Lightning winning three straight Cup titles would be first time since Islanders won four straight from '80-83Getty Images
The Lightning have a "chance to earn a slice of hockey immortality" as they play for their third straight Stanley Cup, as the obstacles the team has "overcome to build a budding dynasty in a league that’s structured to promote parity makes its story unique and extraordinary," according to Helene Elliott of the L.A. TIMES. Despite operating under a salary cap that "stayed flat when COVID-19 slammed NHL revenues, playing a pandemic-interrupted season that ended in a fan-less bubble in 2020 and making a quick turnaround after repeating as champions last July 7," the Lightning have "maintained their drive and depth." They have "nibbled around the edges of their roster to stay under the cap," but they "haven’t faded." They have "gotten stronger." Ducks GM Pat Verbeek said, “If they were to pull this off and win three in a row, to me that’s almost like winning five in a row in this era." Elliott noted the salary cap is "expected to rise" $1M to $82.5M next season, making it "difficult to keep successful teams together." So Lightning GM Julien BriseBois "has been creative." He traded two first-round picks, "sacrificing the future for the now." BriseBois also "sent a prospect and draft pick" to the Senators for LW Nick Paul and "persuaded Ottawa to keep 44.5% of Paul’s salary this season" (L.A. TIMES, 6/14).
