The 2024-2025 NHL season has come to an end for all but all but two teams. For most, the offseason has officially begun. With a fair amount of time to go before the NHL draft and free agency, now seems like the perfect time to have some fun and look back on the season for the Tampa Bay Lightning. We already know that Jon Cooper will return as head coach next season. Let’s bring out the tried and true: an old school report card grading system. We’ll start with the Lightning’s defenseman.
Darren Raddysh: B+
Darren Raddysh finished his second full season in the NHL, and proved his stats from last year were not a one and done. The 29-year-old put up 37 points this season in 73 games, second most amongst Tampa’s Defense. Playing the majority of your minutes with Victor Hedman is certain to make any player look pretty good, but getting 37 points while carrying a cap hit of only 975k isn’t something anyone will be upset about.
Unfortunately that production would not carry over for Raddysh into the playoffs, as the defensemen went pointless through his four games played, and found himself a healthy scratch in game 2.
Overall Darren Raddysh earns himself an B+. Continued production throughout the regular season is certainly the stand out, but he will have to find a way to bring what he does best into the postseason.
Emil Lilleberg: B-
Another defensemen completing their sophomore season, Lilleberg took a big step from last year. The 24 year old, big bodied d-man did set a new high in points this year with 19, as well as notching his first and only goal of his career so far.
There is time to grow for Lilleberg, but taking steps both offensively and defensively will be needed to work his way into a top 4 role in this league. In the 5 games played in these playoffs however, Lilleberg did manage to showcase some poise and stability, as well as notching 1 assist.
Overall, a B- seems to fit what was a good step from the young dman. Continuing to improve at both ends of this ice will help future petitions for more challenging minutes.
Erik Cernak: A-
If you weren’t aware of what Erik Cernak excelled at before this season, you do now. This season stacks up with some of Cernak’s best, finishing with a career high in points and plus/minus. Reunited with Ryan McDonagh, the two of them may have been the most underrated shut down pairing in the league.
Cernak’s defensive prowess continued into the postseason, recording 15 hits, 7 blocked shots, and 1 goal. In a postseason where no one performed up to snuff, Cernak managed to remain reliable.
Overall Cernak continues to prove his defensive reliability, and mustered up some extra offence this year to earn himself an A-.
JJ Moser: C+
It was a challenging first year for Moser in Tampa Bay. Great expectations come with being traded for Mikhail Sergachev, and the 24 year old defenseman had a rough time trying to live up to them. Injury precluded Moser from playing more than 54 games this year, in which he put up a modest 14 points.
A lack of quality playing time in the regular season certainly made it difficult to adjust to the system on his new cup aspiring team, and this lack of chemistry showed going into the playoffs, as Moser’s postseason was as disappointing as anyones.
An offseason of rest and another full training camp with the Lightning will hopefully bring out the best in Moser next season, but for now, an overall grade of C+.
Nick Perbix: B-
Entering his third season in the NHL, many were expecting a significant step from the pending free agent. Perbix did not have himself a poor season by any means, but it did not seem like any significant step was taken by the 26 year old. Perbix continued to be steady defensively, improving in poise and maturity, though he saw a dip in his point production.
Perbix will be looking for a new contract, and a raise from his current 1.125 million dollar figure, making him an unlikely candidate to stay in Tampa Bay, given the teams fully signed defensive roster.
Overall, Perbix continued this season where he left off last. No significant steps were made, but neither were any fall backs. A grade of B- seems appropriate, given the expectations leading into this final year.
Ryan McDonagh: A
There was no time lost with the reunion of Ryan Mcdonagh and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Having played his last two seasons with the Nashville Predators, McDonagh fell smoothly back into the fold. With a team high +43, Ryan McDonagh provided exemplary defense in a shut down role alongside Erik Cernak.
At 35 years of age, many would be expecting McDonagh to be slowing down, but the veteran defender continues to defy time and is perfecting the defense first role that helped Tampa win back to back cups in the years prior.
Overall, there is never much to complain about when it comes to Ryan McDonagh, especially this season. Defensive prowess, leadership and poise earn him an A.
Victor Hedman: A
Victor Hedman had his work cut out for him this year. Inheriting the captaincy from Steven Stamkos after his controversial departure from the club, Hedman would have to enhance his leadership role with the team, and lead by example. Fortunately for the Lightning, Hedman is a Norris trophy winning, future hall of fame defenseman, so the question of whether he could handle the pressure of wearing the C was never really in doubt.
Hedman had another solid regular season, boasting 66 points in 79 games, and though he is not a Norris finalist this year, don’t expect his name to be too far down the list. Still the Lightning found disappointment come playoffs, and the captain has the bare that more than anyone, no matter what. Hedman will have to learn how to rally the troops in his new role.
Overall Hedman is still the all-star defenseman everyone has come to expect, and surely next season will be no different. His role model defense, impressive point production, and locker room leadership earns him an A this season.
Final thoughts
All in all this was a very successful year for the Lightning defense group. No players took any steps back, and they were amongst the league’s highest point producing d-cores. That being said, there was a polarizing difference between this group in the regular season, and in the playoffs, and ultimately that hurt the grades of every player. More of the same will be expected from this group next year, but with more consistent postseason results.
