John asked for my thoughts on the draft this weekend in regards to the Buccaneers. I didn’t have the heart to tell him that I am simply sour on the local ball team ever since they won Super Bowl XXXVII. Here’s my roundabout way of expressing that:

John: Are you another Calvin Johnson acolyte or do you actually have some thoughts on things that we need instead of want?

Tommy: When Tony Dungy & Rich McKay were running things, i knew what they would do in the draft, and if i DINT know what they would do, I had complete confidence in their abilities to get the right piece of the puzzle.

Since then is another story. I can never tell what Gruden is thinking. And even afterward, i’m scratching my head on his picks. In addition, the end result is generally just average. They haven’t done a horrible job, but haven’t had any picks pan into a WOW, either.

So….

In summary, I’m just not gonna guess anymore, and will try not to be surprised at what they do.

It’s just not easy to get excited about the team with Bruce Allen and Jon Gruden running the show – I don’t understand the way they think. I’m wondering if the rest of the Tampa Bay is starting to feel like this?

My opinion and expectations of the Buccaneers are at their lowest level since 1994… I don’t say this because of simply the flip between winning and losing seasons but I do mean overall direction of the franchise and it’s decent into mediocrity.

That being said, I’m not going to go into talking draft stuff. No sir, there are two great Buccaneer blogs that will have the bases covered for you come Saturday when the Bucs screw up make their selection.

Make sure you check out Buc’Em which has ongoing draft coverage as well as a poll about who should be the Bucs #1 pick. And if you need more and want a little more razz, snark and color — make sure you drop in on ski and his Best Bucs Blog with in depth discussion of mock drafts, in depth mocking of past drafts, etc…

And of course if you want no seriousness whatsoever and like your Satire well done concerning the Buccaneers — get toxic with the Red Tide News. It may not be up to date or up to the minute but Toe and company keep you laughing and have so for years now.

And where would I be without making a plug for FanHome’s NFL Entry Draft thread and Rumors and Draft discussion forum?

I almost feel like there is an echo in here.

Yesterday I posted a rundown on who stays and who goes and Damien Cristordero basically did the same. Ruslan Fedotenko is gone:

“I don’t think I’m coming back here,” Fedotenko said. “That’s pretty obvious. Both parties agree to move on and close a chapter. Now I’m excited about what is going to happen next.”

Evgeny Artyukhin has already been offered a new contract:

The Lightning has offered bruising forward Evgeny Artyukhin, who played this season in Russia, a $475,000 one-way contract.

Cory Sarich likely will prove too costly to resign. Rumors have it that the team is going to shed payroll and of course that may will effect returns of Lightning UFA’s that have been listed as well as aging veterans (TIm Taylor, Vaclav Prospal — you’re on notice). Tim Taylor is expected to have surgery on his hip in August and be out for six months.

I’ve been pondering the future of this Lightning roster for some time but the playoff shave solidified soem of my inklings and some of my hunches.

Changes are a foot — don’t expect a grand retooling with spending all over but expect changes none the less. Of course, all of these changes or moves will be only brought to fruitation with the cooperation between players, agents and Jay feaster as well as the market.

Who’s Out:

If there was any player who has applied for a ticket out of town, it’s Ruslan Fedotenko. A fan favorite, he seemed to become disillusioned after not getting a big contract offer to re-sign during the last off-season and took a one-year deal instead. Rusty then proceeded to have his season of high-expectations turn into a season of mediocrity and was benched during the playoffs. A player who was in a contract year, expectations to pick up the slack from a missing offensive cog (Fredrik Modin) and fell apart on ice isn’t likely to remain in town.

Of course there are always circumstances that may keep Rusty in town but with his lack of performance and lack of clicking on the top two lines, his days in TB are likely numbered…

Meanwhile, I’m wondering what to make of defensivemen Cory Sarich and Nolan Pratt. Both are unrestricted free agents and their plus/minus (-5 for Sarich, Even for Pratt) may make them attractive targets for other teams. Sarich is the most interesting question of the two D-men because he seemed to be playing out of his element this season. Sarich is a much more physical presence on ice and to see him playing stick-work defense left me wondering just what the deal was? I’m not even goign to suggest Sarich isn’t cut out for the new NHL as has been suggested for former Lightning defensivemen Jassen Cullimore and Daryl Sydor. It’s really a question of how he should be worked in.

Regardless, both players will be able to command multi-million dollar deals and with the Lightning expected to shed payroll this off-season, one or both defensivemen may be bid adeiu while cheaper veterans (or rookies Matt Smaby, Mike Egener or Andy Rogers among other prospects) may get their chance to fill the void.

I won’t even get into Marc Denis. His scratching for the entire playoffs tells the tale of his future with the team – practically over. The question is where and when he will be headed out of town. I expect Vaclav Prospal to return but to be dangled as trade bait if and when needed. Rob DiMaio’s concussion continues to linger and while I don’t like posting this, he may very well be a forced retirement due to his health.

Who’s Back

Before we get into guys who suited up on the roster this season, lets go to the one guy who didn’t — Evgeny Artyukhin. It was reported in the St. Pete Times that Artoo didn’t have a good time back at home and may make up with Jay Feaster this off season. Though I see a two-way contract in Artoo’s future, I also see him in Tampa Bay next year and playing on the 3rd line to start the season.

That being said, the biggest resigning the Lightning need to take care of is Jason Ward if you believe it. Ward was acquired at the deadline this season (and at the time, I was dumbstruck by the move) and came to town playing the needed role of the defensive forward. He’s clicked with Brad Richards on the fly and one has to wonder what Ward and Richards can do together during a full season. Ward is a unrestricted free agent though and his play down the stretch and during the first round may bring him bigger offers than what Jay Feaster is willing to pay. He’d be valuable to keep on with the Lightning, however.

Think what you will of Johan Holmqvist, he’s due back with the Lightning next season. His cost and his stability (if not consistency) will keep him around. He’s also a great shoot-out performer between the pipes and that alone helped Tampa Bay make the playoffs this season.

I also fully expect Eric Perrin to return as well as Andreas Karlsson… Though I will not be shocked if Karlsson departs the Lightning, I will be if Perrin leaves. Doug Janik is on the bubble – I can see him staying or going.

For a complete list of Tampa Bay Lightning free agents (both Unrestricted and restricted) click here.

Needs?

If the season proved anything it was that Tampa Bay lacked a second line threat. Martin St. Louis was shuttled between Vincent Lecavalier and Brad Richards while Richards on the 2nd line couldn’t find a scoring partner like former linemate Freddie Modin. With Fedotenko playing himself out of town and not clicking on either line this season, a left wing will be something Jay Feaster has to shop for.

Defense will likely be shopped for if Janik, Sarich and Pratt all leave. Though the Lightning have defensive prospects, Feaster will not want to throw all of them to the wolves (and potentially compromise the Lightning next season).

And the search for goalie help will continue.

…To Patricia at 2 Man Advantage who figured that the Devils were dead in the water. Surprise, Surprise!

No, Ma’am. Not while Colin Campbell is still in a job. I’ll leave it at that.

One more time, with Feeling!

Well, after the I told you so of game #4….

The pressure is on to put another nail in the coffin — but when the pressure has been on for the Bolts to perform, they’ve faultered.

…I’m wondering if Marty is being pompous?:

Still, he was the 2004 regular-season MVP, so it was notable when St. Louis said, “I agree,” when someone mentioned they believed his overall game is better than his Hart Trophy season.

“I have more experience, more maturity,” St. Louis, 31, said. “I know the level I have to go to in the playoffs to help the team win.”

He backs it up on ice but still — these aren’t always the types of stories you want to hear going into a clutch game.

…and if the Lightning will continue their in-season trend and drop another crucial game when things still are open season? We find out tonight…

The Tampa Bay Lightning sent out a mailer about what may already be known to most Lightning fans but Game #6 on Sunday, April 22nd is slated to begin at 1 PM.

Tickets still available, blah blah blah, you know the drill.

….I’m more interested at this moment in what is going to happen to Thrashers after last night’s humiliating close to the season.

…and Nashville too, sorta, as there big deadline risk is not paying off.

In Atlanta, I have to wonder if their deadline retooling and harsh close to the season (not just the playoff sweep but unconvincing, backing-into-the-playoffs effort) will result in firings of both Don Waddle and Bob Hartley or one of the two (or neither?)

As for Nashville, I never thought that the Forsberg trade was worth it and right now the Preds are proving it to me. In fact, some Preds fans are thinking the entire deck of cards is about to collapse.

At any rate, I should be focusing on Tampa Bay’s own problems (a full game of hockey, gentlemen) more than other teams around the league right now… But these two circumstances are interesting none-the-less.

Would you characterize this as the Lightning’s game to lose? Not I.

Martin Brodeur has been challenged. He either must raise his game or get out of the way. Vincent Lecavalier getitng into Brodeur’s head may or may not be the truth. Tonights game will prove or disprove the notion if Brodeur rises or falls to the occasion.

The Lightning need another complete roster effort and that will be tltimate deciding factor. For the New Jersey fans out there — this is where I hold my doubts. The Lightning have had several situations this season where they have seemed to be on a roll and then — crashed, burned and looked nothing like they are capable. The pressure is on to put another nail in the coffin — but when the pressure has been on for the Bolts to perform, they’ve faultered.

Here’s hoping for the Lightning to beat that trend and head back to jersey with a commanding 3-1 advantage in this best-of-seven series.

Important alert for Lightning fans: Tonights game is NOT on SunSports TV and is instead to be broadcast on SunSports sister station, Fox Sports Net of Florida. Please check your local listings from your cable provider for the correct channel the game is to be broadcast on.

UPDATE: From the comments and Fox Sports Net directly:
It will also be on a different channel than FSN Florida’s usual channel on DirecTV and DISH. DirecTV will have it on 665 and DISH on 444.

Ah, The instigator… How I love thee:

Patricia over at 2manadvantage.com had some choice words to summarize her live-blogging of game 3.

Okay, game is over. Devils lose. Series is only 2-1 Lightning, but it might as well be 3-1 in my eyes. Who should we point the finger at for tonight’s loss? Ah, our wonderful MVP Marty Brodeur. I just love how he claims he needs to be the difference in the game and step it up…well, congrats Marty, you were the difference. It’s not often said, but it needs to be put on the table tonight:

YOU LET YOUR TEAM DOWN.

Step it up for Game 4, prove you’re a damn fine goalie and get the job done. I don’t have anything else to say, because the boys really didn’t look all that bad tonight. All I can do is scratch at my head and shrug my shoulders. Marty hasn’t merely looked human this series, he’s looked downright bad.

What can be said to this? Goaltending has made a difference in this series on both sides of the fray. Martin Brodeur, who has been heralded all season long as the inevitable Hart Trophy winner, has proved mortal indeed. Meanwhile, the guy I think is his chief rival for the Hart has had 133 shots against him and given up 7 goals. 1.60 GAA and a .947 save percentage.

Brodeur? 3.03 with an .871…

Heck, Johan Holmqvist sports a 3.02 GAA with a .902 save percentage.

To summarize the Devils — for what they do right and how well they play their system, their backstop has not been the final frustrating nail in the Lightning’s coffin. Instead, he’s helped give Martin St. Louis and Vincent Lecavalier the post-season points lead, Lecavalier the post season goals lead (tied with J.P. Dumont and Zach Parise).

To summarize, Brodeur’s mortality so far, while New Jersey’s loss, has been our gain.

Last but not least, Patricia put up a little graphic in her post that makes me all warm and fuzzy inside…

At any rate, one of the big changes last night that had me enthused from the get-go was the play of Brad Richards with Jason Ward. Ward is not Freddie Modin. He’s not going to give you a booming slap shot that you will dive out of the way of. He’s not going to muscle his way around you and put in a wrap around shot. What he is is the two-way forward that Richards can click with. It doesn’t have to be flashy, it doesn’t have to be neat. Steady and intense however, is a must.

Jibber Jabber and all that jazz related to the game.

I did this last season and of course the media didn’t listen, nor did the team… I’m hoping the local blogosphere can help carry this into the mainstream but…

“When does Lightning show up best? When it’s dark.”

Ladies and gentlemen, we ought to blackout the St. Petersburg Times Forum on Monday (and Wendesday, and whenever else necessary). It is a copycat tradition to have everyone in the building wearing one type color or another… but it’s not as tired and cliché as the “white out”.

Simply show up at the arena wearing dark colors — black, dark blues, etc. Heck, it’s the color of the uniform the home team is wearing, lest we forget

The one aspect I loved about the series opener was the fact that I didn’t give up on it — and couldn’t see why anyone would — until goal #5 was scored by the New Jersey Devils. No, I’m not going to take digs at Holmqvist. Not justified at this point. We’re heading to game 3 and the point I want to make was further enforced in game 2.

Again, you couldn’t give up on the game. You were on the edge of your seat throughout when someone scored because you figured the other team would answer… It was back and forth like that. During the season, it’s infuriating to see the Devils play that style because it puts you to sleep. Now? You have seven games to beat them and every moment counts.

Watching them tonight reminded me of something though. I’m making an ill comparison so I apologize to the hockey world but watching New Jersey work tonight and knowing how they played in game one, I thought back to the NFL and the the days of yore with the other llocal team who could stifle fans with boredom while dominating on defense. Yeah, the Bucs.

The Devils system isn’t complex but it has to be — and is — run well. You need to utilize the basics and clog the lanes… And if THAT doesn’t stop you dead in your tracks, there is Martin Brodeur as the last line of defense. A goalie that just about any team would be pleased to have as their backstop.

But just like the Bucs, the Devils are mortal. They thrive on mistakes and you need to thrive by not making them and keeping the puck out of your zone as much as possible. The offense is proficient, not overpowering. The scheme to limit offensive production from opponents and stifle shots is what gives them an advantage – but not impossible to overcome it.

And while I praise how well the Devils run their system, it’s also the reason why Martin Brodeur isn’t deserving of the Hart (or Conn Smythe, as this is playoff hockey). You can just look west and what Roberto Luongo has done in 2 games compared to Brodeur in his two (103 shots faced, 97 saves as to 46 shots and 40 saves). The system limits shots, and therefore limits risks. Make the saves you must and you’re home free.

But I digress. This doesn’t talk at al about game #2 does it? Not Martin St. Louis’ full-damn-body check attempt, not his out-of-thin-air goal; not Jason Ward assisting on that game tying goal… Nor does it talk about the teams showing a little bit of ill will towards each other — much more evident in the 1st and 3rd periods — but not to the point they came to blows.

3-2 from the Meadowlands tonight… Times Palace is the destination of games #3 and #4, with the opportunity to take the series lead.

Thursday’s loss was heartbreaking but it was not a total schooling of the Lightning that should leave fans disenchanted like last seasons drubbing (repeated drubbings at that) fo the Bolts by the hands of the Ottawa Senators…

Yet at the same time we saw the difference between the two opponents. Ottawa flat out outplayed Tampa Bay (as they always do) while the New Jersey Devils played there system of offensive-squelching hockey while feeding off Tampa Bay’s mistakes.

And while Safe is Death, so is stupid…

Fans of both teams are welcome to comment, but keep it civil. Flaming, trolling or other disruptive behavior will not be tolerated.

Mike Chen had a “crappy player pick’em” this season where one was supposed to venture who would be the best-worst player out of a field of players picked by friends and fellow bloggers.

Yours truly picked the winner — TB’s own Eric Perrin. Me and Mike had discussed earlier in the season about the fact crappy players can become uncrappy and would they be disqualified if they started seeing playing time on the top two lines?

If I set the rules, Eric would have been disqualified. I’ll take what I can get though Thank you, Eric, for proving me right and going from bottom-line NHL castoff to valuable member of the Lightning (as I figured you would).

Without further adieu (or snappy graphics this year)…

The floor is yours.

Fans of both teams are welcome to comment, but keep it civil. Flaming, trolling or other disruptive behavior will not be tolerated.

(Sidenote: for those who prefer the format, we’re running a game night thread on the forum as well)

A user over at FanHome has stated the suspected Lightning RBK Edge uniform redesign is false, but has also stated that the Lightning’s duds are going to be touched up a bit.

And while we’re on the subject of Uniforms, Sticks of Fire has a poll up on their main site asking which Tampa Bay sports team has the best duds? Go vote…

EriK at the Trib complains about the weather (and Erik, your copy editing of this blog entry is as horrid as mine here at Boltsmag ) and floats the idea that Doug Janik will dress for tonights game.

I wouldn’t rule out the possibility of Tampa dressing seven defenseman and throwing Doug Janik into the lineup, but I don’t know if that’s the case. After all, it was an optional.

I won’t put it past Torts if he plays this. Shane-O is still a rookie… But if O’Brien plays with as much intensity as he has during his short stay in Tampa (or comparable to Paul Ranger’s balls-to-the-wall play during last years playoffs), I don’t see the (R) status as a thing to worry about.

Already mentioned in comments here but unpublished, Marc Denis gets prime seats in the press box for the playoffs. That’s right, rookie Kari Ramo is backing up Johan Holmqvist.

Torts has taken chances with goalies before in the playoffs (Grahame over Khabibulin in the Lightning playoff-finale loss to Jersey in 2002-03) but this one could be the biggest of them all. Can Holmqvist rise to the challenge? Can Ramo come to the team’s aid if necessary?

If high definition hockey enhances the game, you wouldn’t know it if you were a Lightning hockey fan.

Sun Sports (the Tampa Bay Lightning’s official broadcast partner) will be offering game #3 and game #6 (if necessary) of the Lightning/Devils games in High Definition.

The Lightning’s most marketable time of year and Sun Sports is only offering potentially 2 High Definition broadcasts in the first round? High Definition enhances hockey on TV and while Fox Sports Net Florida (Sun Sports sister station) offered 30 Florida Panther games in High Definition during the 2006-07 season (and 39 Devil Ray games on top of it), Sun Sports offered all of 10 games in High Definition for the Lightning during the regular season.

There are so many stories I could cover, or about media stories I disagree with or criticism of writing by parties or what not. Been there, done that. Will come back to it when I need it.

Right now I am not saying anything because this entire series is in the Lightning’s hands and I’m not sure what to expect.

For those who are optimistic, I ask you to simply throw away what you’ve seen the Lightning do against the Devils in 2006-07 and remember — this is the second season. All records start at 0 and the regular season and what happened then means jack at this point.

For the pessimists out there who want to complain that if the Lightning had gotten this, that and the other thing; if they’d won this game or that game, if they’d played better than Shoot out hockey, etc… That all amounts to woulda’, coulda’and shoulda’. Empty requests and empty rhetoric. It didn’t happen. Move on. This is Lightning vs. Devils now and not “Tampa Bay Lightning — what I didn’t like is what is going to guide this team now.”

Second season. Second chances. This is Rusty Fedotenko’s chance to prove he’s worth big money in his looming free agency. This is Vaclav Prospal’s second chance to bring electricity to the ice when he scores instead of bringing lead. This is Ryan Craig’s second chance to show his influence on ice is not just standing stone in front of the opposing goal…

Second chances are powerful things. You gotta make the most of them. With how Tampa Bay closed out the season, it’s important they make the most of this opportunity.

Start from zero and work your way up to the caliber you are capable. If anyone needs a reminder of what this team is capable of, I only ask you to take a little trip to the St. Pete Times Forum and take a gander up at the rafters.

Got a new poll up (see the sidebar) about predictions pertaining to this series.

Here’s the schedule:

ESPN is calling this for Tampa in Seven.

Given the Devils’ injury problems and the attendant paucity of scoring, it might not matter that the Lightning have the worst penalty-killing record of any playoff team. Everyone says goaltending trumps scoring in the playoffs. We take the contrary view here and like the Lightning’s superior offense to carry the day.

That’s a far cry from 2003-04 when they were looking for every Lightning opponent to ultimately win the series (the Islanders, the Habs, the Flyers…)

Bolts Blog has a rundown and prediction thread for the entire Eastern Conference up

Giving props (and adding to the blogroll) to Chris over at the (should-have-discovered-it-already) Cathode Rays and Power Plays blog — he’s got a first-round preview posted as well.

On a side note, the Hart Trophy poll is still alive. Please just go to the post to vote. You can also see all ongoing results at the Poll Results Page.