Lightning Players Recognized in Players Poll & Prioritizing Stamkos Extension
Also, Lightning are a potential option for Patrick Kane next season.
Welcome to the THW Tampa Bay Lightning Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our team of Lightning writers.
Which Other Florida Cities Could Support an NHL Team?
April 13, 2024 by Harrison Smajovits (Premium THW Substack Content)
The sport of hockey has come a long way in Florida. Once an unthinkable idea has become one of the bigger success stories. The Tampa Bay Lightning have been selling out nearly every game for years and winning ways have led to a long-awaited awaited packed arena for the Florida Panthers.
Should both teams continue to sustain strong attendance for a longer period, maybe another city in Florida could make a bid for their own. There are other cities in Florida with their own geographical identities that would embrace the idea of an NHL team to call their own, even if they support one of the existing ones.
Results From the NHLPA’s 2023-24 Player’s Poll
April 12, 2024 by Jim Bay
There is no trophy or awards show for it, but getting recognition from your peers certainly makes a lasting impression. 639 NHL players were surveyed on 15 hockey-related questions during the regular season. Players weighed in on various topics, including top positional player, most complete player, best playmaker, best style, and toughest arena.
Lightning’s Offseason Priority Should Be Signing Stamkos
April 12, 2024 by Jim Bay
Nikita Kucherov is having a stellar season for the Tampa Bay Lightning, and his performance has elevated the play of others on the team, including his longtime teammate Steven Stamkos. The 34-year-old is riding a six-game goal streak heading into Thursday’s (April 11) contest against the Ottawa Senators. His last game may have been the best of those six games, if not the entire season, when he had three goals and an assist, leading the Lightning to a 5-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday (April 9).
5 Teams That Could Sign Patrick Kane This Offseason
April 11, 2024 by Jesse Courville-Lynch
The Detroit Red Wings continue to fight for a playoff spot this season and have had a surprisingly strong 2023-24 season. One player who has yet to re-sign with the Red Wings for next season is superstar Patrick Kane. While he’s a veteran forward who continues to age and is near the end of his Hall of Fame career, he has proven he can still be a strong producer at both ends of the ice. While the Red Wings could still bring Kane back, there is a chance he hits the open market this offseason. With that, we take a look at five potential teams who could sign Kane.
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Nikita Kucherov’s MVP Case Gets Support From P.K. Subban
April 8, 2024 by Jim Bay
The Tampa Bay Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov is locked in a tight race for the most points in the NHL with Nathan McKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche and Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers. While the race for the Art Ross Trophy is decided on the ice, the Hart Memorial Trophy, given to the player who is judged to be the most valuable to his team, is decided by a vote of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association in all NHL cities at the end of the season. Recently, one hockey analyst made a strong case that this award should go to Kucherov.
Lightning’s Potential First-Round Matchups in the 2024 Playoffs
April 8, 2024 by Joel Enns
The Tampa Bay Lightning have punched their ticket to the Stanley Cup Playoffs! The team has kicked it into gear and is starting to play like the juggernaut that teams across the league have feared for so long. Nikita Kucherov is no longer the sole engine driving the offense, as Brayden Point and Steven Stamkos have really stepped it up lately. Andrei Vasilevskiy just had his best month of the season in March. The defense is stable, and the Lightning’s special teams units are elite. All of that has been happening while the top contenders in the Atlantic Division have faltered and look vulnerable heading into the playoffs. They legitimately look like contenders and could not have gotten hot at a better time. With the Lightning having secured a spot in the playoffs, the only question that remains is: who will they play in the first round? Let’s look at their most likely opponents.