The Hockey News Yearbook doesn’t care for the Lightning much right now.

Jes Golbez lists the Bolts as a “team on the decline” (and it can be listed as such)

But John Buccigross at ESPN is still a True Believer. He’s got the Lightning listed as his #1 team in the east.

(Hat tip to Tiny at the Dots)

I’ll let the Instigator do the talking…

I’ve updated the look at Boltsmag for the 2006-07 season, what do you think?

The final design of the sidebars is nto set (meaning I plan on moving links and things around) but due to tech problems that I haven’t sorted out yet, their finalization is yet to come.

EDIT: OK, been a week since the new look has launched and I now have things how I’d like it — both sidemenus utilized, the Tampa Bay Lightning newsfeed and who knows what else in the future?

Hat tip to Brett at My Addled Brain and Tampa Blab for the much appreciated assist on errors.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Chris Simms was taken from Raymond James Stadium by Ambulance to the hospital following Tampa Bay’s loss to the Panthers today. The Charolette Observer is reporting he is currently in critical condition.

It’s unknown what Chris’ ailment is at the moment but I am assuming heat stroke. Jon Gruden suggested dehydration and rib problems resulting from hits taken by Simms from the Carolina defense. I’ll post more information as it becomes available.

EDIT: ESPN is reporting his spleen was removed in an emergency operation.

Just a quick note — working on the new look for Boltsmag. The site will be phasing in and out from one theme to the other while I work on the new one.

I didn’t listen to tonights radio broadcast of the Lightning vs. Capitals game, but from what was passed on to me - it sounded familiar in a negative sense and (upon reading the recap) familiar in a highly positive sense.

The negative sentiment was directed at the Lightning special teams not taking advantage of opportunities and the Lightning offense not capitalizing more against the Caps (but they were facing Olaf Kolzig). When I heard Vinny Lecavalier scored on a 5-on-3 to tie it, visions of last season danced before my eyes and memories of listless and uninspired play with lone goals on lop sided Power Play opportunities (if at all).

Dan Boyle’s game-winning, overtime goal (also scored on a power play) cemented that thought in my mind.

But lets get to the good news. The one stat that stands out to me is Marc Denis 40 saves. Denis, whose stats were less-than-stellar during scrimmages over the past few days, let in an early goal (on the 2nd shot of the game) but settled down. I wish I had seen the game to be able to comment on the defensive effort in front of him and what not…

Sorry for the blind-eye comments on the game… Bolts win the Preseason opener 3-2 in overtime.

Here are the guys who were sliced from the roster following today’s scrimmages.

Released to the Springfield Falcons camp:
Forwards : Dan Cavanaugh, Brandon Elliott, Adam Henrich, Zbynek Hrdel, Justin Keller, Stanislav Lascek, Darren Reid, Radek Smolenak
Defensivemen: John Adams, Doug Andress, Jay Rosehill, P.J. Atherton
Goaltenders: Jonathan Boutin, Gerald Coleman (both released to Springfield camp)

Released to their junior teams:
Forwards:Marek Bartanus (Owen Sound of the OHL); Chris Lawrence (Mississauga of the OHL)
Defensivemen: Dane Crowley (Swift Current of the WHL)

Outright released:
Clayton Barthel (D)

18 players — that’s less deep than I expected.

Yeah, I realize I’ve been playing the silent type during training camp. There are issues out there that any Lightning fan (hell, any hockey fan) is thirsting for more information on at the moment.

Dmitry Afanasenkov’s transition from limited-time play-maker to top-line forward, Nikita Alexeev’s back-to-the-states effort so far. Eric Perrin, Marc Denis, and of course Karri Ramo’s goalie mask.

Yet none of the stories have had real teeth to them. In fact, there’s been a lack-of-information coming out of Camp Torturella that leaves me perplexed. What’s the deal with hot-shot defensive prospects Mike Egener, Matt Smaby and Andy Rogers (I’m guessing he hasn’t been cleared to play — no games to his name so far)? While you can find briefs on Filip Kuba’s transition between defensive-first in Minnesota and the Lightning’s system (all while recovering from hernia sugery), you can’t find anything on this trio along with 2005 #1 draft pick Vladmir Mihalik.

I guess that’s what Bolt Prospects is for… That or a sign that the standouts of training camp haven’t been Egener, Rogers, Smaby and Mihalik.

Cuts are expected tomorrow and for all inherit purposes, you should assume they will be deep cuts — Torts usual M.O. There will still be some hangers-on (Norm Milley, Mitch Fritz, Doug O’Brien and others) but no surprises.

For more info, make sure you check out the Bolts official Camp web site.

One other note and this has nothing to do with Lightning camp — while I haven’t been reporting much on the pre-season so far, I have been working on the next design for Boltsmag. Keep an eye out for the update soon.

Rick DiPetro gets a fifteen year sentence… er, contract with the New York Islanders…

The Islanders gave up Roberto Luongo and Kevin Weekes between the pipes because they were so sure about Rick at the time of his drafting… Yet the longevity of this deal makes me wonder if the contract will turn into another Yashin attrocity?

Not trying to get into politics here but it’s hard to escape this. Stuart Sternberg’s first season as controling owner of the franchise has been pretty good on the ownership side of things… While the Rays have floundered on field, their profile has risen and their respectability in the Tampa Bay area has climbed.

But the Tampa Bay Business Journal reports that Tropicana Field was the place of an I.C.E. raid with “Dozens” being arrested.