By Sean O.
For the Tampa Bay Lightning, the path to the Stanley Cup runs through Miami. After being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Florida Panthers for the past two seasons, the team urgently needs a solution.
The Lightning made significant strides during the offseason, enhancing their 5×5 play and securing top free agent Jake Guentzel with a long-term contract. ESPN celebrated the team’s fan experience, ranking it #1, and the New York Times recognized the Lightning as having the second-best front office in the NHL. Yet, despite these improvements, the Lightning were once again ousted in the first round of the playoffs.