Bold Predictions for the Tampa Bay Lightning as the 2014-15 NHL Season Begins

It's here! The Tampa Bay Lightning begin their 2014-15 campaign at home against Florida on Oct. 9 and start the first installment of what could be a historic season. With so much optimism surrounding the Bolts, it provides a great opportunity to make bold predictions for the season.

NHL.com experts vary on their opinion on the Lightning's success this season. Two writers believe they will win the Atlantic Division, while three believe they will represent the Eastern Conference in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Most believe that Steven Stamkos will win the Rocket Richard Trophy, and none think that Ben Bishop will win the Vezina Trophy. The Lightning have high individual and team expectations this season and will need to play at a consistent level to silence the critics.

With so much on the line this season, here are some bold predictions for the Lightning in their 2014-15 season.

Evgeni Nabokov Is the Team's MVP

Chris O'Meara/Associated Press

Evgeni Nabokov could earn a nice chunk of starts if he plays at a high level.

Backup goaltending is rarely anything noteworthy. For Lightning fans, backup goaltending has been an Achilles' heel and a significant weakness. 

The Lightning have organizational depth in goal, but they have to have a consistent No. 2. This year, Tampa Bay will turn to veteran netminder Evgeni Nabokov to ease the load on Ben Bishop. 

Bishop suffered multiple injuries last season in his first full-time starting gig. Nabokov could be used more generously to help minimize injury risk. Don't be surprised if you see a 50-32 split of starts in goal.

Bishop is going to be a good goaltender again this year. Will he be Vezina worthy? Maybe not, but he won't be a weakness. That's where Nabby becomes a factor.

He has 350 wins in 674 career starts and has had just two seasons below a .500 record (2002-03, 2006-07). If he puts up .500 numbers as a No. 2, the Lightning should be in great shape in the Atlantic.

Jonathan Drouin Has a Record-Breaking Season

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Jonathan Drouin could be an integral part of the Lightning's electric offense.

Jonathan Drouin has garnered a lot of attention over the last few seasons leading up to his NHL career. It looks like he will make his NHL debut this season after his thumb injury heals. When that happens, he could be linemates with one of the best goal-scorers in the league.

With the offensive skill that Drouin possesses and Stamkos expected to be the NHL's leading goal scorer, the former could be poised for a record-breaking season. We aren't talking about breaking Teemu Selanne's rookie goal record (76), but he might break the assists record.

Peter Stastny and Joe Juneau currently sit atop the assist record with 70. If Drouin is an everyday player, he will be asked to produce. The current record is a lofty one, but if the offense and power play perform, he might have a shot.

Brett Connolly Breaks out

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Is this finally Brett Connolly's year?

Brett Connolly was the sixth overall selection in 2010 and garnered a good amount of buzz. He played in 68 games during the 2011-12 season with 15 points but has skated in just 16 games since. This season, things could change drastically.

Connolly will start the season with the big club after another strong training camp. His roster spot was solidified and inadvertently cost the Lightning Richard Panik. Is the roster spot deserved? Definitely, but it comes with pressure.

With his back against the wall, this could be a breakout season for the AHL veteran. Connolly will skate with Syracuse Crunch teammates Vladislav Namestnikov and Nikita Kucherov.

Those three have a ton of upside and could be a force on the lower lines. It will be tough for teams to match up against them with other lower lines. Look for Connolly to have an extra jump in his step this season, which leads to a strong campaign as an everyday player.

This Year's Blackhawks?

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The Lightning have the firepower and goaltending to go on a run.

In 2013, the Chicago Blackhawks went on a record-setting streak. The Hawks had a point in their first 24 games of the season, an 11-game winning streak and 30 consecutive games with at least a point including games from the year before.

The Lightning have all the pieces in place to put together a streak of their own. Will it happen to start the year? Who knows.

I looked at the schedule in November and early December. The Lightning's longest road trip in that span is a three-game trip to New York and Toronto at the end of November. The Bolts play 13 home games from Oct. 28 to Dec. 11.

If it takes a few weeks for the chemistry to click, the Bolts will be right on schedule to make a push in early November. Rattling off a streak of games with at least a point will be crucial to the Lightning's conference outlook.

The more wins they can collect early in the season will only help the development of this year's strong group of young forwards. 

The Lightning Win the East Easily

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There are a lot of factors that go into a successful season. Goaltending is at the top of that list.

Last season, Boston won the Eastern Conference by eight points. The year before, it was Pittsburgh by nine.

So what exactly is winning easily? How about 10 points?

The last time a team won by a 10-point margin was in 2009-10 when Washington finished with 121 points. They won the conference by 18 points. For perspective, Buffalo finished third as Northeast Division champs with 100 points.

This doesn't mean it will be easy. Boston, Pittsburgh, New York and others have their eyes set on the conference crown as well.

Working in the Bolts' favor is the fact that the Metropolitan Division has a bunch of good teams. New Jersey, Pittsburgh, both New York squads and Philadelphia are all going to beat each other up literally and figuratively. 

The Atlantic Division should have the conference champion. If the Bolts can take another step forward, they may be able to run away with the crown.