Buffalo Sabres division rivals’ 2023 offseasons Part IV: Storm Dissipating?
By Sion Fawkes
Breaking down the Lightning’s recent acquisitions
Besides still having a few more than serviceable 20 somethings, the Lightning also brought in quite a few players to try and make up for some of their losses. Conor Sheary is one name that jumps out, who spent the 2018-19 campaign with the Buffalo Sabres. Sheary will fill Tampa’s lower lines, as will the ultra-aggressive Josh Archibald, who logged a career high 195 hits last year for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Sheary and Archibald are both 30 and over, but Logan Brown is a younger player looking to bust into the lineup. However, he has just 99 games of NHL experience since he debuted during the 2017-18 season. Luke Glendening is yet another aging player who will also fill the lower lines and likely be tasked with winning key faceoffs, while Calvin de Haan will man the blue line in at least a rotational role.
As you can see, the Lightning added nothing more than lower liners, most of whom are either at or on the other side of 30. Brown is the only one still in their 20s, but he lacks sound NHL experience. Therefore, you can expect the Lightning to rely mainly on their older and younger core to put up the points, but I wouldn’t underestimate the defensive capabilities of any of the aforementioned players.