Tampa Bay's Struggles

[Machinehead]

So law of averages means that they can't keep losing?

Well I do think they'll be a playoff team but that wasn't really my point.

My point is they're normally a top possession team.

 

[FinnLightning26]

They sucked last year too for half the year. Underlying numbers were better then though so this has me worried. There's either attitude problems with the team or they're just not good enough. Considering we went to Conference Finals last year without Stamkos I'd say it's more mental than talent.

Bish not being Bish is a big part too. Can't blame it all on the goalies though because team defense has been less than stellar.

 

[The Macho King]

We're not very good.

 

[Flat Ronnie]

We're not very good.

More so this.

If we didn't have to always rely on herculean individual efforts (TyJo '15, Bish '16, Drouin '16 playoffs) and just play up to our ability this wouldn't happen.

Every year we get bailed out by someone's play: 2015 it was the triplets, 2016 it was Bishop. If these guys just all played close to their ability then this wouldn't be a problem.

TyJo is not as good as fans on the board think he is, and Palat's talents don't translate to the score sheet where it matters. Stamkos and Kuch are the only two that can be relied on each game. Remove Stamkos and there you have it - a mess.

Other than Hedman the young defenseman are not great. Coburn, Garrison and Stralman are all vets in their 30s that are a step slower because they probably played more grueling hockey the past 3 years than anyone.

Bishop and Vasi are great but the team leaves them out to dry.

There you have it - the team, as is, is not that great. On top of all that, they are rolling with the exact same identical lineup for the past three years - no infusion of new blood. They are complacent and lazy.

They need a major shake up. Preferably a really good, rugged vet that can come in and bang heads. Someone that is ready to win NOW and won't put up with lazyness.

 

[tony d]

It is weird. That team has to much talent to be this bad.

 

[613Leafer]

Vasilevski is 6-2-1 with a 0.929 save % vs Bishop's 8-10-1 0.906 save %.

At some point, they need to consider running with Vasilevsky if the difference between the two stays anywhere close to this.

 

[topshelf15]

Which is why when people say depth i kinda laugh ,nobody has a spare 1st line Center or top pairing defender,hell its hard enough to find a decent 2nd liner .Injuries can just kill a team ,even if its just one player

 

[MrClutch86]

Cooper is garbage

 

[HuGo Sham]

injuries, but in montreal read an article where an opposing coach was quoted as saying theyre soft and easy to play against - was it friedman who wrote it?

 

[2020 Cup Champions]

Vasilevski is 6-2-1 with a 0.929 save % vs Bishop's 8-10-1 0.906 save %.

At some point, they need to consider running with Vasilevsky if the difference between the two stays anywhere close to this.

Vasi was also given a good deal of the soft teams to play against.

 

[FinnLightning26]

injuries, but in montreal read an article where an opposing coach was quoted as saying theyre soft and easy to play against - was it friedman who wrote it?

That's not very surprising. We have to be one of the smallest teams in the league, at least forward wise.

 

[BMOK33]

They were relatively average last season too until 1/15. Its possible making two deep playoff runs could be taking its toll now too. Its too early to say, if they don't show any turnaround 4 weeks from now I might be worried.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

It's interesting to see how two teams (Bolts and Caps) that were among the favourites to win the East and perhaps the Cup are struggling at the same time. The powers have shifted a bit in the East, now the Rangers and the Habs are the two teams chasing the Pens.

 

[Stopsight]

This would be a less surprising turn of events for hfboards if this place would tone down the massive overrating of Hedman and Kucherov. But hey, here we are with Kucherov the best Russian in the league and Hedman the top 3 Defenseman

 

[FinnLightning26]

This would be a less surprising turn of events for hfboards if this place would tone down the massive overrating of Hedman and Kucherov. But hey, here we are with Kucherov the best Russian in the league and Hedman the top 3 Defenseman

You do know Kucherov is tied for second in points, right? What a clueless post.

 

[Beville]

three top 6 forwards and a HOF goalie are lesser than stamkos. Kay.

Nomination for worst post of 2016.

(FWIW Lundqvist>Stamkos. You don't need to depend on a forward to win a championship but you sure as hell depend on your starting goalie to win the games)

I know revelation didn't make a great post, but cringing heck son...

 

[2020 Cup Champions]

This would be a less surprising turn of events for hfboards if this place would tone down the massive overrating of Hedman and Kucherov. But hey, here we are with Kucherov the best Russian in the league and Hedman the top 3 Defenseman

Woof.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Cooper is garbage

What? he forgot how to coach all of a sudden?

 

[topshelf15]

Health again, is the most important thing for a team .TB isnt healthy and hasnt been for quite some time .Depth players are good to spell a player for a few games,but in TB case they just have far too many injuries to critical players that cannot be replaced

 

[RiceCooker]

they have plenty of time to get it back together...still too early to panic imo.

 

[CowbellConray]

Their defense isnt anything above average and Bishop is mentally having some issues.

Kucherov is great but their offense isnt transitioning the puck up the ice as a unit. They are simply having a rouch patch.

This is where Cooper needs to show that he is a top coach and adjust the system to give his team a kick.

 

[MrClutch86]

What? he forgot how to coach all of a sudden?

He knows how to coach, just never very good. I think the players have carried him the last few years.

 

[missingjibbsclub]

Well if Stamkos would actually play hockey instead of taking most of the year off to relax that would help.

 

[M2Beezy]

Cooper sucks, his poor coaching is squandering the teams talent.

Thats what i thought in last nights game. Made some wierd choices. Not gonna say he got outcoached by willie 'changes on the fly are stupid' d but man o man it was like two willie d's trying to lose to each other last night and evey one in a million times a team can get that lucky last night. Like we also hit two posts. Could of been 7-1 lol but really should of been 2-1 Tampa or something like that

 

[LetsGoBLUES91]

They have the most overrated goalie in the league (and I haven't seen one as overrated since Turco). They also have one of the most underrated goalies in the league. Guess which one plays more?

Also injuries. And the forwards outside of Kucherov have been...okay. Not nearly as good as they should be on paper.