​Elliotte Friedman is not convinced the Tampa Bay Lightning are approaching a decline, despite another disappointing NHL playoff exit.Speaking on the 32 Thoughts podcast, Friedman argued the franchise still has meaningful upside.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“It’s interesting. I think they have growth in this roster. I think they do,” Friedman said. “Every year, people say to me, ‘Oh, they’ve hit their peak and they’re gonna fall.’ I don’t believe that from this group.”His comments came after Tampa Bay finished the 2025-26 regular season with a 50-26-6 record and 106 points. The Lightning ranked second in the Atlantic Division and third in the Eastern Conference. They also finished fourth in goals per game and third in goals against per game.MORE: Golden Knights exec breaks silence on John Tortorella’s costly blunderYet their season ended with another first-round loss, falling in seven games to the Montreal Canadiens.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNikita Kucherov captured the Hart Trophy after producing 130 points. Andrei Vasilevskiy won the Vezina Trophy, while Jake Guentzel and Brandon Hagel supplied elite offensive support. Those performances suggest Tampa Bay’s championship core remains productive.Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel (38), forward Nikita Kucherov (86), and others react to losing to the Montreal Canadiens in game seven of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Benchmark International ArenaFriedman believes internal development could keep the Lightning among the NHL’s contenders.“Even though some of their players are older, I think they’ve still got a lot to give,” Friedman said. “But I think a key is, can some of those younger guys step up?”One player stands above the rest in that discussion. “I don’t want to put too much pressure on Sam O’Reilly, but I think eventually, and I don’t know when it’ll be, he has a chance to be a real game changer for them,” Friedman said. “And I think the John Carlson fit is fantastic.”AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementO’Reilly arrived from Edmonton in the Isaac Howard trade and delivered a remarkable junior season. He swept the OHL regular-season MVP, playoff MVP, and Memorial Cup MVP awards before signing his entry-level contract. He is expected to begin 2026-27 with the Syracuse Crunch before challenging for an NHL role.MORE: Oilers, Maple Leafs headline NHL 2026-27 opening night scheduleFriedman’s outlook carries weight because Tampa Bay’s foundation remains intact. Until the core slows dramatically, writing off the Lightning appears premature, especially with promising young talent waiting behind it.