from John Romano of the Tampa Bay Times,
The season has ended, and that is regrettable.
What’s far more worrisome is the possibility that an era was vanquished with it.
If you had an uneasy feeling in your gut while watching the Lightning lose 2-1 in overtime of Game 6 against Toronto on Saturday night, that faraway concern might explain it. As if the inevitability of so many nights on ice had finally run down this team of grinders and stars.
Oh, they still have skill. They still have polish, fight and verve. Just not in the abundance of days past. And now, after nine years of superb hockey, you can’t help but wonder if the window has finally come close enough to closing that it will be hard to squeeze through again.
Not that the Lightning went down without a fight against the Maple Leafs in this series. They outplayed Toronto for long stretches, taking a lead into the third period of four games and coming from behind Saturday night to force an overtime in a fifth game.
But whatever separates champions from hopefuls was missing. Whatever sent the Lightning dancing into the night in 2020 and 2021 was lacking at critical moments in Games 3, 4 and 6 against Toronto.
The Salary Cap taketh away the slew of guys who helped them win (MacDonough, Palat, Gourde, Goodrow, Coleman, etc.) They were THISCLOSE to winning the series. I don't think they should hold their heads in shame, but they are going to have to consider importing more young talent as other players who are the core get older. Not just yet for a complete retool. NO to a rebuild so long as 88, 86, 21, 91 and 77 are in top shape. What could they get if they were to trade one of these players to recover younger assets and cap space?
As long as they have Corey Perry, they can always expect to lose in the Cup final.
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