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.