Tampa Bay Lightning: Top 3 lessons teams can learn from the champions

Skilled Grit Is The Way To Go

Grit is quite possibly the worst cliche in hockey. Nobody really knows what it means. People usually refer to “grit” when somebody doesn’t fight or doesn’t hit people enough. However, grit is a thing. I’d define it as winning battles and outhustling your opponents.

That said, grit isn’t enough to win in the NHL. At the end of the day, skill is the name of the game. Sure, you win games by not allowing goals, but by the same logic, don’t you win games by scoring goals? Scoring goals requires skill.

The Lightning needed grit after their 2019 postseason debacle. But they didn’t go after enforcers. Instead, the Lighting targeted players like Pat Maroon. Maroon isn’t a top six forward, but he’s a Stanley Cup champion who stands up for his teammates, wins battles along the board, and would swan dive into an active volcano if it would help his team win a game. Most importantly, he’s got skill. Not as much as, say, Brayden Point mind you, but enough to be a very capable NHL player.

At the trade deadline, the Lighting still needed a little bit more grit. They were hoping to optimize their third line internally, but it didn’t happen. Instead of going for a grand slam with the bases empty, BriseBois made two smart acquisitions in Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow.

Neither the New Jersey Devils nor the San Jose Sharks were too keen on losing them. And rightfully so. Though Coleman and Goodrow aren’t elite players, they’re important guys who can play with skill and grit. It’s hard to find those kinds of players. But BriseBois knew who he wanted and was willing to pay the hefty price tag to add those two players.

So while grit is important in the NHL, you know what’s even more important? Skilled grit. That’s what wins you games.