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Published on:

10th Sep 2025

2025 NHL Summer Cooler - Tampa Bay Lightning

In this episode of NHL Wraparound's Summer Coolers, Neil Smith and Vic Morren break down the Tampa Bay Lightning, a team loaded with offensive firepower—but still struggling to get out of the first round of the playoffs.

Despite finishing second in the Atlantic and ranking #1 in league scoring, the Lightning were eliminated in the first round by the Panthers for the third consecutive season. With John Cooper entering his 14th season behind the bench and Steven Stamkos gone to free agency, is this still a contender—or a team quietly slipping?

The hosts discuss Tampa's cap-strained strategy, new bottom-six reinforcements, and whether this team can still fight for another Cup before the window closes.

🧊 IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:00] Tampa finishes 2nd in Atlantic but exits in Round 1 (again)

[00:45] Cooper returns for 14th season; Stamkos is gone

[01:10] Offense ranks 1st in NHL—but depth is the concern

[01:40] New additions: Sam Rielly, Ponta Holmberg, Jacob Pelletier

[02:30] Under-the-radar signings could bolster bottom-six

[03:00] Re-signings: J. Johansson (backup goalie), Yanni Gourde, Gage Goncalves

[03:45] Departures: Isaac Howard, Nick Perbix

[04:20] The real problem: Depth behind the stars

[05:00] Oliver Bjorkstrand injury recap & return outlook

[05:45] What Tampa must do to be more than just a first-round threat

🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS:

The Lightning are still an offensive juggernaut, even without Stamkos—Kucherov, Point, Hagel, Guentzel, and Cirelli all bring elite scoring power.

Depth remains the biggest concern. The stars are still elite, but Tampa’s third and fourth lines aren’t scaring anyone.

Oliver Bjorkstrand’s injury during the regular season hurt more than most realized—his full-season presence could help stabilize the middle-six.

With the salary cap crunch, GM Julien BriseBois had to get creative, adding overlooked but potentially impactful players like Pelletier and Holmberg.

Vasilevskiy remains a top-tier goaltender, and Tampa’s defense (4th GA/G) is quietly solid—but unless role players step up, a deep run is unlikely.

🎯 FINAL WORD:

The Lightning still have the firepower to win any game—but their margin for error has never been slimmer. With Stamkos gone and the Cup core aging, Tampa’s fate may hinge on the emergence of its overlooked role players. They’ll make the playoffs, but a deep run will require more than just elite talent—it will take grit, health, and unlikely heroes.

🔗 RESOURCE LINKS:

📺 YouTube: NHL Wraparound Channel

🐦 X (Twitter): @NHLWraparound

🎤 Neil Smith: @NYCNeil

📘 Vic Morren: Vic on LinkedIn

📸 Instagram: @NHLWraparound

🎵 TikTok: @NHLWraparound

👍 Facebook: NHL Wraparound Facebook

🏒 HASHTAGS

#TampaBayLightning #NHLWraparound #SummerCoolers #JonCooper #StevenStamkos #JakeGuentzel #NikitaKucherov #AndreiVasilevskiy #PatrickKane #JonathanToews #DuncanKeith #SamReilly #IsaacHoward #JakobPelletier #JulienBriseBois #JonasJohansson #YanniGourde #GageGonclaves #NickPerbix #BraydenPoint #BrandonHagel #AnthonyCirelli #OliverBjorkStrand

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About the Podcast

NHL Wraparound Podcast
Neil Smith & Vic Morren
Breadth and depth.
Contemporary and historical.
Straight-forward and experienced.
The NHL Wraparound podcast features Neil Smith, President-General Manager of the 1994 Stanley Cup Champion New York Rangers and longtime ESPN/NHL veteran Vic Morren sharing no-nonsense opinions on news and issues around the National Hockey League.

Bringing decades of experience from their respective fields, Smith and Morren create a unique partnership that examines the NHL from multiple perspectives. Additionally, as hockey historians, the pair can delve into any topic in today’s game and enlighten the audience with connections to events from previous years. To truly appreciate where hockey stands today, one needs to understand its past.

With 2024 marking the 30th anniversary of the Rangers last championship season, a special five-part series is planned to commemorate that magical run. Expect fascinating behind-the-scenes stories and special guests with particular focus on the GM who pushed all of his chips into the middle of the table amidst the most pressurized environments – and came out on top.

Whether you’re new to the game or a seasoned fan, each episode of NHL Wraparound will leave you entertained and informed.


Bio’s
Neil S. Smith, highly regarded NHL executive, served as the President and General Manager of the 1994 Stanley Cup Champion New York Rangers. During his eleven years with the team, they achieved significant success, including three division titles, two Presidents’ Trophies, one Eastern Conference Championship, and a historic Stanley Cup victory—the franchise’s first in 54 years.

Known for his expertise in professional sports franchise economics, Smith played a pivotal role in management decisions under four different Rangers owners.. His tenure saw iconic trades and acquisitions, including Hall of Famers Mark Messier and Wayne Gretzky, as well as successful drafts and free-agent signings.

Starting as a pro scout, Smith's career highlights include the impactful 1989 draft for the Detroit Red Wings and bold trades that shaped NHL history. He briefly served as GM for the New York Islanders in 2006, later working as a consultant for the Dallas Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.

A Toronto native, Smith's hockey journey began in junior leagues before a distinguished college career at Western Michigan University. He has received numerous awards and distinctions, including induction into the University's Sports Hall of Fame in 1991.

Vic Morren: Born in New York City close to the Old Madison Square Garden, Vic Morren has had hockey in his blood his entire life as a fan, player and television production manager.

A graduate of William Paterson University, Morren skated for three seasons with the Pioneers hockey club and became the first statistical analyst to apply his craft to telecasts working New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils games from 1984-87. He co-authored two NHL-based statistics books within that span before moving to ESPN in 1987 and working the final season of the original deal the network had with the NHL.
After departing in 1990, Morren worked as a studio producer for SportsChannel America’s NHL coverage and the 1992 Barcelona Olympics before returning to ESPN that fall where he worked all 12 seasons on the second ESPN/NHL deal and the first season of the most recent contract in 2021-22. Morren has also earned a Sports Emmy for his work on Sunday Night Football coverage in 2003.

His relationship with Neil Smith dates back 33 years through their mutual friendship with the late ESPN/ABC commentator John Saunders. Morren looks forward to NHL Wraparound and collaborating with Smith with the goal to provide an experience of contemporary viewpoints, historical spin and an overall enriching podcast experience.