Tampa Bay and Toronto were two teams that went in very different directions last season. Tampa Bay won the Eastern Conference, only to lose to Chicago in a thrilling Stanley Cup Finals series. The Leafs, on the other hand, missed the playoffs for the ninth time in ten years. This season, fans can expect little to change with the Lightning once again fuelled with talent, and Toronto relying on mediocre players to help make them a competitive team.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Off- season Moves: Tampa Bay made no significant transactions in the off- season, likely due their cap space. Tampa is currently $2 million over the cap limit, making any sort of major trades impossible. The off- season move that they should really be looking out for is locking up Steven Stamkos, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2016.
Direction of the Team: There's no question that the Lightning are off to a slow start this season. Currently sitting in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, and 5th in the Atlantic Division, Tampa Bay's 11-11 record isn't going to get them anywhere. That being said, the Lightning have one of the most skilled teams in the NHL, with a great balance of talent throughout their roster. Up front, Tampa Bay is led by Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, and Tyler Johnson. All are under-performing, scoring 43 points between them in a combined 75 games, but if the threesome can return to what fans saw in the 2015 playoffs, the Lightning will be a tough team to beat. Ryan Callahan,Valtteri Filppula, and Odrej Palat will also be counted on for secondary scoring, when the team starts their drive towards the playoffs. On the back end, the Lightning have one of the most all-around talented defencemen in the league, former second overall pick Victor Hedman. The Swedish-born defenceman made major scoring contributions last season, scoring 38 points in 59 games last season, while also being able to throw body checks that brings fan to their feet, one way or the other. The defence core also includes Anton Stralman, Jason Garrison, Braydon Coburn, and Matthew Carle, making the Lightning one of the most well-rounded defensive teams in the NHL. Ben Bishop was a key piece of the team's playoff run last season, and has been solid for the Lightning this year, carrying a .926 save percentage. If Tampa Bay performs to the best of their abilities, they could be one of the top teams in the NHL without a doubt.
Projected Finish: Going into this year, many people viewed the Lightning as a potential cup contender, however the team now has many doubters after their mediocre start to the season. Many of the team's stop players are not performing anywhere near the best of their abilities, but if their top scorers can find a way to kick it into gear, Tampa Bay could once again find themselves in a deep playoff run.
Final Prediction: Tampa Bay has a considerable about of firepower in their lineup, and could land in 2nd or 3rd in the Atlantic Division.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Off- season Moves: The Leafs made two of the biggest moves of the off- season, trading away their star forward Phil Kessel, in exchange for a number of prospects and draft picks. Though it'll be impossible to determine whether or not the deal turns out well for Toronto for at least a few years, it's clear that the team took an immediate hit from Kessel's departure. The Leafs tried to make up for this gap by signing several B level players such as Brad Boyes, Shawn Matthias, and PA Parenteau, as well as trading for Michael Grabner. Though none of these acquisitions were negative, none of them will produce as well as Kessel. The Kessel trade was a necessary one, but it leaves the Leafs in a bad place for the season. Perhaps the bright spot of the Leafs' off- season came in the management department, signing Mike Babcock, who led the Canadian to their last two Olympic gold medals. Babcock went 10 seasons with Detroit, not once missing the playoffs, and winning a Stanley Cup along the way. Toronto also hired Lou Lamoriello, a veteran in the Devils organization, who will help the Leafs through a proper rebuilding process. Though the team on the ice may not show it, if all goes according to plan, Leafs management could have the Leafs in the playoffs within the next three or four years.
Direction of the Team: Toronto is not a contender, nor will they be next season, or the season after that. But if Leafs fans can endure the pain of wearing their Leafs jerseys for just a couple more seasons, it may all be worthwhile. Though the players that Toronto signed in the off- season may not be too helpful for the team, they could bring in a good return at the trade deadline. Grabner, as well as the rest of the players acquired in the off- season, all become unrestricted free agents at the end of the season, and could help the Leafs to acquire draft picks and prospects. Though there are a number of big players that could be trade bait at the deadline, such as Cam Ward, Eric Staal, and Jaromir Jagr, the secondary players on the Leafs roster may still be a key piece of rebuilding the team for the future, depending on Toronto's asking price. Putting the Leafs situation simply: it's going to be worse before it gets better, but if there's anyone that can make it better, it's Babcock and Lamoriello.
Projected Finish: It's going to be a rough go for Toronto, and they'll likely finish at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Relying on the under-perfroming likes of Jonathan Bernier and Nazem Kadri isn't going to cut it for Toronto, and they are almost surely not going to be a playoff team.
Final Prediction: Toronto will hobble to the finish line between 13th and 16th place in the Eastern Conference.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Off- season Moves: Tampa Bay made no significant transactions in the off- season, likely due their cap space. Tampa is currently $2 million over the cap limit, making any sort of major trades impossible. The off- season move that they should really be looking out for is locking up Steven Stamkos, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2016.
Direction of the Team: There's no question that the Lightning are off to a slow start this season. Currently sitting in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, and 5th in the Atlantic Division, Tampa Bay's 11-11 record isn't going to get them anywhere. That being said, the Lightning have one of the most skilled teams in the NHL, with a great balance of talent throughout their roster. Up front, Tampa Bay is led by Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, and Tyler Johnson. All are under-performing, scoring 43 points between them in a combined 75 games, but if the threesome can return to what fans saw in the 2015 playoffs, the Lightning will be a tough team to beat. Ryan Callahan,Valtteri Filppula, and Odrej Palat will also be counted on for secondary scoring, when the team starts their drive towards the playoffs. On the back end, the Lightning have one of the most all-around talented defencemen in the league, former second overall pick Victor Hedman. The Swedish-born defenceman made major scoring contributions last season, scoring 38 points in 59 games last season, while also being able to throw body checks that brings fan to their feet, one way or the other. The defence core also includes Anton Stralman, Jason Garrison, Braydon Coburn, and Matthew Carle, making the Lightning one of the most well-rounded defensive teams in the NHL. Ben Bishop was a key piece of the team's playoff run last season, and has been solid for the Lightning this year, carrying a .926 save percentage. If Tampa Bay performs to the best of their abilities, they could be one of the top teams in the NHL without a doubt.Projected Finish: Going into this year, many people viewed the Lightning as a potential cup contender, however the team now has many doubters after their mediocre start to the season. Many of the team's stop players are not performing anywhere near the best of their abilities, but if their top scorers can find a way to kick it into gear, Tampa Bay could once again find themselves in a deep playoff run.
Final Prediction: Tampa Bay has a considerable about of firepower in their lineup, and could land in 2nd or 3rd in the Atlantic Division.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Off- season Moves: The Leafs made two of the biggest moves of the off- season, trading away their star forward Phil Kessel, in exchange for a number of prospects and draft picks. Though it'll be impossible to determine whether or not the deal turns out well for Toronto for at least a few years, it's clear that the team took an immediate hit from Kessel's departure. The Leafs tried to make up for this gap by signing several B level players such as Brad Boyes, Shawn Matthias, and PA Parenteau, as well as trading for Michael Grabner. Though none of these acquisitions were negative, none of them will produce as well as Kessel. The Kessel trade was a necessary one, but it leaves the Leafs in a bad place for the season. Perhaps the bright spot of the Leafs' off- season came in the management department, signing Mike Babcock, who led the Canadian to their last two Olympic gold medals. Babcock went 10 seasons with Detroit, not once missing the playoffs, and winning a Stanley Cup along the way. Toronto also hired Lou Lamoriello, a veteran in the Devils organization, who will help the Leafs through a proper rebuilding process. Though the team on the ice may not show it, if all goes according to plan, Leafs management could have the Leafs in the playoffs within the next three or four years.
Direction of the Team: Toronto is not a contender, nor will they be next season, or the season after that. But if Leafs fans can endure the pain of wearing their Leafs jerseys for just a couple more seasons, it may all be worthwhile. Though the players that Toronto signed in the off- season may not be too helpful for the team, they could bring in a good return at the trade deadline. Grabner, as well as the rest of the players acquired in the off- season, all become unrestricted free agents at the end of the season, and could help the Leafs to acquire draft picks and prospects. Though there are a number of big players that could be trade bait at the deadline, such as Cam Ward, Eric Staal, and Jaromir Jagr, the secondary players on the Leafs roster may still be a key piece of rebuilding the team for the future, depending on Toronto's asking price. Putting the Leafs situation simply: it's going to be worse before it gets better, but if there's anyone that can make it better, it's Babcock and Lamoriello.
Projected Finish: It's going to be a rough go for Toronto, and they'll likely finish at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Relying on the under-perfroming likes of Jonathan Bernier and Nazem Kadri isn't going to cut it for Toronto, and they are almost surely not going to be a playoff team.
Final Prediction: Toronto will hobble to the finish line between 13th and 16th place in the Eastern Conference.
