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*This article was up to date in April 2023
Whenever a brand new franchise enters the NHL, you by no means know what that workforce’s id will develop into. While some groups by no means develop a single trait that defines them, others seemingly double down on one facet of the sport to be the perfect at.
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For the Tampa Bay Lightning, the pathway to prominence has been paved on the again of offense. Even after they have been struggling to ice aggressive teams throughout their rocky early history, the Lightning nonetheless managed to search out gamers who helped outline what it meant to be a aim scorer throughout their time within the league.
With a lot offensive expertise passing by one franchise, let’s look again on the 10 greatest aim scorers in Lightning historical past to see who has left a significant mark on the historical past books.
1. Steven Stamkos: 515 Goals Scored
For a franchise with so many nice aim scorers, Steven Stamkos is, by a reasonably huge margin, the Lightning’s greatest in franchise historical past. His 515 objectives scored in 1,003 video games performed already dwarf Lecavalier’s profession totals, and he nonetheless is producing at an elite stage.
Simply put, Stamkos dominates the Lightning’s scoring record book. His 60-goal season in 2011-12 is probably the most in franchise historical past, he has damaged 40 objectives scored 5 occasions in his profession, and his one-timer is really iconic throughout the league.
The superb factor is, if he had stayed healthy throughout his career, Stamkos might have much more spectacular scoring numbers. Even in seasons when he missed vital time, he threatened to interrupt 30 objectives, that means that he might have scored at the very least 40 a couple of extra occasions.
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No matter what occurs all through the rest of his profession, Stamkos will go down as one of many best goal scorers in NHL history. While his legacy with the Lightning is ever-expanding, he has already confirmed that he’s the perfect aim scorer in franchise historical past.
2. Vincent Lecavalier: 383 Goals Scored
While the Lightning have been nonetheless a fledgling franchise, they got here into the 1998 Draft with the first-overall choice and the necessity for a real famous person to construct their future round. With that choose, they took Vincent Lecavalier, who went on to develop into one of many defining players of the entire franchise.
Lecavalier was greater than only a franchise face for the Lightning, as his offensive recreation translated nearly instantly to the NHL. Throughout his profession, he posted 383 objectives, together with a run of 12-straight seasons scoring at the very least 20 objectives. He additionally quickly held the franchise report for aim scoring with 52 tallies en route to the Rocket Richard Trophy throughout the 2006-07 season.
Few gamers might replicate what Lecavalier did for the Lightning. He not solely lived as much as the billing of a first-overall choice, however he helped form each the franchise he performed for and all the NHL together with his goal-scoring means.
3. Martin St. Louis: 365 Goals Scored
Similar to Kucherov, if this have been an inventory purely about factors, then Lightning legend Martin St. Louis can be on the prime. He is, far and away, the franchise’s most prolific scorer, posting 588 assists in near 1,000 video games whereas profitable the Art Ross Trophy twice.
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Despite being an help machine, St. Louis was no goal-scoring slouch. He sits third total in franchise historical past, posting 365 objectives. He additionally has probably the most postseason objectives, with 33 in 66 playoff video games.
Simply put, there’s a cause why St. Louis’ quantity was the first to be retired by the Lightning. He is without doubt one of the all-time greats for the franchise with regards to any measure of success and talent.
4. Nikita Kucherov: 276 Goals Scored
If this have been an inventory of the perfect scorers in Lightning historical past, then Nikita Kucherov can be close to the highest. His 128 factors in 2018-19 alone have been some of the productive in current NHL historical past, and his scoring means is amongst the perfect within the entire NHL right now.
However, Kucherov is excess of only a good passer. He is a pure sniper, possessing among the best photographs in Lightning historical past. From the second that he scored a aim on his first shot in his NHL game, you could possibly inform that he can be destined for scoring greatness.
After signing an eight-year extension to maintain him with the Lightning by the 2026-27 season, Kucherov may have loads of time to proceed showcasing his unbelievable goal-scoring prowess. Given that he already has 276 objectives scored in 644 video games performed, he might discover himself on the prime of this checklist by the point his profession finishes in Tampa Bay.
5. Brayden Point: 218 Goals Scored
Despite being within the early phases of his NHL profession, Brayden Point has already established himself as among the best scorers in franchise historical past. His 41 objectives scored in 2018-19 places him in elite firm, being one in all solely six gamers to break the 40-goal mark for the Lightning.
Also, regardless of solely enjoying in 499 video games, Point has already registered 218 objectives, putting him fifth on the Lightning’s all-time goal-scoring checklist.
As lengthy as he is ready to keep wholesome, there’s no cause to consider that his scoring will slow down any time soon. In reality, by the top of his profession, he’ll seemingly be close to the highest of this checklist.
6. Alex Killorn: 198 Goals Scored
When you consider Alex Killorn, elite aim scoring seemingly isn’t the very first thing that involves thoughts. However, after posting a career-high 26 objectives throughout the 2019-20 season, he rocketed up the Lightning’s all-time scoring checklist. Now he sits sixth total, having scored 198 objectives in 805 video games performed.
So, whereas Killorn is way from an elite scoring presence, he nonetheless has managed to wrack up objectives all through his practically nine-year tenure in Tampa Bay.
Where Killorn is elite, nonetheless, is in his playoff manufacturing. He at present sits tied for sixth in Lightning postseason scoring, that means that he is aware of how you can rating when the strain is highest.
7. Tyler Johnson: 161 Goals Scored
Sometimes it may be straightforward to neglect simply how particular a participant was of their prime. For the Lightning, Tyler Johnson turned that identify in recent times. While his play swung wildly between famous person and mediocrity, that doesn’t undo simply how good his scoring means was and nonetheless is.
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Early in his profession, Johnson was some of the dominant aim scorers on an already stacked Lightning workforce. His play helped to hold the franchise by tough stretches, incomes him a Calder Trophy nomination in his rookie season.
Also vital to Johnson’s Lightning legacy was his play within the 2015 Postseason. During their run to the Stanley Cup Final, he registered 13 objectives, together with the franchise’s first and only playoff hat trick.
With his 161 profession objectives in 589 video games performed, Johnson will go down in Lightning historical past as among the best aim scorers in workforce historical past.
8. Brad Richards: 150 Goals Scored
While Brad Richards’ time with the Lightning was comparatively brief when in comparison with a few of his friends, he nonetheless is without doubt one of the franchises’ legendary gamers. As a third-round choice on the 1998 Draft, Richards rapidly established himself as among the best goalscorers on a workforce loaded with offensive expertise.
Richards’ legacy was constructed on the again of his historic run throughout the 2004 Stanley Cup playoffs, the place he scored a report seven game-winning objectives en path to the 2004 Conn Smythe Trophy.
In his seven seasons with the Lightning, Richards scored at the very least 20 objectives 5 occasions. By the top of his tenure, he posted a fair 150 objectives.
Related: Why the Vezina Trophy Deserves its Name
Sure, these aren’t gaudy numbers, however he was a constant scoring menace that helped to push Tampa Bay ahead. If he had been able to stay with the franchise like a few of his former teammates, he would simply be one of the most-decorated goal scorers in Lightning historical past.
9. Fredrick Modin: 145 Goals Scored
While he could not have been the Lightning’s largest star, Fredrick Modin is a reputation the franchise will always remember. In 445 video games performed with Tampa Bay, he posted 145 objectives, breaking 30 objectives scored twice. He additionally scored eight objectives all through the 2004 Stanley Cup run, including one other layer to his legacy.
Related: Lightning All-Decade Team: Offense
As a pure aim scorer, there aren’t many gamers higher in Lightning historical past than Modin. His scoring totals will endlessly be amongst the perfect for the franchise, and he’ll at all times be remembered for his exhausting shot and contributions each on the ice and within the locker room.
T-10. Ondrej Palat & Victor Hedman – 143 Goals Scored
Honorable Mention – Brian Bradley: 111 Goals Scored
Sometimes crucial participant to an enlargement franchise can come from an surprising place. For the Lightning, that participant was Brian Bradley. With their 18th choice at the 1992 Expansion Draft, the Lightning acquired Bradley who had solely posted 10 objectives the 12 months prior for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Related: Lightning’s 3 Best Trades of the Decade
However, Bradley burst onto the scene throughout the 1992-93 season, scoring 42 objectives. While he would fail to duplicate these numbers once more, he nonetheless broke at the very least 20 objectives scored in three of his 4 full seasons in Tampa Bay.
Even although his Lightning profession was lower brief because of damage, Bradley nonetheless sits simply outdoors the highest 10, with 111 objectives. Despite getting knocked off this checklist, it’s a must to point out him when discussing gamers who will endlessly go down as some of the vital aim scorers in franchise historical past.
Lightning Are Defined by Their Scoring
While issues weren’t at all times clean for the Lightning as they established themselves within the NHL, the franchise managed to search out their foothold on the again of aim scoring. With loads of scoring expertise on their roster, this franchise seems to be in good fingers as they work in direction of their thirtieth anniversary within the league.
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