Tampa Bay Lightning: Could The Lightning Suffer From ‘Cup Hangover’ Next Season?

The Tampa Bay Lightning made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals last season, but could this adversely affect their success next season thanks to ‘Cup Hangover’?

The Tampa Bay Lightning made some magnificent strides last season that, for the most part, sent the haters and the doubters to cower in the corner for a bit while the Tampa Bay Lightning showed that they had what it takes to compete on the highest levels.

While the experience young players like Tyler Johnson, Nikita Kucherov, Ondrej Palat, and the rest of the team gained while competing against arguably one of the most successful teams in recent National Hockey League history, there is one definite downside to a lengthy run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

While the rest of the teams in the National Hockey League were able to hit the golf course, spend time with their families, and generally recover from the grueling toll that a season in any professional sport takes on your body, the Tampa Bay Lightning were still playing at full steam and combating the same injuries that plagued them in the regular season.

This type of shortened off-season can lead to what is known as “Cup Hangover.” In a recent interview with Tampa Bay Lightning reporter Michelle Gingras, ESPN NHL Analyst Pierre LeBrun touched on the subject and how something like “Cup Hangover” can affect a team as they head into what is hopefully a successful follow-up season.

LeBrun goes on to explain how the phenomenon known as “Cup Hangover” is really difficult for players, as much as they would like to deny it. In reality, it is simple science. When you put your body through the kind of rigors that hockey players go through over the course of the season and attempt to recover from the various injuries that can occur during that time, your muscles ultimately need to time relax and recover.

The Tampa Bay Lightning has players like goaltender Ben Bishop, who is working to recover from a torn groin muscle suffered in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals, and Tyler Johnson, who played most of the Stanley Cup Finals with a broken wrist. While these may be minor injuries in the larger scope of things, they still take recovery time for a player to truly be back at 100%.

Fortunately, as LeBrun says in the interview, the Tampa Bay Lightning has something very valuable on their side; the element of youth. People throw around the term “over the hill” and “getting old” all the time, but there is some truth behind the comedy. The older you get, the longer it takes your body to recover. It doesn’t matter what kind of shape you are in, it is simply a fact of life.

The difference between the Tampa Bay Lightning and some of the other teams in the league is they are mainly comprised of young players who are decades away from “getting old.”

There is also the little matter of determination, dedication, and plain old adrenaline. We all know young Tampa Bay Lightning players like captain Steven Stamkos and defenseman Victor Hedman have an unbridled dedication to their team as well as a burning desire to be the best at what they do. This is something that keeps them motivated even when the odds are stacked against them.

This brings us to adrenaline. Anyone who has ever played a sport, whether it be professional or just messing around in the park with a group of your friends, knows that there comes a time when everything in your body tells you to lay down; however, miraculously you get this “second wind” and feel like you have what it takes to go all the way. This is your adrenaline kicking in.

As LeBrun mentions during the interview, adrenaline is a very funny thing and can be especially beneficial in overcoming “Cup Hangover.” According to what we have seen so far during the off-season, the recoveries of players like Ben Bishop and Tyler Johnson are coming along nicely, and both players should be good to go by the time the Tampa Bay Lightning takes on the Philadelphia Flyers in the Lightning Home Opener.

Will the Tampa Bay Lightning be able to persevere and overcome a nasty bout of “Cup Hangover?” We think the Lightning players got a taste of what it is like to stay the course and push the limits to reach the final series.

Experience like that is not taken lightly, especially by the younger players who are experiencing this for the first time. We think when all is said and done, the Tampa Bay Lightning will be ready to lead the charge and make their way back to the Stanley Cup Finals for another date with destiny.

The real question here becomes are we, the Bolts Nation, ready to join them on this journey once again?

How do you think the Tampa Bay Lightning will be affected by “Cup Hangover?” Do you think the Lightning are destined for another run at the Stanley Cup Finals in 2015-16? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Next: Could Nikita Nesterov Make The Main Roster In 2015-16?

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