The Hockey News Yearbook doesn’t care for the Lightning much right now.
Jes Golbez lists the Bolts as a “team on the decline” (and it can be listed as such)
But John Buccigross at ESPN is still a True Believer. He’s got the Lightning listed as his #1 team in the east.
(Hat tip to Tiny at the Dots)
last updated September 27, 2006 at 1:28 pm
The Frightning may finish 1st in the East.
I may also get a date with Carmen Electra.
And the Hurricanes might win the Stanley Cup.
…..
Nevermind.
I still find it humorous that “analysts” believe that losing Sydor and Kubina is a bad thing. Season previews for the Lightning are all over the scale this year. Some have them as one of the top teams in the East and some have them near the bottom. Sometime around 82 games we’ll know where they rank.
like the new design of the site John, job well done.
there’s something to be said for the “what goes up must come down” effect created by a salary cap. in the nfl, the teams that make it to the super bowl almost never makes it back (with the exception of the Pats who stocked up on draft picks while they won). the super bowl teams almost always lose key players to other teams willing and able to pay more money (dexter jackson with the bucs, randle el with the steelers).
i know i’ve gone off on a football tangent so if i can bring it back to hockey, the bolts lost the buhlin wall essentially cause they couldn’t match the blackhawks offer (they probably couldn’t have matched the offer even without a salary cap but that’s another issue). even if khabibulin didn’ play great last season he would have been an improvement over the bolts goalies.
The new CBA prevented us from seeing the Lightning try to become a dominant dynasty. Its too bad. And now they are reduced to these middle of the road predictions.