Tampa Bay Lightning: 10 Reasons We Are Going To Win The Stanley Cup
By Dan Herrejon
Mar 26, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos (91) reacts after the game against the Nashville Predators at Amalie Arena. The Predators won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Leadership
We know Steven Stamkos is one of the best young Captains in the NHL. Still just 25 years old, Stamkos is without a doubt, the leader on this team. Not only does he lead with his play, his scoring, his work on the power play but he leads where it counts – in the locker room.
To bolster the leadership on this team, Steve Yzerman traded for, then re-signed Ryan Callahan, former Captain of the New York Rangers. Yzerman also brought Brenden Morrow, former Captain of the Dallas Stars to the club in the off season.
Look up and down this lineup and you see leadership. Coach Jon Cooper knows this and that is why I believe, that we saw so many players on the roster throughout the season wear the A in games.
In addition to Callahan and Morrow, we saw guys like Ondrej Palat, Brian Boyle and Victor Hedman wear the A.
Add to that guys like Matt Carle, Anton Stralman, Jason Garrison and Braydon Coburn. Players that other younger players look up to during the course of a long season.
There is little doubt that this team has a very good mix of younger players and veterans. Still, the Tampa Bay Lightning is the youngest team in average age to make the playoffs this year. That bodes well for future Stanley Cups.
Next: Reason #9 - Goaltending
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