Over the next few weeks, Die By The Blade staffers will take an in-depth look at each of the other teams in the Atlantic Division as the Buffalo Sabres prepare for the 2021-22 season.
Next up: the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Last Season’s Results: 36-17-3, 75 points (109 points over an 82 game season, 3rd in Central Division, won the Stanley Cup)
Key Offseason Acquisitions: Brian Elliot, Zach Bogosian, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, Brent Seabrook’s LTIR status
Key Offseason Losses: Yanni Gourde (Kraken), Tyler Johnson (Hawks) , Blake Coleman (Devils), Barclay Goodrow (Rangers), David Savard (Habs), Kucherov’s LTIR status (Lightning)
NHL Contracts Signed:
Forwards: Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos, Brayden Point, Ondrej Palat, Anthony Cirelli, Alex Killorn, Ross Colton, Corey Perry, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, Alex Barre-Boulet, Gemel Smith, Mathieu Joseph
Defensemen: Victor Hedman, Ryan McDonagh, Mikhail Sergachev, Erik Cernak, Jan Rutta, Zach Bogosian, Cal Foote
Goalies: Andrei Vasilevskiy, Brian Elliot
Season Outlook: Couldn’t have gone much better for Tampa, just a little back to back Stanley Cup Championships.