Tampa Bay Lightning Mailbag: Could We See The Triplets Broken Up Next Year?

Welcome to this week’s Bolts By The Bay Mailbag, the place where we take any questions you may have about the Tampa Bay Lightning and give you answers.

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Jason asks: Could you see the triplets line being broken up this season? Maybe Stamkos with Palat or Johnson?

I honestly have been debating this topic ever since I saw originally saw it. You have what was probably the most dynamic line in hockey last year in a unit made up of Ondrej Palat, Tyler Johnson, and Nikita Kucherov. However, you also have one of the leagues most dynamic scorer in Steven Stamkos on your team as well. So, if you’re Head Coach Jon Cooper, what do you do?

First of all, if you think Jon Cooper will risk the success of the team for one player to be happy, you’re wrong. If he feels that having the triplets together is what is best for the team, then that is what he is going to do. Second, though last season was what you would call a “down year” for Stamkos, the Lightning captain still potted 43 goals. Besides, it’s not like you’re putting him with sub par talent. Alex Killorn and Ryan Callahan are more than capable of feeding Stamkos the puck when he wants to play center. Not to mention that Valtteri Filppula is a fine centerman that actually allowed Stamkos to have more space to work with when he was on the wing.

We all understand the Steven Stamkos contract situation. It is not done yet, but it will get done. Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman already called getting the Lightning captain signed to a contract extension was their “No. 1 priority” and if there is anyone I trust to get the deal done, it is Steve Yzerman. This is just like when Vincent Lecavalier was going to leave the Lightning and join his hometown Montreal Canadians. Guess what, that never happened. Anyways, that is not what this article is about. Back to the topic at hand.

Let’s focus on the season that is exactly one month from the time this article was released. The way I see it, the triplets will begin this upcoming season just like they finished the last one. Come opening night, Ondrej Palat, Tyler Johnson, and Nikita Kucherov will take their first shifts of the new year together. As for Steven Stamkos, well, that is to be determined.

Lets be honest with ourselves, do you think Jon Cooper wants to give his team the best chance to win, or make his superstar forward happy? Well, ideally both. However, sometimes the Head Coach needs to make tough decisions that will work out for his team in the long run. You will still see Stamkos with the triplets on the first powerplay unit, but you will not (baring injury) see one or two of the Triplets put on the same line with Stamkos.

If Jon Cooper decides to have Stamkos at center, then his linemates will probably be Alex Killorn and Ryan Callahan. If at wing, then Valtteri Filppula and Alex Killorn. Ideally, the team would love to see Jonathan Drouin develop into Stamkos’ future linemate, but that also is to be determined as the former third overall selection in the 2013 NHL draft enters his second full NHL season.

As I stated before, the triplet line is one of the most dynamic lines in the NHL, if not THE best. Just because Steven Stamkos is your best offensive forward doesn’t mean you have to put superstar talent around him to succeed. Just like I said before, having one of the more underrated forwards in the league in Alex Killorn and 24 goal scorer Ryan Callahan on you line isn’t something to cry about.

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