Despite appearing in three straight Stanley Cup Finals and winning the Silver Bowl twice, the Tampa Bay Lightning players are still hungry for next season.
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After beating the Dallas Stars in 2020 and the Montreal Canadiens in the finals the following year, the “Bolts” lost to the Colorado Avalanche last spring. The thirst for victory is always present in the training camp.
“I think the guys are very nervous when they come to camp because every night they have a goal behind their back, the teams want to beat us. Returning to the Finals shows we’re still hopeful and not fed up,” forward Ross Colton told NHL.com on Friday.
The 25-year-old believes it’s the high expectations that have made the Lightning do so well over the past few years. He wasn’t necessarily expected to go that far in 2022, but he did well in the playoffs.
No team has reached the Stanley Cup Finals for four consecutive seasons since the New York Islanders in the early 1980s.
Palat’s successor?
Colton, author of 39 points in 79 games in his first full season in the National Hockey League, would love to stay in Tampa for his entire career. The American would like to be the worthy successor to Ondrej Palat, who switched to the New Jersey Devils in the offseason.
“He did so much for the team offensively and defensively, he was physical. If we needed a big goal, he scored it. It’s a great loss. But I had a great summer and am looking forward to this year. Anything I can do to increase my responsibility from last season I will do it,” said Colton, who would like to take his place in the front two lines.
“I want to become a more complete player. I can’t rest on the laurels of last season. Of course I was happy with what I was able to achieve, but disappointed with the result. I can work on a lot of things, whether it’s my defense or winning face-offs,” added the center player.
During his career, Colton has 51 points, including 31 goals, in 109 games. He added 15 points in 46 playoff games.