The NHL launched a grand experiment in 1992 by dropping a franchise into the state of Florida. Ice hockey in Florida? Sure, why not?! There have been some rough moments along the way, but more than a quarter-century later, professional hockey has survived the heat – and even thrived at times – in the Sunshine State. Today, that experiment is best known as the Tampa Bay Lightning, the NHL’s first Floridian residents.

Perfect Weather

As most expected, the Lightning didn’t experience instant success as an NHL franchise. Tampa Bay failed to make it to the playoffs in nine of their first 10 seasons and lost the only postseason series they played during that time. Needless to say, it was an inauspicious start for the franchise.

Ground Strike

Fortunately for the Lightning, things started to turn around in 2002. By that time, Vincent Lecavalier had blossomed into a star and become the team’s captain. The same was true of Martin St. Louis, who signed with the Lightning in 2000. Led these two, the Lightning won their first-ever division title and playoff series in 2003. They took things to the next level the following season, winning their second straight division title and ultimately taking home the Stanley Cup, defeating Calgary in a dramatic seven-game series.

Unfortunately, the NHL’s lockout came the season after the Lightning won their title. Things went a little south for Tampa, as they missed the playoffs five times in six seasons between 2008 and 2013. After a rebuilding period, the Lightning returned to prominence and reached the Eastern Conference Finals three times in a four-year period, including a failed trip to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2015. The Lightning also won the Presidents’ Trophy for the first time during the 2018-19 season, helping maintain their status as one of the top teams in the NHL, despite a few disappointing playoff losses.