Looking Back at the Lightning-Panthers Rivalry
Also, the Lightning's continued success without prospects and more.
Welcome to the THW Tampa Bay Lightning Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our team of Lightning writers.
In today’s edition, we talk about the Lightning’s in-state rivalry with the Florida Panthers, the Lightning’s sustained success despite the lack of a farm system and more.
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Time to Bolt Audio Report: Kucherov First Pick in All-Star Game Draft
February 3, 2024 by Harrison Smajovits (Premium THW Substack content)
Welcome to this edition of the Time to Bolts Audio Report…
In this edition, the Lightning made their Gasparilla opponent walk the plank. Victor Hedman reaches a significant milestone. Nikita Kucherov’s great season is reflected by where he was picked in the All-Star Game’s player draft. We also give you the breakdown of his teammates for the All-Star Game.
Checking in on the Lightning-Panthers Rivalry
February 5, 2024 by Joel Enns
The Tampa Bay Lightning got started in the 1992-93 season, but they would not have to wait long for some in-state competition as the Florida Panthers got their start in the 1993-94 season. While the early years of the rivalry failed to see any playoff matchups between the two franchises and the young clubs struggled to find their footing (save for the Panthers’ Stanley Cup Final appearance in their second season), those formative years helped shape the relationship between the Lightning and the Panthers for years to come.
As the two teams have really come into their own over the past decade and the sport has surged in popularity in the state, the matchup has become must-see TV. When looking at the standings, it’s hard not to get excited at the prospect of the Lightning and the Panthers going at it in the Stanley Cup Playoffs this spring. With this rivalry soaring to new heights and having the potential to become even more prominent, it’s worth taking a look at how the last few seasons have really put this rivalry on the map and what could come next.
Lightning Having Long-Term Success Without Farm System
January 29, 2024 by Jim Bay
n recently released updated rankings for the NHL’s best farm systems. Coming as no surprise, the Tampa Bay Lightning were ranked 30th of 32 NHL teams. Horn is not alone in his rankings, as just about every outlet that does this kind of rankings has the Lightning ranked toward the bottom. It is not surprising that the Lightning have been trading draft picks to continue making deep runs in the playoffs, resulting in four Stanley Cup Final appearances and two Cup titles within the last ten years.
While the Lightning have built a solid core of players around top picks like Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, Victor Hedman, and Andrei Vasilevskiy, they have also been forced to trade other highly selected players, as well as future draft picks, to keep a talented roster that is capable of making deep playoff runs for many seasons. In 2018, they traded 2011 first-round pick Vladislav Namestnikov, 2016 first-round pick Brett Howden, and second-round pick Libor Hajek, along with two first-round draft picks to the New York Rangers for Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller. While Miller was dealt to the Vancouver Canucks the following season, McDonagh helped anchor a Lightning defense that won those back-to-back Stanley Cup titles.
Brayden Point Regains Form to Help Lightning Win 8 of 9
January 31, 2024 by Nick Haydon
The Tampa Bay Lightning have found some of their championship mojo heading into the All-Star Break. Winners of eight of the last nine games, the team snagged third place in the Atlantic Division and bumped the Toronto Maple Leafs into the first wild card position. Of course, Nikita Kucherov’s scorching scoring pace has driven the team’s success. But Brayden Point’s reemergence as a dominant player has provided the team with a crucial piece of consistent offense it had been missing. It is not surprising then to see the Lightning playing some of their best hockey this season as Point reestablishes himself.