Why Stanley Cup contenders don't need to win July

After building a strong core through the NHL Draft, the Lightning made use of subsequent trade deadlines to build a consistent winner that continues to be the envy of most NHL franchises.

In the waning moments of the 2018 trade deadline, NHL insiders learned of a blockbuster trade. Tampa Bay dealt five assets to the New York Rangers, who had recently announced their intention to strip down their core and rebuild, for two players with looming contract issues: left-handed defenseman Ryan McDonagh and forward J.T. Miller. 

McDonagh, the Rangers' captain, had seen significant postseason action in New York as its most important blue-liner. Tampa Bay signed both players to contract extensions, but only one would contribute to the Lightning dynasty. 

With McDonagh on the ice during many of its most difficult matchups, Tampa Bay allowed just two goals against per hour during the Lightning's two Stanley Cup playoff runs, according to Natural Stat Trick. 

That mark is better than that of Florida's Gustav Forsling — lauded now as perhaps the best defensive defenseman in the NHL — whose Panthers allowed 2.22 goals against per hour with him on the ice during their back-to-back playoff runs to the Stanley Cup Final in 2023 and 2024. 

Tampa Bay couldn't quite get over the hump with McDonagh and Miller, but trading Miller to Vancouver for desperately needed cap space and a first-round draft pick helped set the stage for the 2020 trade deadline. 

In March that season, the Lightning traded two first-round picks and two prospects in two different deals to acquire forward Blake Coleman from New Jersey and forward Barclay Goodrow from San Jose. Both players were acquired with the aid of cap retention by the Devils and Sharks, respectively.

Even better, both came with an additional year remaining on their contracts. The Lightning, coached by Jon Cooper, would get two kicks at the Stanley Cup — which they won in 2020 and 2021 — with their new "Jeeps." 

Cooper got players who could defend well, transition up ice and play in the dirtiest, hardest areas. Coleman and Goodrow also had the added benefit of being able to play all three forward positions. In fact, Coleman and Goodrow joined Yanni Gourde to form one of the most effective playoff lines of the cap era. 

Cooper deployed Coleman-Gourde-Goodrow as his second line, watching the team allow just 1.23 goals per hour when on the ice over its two Cup-winning playoff runs. The Lightning outscored the opposition 15-10 across eight consecutive playoff series, according to Natural Stat Trick. 

Tampa Bay proved the trade deadline is now an essential piece of team building in the NHL. More teams should follow its lead.