Modin and Norrena for Denis
TSN is reporting that the Lightning have traded Freddie Modin and newly-signed goalie Fredrik Norrena to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Marc Denis.
As of right now I am echoing the sentiment of my friend here in Tampa who I just mentioned the deal to: “Did McLean by Feaster dinner first?”
Denis’ numbers aren’t spectacular but he hasn’t played behind the best defense in the NHL or anything. A .900 save percentage from last season is a sight better than what John Grahame and Sean Burke posted during 2005-06 for the Lightning….
The Tampa Tribune already has their article up:
”Marc Denis is a solid, steady, durable, proven No. 1 goaltender in the NHL,” Lightning general manager Jay Feaster said. ”He is a workhorse and a fierce competitor with one of the best glove hands in the league. He is also a young man who has not yet reached the prime of his career. We have scouted Marc extensively and had actually targeted him as early as the trade deadline this past season.
”Our belief in his skills and his ability to fit in well within our locker room has never wavered. We are confident Marc will bring us the type of reliable and consistent goaltending we need in order to return our franchise to the type of success we have enjoyed in the past.”
I dunno, folks, I don’t know. It’s not the fan-favorite factor that gets me about this trade. The Lightning aren’t particularly strong on the wing to begin with and losing Fredrik Modin is a huge blow as he, Brad Richards and Martin St. Louis have been a force for this team for the last few years. Who fills the void? Will Nikita Alexeev be brought back to get another chance to forefill his potential that he has failed to do time and again? Does Dmitry Afanasenkov (or Kantgetashotov as some know him as) get promoted to the top two lines while fans pray he learns how to finish? Do the Lightning search the free-agent market for a body? Or do greenhorns in the system get a chance to earn roster spots with the Bolts at left wing?
Also, Denis has played admirably but not other-worldly behind a suspect defense in Columbus… Now he comes to Tampa Bay where the defense is likely to lose one of it’s top four defensivemen (Pavel Kubina) to Free Agency. There’s a likelyhood another rookie will make the roster in order to save money… But then again, the free agency market for defensivemen is deep and Jay Feaster will more than likely wade into the water to find someone who can contribute to the squad…
More questions than answers with the Denis deal, in my opinion. Some may be jumping up and down because the Lightning secured it’s #1 goalie… but fixing a hole may have ultimately compromised the levee.
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June 30th, 2006 at 3:31 pm
I don’t think it’s a bad deal per se for either team. It’s more of a wait and see. I think Denis’s got the chops to be a #1 goalie. He’s no Marty Brodeur, but I doubt he’ll fall apart like John Grahame did. This could wind up working out well for both sides or it could be a disaster for the Bolts. However, it’s impossible to predict anything these days (see: Cam Ward).
Still, I wish my Sharks would have sent Nabokov over your way. I’d have loved to see Modin with Thornton and Cheechoo.
June 30th, 2006 at 3:40 pm
Yeah, I was reading some of the TSN.ca comments and basically that calmed me a bit - both sides were saying that someone got robbed so I figure the trade si even up. If anything it exposed more holes for the Bolts.
I would have loved to have seen Nabakov (ROY 2001) with Richards (ROY runner up 2001). But the defense right now is what worries me. I figure if Denis is just consistant and plays decent (unlike Grahame who was all over the place) he’s going to be fine — as long as the defense improves here in Tampa.
June 30th, 2006 at 3:49 pm
He had decent numbers for canada at the 06 world championships. But was pulled against sweden for Auld and then didn’t start the bronze medal game (canada lost to Finland and Fredrik Norrena, oddly).
Canada Marc Denis 263 11 2.51 1 .911
June 30th, 2006 at 4:17 pm
So I know that I’m in the very small miniority in asking this question but is there any news on where John Grahame is going? I liked him, I just wish he could have been what everyone hoped he could be. Denis for Modin, I hope it is an answer and not the start of another question about the team.
June 30th, 2006 at 4:42 pm
Laura I am right there with you. Haven’t heard anything on where Grahame is going, but I liked him too. I think if there hadn’t been so many holes in the defense, people wouldln’t have rode his ass so hard.(jmo so don’t jump all over me for that folks) I just feel like NO ONE would have gotten a fair chance in goal this season as long as everyone was still mourning Khabi.
Also feel like Feaster is not paying attention to the whole “team” concept. He really needs to do something about the defense. I yelled at the TV every game….our guys never were in front of the net so the other team always came up with the rebound.
June 30th, 2006 at 5:13 pm
No word on Grahame but free agency starts tomorrow. He won’t be back in Tampa, that’s for sure.
Treici, not trying to jump on your ass for this but Grahame was horribly inconsistant during the season. Sometimes he played far too aggressively and it cost the Lightning. Other times he would botch up the simple things. Committing to certain save positions and not being ready to deal with rebounds also hurt him.
And other times, he was all world.
I think the defense was suspect this season and have problems with it… But that being said, the blame for Grahame’s problems don’t rest on the defense entirely. I wish him luck.
June 30th, 2006 at 7:37 pm
This had more to do with Denis’ salary fitting within the cap than his stats. Not that he’s a bad goalie, for as you and others pointed out, John, he posted a .900 SP behind a porous Columbus blueline, but it was all about the dollars, not the ability, and that’s why Denis is there instead of Gerber or Roloson or Biron.
June 30th, 2006 at 8:17 pm
John, I know you aren’t really jumping in me…. And you are right, Grahame is inconsistent. But I do think that the blame was always thrown his way…sometimes it was him, sometimes it wasn’t. He just seemed to bear the brunt of the criticism.
I really do hate to see any of this years team go. For the most part I liked them all. Although as far as bringing in a goalie I was kind of partial to Gerber.
Next season I would like to see:
More aggression
Fewer turnovers
Someone in front of the net other than Ryan Craig (he can’t do it all)
And for Pete’s sake, shoot the damned puck, dont’ just pass it around!
June 30th, 2006 at 9:48 pm
Modin, Thornton & Cheechoo–that’s wicked good, Mike. Gives me chills, even, at the possibilities. I am really bummed about trading Modo because I really like the guy. He’s not afraid to forecheck, he’s scrappy, he has a blasting shot that I wish we’d seen during this year’s playoffs. For me he’s the Bolts barometer when watching games on TV. If he looks like he has indigestion (which he often did this year), fans are in for a long nite. If he cracks a rare smile, game on. And here’s the personal part–I have his Ice Time cover on my office door to scare away pests. I’m gonna miss Modo. And that giant pix of him on the Forum. Who will be the real power forwards for us next season?
July 1st, 2006 at 3:31 pm
I’m a Grahame fan too and I hope he goes somewhere. Don’t jump me either, just my opinion, but I think that maybe if the rest of the team played with more consistency, JG would have been better. He’s not a bad goalie. They all have their inconsistencies, remember Khabby before we won the cup. It depends on whats in front of them. Not sure how I feel yet on Denis, his numbers look almost the same as JG’s. I hope that Featser can improve the defensive line or I have a feeling that we will be in the same boat again. We definitely need to be more consistent there.
July 1st, 2006 at 3:54 pm
And right after I posted I find out that it looks like Grahame as gone to Carolina. Good for him. Now Feaster get us some defensive players.
August 3rd, 2006 at 7:52 pm
i liked grahamer and he never got a fair shot of taking the #1 spot - i hope denis can deliver
happy for johhny going to carolina (although i hate them) but i suspect johnny may take cam’s job away sooner than they expect
sad to lose mo and kuby (they were both awesome bolts)
but excited about the upcoming season
go lightning!!