It’s time to sit back and relax as we take a look at all the Tampa Bay Lightning Headlines and other news from around the National Hockey League.
As the sun rises on another fabulous day here in the Bolts Nation, Tampa Bay Lightning fans find themselves just 74 days away from the Tampa Bay Lightning Home Opener, which is scheduled for October 13th against the Detroit Red Wings, and another day closer to the first puck drop of the 2016-17 season.
Most Tampa Bay Lightning fans are well aware of the precarious position. There were a plethora of players who were set to become Free Agents and a number of contracts that needed to be signed before the start of the 2016-17 season. Thankfully, Tampa Bay Lightning Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman has worked his magic and worked out a deal with a number of those aforementioned players.
Unfortunately, as things stand right now, there are still a few players who are in need of contracts before the new season starts. One of the most glaring of those players is the Lightning’s leading point scorer of the 2015-16 season, Nikita Kucherov. The other is young Lightning defenseman Nikita Nesterov.
Tampa Bay Lightning
While the situation may seem a bit perilous at the moment, we have full faith in Steve Yzerman’s ability to get the job done and while it may take a little longer than some may like, we have a feeling the contract situation will work itself in time. Look at the Steven Stamkos situation. The Stamkos contract seemed to take an eternity, but when it came down to it, Yzerman got the job done.
Before we turn our eyes to the 2016-17 season, let’s take a look at some of the Tampa Bay Lightning headlines making their way around the internet today as well as news from around the entire National Hockey League.
If there is anything the Tampa Bay Lightning has struggled with in the past it was consistency between the pipes. Thankfully, that seemingly came to an end when the Tampa Bay Lightning acquired Ben Bishop from the Ottawa Senators. Since making his way to the Bolts Nation, Ben Bishop has continually broken records and led the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Eastern Conference Finals two years in a row.
Needless to say, Ben Bishop has continually proven he can compete with the big boys in the league and has become an essential part of the Tampa Bay Lightning lineup. Now, Ben Bishop has proven he is one of the best goaltenders in the National Hockey League, leading some of the best goaltenders in the league with 112 wins over the course of the last three season? Who did he beat out? Check out the article to find out. (Bolts By The Bay)
There is no denying the team has a number of players who are incredibly skilled at putting the puck in the back of the net. Out of those players, there are a few who seriously rise to the top and work together as a crucial part of the Lightning’s success. One of those players is the Lightning’s 2015-16 leading goal scorer, Nikita Kucherov. Here, we take a closer look at what is currently his best season to date. (Bolts By The Bay)
As some of you may already know, the Tampa Bay Lightning’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, has experienced some changes behind the bench recently. Benoit Groulx has become the new Head Coach after the exit of Rob Zettler. Before the start of the new season, Syracuse Crunch season ticket holders will have an exclusive opportunity to meet Groulx at a Watch Party. (Syracuse Crunch)
Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik and his wife Penny have vowed to continue the Lightning Community Hero Program into the 2016-17 season. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the program, the Lightning Foundation rewards a deserving member of the community with a $50,000 check to be given to the non-profit of their choice. The first deadline for nominations is coming up soon. Here is a look at the information you’ll need to nominate someone deserving of the award. (Tampa Bay Lightning)
News Around The National Hockey League
Much to the dismay of Tampa Bay Lightning fans, the Pittsburgh Penguins, who defeated the Lightning in the 2016 Eastern Conference Finals, defeated the San Jose Sharks to become the 2016 Stanley Cup Champions. Now that the off-season is in full swing, the Stanley Cup has started its journey around the world with the players who helped bring the help to Pittsburgh. The latest player to have his day is Matt Cullen. (NHL.com)
As the Tampa Bay Lightning prepare for the upcoming season, one of the many things they must do is take a closer look at their opponents and see what changes will need to be made in order to emerge victorious from their many matchups. Well, our friends over at Blackhawk Up have done some of the work for us as they take a closer look at forward Jordin Tootoo. (Blackhawk Up)
must read: Fox Sports Go Will Stream Local Lightning Broadcasts In 2016-17
The Tampa Bay Lightning have many important contracts that will need to be signed at this time next season. Players like Tyler Johnson, Ondrej Palat, and many more will expire at the end of the 2016-17 season. Thankfully, the Lightning are not the only ones with these kinds of issues. The Boston Bruins are about to deal with the exact same issue with Bruins forward Brad Marchand. (Causeway Crowd)
As much as we’d like to believe we are the only ones dealing with a number of contracts at this point in the season, there are other teams who are caught in a similar position. One of those teams is the Arizona Coyotes. Thankfully for the Coyotes, they have been able to seal the deal with two of their players, defensemen Connr Murphy and Michael Stone. (Too Many Men on the Site)
Next: Ben Bishop Proves To Be One Of The Best In The NHL
The off-season is already in full swing. It may seem daunting at the moment, but the Tampa Bay Lightning will be back on the ice fighting for their chance to play for the Stanley Cup real soon. So get those jerseys ready and prepare to scream your hearts out. Tampa Bay Lightning hockey will be back before you know it.