Summer Skate: Tampa Bay Lightning

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Using the VUKOTA projection system of Hockey Prospectus, Insider takes the temperature of key players on every NHL team, continuing with Tampa Bay. For a detailed explanation of Prospectus' proprietary GVT value metric, read more here.

Summer Skate -- Tampa Bay Lightning

The Tampa Bay Lightning exceeded both internal and external expectations last season, coming up one game short of reaching the Stanley Cup finals.

This summer GM Steve Yzerman has not done much maneuvering, aside from the important re-signing of Steven Stamkos to a long-term contract.

Instead, much of the team's improvement in 2011-12 will be based on the internal improvement of players such as Teddy Purcell, Victor Hedman and Stamkos.

Let's see if VUKOTA holds that same optimism.

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