Just on a personal note — most people have seen Boltsmag has been mostly inactive the past few weeks since the Lightning were bounced in the first round by the Ottawa Senators… I know I said then that I’d be taking some time off, but I didn’t mean to go silent for days and weeks on end. There’s a ton of sports related things and of course Lightning related things that I have not commented on.

I mean, two prominent opinion writers in Tampa Bay are calling for Vincent Lecavalier to be dealt! Isn’t that news? Of course, it’s Martin Fennelly and Gary Shelton who can be as dense as hockey pucks when it comes to the NHL and the Bolts, but it’s still blogworthy.

Meanwhile, the Tampa Tribune has committed another blunder. Not as major or as memorable as their misprint gaffe from 2004 but disrespectful and simply amateurish none-the-less.

Meanwhile, regulars will have noticed there is a new poll up asking about defensive prospects. The top three are known for their first-round draft status with the Lightning from the last three NHL entry drafts… Smaby is the dark horse here who may very well make the jump to the NHL like Paul Ranger did last year.