Is Tampa Bay for real this year?
 

They've come out of the gate hot this year and there O is on fire (after tonight they'll lead the league in GF). They cleaned up Philly 5-1 a few days ago, and are now beating winnipeg 6-0 at home halfway through the game.

They disappointed last year, but could they be a serious threat in the east?

No. Next question.

For the playoffs? Yes . As a contender to win it all? No.

Unless they could go on a run like they did in their first year under Boucher they won win much. I don't see them as a true Cup contender.

That defense is not that good and it will show its colours sooner or later and Lindback is still unproven.

Nope.

We're always better when nobody expects us to be good.

There's a reason we aren't jumping the gun on the mainboards just yet.

Defense was bad last year, but goaltending was historically atrocious. Anything at or around league average netminding last season would have had them in the playoffs.

If they play like this the entire year? Yes.

For the sake of my fantasy team I sure hope so.

Lindback still too unproven, but Salo and Carle have really solidified their defense. Hedman has improved his all around game significantly as well and Conacher is a nice surprise so far.

Not a serious cup contender yet but they're my pick to win their division.

They are fun to watch. They have a nice offense.

I always had a feeling Tampa would have a bounce-back year this year.

They'll beat up on a ridiculously weak SE but I doubt they'll do much in the playoffs.

Nahhh. They play nobody in a nobody division.

They had a period-long bad stretch against the Islanders, otherwise they've been all over their opponents.

Probably icing the best offensive corps in the league. Getting goals from everyone on the squad.

What else is new ... for the first time in a while their defence and goaltending actually don't suck.

Cup contender? Probably not yet, but they are a team to watch.

Too bad Lindback is so unproven. If only they had a proven goaltender like Roloson.

They might be a Canadian team nowadays but they still play like a team from SE division.

The whole South-East division should be renamed Mike Green division when the realigment happens.

Putting up a 6 spot versus the Winnipeg PK isn't any sort of accomplishment. I'm hoping we finish with at least a 40% PK by the end of the year. I know we have some work to get there though. :shakehead

It's not a criticism. Schnieder is unproven as well. Neither has had the experience of being a full-time starter. Doesn't mean he won't do well.

Not until Lindback proves he can stay in this league.

Don't put too much stock into the Jets game, we're playing like absolute **** and have been for a couple of games.

Yes. I'll be surprised if they don't make the playoffs.

Lindback makes them a legit contender

No! No! No!

This is my view as well.

Tampa is and was a huge offensive threat, but they were terrible at keeping the puck out of their own net last season.

If they can improve even the slightest defensively this season, they're in the playoffs. Especially with the struggles that are going on with most of the teams in their division.