2016 Pool Projections: Tampa Bay

The Tampa Bay Lightning were a dynamic and adventurous team in the 2015 season and they were so well built, that they carried themselves right into the Stanley Cup Finals, only to be taught a lesson about how to win in the biggest series of them all, by a team that has done it three times in the last six seasons.  That makes for a damn fine season.

It's hard to say that all of it came as a surprise, especially since this team is built around one of the best players in the league, using one of the biggest goalies in the league, a scrappy underdog and a supporting cast of both youth and veteran ability.  The biggest surprise, from the Sherpa's standpoint, was that the scrappy underdog and the talented youth exceeded expectations and this team really came into its own in the playoffs.

For the most part, the core of this group has been kept together and that is important to any manager and coaching staff, so the Lightning are ahead of the game heading into 2016.  The confidence this team has gained over the last 12 months, has to be exciting as well.

Player	Pos	15/16 Proj	Rookie
Ben Bishop	G	95
Steven Stamkos	F	80
Tyler Johnson	F	75
Nikita Kucherov	F	65
Ondrej Palat	F	65
Victor Hedman	D	60
Ryan Callahan	F	50
Valtteri Filppula	F	45
Alex Killorn	F	45
Jonathan Drouin	F	40
Anton Stralman	D	35
Jason Garrison	D	35
Vladislav Namestnikov	F	25
Brian Boyle	F	20
Erik Condra	F	20
Cedric Paquette	F	20
Matt Carle	D	20
Andrei Vasilevskiy	G	20	Y
Andrej Sustr	D	20
Braydon Coburn	D	15
J.T. Brown	F	15
Nikita Nesterov	D	15
Slater Koekkoek	D	10	Y
Luke Witkowski	D	5	Y
Kristers Gudlevskis	G	5	Y

Table updated on July 27th

Most Intriguing or Breakout Player

One of the biggest questions abound from the 2015 season was 'what happened to Jonathan Drouin?'

It became fairly apparent that he wasn't in the coach's good graces, through the season as a healthy scratch and in the Cup Finals run as well.  There just wasn't anything right about his season, when he was expected to go great guns, be the wingman for Steven Stamkos and the Calder Trophy would have been all but his in the year.  Now, we're left wondering if he has any pool value with Tampa Bay, heading into the 2016 season.

I don't think Tampa Bay necessarily gives up on him, I mean, he lost out on a top six job to some very capable forwards and when you look at the raw offensive talent that Drouin has, no one wants to see him play in the bottom six.  Where Drouin fits in the opening night lineup will likely be the best indicator, as to whether or not he'll still be a Lightning player, come the trade deadline.

First Round Picks

The Lightning are going to be a sexy team to pick from this year, no doubt.  That will include a number of Bolts who can be taken safely in the opening round.  Goalie Ben Bishop, who was the second-best player in the pool last year, will make a run at number one this year, while forwards Steven Stamkos and Tyler Johnson did enough last year to have some consideration.  If you're looking to decorate your lineup with Lightning players this year and miss out on the opening round players, don't worry, there'll be much more to come.

Other Pool Worthy Forwards

The other two on the triplets line, Nikita Kucherov and Ondrej Palat, will likely feature early on in the draft as well, while veterans Ryan Callahan and Valtteri Filppula enjoy a little more success with Tampa, sprinkling in Alex Killorn and Jonathan Drouin in for some extra flavour.

Excited yet?

Other Pool Worthy Defense

I completely expect to see Victor Hedman among the top of the defenseman class this season, after an injury-filled 2015.  With defensemen going early in the draft in the past few years, I think there will be a solid draw towards Hedman.

Anton Stralman and Jason Garrison will be solid pick-ups again this year and the Lightning also boast some depth on the blueline, adding Matt Carle and Andrej Sustr to the list of reasonable selections near the bottom of the defense pool.

Goaltending Situation

Behind Bishop, it should be Andrei Vasilevskiy's job to lose, but when you consider the Latvian, Kristers Gudlevskis and his overall skill, it might be an interesting race?  I don't really expect it to be a race, but you just never know some years.

Possible Entries Into the Rookie Race

With Vasilevskiy only having 20 NHL games to his name, he's still considered to be a rookie in the upcoming year.  If you're short on goaltending late on, he could be the back-up goalie that could win games when called upon and help to pump some points into the rookie race this year.  He's a good double-whammy.

Team To Pick From Late?

The good Lightning players are going to be taken early and often, surely, so you shouldn't expect to be a great deal of points left over, when you get down to the depths of the pool draft.  Still, this team shouldn't have a problem scoring some goals, which could mean good things for those poolies, unfamiliar with names, but like teams to choose from.  I'd say the Lightning are a reasonable bet late on.

Unsigned Players and Salary Cap

The Lightning have no pressing matters in the unsigned roster players department.  They were all cleared up early on and were likely quite comfortable with the depth they added in this off-season.

The 22-man projected roster they had at the end of July has held up quite well, leaving the side with $2.8 million in cap space, if needed.  It looks like the club has a little bit of flexibility, if needed, so they'll be extra competitive down the stretch, come the trade deadline.