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As teams determine which players to retain -- and which ones they want to sign via free agency -- ESPN.com looks at the Lightning. We briefly review '99-00 and Tampa Bay's first season under new management, ownership and coaching. Then, there's the question of what must happen for the Lightning to get to the next level and compete for a playoff spot.

Season Review: Same record, different feeling
New owners. New general manager. New coaches. Same exact record. That's right. Putting aside the whole regulation tie mess, on paper the Lightning were 19-54-9 for the second season in a row. What to take from that? The most important thing is the entire organization learned rebuilding isn't easy and won't happen overnight.

But, believe it or not, it was a much more positive 19-54-9. Vincent Lecavalier may not be the "Michael Jordan of hockey" as the Lightning's former owner referred to him when drafted more than two years ago, yet he showed that he will be an A-level NHL player for many years. Lecavalier, who was the youngest captain in the NHL last season, played 80 games and with 25 goals and 42 assists, he led the team in almost every offensive category. He still has some muscle to add to his 6-foot-4 frame, but in terms of style, he looks a bit more Mario Lemieux than Eric Lindros -- although he remains a fair distance from either of those players.

	Modin

Behind Lecavalier, some trades began to show signs of paying off. Fredrik Modin scored 22 goals, and Mike Johnson had 22 points in 28 games after coming over from Toronto. Todd Warriner didn't produce as much as Johnson after the Toronto trade, but he was significantly more of an impact player than he was with the Leafs, mainly because he played more. The defense remains young, but hopefully, players like Paul Mara continue to progress.

Goaltending may have been the team's most glaring weakness, yet some responsibility falls on the defense. Six goalies saw time between the pipes, and none of them had anything that approximated success. Tampa Bay acquired Dan Cloutier to be the goalie of the future, but his mortal 3.49 GAA and .885 save percentage weren't encouraging. Unfortunately the revolving goalie game didn't yield much better, with the team finishing with a collective 3.73 GAA and .876 save percentage.

Open Market: Some good moves already
Goaltending and defense already have been addressed this offseason with the acquisition of goaltender Kevin Weekes and defense prospect Kristian Kudroc from the Islanders for draft picks. After his trade to New York from Vancouver, Weekes played well and at the minimum can be a dependable backup. But he will pressure Cloutier to raise his game, or Cloutier won't last. In '99-00, the replacement options weren't overly threatening.

	FREE AGENCY
	Key unsigned free agents: Brian Holzinger, Ryan Johnson, Pavel Kubina, Bryan Muir, Wayne Primeau, Andrei Zyuzin, Robert Petrovicky Signings/offseason acquisitions: Fredrik Modin, Todd Warriner, Dan Cloutier, Dwayne Hay

The best news this offseason involves the quick signings of Modin and Warriner to multiyear contracts. Modin was second on the team in scoring, and Warriner, still just 26, had the second-highest point total of his career.

In terms of more activity, a high-priced veteran is a waste, and the Lightning know that. Management will scour for bargains and continue to allow the young players to grow because, as was learned this season, rebuilding takes time.

How to improve: Play 'em 'till they drop
Coach Steve Ludzik is slowly getting a roster with talent. But his team is a long way from having the depth and experience to compete every night. The defense must improve, and a definitive No. 1 goalie must emerge to give the team confidence, especially late in games. At the moment, Weekes looks the more viable option.

Expect Lecavalier to jump to around a point-a-game if his linemates can play well enough to take pressure off him. And will the 19 wins be repeated again? Not likely. But don't expect 35 either. Split the difference, and that's about right.

Brian A. Shactman is the NHL Editor for ESPN.com.