NHL: Stanley Cup Final-Media Day - Source: Imagn — 5 Tampa Bay Lightning players and personnel detrimental to retool roster after 1st round playoff exit ft. Julien BriseBois - Source: Imagn

5 Tampa Bay Lightning players and personnel detrimental to retool roster after 1st round playoff exit ft. Julien BriseBois

Modified Jun 11, 2025 10:17 GMT

The Tampa Bay Lightning head into this offseason with more questions than answers. This season marked the third year in a row the team was bounced in the first round. It seems as though the team’s competitive window is closing despite a highly talented core.

Somehow, the Lightning just haven’t been able to recapture the magic that led to back-to-back Stanley Cup wins in 2020 and 2021.

That’s why it’s worth looking at five Tampa Bay Lightning team members who stand in the way of a successful roster retool this summer.

5 Tampa Bay Lightning players and personnel detrimental to retool roster after 1st round playoff exit

#5 Jon Cooper

Rumors of Jon Cooper leaving could be a distraction for the Bolts next season - Source: Imagn

Jon Cooper has been one of the NHL’s most successful coaches. He’s certainly been among the best of his generation.

Despite his success in Tampa, rumors have swirled about Cooper leaving the Sunshine State to head to Utah. A May 2 piece in the Salt Lake Tribune addressed rumors regarding Cooper’s move to Utah.

While Cooper has been adamant about staying put in Tampa, one has to wonder if there is something to those rumors. Regardless, Cooper’s potential move could be a needless distraction for the team.

#4 Nikita Kucherov

Nikita Kucherov is not the problem; his next contract is.

Kucherov has two years left on his current deal with an AAV of $9 million. He’ll be a UFA in 2027 and could spark an intense debate about his next contract. He would hit free agency at age 33 but could end up going the way of former captain Steven Stamkos as the Lightning may be unable to afford him.

In the meantime, Kucherov’s contract situation could be another distraction, especially if chatter picks up about the Bolts trading him amid salary cap issues.

#3 Andrei Vasilevsky

Talk of Vasilevsky's decline might catch steam if his numbers drop next season - Source: Imagn

Andrei Vasilevsky remains among the league’s best goaltenders. He entered yet another Vezina Trophy nomination this season.

However, Vasilevsky’s numbers have been trending downward, leading to questions about his durability.

Vasilevsky doesn’t seem to be showing any significant signs of slowing down at this point. But there has been ongoing online debate regarding his effectiveness down the road.

If Vasilevsky becomes an issue for the Tampa Bay Lightning, his $9.5 million cap and modified no-trade clause could become a serious factor keeping the team from retooling or even potentially rebuilding at some point down this season and beyond.

#2 The teams’ scouting staff

One of the costs the Tampa Bay Lightning have had to pay for their success has been the loss of valuable draft picks. The Bolts don’t have a first-round draft pick in the next three years, but have a collection of mid-round picks.

As such, the team’s scouting staff will need to be on top of their game to find solid players in the second round and beyond.

If that’s the case, the Lightning could restock their prospect cupboard without having first-round picks. But if the scouting staff can’t hit the jackpot, it could lead the club to undergo a painful transition.

#1 Julien BriseBois

Julien BriseBois will be hard-pressed to get the right pieces for the Tampa Bay Lightning this summer - Source: Imagn

Julien BriseBois has been money in the bank since taking over from Steve Yzerman as the Tampa Bay Lightning’s GM in 2018.

His moves helped build the Lightning’s mini-dynasty this decade. However, his recent moves have not yielded the expected results in the last three seasons. Brisebois's moves have put the Lightning in an impossible salary cap position with $3.4 million to spend this summer.

This situation means cap dumps are coming in Tampa. If that’s the case, the return on such trades could be paltry, leading the Lighting to a potential regression next season despite an elite core.

Ultimately, BriseBois will need to prove why he’s one of the NHL’s best executives if the Lightning are to contend next season.

About the author

Nestor is an NHL and MLB writer at Sportskeeda with over 10 years of experience. Growing up in Toronto, he became an avid Maple Leafs and Blue Jays fan, but also admires the New York Islanders and Los Angeles Dodgers for their dominance in the 80s. Holding an Economics and Education major, Nestor’s passion for writing and sporting events led him to take up reporting about the sport professionally.

Nestor credits the Leafs’ playoff runs in the early '90s as having a lasting impact on him. His favorite players are Doug Gilmour and Mike Bossy, as he feels they were tough, talented leaders, while Pat Burns is his favorite coach of all time for always preaching a fast-paced game.

Growing up in Canada, it was natural for Nestor to become interested in ice hockey and he played Minor Hockey as a teenager, which has given him a unique perspective on the sport. Nestor has mastered the art of how to best present facts and he also has a knack for knowing which sources can be trusted, and which can't for stories.

When he is not writing about Canada’s national passion, Nestor enjoys running and hiking.

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