After making it to the Stanley Cup Final in 2014-15, the Tampa Bay Lightning fell one game short of that plateau this season, losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins in game seven of the Eastern Conference Final.
Sure, the Florida Panthers took the regular season crown in the Atlantic, but by virtue of their back-to-back deep playoff runs, the Bolts still have to be considered the top dog in the division.
Tampa Bay was able to sign potential prize of the free-agent market, Steven Stamkos to a new max eight-year deal.