After all of the talks, negotiations, compromises, bargains, and electronic votes; full scale hockey returned to many of the cities around the NHL, including Tampa. Phase III (full training camp) began on Monday and franchises across the league now are tasked with preparing their players to compete for a Stanley Cup while also making sure they adhere to all of the rules and regulations that are part and parcel in the Age of Covid.
For the Tampa Bay Lightning and head coach Jon Cooper, that means getting his players motivated and ready to play hockey in a time when they are normally recovering from a grueling season by resting at a lake cottage somewhere.