Were The Bucs Built Like The Lightning?
July 13th, 2021
Interesting connections
The Bucs and the Lightning winning championships in the NFL and NHL, respectively, didn’t just happen overnight.
Yesterday the Lightning celebrated their Stanley Cup victory with a second boat parade in a year. Well done, men.
It took years to build the Bucs and the Lightning into champions — or as one NFL.com analyst referred to the Lightning, “a dynasty.” Could the Bucs and Lightning have been swapping notes?
(Remember the scene from the 2017 “Hard Knocks,” when then-Lightning assistant general manager and now current Lightning GM Julien BriseBois was hanging out in Jason Licht’s office?)
To be fair, the Lightning had a winning track record well established before this season. But there are parallels between how the Bucs and Lightning rosters were crafted.
Bucky Brooks of NFL.com doffed his cap in salute to Tampa Bay’s “dynasty” and said NFL teams can learn a lot from how the Lightning were built. Per Brooks, their core elements are the same traits any NFL team can use to build a winner: patience, draft, develop and re-sign your stars — and build a team that can play like a chameleon.
The Bucs are built that way, Joe believes. Oh sure, Licht signed a bunch of free agents the past two years. But there is no question that the team’s core is drafted players from Lavonte David and Will Gholston down to Devin White and Tristan Wirfs, and a bunch of studs in-between.
Patience? Team Glazer retained Licht after the 2019 season despite having one winning record in six seasons under three head coaches. That’s rare patience.
And as far as being a chameleon of a team, Joe thinks the Bucs have done that well. They can win with the pass and proved in the playoffs they can win with the run. The defense can stop the run or get after the best of quarterbacks.
While Brooks did not try to compare the Bucs and the Lightning directly, Joe thinks there are parallels.
Now the Bucs have to follow the Lightning lead and win back-to-back.
July 13th, 2021 at 2:11 am
..or could it be that (as some others have said) Tom just brings luck to wherever he plays?
July 13th, 2021 at 2:19 am
It was so nice to see the Lightning go back-to-back since we never got the chance after winning our first Cup in 2004 since the 2005 season never happened due to the lockout.
July 13th, 2021 at 3:00 am
I honestly thought the Bucs & Lightning were built the same (even though i know very little about hockey)
July 13th, 2021 at 5:52 am
Interesting parallels Joe, but I don’t get the ‘chameleon’ descriptor. Bucs have become a very talented, well-rounded team that can beat you with offense or beat you with defense. This team can play smash-mouth football with the best of them; no ‘chameleon’ there.
July 13th, 2021 at 6:53 am
I’d like to see The Bucs repeat just like The Lightning. Keep it going!👍
July 13th, 2021 at 7:18 am
I have a few sore loser Canadian friends from Toronto.
These guys are upset that the Lightning are 18,000.00 over the salary cap, and using that as an excuse for the azz whipping we put on Montreal.
July 13th, 2021 at 8:18 am
The big difference in team construction is the position of QB. There’s no equivalent in hockey. (Goalie is close, but it’s part of defense, really.) The Bucs went from the outhouse to the penthouse in ONE SEASON by dumping Jameis and bringing in Brady. Also, you don’t really have the concept of trade deadline acquisitions in football, while they are critical in hockey. Last season’s acquisition of Coleman, Goodrow and Bogosian were important, as was David Savard this year. Football teams do not trade #1 draft choices for a rental player.
All that being said, I am deliriously happy right now. Every piece of clothing I own has either a Lightning or Bucs logo on it.
July 13th, 2021 at 8:19 am
Chris… Chicago did exactly the same thing the year they beat the Lightning for the Stanley Cup, with Patrick Kane. It was within the rules. So tell your friends to learn something about the history of Hockey…, sour grapes.
July 13th, 2021 at 8:19 am
Patrick Kane…over cap…Blackhawk championship year.
July 13th, 2021 at 8:21 am
Chris@Apple — You tell your Canadian friends that they’re just annoyed that their expensive star players fizzle out in the playoffs year after year, and ours come to play. There is no salary cap in the playoffs. Chicago did the exact same thing with Patrick Kane in 2015 and the league & the NHLPA chose not to close that loophole.
July 13th, 2021 at 8:48 am
Montreal is a beautiful city, but any country that is so afraid of a virus that is under reasonable control that they keep their borders closed, won’t allow their baseball team to play in their city and limit the attendance to a championship series to 1/5 capacity doesn’t deserve a championship.
July 13th, 2021 at 11:02 am
Its an interesting comparison. Both teams have stacked rosters that consist of a lot of in house talent. Giving the edge to the Bolts because they have a younger core, and Vasy will give them a chance to win for at least another decade. Charmed life for Tampa sports.
July 13th, 2021 at 11:22 am
@AMI_Chris:
Great takes, and well stated!
Cheers!🍻