From The Silky Mitten State: After another early playoff exit, has Tampa's run of Cup contention come to a close?
The Tampa Bay Lightning have been the gold standard for roster construction since their 2015 run to the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Lightning lost that series to the Chicago Blackhawks, and there would be more pain to follow, but Tampa wound up winning consecutive Cups in 2020 and 2021, before making it back to the 2022 Cup Final. The likes of Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Victor Hedman, and Andrei Vasilevskiy comprised the backbone of the league's most formidable roster.
Apr 29, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning looks on trailing the Florida Panthers late in the third period in game five of the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank ArenaHowever, Tampa has not won a series since falling to the Avalanche, losing to the Maple Leafs in last year's first round before being knocked out by Florida in this year's first round. There can be little doubting that the Lightning will remain a playoff-caliber team for years to come, a rival the Red Wings will have to find a way past to crack the postseason out of a crowded Atlantic Division. But once they make the playoffs, does Tampa have what it takes to make another run to the Cup Final?
On the most recent episode of The Silky Mitte State, my co-host Connor Earegood and I debated this topic. In Connor's estimation, Tampa's present cap constraints will preclude them from getting back to the league's pinnacle, while I make the case that the core the Lightning do have locked in should be good enough to compete for the Cup again should they find a way to improve around the margins of the roster.
You can catch an excerpt of that conversation in the clip above. For full episodes of the show, check out Spotify or Apple Podcasts: