Toronto Maple Leafs: NHL End of Season Power Rankings

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TAMPA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 28: Steven Stamkos #91 of the Tampa Bay Lightning faces off during a game against the Arizona Coyotes at Amalie Arena on October 28, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

#3 Tampa Bay Lighting

The Tampa Bay Lightning continue to have one of the best rosters ever assembled in the NHL Salary Cap era.

They have won back-to-back Stanley Cups under probably the worst circumstances a team has ever done so in.

They have been the best team in the NHL, more or less, for at least the last five years.

They might be 3rd in the Atlantic and in danger of being a Wild Card team, but that really has more to do with the fact that four of the NHL’s best teams are in one division.

The fact they are hanging with the top teams even though they have played so, so much hockey in the last 2 calendar years, and probably are not hungry at all, is a testament to their incredible roster.

They have the NHL’s best goalie and, at worst, the 2nd best defenseman.

They know how to win, and are really, really good at it.

I ranked them first heading into the season, and the only reason they dropped down is because the two teams ahead of them are having better seasons and arguably have better rosters.

Still, a three-peat isn’t out of the question.

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