Steven Stamkos #91 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates his goal with teammate Mikhail Sergachev #98 in the third period against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on March 16, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the New Jersey Devils 4-3 after a shoot out. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
The Tampa Bay Lightning 2024 roster will need to possess team chemistry and innovated gameplay to rebuild their championship team after recent departure of key players Steven Stamkos and Mikhail Sergachev.
Tampa Bay Lightning 2024: Moving on
For over 1,000 games, 16 seasons and 2 back-to-back Stanley Cups, Steven Stamkos has been the backbone to the Lightnings gameplay and attitude on the ice (hence the 'C' he wore on his jersey).
Overlapping his captains presence on the Lighting, Mikhail Sergachev has played on the blue line for 7 seasons, winning the same two back-to-back titles.
With that being said, only 7 players remain on the current roster out of the original roster that brought back two consecutive cups. Those players are:
Center Anthony Cirelli, center Brayden Point, right wing Nikita Kucherov, defenseman Victor Hedman, defenseman Erik Cernak, defenseman Ryan McDonagh, and goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy.
Rebuilding
The Lightning's defensive game has been turning heads for years with their dynamic gameplay.
Why?
It isn't limited to just sizable guys, but players who build a bridge between the crease and the opposing zone to make their forwards jobs easier; which Sergachev was no stranger to.
Similarly, the front line has seen its peak with Stamkos and Kucherov being one of the league's most well known and high producing dynamic duos, Point being able to play underdog but also generate when necessary to fit in with any line, and Stamkos punishing teams from 'his office.'
Despite the hard loss that the franchise will undoubtably feel losing staple players from this working dynamic, this poses an opportunity for the Tampa Bay Lighting to build a familiar but new and improved foundation that reaches the perfect blend between new talent and experienced veterans.
New talent coming in for the Tampa Bay Lightning 2024 roster means: more angles and perspectives to explore that may compliment and emphasize one, and or many of the seven returning players.
This not only gives Head Coach Jon Cooper space to formulate a cohesive group of players that allows him to see the game differently after the loss of Stamkos and Sergachev, but also promotes innovated gameplay which fosters team chemistry and maximizes their offseason opportunity.
Because the Lightning managed to evenly distribute their remaining staple players throughout the ice, it all comes down to how well the new additions such as Jake Guentzel and Derrick Pouliot are able to utilize their skillset in a manner that works to complete the missing puzzle pieces and helps to rebuild the Tampa Bay Lightning 2024 roster towards their fourth Stanley Cup.
