Why the Tampa Bay Lightning could be the Last NHL Dynasty
By Jeremiah Lee
Coaches are easily overlooked when it comes to a dynasty.
The coach has to be top-notch because it is well-known that a “coaching diff” could be the deciding factor of a playoff series. Joel Quenneville was the ace of coaching when he was in the league, guiding the Blackhawks to new heights, then the Florida Panthers before his departure. He knew how to get his guys in the right positions to win, and a style that fits the roster he has. Jon Cooper has done exactly that and, as a result, his team has earned long-term success. The core of the Tampa Bay Lightning have their superstars on budget deals, and their coach signed as well.
No matter what your GM does to sign big-name free agents or make a roster look good on paper, the coach has to place them in areas where they can succeed. Mike Sullivan still knows how to deploy his guys for lasting success and get the most out of them on a nightly basis. I have not seen Sheldon Keefe do this yet in his tenure and the Oilers, though promising, are a trash shoot at the moment. The coach is almost as important as the stars.
To Conclude…
A dynasty team needs pretty much everything to go right. The coaches, front office, star players, farm system… Everything has to be spot on to find lasting success. The Pittsburgh Penguins banked on their farm system to jump back into contention, becoming younger and faster to keep up with the league. The Chicago Blackhawks, like the Lightning, depended on a young core to bring long-term success. Affordable contracts for the superstars and proper, poised depth needs to be in the lineup to make the needed difference in a series, with those swiss army knife forwards you need to win as well.
Essentially, as I have said MANY times so far, EVERYTHING has to go right for a dynasty. There is not much, if any, room for error. You need everyone to do their jobs effectively, including those behind the scenes from the scouts, to the management, and the owners. The mindset of winning as the main priority (while still considering the team as human beings) is a must for these teams and whoever doesn’t have this won’t get anywhere. There are no other up-and-coming teams that possess the same assets that I am taking seriously for one or more of the points I talked about. The Tampa Bay Lightning have everything they need to maintain lasting success… barring any unexpected setback.