Question #10: Which player on this roster has a breakout season?
RGW: It seems like the Lightning roster has an annual hidden gem who comes out of nowhere and turns heads with a breakout campaign. Someone line Gourde last season. Who should you keep an eye on this year in that regard? That would be Anthony Cirelli. Cirelli posted 5 goals and 11 points in 18 games in a Lightning uniform this past season and I would expect him only to improve from here on in. Cirelli did not look out of place in the playoffs, either. He chipped in offensively and earned minutes in crucial circumstances.
Cirelli figures to see plenty of ice time following Kunitz’s departure and Callahan’s injury. He should see at least a third line position, and I expect this to improve due to strong play. He is primed for a breakout season and the 30-goal mark isn’t outside the realm of possibility.
TG: In limited time, Cirelli showed that he can be a difference-maker. Give him a whole season, and he could be on a level close to Brayden Point.
BR: In the past, we’ve seen the likes of Kucherov, Johnson, Point, and Gourde have breakout seasons. This year’s candidate is Sergachev. He played mostly third-pairing minutes as a rookie, allowing him to grow into an NHL role as a teenager. He started off strongly from an offensive standpoint, but hit a wall about halfway through the year.
However, a solid postseason showed that we’ve barely seen him scratch the surface. Having earned the trust of the coaching staff, I’d expect to see him a lot more on the second pairing and playing even more meaningful minutes. He finished second among all rookie defensemen with 40 points. There’s no reason he can’t top the 50-point mark, and with some more power play time, 60 isn’t out of the realm of possibility.
JW: Sergachev is my pick for breakout player. He showed serious flashes of offensive ability and he could very well be a 50-point defenseman in the future. Look for him to be featured on the power play on a more consistent basis throughout the year.
An ultra dark horse candidate could be Alexander Volkov coming up from the Crunch and making a name for himself.
Question #11: Make a borderline outlandish prediction that probably won’t come true, but is fun to make and will make you look like a genius if you get it right.
RGW: Alex Killorn will be a 40-goal scorer. You heard me. Though this may seem ridiculous from the outset, remember that this is a forward who plays substantial minutes on the Lightning power play. As a matter of fact, he is a forgotten man. While Stamkos, Hedman and Kucherov draw attention from the penalty kill for two minutes, who is that mysterious figure lurking in the slot? That would be Killorn. I think with the emergence of Kucherov as an elite scorer, Killorn will further slip through the cracks in terms of attention from the opposition and have a very productive season. Though this would be a major breakout season for Killorn, whose career high is 19 goals, it is possible. Keep your eye on #17 in blue this year. The opposition won’t be.
TG: Brayden Point will finish the season in the neighborhood of 75-85 points.
BR: Mikhail Sergachev finishes in the top 5 among all NHL defensemen in points, but doesn’t earn a Norris Trophy nomination. It’s a borderline outlandish prediction, and it could easily be classified as very outlandish. He’s more likely to top 50 points. Washington’s John Carlson led all defensemen with 68 points a year ago. It would take a massive leap for Sergachev to reach that level in just his second year, but crazier things have happened.
JW: The Lightning make it a clean sweep of all the major team accomplishments: Presidents Trophy, Atlantic Division, Eastern Conference, and the Stanley Cup.
Question #12: What will be the final result of the Lightning’s 2018-19 season?
RGW: Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning. I envision them defeating the Los Angeles Kings in six games. After re-signing defensive monster Drew Doughty, the Kings see a healthy Jonathan Quick return to a lineup featuring newly-signed Ilya Kovalchuk. I think they will be a legit Cup contender, but I see a very deep Lightning team defeating them to win the franchise’s second Stanley Cup.
If last season proved anything, it’s that good teams and good leaders do eventually reap the rewards, as Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals hoisted Lord Stanley for the first time. The Bolts should be right back in the Eastern Conference dance yet again. A similar lineup, some new staff, and perhaps an improved PK unit could be what pushes the Lightning over the top.
TG: Deep down, I’d like to see the Lightning win the Stanley Cup. But as I mentioned earlier, there’s something missing that I just can’t put my finger on. It wouldn’t surprise me if they get to the Eastern Conference Final and come up short again.
BR: It’s time for me to get very specific. I think they knock out the Florida Panthers in the opening round in five games in the first-ever playoff series between the Bolts and Cats. The Lightning then beat the Maple Leafs in a thrilling seven-game series. In the Eastern Conference Final, they eliminate the upstart Columbus Blue Jackets in six games. Moving on to the Stanley Cup Final, they’ll face off against the Winnipeg Jets in what should be an incredible championship series. With the Cup on the line in Game 7, the Bolts finally get over the hump by taking down the Jets at Amalie Arena.
JW: This is Tampa Bay’s year. The season will end on a beautiful Brayden Point game-winning goal in overtime in Game 6 against the Winnipeg Jets. Expect Kucherov to play on a new level in the playoffs, similar to what Ovechkin did last year. Kucherov and many of the returning vets should be angry after another heartbreaking postseason exit, giving them extra motivation to bring it home.
