Tampa Bay kept its core and added depth pieces to bolster the bottom six, notably Pontus Holmberg, Sam O’Reilly, and Jacob Pelletier, in a season framed as a smart, not splashy, retool. The goal is to shore up depth that wore down the roster and keep the high-end talent healthy enough to pressure the Florida Panthers.

Health and youth are the X-factors: Mitchell Chaffee and JJ Moser could see bigger roles, while the defense behind Hedman and the goalie tandem must hold the line if injuries pop up. If those pieces pay off and the stars stay healthy, Tampa Bay remains a threat in a tough Atlantic.