The turnover in the Tampa Bay Lightning roster since their 2020 Stanley Cup championship has been staggering, as highlighted by a recent discovery made by former players. Blake Coleman, now with the Calgary Flames, came across the team photo from their championship win, only to find that the majority of the players in the photo have since moved on from Tampa Bay. Out of the entire roster, only eight players remain just over three years later.
The realization struck Coleman, along with former Lightning players Ryan McDonagh (now with the Nashville Predators) and Pat Maroon (now with the Minnesota Wild), as they reflected on the significant changes in the team.
The flat salary cap, a result of the pandemic, has been a contributing factor to the roster turnover. With minimal increase over the past five seasons, maintaining the championship-caliber team has been challenging for Tampa Bay. As Coleman pointed out, without the salary cap constraints, the Lightning might have been on track to win even more championships, potentially emulating the dynasties of the Edmonton Oilers and New York Islanders in the 1980s.
Coach Jon Cooper echoed this sentiment, expressing regret that the team couldn’t fully capitalize on their potential due to salary cap limitations. Despite the changes, the Lightning remain a competitive force in the NHL, demonstrating resilience and adaptability amidst roster turnovers.
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