I’m surprised as hell about some of the moves the Lightning made yesterday.

Ben Clymer was not made a qualifying offerr — mostly because a qualifying offer would have been $900 thousand. They want to bring him back like they did with Nolan Pratt last year – sign him for less. also, Sheldon Keefe — who’s either blindly loved by his fans or thought of as an enigma by others — was not made a qualifying offer. I thought for sure he would be given a qualifier at least so he could be used as trade-bait this off season (perchance during the draft) this weekend). Jeremy Van Hoof was another surprise non-qualifier as well as Pascal Trepanier. I can’t say the same for Dwayne Hay and Evgeny Konstantinov.

Conversely, I was surprised to see Jimmie Ovelstad and Shane Willis given qualifying offers. I thought Jimmie was destined to be in Europe this upcoming season (if there is one)… I guess the Lightning just want to continue to own his rights. Shane has had a non-gratifying tenure with Tampa Bay. I’m glad to see Jay Feaster hasn’t given up on him. In the past I have been bitter at Jay for certain moves he has made (involving Willis specifically) but time and again Feaster has proved to be smarter than I.

Since these qualifiers were made, attention turns to Jassen Cullimore who can become an unrestricted free agent on Thursday.

Source: Hockeyjournal.com

Mark Tobin

CSS rank: 85 North America
Team: Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL)
Hometown: St. John’s, Newfoundland
Position: Left wing
Size: 6-foot-2, 204 pounds
Shoots: Left

2003-04 statistics:
GP G A PTS PIM
69 22 16 38 112

Scouting report: A bit of a disappointment in that Tobin didn?t achieve the anticipated production playing with 16-year-old phenom Sidney Crosby, the power forward prospect skates well, plays with a lot of energy and still has some room to grow. He has the kind of passion and character that every scout loves, even if he may lack the finishing touch to be a consistent scorer.

Projection: The big, banging winger could develop into a much better pro player than he?s shown as a junior. Tobin won?t be a high pick in Raleigh, but he could go earlier than expected because of his grit and potential.

Tampa Bay selects another Calgary Hitmen Defensiveman with their first pick in the draft… Last year, Mike Egener was the player selected by the Bolts and Andy Rogers is this years selection.

Another Defensive Defensiveman… This pick should be a surprise to some as there were thoughts the Lightning were going goalie.

I continue to hate how the NHL Draft is conducted.

The big board behind the main stage for example… The fact every f’n executive for a team shows up when a player is selected… The fact that the cities keep changing and the response from the crowd is fickle -at best – at times.

I’m not saying glorify the draft more like the NFL but I do believe that the league needs to move forward with regards to how they conduct the draft and stop having such a low-quality operation. They could either stop making the draft a spectacle (which would be bad for the league and would anger a lot of people) or they could start solidifying the event with something that isn’t caked with “tradition” (the big board “tradition”, the revolving cities “tradition”, etc).

for example 0 move the draft to one place and have it there year after year. I’m not going to suggest New York, however. Probably Toronto at a theater-like location instead of an arena. Or perchance Chicago — which hosts a storied past for their franchise if not a current intensity of interest for hockey. Fans of hockey will turn out in any event at either location…

Start making the draft about the players and not about the executives making the selections! There is not enough clips about players and there is not enough information on team needs being talked about by those covering the draft.

And as for that billboard/big board that lists all the picks? “Mr. Commissioner — Tear this board down!” :wink

I haven’t been paying much attention to DVD news (I was a little disappointed with the Bucs Super Bowl DVD a few years ago and don’t think the Lightning one will be any better) so I haven’t reported anything with regards to the DVD release…

At any rate, the Lightning plan a Preview Party from 5-10 PM on Monday. Lord Stanley’s Cup will be in attendance and making it’s first public appearance since the June 9th Champions Parade.

Off topic but it’s the off season – so sue me….

A certain Flames fan site has manifested into a certain media voting site that offers a $1000 cash prize (US or Canadian – I don’t know) for the top rated girl voted on the site….

Then again, maybe there is no money and they just want pictures of hot hockey fans? Take your pick.

TSN.ca reports that Chicago is aggressively trying to capture the #1 pick in Saturday’s draft in order to get Alexander Ovechkin…

:rolleyes

I’m not against trading the #1 pick if the right deal came along, so Washington trading the #1 for a slew of picks and players would be a great deal for them in order to help the rebuilding process take root.

The :rolleyes was for Chicago which is in a dismal situation with a faded fanbase, a no-name roster and an owner who is known both for pinching pennies and being out-of-touch with reality (not broadcasting a single home game in an effort to boost attendance?! Give me a break!). Getting a franchise player instead of rebuilding the team with their picks and prospects…. Well, it’s just setting things up for a repeat if Ovechkin is as good as he’s made out to be — a player that will be traded when he costs too much and doesn’t have talent surrounding him. anyway.

For Chicago’s sake, I don’t make the deal… but then again, this is a ruthless business and if Washington can suck the ‘Hawks further dry – so be it.

Look at the last ten years of Lightning picks in the NHL Entry Draft — first round, that is — and you will see only 2 players are still with the Lightning. Only one in the NHL.

Sure there is talent there and it has brought us other talent (Svitov and Mara both brought us players that put us over the top this year) but at the same time – there is ten years of mediocrity in the first round…

Got to do a better job in the future – no matter how late they pick.

A couple of years ago, when the Lightning were stumbling through mediocrity (oh how the times have changed :wink) there were reports every so often about the Lightning seeking a new logo because the team crest wasn’t an item that could really be used as a marketable item.

The search started under the ownership tenure of Art Williams (see some concepts from the St. Petersburg Times during that era)….

….and was picked up by the Palace Sports crew after they took over a year later. There was actually a logo that the Lightning were going to use as an alternate logo during their 10th anniversary season (if it was to be on an alternate jersey or a main jersey remains to be seen) but the logo was rejected. It was trademarked however and stumbled upon by guys on a logo forum.

It was also reported in Sports Business Journal that the Lightning, under the Palace Sports tenure, had been looking at logos “….featuring palm trees and other Florida themes.”

Personally I thinkt he Lightnign are fine with the crest logo. Some feel that it’s old school and what not… Personally I would not mind an alternate logo or just an alternate jersey. Nothing complex — change the main jersey color to blue with black and white highlights and run the lightning bolt alone on the jersey — from shoulder to hem. The team coudl use something fresh like that if only for additionl revenue from merchandise sales.

I was also wondering what other people think – from anywhere int he league? Do the Lightning need a fresh logo or a change to their jersey or are they really set the way they are? And do you have a concept in mind? Do you have that artist talent to produce a new logo? If anyone woudl like to send me their concpet, I’d be happy to post it on here and see what others think.

It’s official — Nikolai Khabibulin has had his option picked up by the team.

Jay Feaster did it –
-In the Nik of time
-With a Nik’s worth of advice
-Walled off Nik’s chance of escaping
-Nik’ed things in the bud

etc

Hand it to Sports Illustrated and it’s lackluster coverage of hockey to give you a “no, really” recommendation for players to watch next season. It may be nice to hear that all except two players are from the Southeast Division… but you knew before this season to watch all but 2 of the mentioned players — and you were watching all but one of the players from the beginning if you didn’t listen to the talking heads of the media exclusively.

Ilya Kovalchuk, Dany Heatley, Marian Hossa, Roberto Luongo, Rick Nash and Brad Richards all made this “Player of Next Year” list… but it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure this one out. The young guns on this list have been forces on each of their respective rosters for quite a while sans-Nash.

If you really want to make a statement about players of Next Year, do some research and / or wait until next season (if it ever starts) begins in order to make such bold predictions. One transaction may make a lesser-known player as marquee as Jarome Ignila or as big a disappointment as Alexander Daigle for any given team.

Congratulations to the Detroit Pistons for winning the NBA Title tonight.

Hearty congratulations to William Davidson. I don’t know if he is the first NBA owner to win titles in two sports in one year — hell, just over a week! Whatever the case is, he is due props.

Plenty of Bolts fans and Calgary fans alike have already found this video but I want to make mention of it just in case you haven’t seen it in the last week. It’s an absolutely great piece of work and I give high props to Kingsmediazone.com for it.

Right click this link and select SAVE AS.

The Tampa Tribune is putting out a T-shirt commemorating the Lightning winning the Cup.

Oh gee, that’s nice, but there is probably a better story for them to put on the front of the shirt if they really want to let people remember the quality of their journalism during the Stanley Cup Final.

Just saying… :tongue

To the chicks around the Bay Area, I want to remind you of an earlier post saying the Lightning are holding open audiitons for Ice Girls next season. June 19th is the planned date for that.

The offseason is in full swing – maybe I say that specifically because when you see the captain of your hockey team hanging out with Lord Stanley’s Cup at Walt Disney World you know that the season is over.

Yes, we are still rejoicing here in Tampa, yes we are still excited… but also terrified to know that there is no hockey besides the World Cup for months – or possibly longer.

grumble, grumble…. stupid work stoppage…

But at any rate, I had been planning for a while a post with regards to the future of the Lightning — next seasons roster specifically. I would love to make this a more in-depth post and make mention of our new AHL Affiliate (new? Old, really, but we now have full rights over the team) the Springfield Falcons and who we will be sending there…

Well, you had your chance to nominate them, now you have your chance to vote for him — twice…

Martin St. Louis has been nominated for the MVP honors on the NHLFA Fan Awards poll. And of course, for yet another year Marty finds himself nominated for the Best Bang for the Buck player in the NHL…

I believe you need to be a member to vote but then again, does it really hurt to be part of a group that is trying to be a voice for the fans?

Marty got my vote twice of course, and Jarome Ignila got a much deserved “Best Role Model” vote from me on this poll.

Well, I was told over and over that the Lightning did not want the Presidents trophy because it is cursed… Now I am being told John Tortorella is done for in Tampa Bay (eventually :-p ) because the Jack Adams award is also cursed….

Here’s the past 15 winners (before Tortorella). Only Jacques Lemaire is still employed with the team he won with.

2003 Jacques Lemaire – Minnesota Wild
2002 Bob Francis – Phoenix Coyotes
2001 Bill Barber – Philadelphia Flyers
2000 Joel Quenneville – St. Louis Blues
1999 Jacques Martin – Ottawa Senators
1998 Pat Burns – Boston Bruins
1997 Ted Nolan – Buffalo Sabres
1996 Scotty Bowman – Detroit Red Wings
1995 Marc Crawford – Quebec Nordiques
1994 Jacques Lemaire – New Jersey Devils
1993 Pat Burns – Toronto Maple Leafs
1992 Pat Quinn – Vancouver Canucks
1991 Brian Sutter – St. Louis Blues
1990 Bob Murdoch – Winnipeg Jets
1989 Pat Burns – Montreal Canadiens

But of course, that fact I gave you was misleading and don’t really support the curse idea. I say that because Jacques Martin was fired just this year (5 years after he won), as
was Joel Quenneville (4 years after he won). Scotty Bowman retired.

Bob Francis is an interesting story which I don’t know full well because he’s in the west. Was he hired under Gretzky’s ownership tenure? The team direction has changed the last few years, I know that much….

Barber was a scapegoat for the Flyers first round playoff loss in 2002.

Also – Pat Burns was fired from Boston in 2000… 3 years after he started with the Bruins (1997-98 – which was also when he won the Jack Adams).

Nolan is an exception out of the lot… Not only is he gone form the Sabres but he has not coached in the NHL since, which is attributed to his attitude.

So basically the Adams means you will be fired — eventually… Which is the truth for most coaches in the league and any league for that matter. Some years there is a higher coach turn over than others…

Mario is being a little more adamant on the Penguins getting a new arena.

He’s been trying to get something built for the last few years and I would THINK that it’s about time for Pittsburgh to step up and save the team after Mario had been the one to step up and save the team for the city in 1999. I don’t look at him as a villain if he decides to save the franchise by getting his ass out of Pittsburgh all together…

It’s sorta sad to see that no progress has been made with either the team or replacing Mellon Arena in the last five years. It’s also sad for me to recollect that I was told by a Pittsburgh fan, “I could live for another 80 years and never see your team win the Stanley Cup.” I guess the jokes on them now :biggrin

Want to know what Lord Stanley’s Cup does with the Tampa Bay players? Where it goes, what it sees, etc?

Check out this pseudo Web Log of the Stanley Cup

Art Ross Trophy – Martin St. Louis
Lester B. Pearson award – Martin St. Louis
Jack Adams Award – John Tortorella
Lady Byng Award – Brad Richards
Hart Memorial Trophy – Martin St. Louis

Marty deserves his awards — including the Selke which he wasn’t even nominated for (but with a high plus in teh +/- and a league leading total of Short Handed goals, can you deny he wasn’t a force on defense?)

Meanwhile — Bradmaster taking home the Lady Byng is no surprise to me… Though I bet he wishes he didn’t get it.

Tortorella winning the Jack Adams is the biggest surprise of the them all. Record is one thing but challenges faced by the coach is another. Torts had to bring the guys together and that’s it. His competition — Darryl Sutter — had to change the players in his system time and again because of injuries. On top of that he had general manager duties to further cloud his palette. Torts had Jay Feaster doing the GM stuff.

Record be damned, Sutter deserved the Adams.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers salute the Tampa Bay Lightning with their opening flash animation.

For those not in the know, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers routinely feature flash animations on the opening of their web site (usually devoted to the Bucs and the next opponent). It’s nice to see the Football team pay homage to the Hockey team.

Much thanks to Doug Girvan who sent me the below image from Vincent Lecavalier’s home town.

Photo of Billboard located at main intersection upon entering ile Bizard the home of Vincent Lecavalier.
“Felicitations A Vincent Lecavalier” – Congratulations to Vincent Lecavalier

The island, L’ ile Bizard is situated to the north west of Montreal with a population of approx. 12,000.

Photo taken this evening 9 June 2004

Knowing how little we find out about Ile Bizzard here in Tampa (and yet we’ve heard of over and over again since Vinny was drafted), I’ve asked Doug if he can give us more information or perhaps more pictures of the town.

Speaking of which, I’m also interested in hearing more about the history behidn Rimouski Oceanic. Any die-hard Bolts fan knows the relevance of the Oceanic – the junior team that had Lecavalier and Brad Richards – but of course we hear very little about the team (which goes for most of the Canadian Junior leagues for that matter) down here.

What’s up with Boltsmag?

I’ve been hosting someone from out of town and just now getting back online a good bit — will have updates for you soon enough…

Anyway, I’m not letting this rain on my parade…. STANLEY’S GETTING A TAN!