In this episode of NHL Wraparound's Summer Coolers, Neil Smith and Vic Morren break down the Tampa Bay Lightning, a team loaded with offensive firepower—but still struggling to get out of the first round of the playoffs.

Despite finishing second in the Atlantic and ranking #1 in league scoring, the Lightning were eliminated in the first round by the Panthers for the third consecutive season. With John Cooper entering his 14th season behind the bench and Steven Stamkos gone to free agency, is this still a contender—or a team quietly slipping?

The hosts discuss Tampa's cap-strained strategy, new bottom-six reinforcements, and whether this team can still fight for another Cup before the window closes.

🧊 IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:00] Tampa finishes 2nd in Atlantic but exits in Round 1 (again)

[00:45] Cooper returns for 14th season; Stamkos is gone

[01:10] Offense ranks 1st in NHL—but depth is the concern

[01:40] New additions: Sam Rielly, Ponta Holmberg, Jacob Pelletier

[02:30] Under-the-radar signings could bolster bottom-six

[03:00] Re-signings: J. Johansson (backup goalie), Yanni Gourde, Gage Goncalves

[03:45] Departures: Isaac Howard, Nick Perbix

[04:20] The real problem: Depth behind the stars

[05:00] Oliver Bjorkstrand injury recap & return outlook

[05:45] What Tampa must do to be more than just a first-round threat

🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS:

The Lightning are still an offensive juggernaut, even without Stamkos—Kucherov, Point, Hagel, Guentzel, and Cirelli all bring elite scoring power.

Depth remains the biggest concern. The stars are still elite, but Tampa’s third and fourth lines aren’t scaring anyone.

Oliver Bjorkstrand’s injury during the regular season hurt more than most realized—his full-season presence could help stabilize the middle-six.

With the salary cap crunch, GM Julien BriseBois had to get creative, adding overlooked but potentially impactful players like Pelletier and Holmberg.

Vasilevskiy remains a top-tier goaltender, and Tampa’s defense (4th GA/G) is quietly solid—but unless role players step up, a deep run is unlikely.

🎯 FINAL WORD:

The Lightning still have the firepower to win any game—but their margin for error has never been slimmer. With Stamkos gone and the Cup core aging, Tampa’s fate may hinge on the emergence of its overlooked role players. They’ll make the playoffs, but a deep run will require more than just elite talent—it will take grit, health, and unlikely heroes.

🔗 RESOURCE LINKS:

📺 YouTube: NHL Wraparound Channel

🐦 X (Twitter): @NHLWraparound

🎤 Neil Smith: @NYCNeil

📘 Vic Morren: Vic on LinkedIn

📸 Instagram: @NHLWraparound

🎵 TikTok: @NHLWraparound

👍 Facebook: NHL Wraparound Facebook

🏒 HASHTAGS

#TampaBayLightning #NHLWraparound #SummerCoolers #JonCooper #StevenStamkos #JakeGuentzel #NikitaKucherov #AndreiVasilevskiy #PatrickKane #JonathanToews #DuncanKeith #SamReilly #IsaacHoward #JakobPelletier #JulienBriseBois #JonasJohansson #YanniGourde #GageGonclaves #NickPerbix #BraydenPoint #BrandonHagel #AnthonyCirelli #OliverBjorkStrand