The implementation of the salary cap after the 2003-2004 season was meant to increase parity, give more teams a chance to win the Stanley Cup, and even the playing field for teams that aren't money printing machines regardless of the on-ice product. This system was made so teams like the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Los Angeles Kings, and the Anaheim Ducks (to a lesser extent, the decade-plus run of the San Jose Sharks, who were dominant but could never win it all) could find success once in a while. This is what makes Tampa Bay's accomplishments even more stunning.
Morning After Thoughts: The Lightning Legacy Continues to March Forward
