It adds Cirelli to that slot. Who is a clearly superior defensive player to Thomas.

Heh. He's so very not. Cirelli plays middle 6 matchups. Thomas played the hardest matchups of any forward in the NHL last season. And Thomas can actually keep the puck down in the other end, which is the best "defense" of all. At best, they're equal. And I'm not sure that's even the case. Don;t get me wrong, I like Cirelli quite a bit. But he's not on the level of Thomas as a player.

Clearly you don't watch many Lightning games.

Fewer this season than in past seasons, for sure. I know he spent some time on top line, but by and large he's been a middle 6 player most of his career. Thomas has been full time 1C for at least 2 1/2 seasons now.

So you think Cirelli has been nominated for the Selke 6 times and been top 5 in voting twice and been a key piece on two Stanley Cup Winning teams by matching up against middle 6 opponents?

Cirelli has been used to try to shutdown opposing team's top lines, but he's never reached 50 points in a season (Was on pace to reach 50 points during the covid paused season). There are players that can play that "shutdown" role and have better offensive upside. Cirelli was also a -6 this playoffs.

Cirelli is elite defensively. He plays that role with Tampa night after night. He shuts down top players on a nightly basis. Kills penalties on a nightly basis. Has been nominated for the Selke 6 times. Played a pivotal role in multiple cup runs and wins shutting down opponents top players series after series.

Saying that other guys can do that (who have never done that and don't play that role) is foolish.

'He was -6 this playoffs'? Why does that matter lol

The fact that he has never reached 50 points in season is probably one of the main reasons why it's extremely unlikely he makes the team.

If you think management groups for past and present international tournaments go off point totals....I don't know what to tell you.

I just think they would select someone with more offensive upside while still being a great shutdown guy.

I get the logic. I just see Cirelli filling a role that no one else can. Similar to Brendan Morrow in 2010. He ended up playing a big role for that team and was easily the worst offensive player on the roster.

Heh. Are you actually suggesting that Cirelli has been the Bolts' regular 1C at any time? And that he was not their clear 2C during both Cup runs? Seriously? Because if he was not the 1C, then yes, he automatically qualifies as middle 6. If you want to debate that I should just say "2nd line", well you might have a point. But I have no idea how you figure he was not and is not a player typically working below the top line. He has been and is. I'm shocked this is even being disputed.

I mean, Hagel-Point-Kuch or Stammer-Point-Kuch is the Tampa top line, right? That's what the TOI clearly demonstrates, that's what I saw the 10-12 times I watched them this season.

Yes he is their 2nd line C. Matching up against every teams top line on a nightly basis and killing penalties on the top unit.

So you could say he's a 'middle 6' C but that would be erroneous as he has never played on the 3rd line.