in the NHL someone would feel comfortable putting money on beating the Lightning this year. Not only do they have the best player in the world, AND Stamkos, AND Point, but they have awesome defense and goaltending too.

If/when they win the Cup this year, people are going to be putting this team up there with the 08 Wings, 10 Hawks, 13 Hawks, and 07 Ducks as best Cup winners post-lockout.

 

[Blue Liner]

This is a non-starter conversation until they can win ONE. They are set up quite well to do that right now, so let's see that first.

 

[piteus]

I think even in Derrick Rose's MVP season, no one expected the Bulls to get past LeBron. There isn't a single team in the NHL someone would feel comfortable putting money on beating the Lightning this year. Not only do they have the best player in the world, AND Stamkos, AND Point, but they have awesome defense and goaltending too.

If/when they win the Cup this year, people are going to be putting this team up there with the 08 Wings, 10 Hawks, 13 Hawks, and 07 Ducks as best Cup winners post-lockout.

Still .. the Bulls has the best record in Rose's MVP season. That can't be discounted. It was either the Heat or the Bulls. Guess who won the NBA title? The Mavericks.

The title wasn't a given to the Heat that year. They had their struggles that first year.

 

[JaegerDice]

Honesty, their biggest issue has been health.

An upcoming issue is that the top of their division is going to turn into a war as Toronto and Boston continue to improve. You're basically going to have 3 of the top 5 teams in the league for the next several years playing in the 1st few rounds every year.

They're set up very well. If there's one team in the league I'd say had the best chance to rattle off multiple cups over the next 3-5 years, it's the Lightning.

Cooper is only thing holding them back

If they fail again this year TB would be great place for Q to land

What? Cooper is an excellent coach and a huge part of why that team has been so consistently great despite significant injuries to key pieces for long stretches.

 

[Rick C137]

Not only is cooper a good coach but Q would be a horrible fit there. Unless of course they’re trying to tank that number one PP of theirs....

 

[JaegerDice]

I will say this: The Hawks had no business beating them in 2015. Bishop getting injured completely changed that series.

Even at his best, Bishop was never a world beater. Not to mention the Hawks only having 4 defenseman that series...

I wouldn't go so far as to say they had 'no business' winning. I agree it's a tougher challenge against a healthy Tampa, more so due to Johnson's injury than Bishop's.

I think Tampa would have had the advantage at the top of the lineup up front, Chicago had the advantage in forward depth, both teams had #1D playing out of their minds, but I think Chicago's top 4 is better than Tampa's top 4. One of the reason's Rozsival's injury didn't hurt the Blackhawks at all (and in fact, probably low-key helped them) was that it kept Chicago's top 4 on the ice longer and gave Tampa less time per game to exploit a 3rd pairing. On the other side, Tampa played their 3rd pair standard 3rd pairing minutes, and Sustr and Coburn got torched.

Goalies... I think Crawford is a better goalie. But goalies are voodoo. Bishop was playing well, and if healthy, maybe he stays hot. Hard to say. I'll call it a wash over a 7 game series, even though I'd obviously take Crow over Bishop for any significant length of time.

 

[piteus]

2015 was a magical season. The Hawks were destined to win the Cup regardless of the Lightning.

 

[theaub]

Hawks commitment to fresh legs was what put them over the top in that series.

 

[vshun]

I will say this: The Hawks had no business beating them in 2015. Bishop getting injured completely changed that series.

1. Crawford tossing Kucherov over to the goal post to break his collarbone
2. Bishop groin injury
3. Johnson played with broken wrist.
4. Hawks bypassed cap with Vermette so fielded roster 20 Mln more in salary over Tampa with Vermette rental.

I was jubilant over 2015 win but I think objectively Tampa deserved it more.
In year 2014 on the other hand Hawks deserved it more to go back to back if not for questionable coaching decisions.

 

[BK]

1. Crawford tossing Kucherov over to the goal post to break his collarbone
2. Bishop groin injury
3. Johnson played with broken wrist.
4. Hawks bypassed cap with Vermette so fielded roster 20 Mln more in salary over Tampa with Vermette rental.

I was jubilant over 2015 win but I think objectively Tampa deserved it more.
In year 2014 on the other hand Hawks deserved it more to go back to back if not for questionable coaching decisions.

Deserved it more? Really? The Hawks beat the Lightning.

 

[piteus]

1. Crawford tossing Kucherov over to the goal post to break his collarbone
2. Bishop groin injury
3. Johnson played with broken wrist.
4. Hawks bypassed cap with Vermette so fielded roster 20 Mln more in salary over Tampa with Vermette rental.

I was jubilant over 2015 win but I think objectively Tampa deserved it more.
In year 2014 on the other hand Hawks deserved it more to go back to back if not for questionable coaching decisions.

Huh? The Hawks beat the Lightning with 3.5 defensemen. Literally, 3.5 defensemen. Oduya was playing 20+ minutes with one hand.

The Lightning don't deserve the Cup if they can't beat a team with 3.5 DMen.

 

[x Tame Impala]

Yeah a very weird amount of self-deprecation from a few Hawks fans here. Did the Hawks not “deserve it more” than the Bruins because Bergeron had broken ribs in 2013? Or not deserve it more than the Kings because Bolland gave Richards a concussion?

Deserve has nothing to do with it. Injuries are a part of the game and Tampa wasn’t able to overcome theirs. Losing Kucherov hurt but so did Stamkos being a shell of himself in the playoffs. Also, Crawford didn’t throw Kuch into the net. They both went for a loose puck during a crazy play.

 

[TheSting]

Hawks commitment to fresh legs was what put them over the top in that series.

Hawks were thoroughly outplayed. CC played on his head and stole 3 games.

 

[Pez68]

That was why the Hawks had no business winning. When your bottom pairing is two of TVR coming off of a bad injury, Rundblad and the corpse of Kimmo Timonen, you have no business winning a Cup. I'm still shocked they won that series. Keith and Crawford had a lot to do with it, but let's not forget that the Hawks were down 2-1 before Bishop got hurt.

Never mind that Tampa couldn't score?

They haven't won one cup, let alone the multiple cups to even begin debating this... Talk to me when they do.

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

Winning the cup is hard. Tampa is well aware of it. They gotta start by winning one.

 

[RayP]

Win a series in 6 games and shut them out in game 6. Didn’t deserve to win the series.

Seems legit.

Both teams have injuries piled up at that point regardless of if it kept them from playing or not. The injury excuse is bullshit.

 

[ClydeLee]

I finally like that they're structured and no longer having star players hung up on unknown contract situations during cup runs.

To the they would of won without injuries claims, they only got there because of injuries. They were losing to the rangers until McDonough was on half a leg and other D were injured and down.

 

[HawkNut]

As good as any team is, it takes more than dominating in the RS to win it all. Hawks fans are well aware of that fact.

That said, TB is a well-oiled machine right now. Definite favourites to go all the way this year but nothing is guaranteed obviously.

It's not just this year, it's getting to the Finals and losing. It's getting to the Eastern Conference Finals twice more and losing then, too.

 

[TheSting]

Looking to be an epic collapse!