Monday Morning Faceoff: New Year’s Edition

by Erik Erlendsson | @Erik_Erlendsson | Like us on Facebook
January 1, 2018

Welcome back to the Monday Morning Faceoff a weekly debate here on LightningInsider.com.

This weekly feature brings together Erik Erlendsson, creator of LightningInsider.com, and Greg Linnelli, who hosts Lightning Power Play Live weekdays from 6-7 p.m. or one hour prior to puck drop on game days on TBLPowerplay.com as well as intermission host during radio broadcasts. We will also like to bring in special guests on a regular basis to debate topical items surrounding the Tampa Bay Lightning and around the NHL as we exchange our thoughts in a back-and-forth exchange that will appear every Monday morning.

Erik:Well Greg, we say goodbye to one calendar year and welcome in the new one as 2018 is here. And the end of December always offers the opportunity to reflect back and look ahead to what just happened over the previous 365 days and what to look for in the upcoming year. So first, let’s look back at 2017 and what is the biggest thing that stands out in regards to the Lightning

Greg:I think for me Erik what stands out is the teams health. I felt like last season the conversation centered around the team being banged up, particularly Steven Stamkos. And most people believe that’s the reason why this team didn’t make the playoffs. I think being healthy has been the biggest reason why this team is off to the start they are on.

Now, organizationally, it was a big year as well. Steve Yzerman signed some key pieces in the offseason, in addition to trading Jonathan Drouin for Mikhail Sergachev. Those two developments really stood out for me in 2017.

Erik: For me, it was how this team responded after missing the playoffs last season. With so many players getting the chance to rest and train over the summer, they came in to training camp with a purpose. And it’s one thing to talk about how missing the postseason stung and it fueled a hunger, it’s another to go out and show it and they backed up the talk with their play on the ice.

A New Year is also a time to make your resolutions for the year. Now for me, I rarely make any resolutions because I know the odds are pretty good that I won’t stick to it. But if you were to make one resolution on behalf of the Lightning, what would you make?

Greg: It’s a good question and one I asked on Lightning Power Play Live Sunday night. On behalf of the Lightning, my New Years resolution would be getting a solid face-off guy that is good enough to be in the lineup every night. Right now, it looks like Tyler Johnson is the only Lightning to be over 50% in the face-off circle.That needs to change. We’ve seen it this year that when teams can dictate play against the Lightning, it usually comes when the opposition is dominating the face-off circle. That needs to change for sure. And the good thing is I think they can address it and it won’t cost a lot.

Erik: I resolve to see Slater Koekkoek get more of an opportunity to get playing time. He’s been in and out of the lineup throughout the first three months of this season and spent most of last season with Syracuse, helping them reach the Calder Cup Final a year ago. He’s a 10th overall pick from the 2012 draft and it’s tough to have a young player continue to sit and not have the chance right now to see the ice on a semiregular basis. Injuries sometimes dictate how much somebody gets in the lineup and as you’ve mentioned, Tampa Bay has been pretty healthy this season. Koekkoek has had his moments this season and has struggled at other moments. But I wouldn’t mind seeing him get more of an opportunity to see whether or not he’s going to be able to help this team moving forward.

Looking in to your 2018 crystal ball for a moment, give me one prediction – bold or otherwise – for Tampa Bay in the next calendar year?

Greg: I like bold predictions Here we go. I think someone from their top 9 will be traded for a top four defenseman (veteran). I think this team is a legit Stanley Cup contender. I think Steve Yzerman understands this. The organization has the assets to give up to acquire that type of talent. I think he pulls the trigger and makes a splash.

Erik: You stole my thunder (yes, pun intended) as I’m fully on board with that prediction. I thi8nk we’ve seen some of the concerns with their depth on defense at points this season and three of the eight defenseman on the roster have not played a full season in the NHL. I agree that the team has every reason to go all-in on this season, knowing that they have the organizational depth and assets to make a strong move for a player that can be a significant contributor on this team not just this year, but for a few years down the road. And I think it will be something that gets done before the trade deadline.<.br>
As we say goodbye to 2017 and hello to 2018, Greg I hope you and your family have a wonderful New Year, along with all Lightning fans and especially to the subscribers right here on this website.

Greg: Great minds think alike! Have a great New Year, Erik!

Erik: As the calendar turns, the Lightning season rolls along as they creep in on the halfway point of the season and have a busy week with four games the rest of the week to close out a five-game road trip. Tampa Bay heads to Toronto on Tuesday before a rematch with Montreal on Thursday before back-to-back games Saturday and Sunday at Ottawa and Detroit, respectively.

Be sure to keep it locked in on Lightning Power Play all week as well as right here at LightningInsider.com for game recaps and news and be sure to check out the Top 10 stories from the 2017 calendar year for the Lightning.