Lightning season preview: Kucherov, Vasilevskiy, Stamkos fuel optimism

The 2018-19 NHL season begins Wednesday. With training camps open, NHL.com is taking a look at the five keys, the inside scoop on roster questions, and the projected lines for all 31 teams. Today, the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Coach: Jon Cooper (seventh season)
Last season: 54-23-5, first place in Atlantic Division, lost to Washington Capitals in Eastern Conference Final
RELATED: [2018-19 Season Preview coverage\]

5 KEYS

1. Vasilevskiy's consistency

Goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy finished third in the Vezina Trophy voting last season, his first full season as a No. 1. He went 44-17-3 with a 2.62 goals-against average and .920 save percentage in 65 appearances.
Vasilevskiy was the favorite to win the Vezina Trophy halfway through the season. He had a .939 save percentage and 1.92 GAA in 34 appearances through Jan. 4. He had a .900 save percentage and 3.39 GAA in his final 31 appearances. He picked it back up in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, when he went 11-6 with a 2.58 GAA and .918 save percentage.
Asking him to be as good as he was in the first half last season might be a stretch. But he'll need to be more consistent throughout the season. He also needs to help the Lightning's penalty kill, which was 28th in the NHL last season at 76.1 percent.

2. More of the same from Stamkos, Kucherov

Right wing Nikita Kucherov was third in the NHL last season with 100 points (39 goals, 61 assists) and center Steven Stamkos was 12th with 86 points (27 goals, 59 assists). It's no secret the Lightning go as they go. It's possible they will start the season on separate lines, with Stamkos centering a top line that features J.T. Miller and Alex Killorn on his wings, and Kucherov on the second line with center Brayden Point and left wing Ondrej Palat. Separating them could make the Lightning's offense more dangerous because it becomes a pick-your-poison situation for the opposition.
"I have to be better than I was last year with points, goals, assists, everything I do," Kucherov said. "The way I stick handle and the way I shoot, I have to be better."

3. Hedman's run at a repeat

Victor Hedman won the Norris Trophy last season as the NHL's top defenseman. As good as Stamkos and Kucherov are, he is the Lightning's most important skater because of how effective he is at controlling the game, especially the pace and the Lightning's breakouts, from the back end. He should be considered a favorite to win the Norris Trophy again.

4. Sergachev's progression

Mikhail Sergachev broke out last season as a 19-year-old defenseman, scoring 40 points (11 goals, 29 assists) despite being limited to 15:22 of ice time per game, including 13:30 at even strength. He'll likely start the season on the third defense pair, again with Braydon Coburn, but it's a matter of time until Sergachev earns minutes alongside Hedman on the top pair.

5. Killer instinct

The Lightning's penalty kill problems didn't go away last season. They were 76.1 percent in the regular season and 75 percent in 17 playoff games. Veteran assistant Rick Bowness, who ran the defense and the penalty kill, was fired and assistant Todd Richards takes over running both. Derek Lalonde, one of two new assistants along with Jeff Halpern, should also pitch in on the PK. Improvement on the PK could be essential to the Lightning again making a run for first place in the Atlantic Division and potentially going on another deep run in the playoffs. They lost Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Washington Capitals 4-2 largely because they allowed two power play goals. They lost that series in seven games.

ROSTER RUNDOWN

Making the cut

The Lightning have openings for a seventh defenseman, a left wing to replace Chris Kunitz on their fourth line and a right wing to be a placeholder for Ryan Callahan, who could be out until November following shoulder surgery in May. Erik Cernak appears to be getting a long look on defense. The 21-year-old Slovakian defenseman came to the Lightning in the trade that sent goalie Ben Bishop to the Los Angeles Kings on Feb. 26, 2017. Slater Koekkoek remains the favorite to be the seventh defenseman. The competition for Kunitz's former role is between Adam Erne and Alexander Volkov, who was Tampa Bay's second-round pick (No. 48) in the 2017 NHL Draft. Erne had four points (three goals, one assist) in 23 games last season. Erne also requires waivers to be sent to the American Hockey League. Cory Conacher and rookie Mathieu Joseph are pushing for Callahan's spot. Mitchell Stephens is also an option as a fourth line center.

Most intriguing addition

Volkov led the Syracuse Crunch, Tampa Bay's AHL affiliate, with 23 goals last season. It was his first professional season in North America after coming over from Russia. The Lightning like him because of his skill and poise with the puck.

Biggest potential surprise

Cernak is a longshot, but if he makes it or plays well in the AHL and earns a call-up, he could steal playing time away from defenseman Dan Girardi. He's a 6-foot-3, 203-pound, right-handed shot who had 18 points (five goals, 13 assists) in 71 games with the Crunch last season. Girardi is also a righty.

Ready to break through

Anthony Cirelli had 11 points (six goals, five assists) in 18 games last season after getting recalled on March 1. He solidified his role as the third-line center in the playoffs, when he had three points (two goals, one assist) in 17 games and was one of the Lightning's top penalty-killing forwards, averaging 1:41 of shorthanded ice time per game. He should reprise his third-line role on a full-time basis this season.

PROJECTED LINEUP

J.T. Miller -- Steven Stamkos -- Alex Killorn
Ondrej Palat -- Brayden Point -- Nikita Kucherov
Yanni Gourde -- Anthony Cirelli -- Tyler Johnson
Adam Erne -- Cedric Paquette -- Mathieu Joseph
Victor Hedman -- Dan Girardi
Ryan McDonagh -- Anton Stralman
Braydon Coburn -- Mikhail Sergachev
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Louis Domingue