 Bradley also lost time to a series of concussions that would limit him to a total of 49 games from 1996 until his retirement in December 1999.Center John Cullen developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and missed the last 12 games of the 1996–97 season; he would eventually be forced to retire in 1999.Decimated by these ailments, the Lightning narrowly missed the playoffs.