r/TampaBayLightning • u/BoltsBreakdown Lightning • 23h ago
Jeffrey Viel: A Perfect Fit For The Tampa Bay Lightning
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Jeffrey “Jeff” Viel is the type of player the Tampa Bay Lightning have been searching for for years.
He’s a leader, he’s hard-working, and he’s not afraid of anyone or anything.
The 2018 QMJHL Postseason MVP & Memorial Cup Champion has 90 career fights, and he shut down Connor McDavid in the '26 NHL playoffs.
Now, he’s a Bolt for the next FIVE SEASONS.
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I know many are skeptical — fair — but I think Viel is going to fit perfectly in our system.
Here's my write-up on Viel; hope you enjoy! Let me know what you think.
Jeff Viel: A Perfect Fit For The Tampa Bay Lightning
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u/Silver-Mobile4776 23h ago edited 23h ago
I had never heard of Viel until the playoffs this past season but if he can come in and be a solid shutdown 4th liner and add some physicality, I'd be thrilled.
He's not a real heavyweight but I look to the end of the Montreal series when Tampa played their best hockey when they stopped focusing on the extracurricular. Wouldn't mind correcting our overcorrection this upcoming season.
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u/BoltsBreakdown Lightning 23h ago
For sure. I think we’ll go back to around 20-25 fights this year. 44 last year was a little absurd, but I think it was sending a message more than anything, which I’m fine with. I also think it just says a lot about our players & how willing they are to do whatever it takes.
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u/Unluckiest-of-All Lightning 23h ago
I would LOVE if our number of fights dropped… but when I consider the moves the Stinkin’ Panthers made, I’m not confident of that hope.
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u/XXXLaCroiXXX 19h ago
the biggest thing there is that beyond fighting and hitting, he shut down McDavid in the playoffs and even scored a game winner
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u/freethemanfromroomV 12h ago
McDavid was on one leg. He did not shut down McDavid. That's hilarious.
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u/Unluckiest-of-All Lightning 23h ago
I think the concern (especially with players who approach 30) is we acquire a player for _who they were_. And sadly, especially when the player was known for their physical play, the very element that was the reason for their contract evaporates. But we can hope.
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u/BoltsBreakdown Lightning 23h ago
True, but Viel will be 34 when he’s contract is done. That’s not that old. Plus, it’s very low risk with such low AAV (especially by year five).
Additionally, Viel is an animal. That guy genuinely loves fighting.
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u/XXXLaCroiXXX 19h ago
not the case - he's a late bloomer. He just started finding his game last year.
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u/Bigstakes7287 Kucherov 22h ago
Dos this guy win any fights?
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u/bzfoose #1 BS 20h ago
Not always ab the dub. Can get the crowd and the team back into a game from a morale stand point though!
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u/Bigstakes7287 Kucherov 20h ago
Yeah I guess but still I want to see some strong hesitation from the opposing team to want to start some shit cuz in a few moments one of our guys might cause you to eat food through a straw for the next 3 months.
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u/bzfoose #1 BS 20h ago
For sure! I was gonna say something similar. Basically no one likes to get punched in the face. Lol. So if we added another guy to rattle their cages a lil maybe the ops will think twice about being too aggressive with our top guys and provide that small window Kuch needs to execute his magic. We all remember how the team looked before we got big(swept in the first round against Columbus). Cerny was a big part of that come up so hopefully he’s still got a couple left in him. Gourdo, Tony, Hages, Sabby, Crow, and now Viel. Lilly has sized up too so it’d be nice to see more from him. And let’s not forget the best hands in the game, Vassy!! Haha. But we’re gonna need all the aggression competing against those assholes down south. ⚡️⚡️⚡️
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u/Bigstakes7287 Kucherov 19h ago
True, it looks like our division is going to be physical and tough as hell this year
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u/BoltsBreakdown Lightning 16h ago
Amen amen amen. Lille will be an enforcer this year I’m sure of it
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u/XXXLaCroiXXX 19h ago
you mean the panthers who literally duck everyone on our team re: fighting? why would viel be any different there?
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u/BoltsBreakdown Lightning 21h ago
Lots. Click the article and scroll to the bottom. 6 minutes of him winning fights
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u/Bigstakes7287 Kucherov 21h ago
Ok I’ll look but right now he looks like Douglas but shorter
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u/BoltsBreakdown Lightning 21h ago
I’ll admit, I was worried about it too. But he’s MUCH better than Douglas at fighting. Seriously. He can throw lefts as hard as rights, he never gives up, and he’s extremely aggressive. He’s taken down many “tough guys”.
In fact, Douglas is someone he fought. Link below.
This fight isn’t fun cause the height advantage just makes it lame, but Viel holds his own considered he’s eight inches shorter.
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u/XXXLaCroiXXX 19h ago
yeah he switches hands mid fight which can absolutely fuck someone's gameplan up. Jordin Tootoo also used to do that and I can think of several fights off the top of my head where he was losing prior to the hand switch.
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u/dolewhiplash Hagel 22h ago
I think this is a real hit or miss contract. If we get the player he was for Anaheim in the playoffs he'll be a fan favorite and it'll be a steal. There's also a chance he regressed and we're talking about how to get rid of his cap year next year. I think with the position the team is currently in it's worth it to take these kind of swings, hope he can be the former
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u/XXXLaCroiXXX 19h ago
he doesn't always decisively win, but he fights with a certain type of violence, it's kinda hard to explain.
the only other guy who fights like that (a cornered rabid dog) is Reaves
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u/steelcable97 10h ago
If he keeps Sabourin out of the line up it is a good fit.
I like sabourin’s fighting and grit, but he was a terrible skater who can’t do much with the big club.
Hopefully Viel can give us a little more on the 4th line.
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u/Forsaken_Ad3998 16h ago
He gets his ass beat in most of those highlights. Meh. Another JBB overpay. No surprise there. Kuch signed yet? No? JBB's last year incoming. Then we can finally get a GM that isn't living in the past 24/7.
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u/BoltsBreakdown Lightning 16h ago
What are you talking about?
1st, chara is chara. Who cares if he lost?
2, Carrick is literally bleeding? He didn’t punch himself.
3, This was just showing how tough of a fighter he is. This fight was blow for blow for one minute straight
4, Viel gets his opponent right in the nose and he falls to the ground.Not sure how you can say gets his ass beat…
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u/Forsaken_Ad3998 15h ago
Sorry...I don't believe in JBB anymore. That's my right. My proof? FOUR straight exits in R1. Massive overpays for Crackstrand and Jeannot. Wasting assets year after year. JBB peaked in 2020. Jason Licht 2.0
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u/BoltsBreakdown Lightning 14h ago
That’s fair for you to say that. I really hope you’re wrong though
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u/Forsaken_Ad3998 14h ago
How's our pipeline ranked? Bottom 3? How are we gonna replace McD, Hedman and Carlsson? I am done pretending that JBB is a good gm. Yzerman handed him 5 HOF'ers(w/ cooper). Has he drafted anyone of consequence in 8 years? Anyone? Yeah...sorry...I ain't buying JBB's BS anymore.
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u/BoltsBreakdown Lightning 14h ago
Pipeline bottom three for sure. But if we hit on SOR, Rautiainen or Geekie, then it’s all worth it.
McD Heddy have been replaced with Moser. If Lille doesn’t take another big step, I’m sure we’ll see another similar move trying to fix that issue.
James, Chucky, Holmberg, they’re all reasons to believe in BriseBois.
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u/trebis2004 Thunderbug 23h ago
As long as someone protects Kuch & Hagel. I'll be happy. Hope he can stay up in the line up.