Putting together a playoff roster in the salary cap era is a bit like alchemy – take a lot of research, mix it with some logic, and toss in a little mysticism while adding a dash of hope. Then maybe, just maybe you’ll turn a bunch of hockey players into a Stanley Cup. As the years have worn on, the Tampa Bay Lightning’s roster has slowly transformed from a home-grown unit to more of a patchwork of trades and free-agent signings. Such is the price of success in the NHL.
Julien BriseBois (with a little help from Steve Yzerman) has used a pretty balanced approach to building this roster.