Lightning Show Dominance After Stamkos Takes $32M Deal with Predators
After Steven Stamkos signed with Nashville for $32 million over four years, passing up Tampa Bay’s smaller offer, the Lightning’s path took an unexpected twist. Since the change, Tampa Bay’s numbers paint an impressive picture. Their five-on-five performance jumped from minus-18 to plus-24 over 32 games. GM Julien BriseBois hit the jackpot by bringing Jake Guentzel and Ryan McDonagh on board.
“We’ve had an extremely successful power play for a number of years, but it’s primarily been the same players… You want to have the No. 1 PP in the league or top five every single year. We’ve been blessed the last few years to be able to have that. But with some of the talent we have in this group, we don’t see why we can’t do that again. It just may be in a different way,” said Jon Cooper.
Age hasn’t been friendly to the 35-year-old Stamkos. His goals are down to 23, his lowest since entering the NHL. His plus-minus has sunk to minus-24, way down from his earlier plus-34 showing. While Stamkos has 10 goals and 10 assists so far, Jake Guentzel has filled the gap with 19 goals and 16 assists this season. The new top line of Guentzel, Point, and Kucherov adds fresh energy to Tampa Bay. They’re looking to match last year’s impressive 28.6 percent power play success, the third-best in four decades.
With Stamkos departed, Victor Hedman remains as the final piece of Tampa’s old core. His presence highlights just how much the team’s lineup has changed this year.
While trade rumors swirl around Stamkos in Nashville, GM Barry Trotz keeps shooting them down. The hefty $8 million yearly salary makes any deals between him and Tampa Bay complicated.
The Lightning keep rolling without their former captain. Their latest run proves they’re thriving in this new era.
