Brad Lukowich was signed to a 3 year, 4.7 million dollar contract with the Bolts.

While this isn’t the sexiest signing in the world or the biggest name commodity that could be brought in — it’s stability and it’s management confidence in a high character player that matches Brad with the Lightning once again.

BUt here’s an interesting thought on the signing — what if it’s waving the white flag on Dan Boyle being re-signed by the Bolts? I’m not suggesting Lukowich - who has played in the top four in Tampa in the past - is a top pair D-man, but with Filip Kuba, Shane O’Brien and Paul Ranger already on the roster - and Lukowich thought highly of by the Lightning, does this afford the team an insurance policy if Matt Smaby, Andy Rogers and the like don’t crack and stick to the NHL roster and earn a full time place with the team either this season or next? As of right now Brad is a #5 D-man on the roster, if not #4 while Ranger or O’Brien get displaced in lower pairings for the time being.

I’m not saying that anyone should look at Brad Lukowich being added to the Bolts as Jay Feaster annoiting him a top-four again, nor should this signing be looke dat as such… but with Feaster’s MO of bringing in players that won’t rock the boat with lockeroom chemistry (Michel Oulett is Brad Richards former line mate in junior hockey for instance), he also has a tendance to aim high with signings of players — and has a habit of them producing better than they were projected.

I’ve posted in 2004 that the Lightning had, in the past, explored new sweater/logo designs. I also posted in January a fans concept for a new Lightning uniform.

And with the Lightning entering their 15th season of play (not counting the lockout of 2004-05) it hasn’t been without warrant to think the Lightning would change things up for the 2007-08 season. With RBK Edge uniforms being implemented in the NHL, it’s given teams such as the Washington Capitals and Columbus Blue Jackets reason to tweak, if not revamp, their uniform. Why would the Lightning be an exception?

Answer: They won’t be.

Tucked into an article about center Tim Taylor’s hip situation in today’s St. Petersburg Times, Damian Cristodero breaks the official news:

The Lightning is expected to unveil this summer a “modernization” of its logo. The changes are not expected to be major.

This goes along the lines of the insight that was posted on FanHome that the Lightning would make subtle changes to their logo and uniform — the team crest, the fonts, not much else.

Odds are the text is removed from the Lightning crest and the bolt takes on a more fierce look — or is simply enlarged.