• Drew Miller being sent down? RT @mirtle: RT @Russostrib: MacIntyre to fla, Mair clears waivers, Arnason and Drew Miller on waivers #
• they should also hold an awards telecast and show the NHL how to do it in a non-lame fashion @draysbay RE: Awards #

• The Tampa Bay Lightning's Tocchet, Lecavalier, St. Louis and playing "gritty". Can Vinny be a grinder? http://sbnation.com/e/888286 #
• RT @TBLightning: Brian Lawton is scheduled to appear on NHL Live at 12:30pm today. Watch online at: http://bit.ly/192QvS #

• Please ban Bucco Bruce from ever setting foot in TB again after today? Thanks… #
• Cassie will be appearing on Jabberyhockey Radio later this afternoon at 5:30 PM. http://bit.ly/2YL28S #
• On the cusp of something special? http://sbnation.com/e/885564 #
• Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!! RT @schnarr17: The Bucs have no choice but to keep the creamsickle jersies permanent. #
• RT @ongoalanalysis: Join me LIVE on my JabberHockey – When the Lightning Strike show at http://tobtr.com/s/734984 or call (347) 857-4848 #
• I'm in Chat, Cassie's on the air. Come on in and lets talk some hockey: http://bit.ly/4oQpKB #
• The Architectural Art of Nassau Coliseum #worldsthinnestbooks #
• Integrity , Honesty and Accountability by Colin Campbell #worldsthinnestbooks #
• How to admit a mistake by the association of professional ice hockey referees #worldsthinnestbooks #
• Broadcasting For the Masses: Wide appeal of sport telecasts by Rogers Sportsnet. #worldsthinnestbooks #

• Please ban Bucco Bruce from ever setting foot in TB again after today? Thanks… #
• Cassie will be appearing on Jabberyhockey Radio later this afternoon at 5:30 PM. http://bit.ly/2YL28S #
• On the cusp of something special? http://sbnation.com/e/885564 #
• Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!! RT @schnarr17: The Bucs have no choice but to keep the creamsickle jersies permanent. #
• RT @ongoalanalysis: Join me LIVE on my JabberHockey – When the Lightning Strike show at http://tobtr.com/s/734984 or call (347) 857-4848 #
• I'm in Chat, Cassie's on the air. Come on in and lets talk some hockey: http://bit.ly/4oQpKB #
• The Architectural Art of Nassau Coliseum #worldsthinnestbooks #
• Integrity , Honesty and Accountability by Colin Campbell #worldsthinnestbooks #
• How to admit a mistake by the association of professional ice hockey referees #worldsthinnestbooks #
• Broadcasting For the Masses: Wide appeal of sport telecasts by Rogers Sportsnet. #worldsthinnestbooks #

• RT @erlendssontrib: Jeff Halpern not on the ice, but we're told he's fine. Also looks like Miller back in for Fedoruk #
• Link Dump: Tampa Bay Lightning at Montreal Canadiens Preview http://sbnation.com/e/884578 #
• The bar is open — Lightning vs. Les Habs game thread: http://bit.ly/14nVL1 #
• RT @erlendssontrib: Edmonton's Kevin Lowe is at tonight's game, Oilers have been at all four games on this road trip #NHL #
• RT @AngelinaLawton: Brian in Finland for the weekend to see 4 games in 2 days. wants to see prospects himself ! #

• have full access here RT @sounderatheart: Not working yet @RawCharge @sounderatheart http://bit.ly/21Ji9b #
• RT @bloghuddle Happy 6th Birthday, SB Nation!!! http://sbnation.com/e/882279 #
• RT @erlendssontrib: #TBLightning D Victor Hedman not practicing, sitting in Bell Centre stands in workout attire watching practice #
• RT @erlendssontrib: #TBLightning D Victor Hedman out for Saturday's game in Montreal with a mild concussion #
• The one who's yet to play. http://sbnation.com/e/882670 #

• RT @erlendssontrib: Ryan Craig has cleared waivers #
• So Craig clears… Now what? Best guess,,,,? #
• 23 men on roster, that is why nething. I digress, ranger to IR. RT @dagmar27: @RawCharge Why anything? #
• Lightning at Senators preview http://sbnation.com/e/881312 #
• Amazes me how a decades old "They are going to start charging for this net service" rumor is still around. And people still believe it. #
• #ff, @buc_em, @draysbay, @dagmar27, @clarkbrooks, @myfoxprep, @jonjordan, @lightningshout, @stephenfry, @motleysu, @mlse, @mirtle #

• For those who missed it: RT @erlendssontrib: RT @TSNBobMcKenzie Tampa puts Ryan Craig on re-entry waivers. #
• The looming transaction – Ryan Craig on re-call waivers http://sbnation.com/e/879114 #
• Remember, remember, the 5th of November. The gunpowder treason and plot. I see no reason why the gunpowder treason should ever be forgot #
• Still waiting for official word on the Craig recall waivers and corresponding transaction if Craig clears and is called up #

• Former Lightning campers — Prospect / system update http://sbnation.com/e/876978 #
• don't tell me no one's got a video of Hedman's fight from last night…?!? #
• Panic at the ice rink — LIghtning vs. Toronto preview http://sbnation.com/e/877239 #
• RT @FakeAPStylebook: To denote air quotes, "use quotes." #
• RT @clarkbrooks: GOOD DAY FOR A PRO ATHLETE: You've been traded to Pittsburgh! BAD DAY FOR A PRO ATHLETE: You're a baseball player. #
• Tampa Bay at Toronto game thread http://sbnation.com/e/876110 #
• Tampa Bay Lightning Game 13: at the Toronto Maple Leafs. Team Canada & Team USA GMs were in the house. http://sbnation.com/e/878345 #

• RT @AngelinaLawton: At the Four Seasons in Philly both the Bolts and the Yanks are staying here. just met Kurt Russell ~ in town for series #
• Introduce yourself to Raw Charge http://sbnation.com/e/867694 #
• The undercard open thread: Bolts at Flyers before Yanks at Phils. http://sbnation.com/e/875371 #
• RT @LightningShout: RT @erlendssontrib Looks like Lukas Krajicek is in for Kurtis Foster tonight on defense #
• Close to Bear Mountain! He approves! :-p RT @LightningShout: Canucks sign former Bolt Matt Pettinger http://bit.ly/wDrSJ #
• Flyers strike first #
• Tampa Bay Lightning Game 12: at the Philadelphia Flyers. No shootout, no penalty shots, but plenty of groans. http://sbnation.com/e/876150 #
• RT @StanFischler: After watching Tampa thoroughly outplayed by the Devils and now by Philly, I have to wonder about TB's psyche and coach #
• SB Nation updated the look of Rawcharge.com (as well as other SB Nation blogs). Check it out http://bit.ly/2Wn3Xs #
• Lets try this again: Introduce yourself to Raw Charge http://sbnation.com/e/876824 #

• RT @AngelinaLawton: At the Four Seasons in Philly both the Bolts and the Yanks are staying here. just met Kurt Russell ~ in town for series #
• Introduce yourself to Raw Charge http://sbnation.com/e/867694 #
• The undercard open thread: Bolts at Flyers before Yanks at Phils. http://sbnation.com/e/875371 #
• RT @LightningShout: RT @erlendssontrib Looks like Lukas Krajicek is in for Kurtis Foster tonight on defense #
• Close to Bear Mountain! He approves! :-p RT @LightningShout: Canucks sign former Bolt Matt Pettinger http://bit.ly/wDrSJ #
• Flyers strike first #
• Tampa Bay Lightning Game 12: at the Philadelphia Flyers. No shootout, no penalty shots, but plenty of groans. http://sbnation.com/e/876150 #
• RT @StanFischler: After watching Tampa thoroughly outplayed by the Devils and now by Philly, I have to wonder about TB's psyche and coach #
• SB Nation updated the look of Rawcharge.com (as well as other SB Nation blogs). Check it out http://bit.ly/2Wn3Xs #
• Lets try this again: Introduce yourself to Raw Charge http://sbnation.com/e/876824 #

While Boltsmag is no longer updating (for blog posts about the Lightning, check out Raw Charge), I did need to post this graphic — five years late — for superstition sake…

Five years ago, I had this “The Wall” graphic updated with every game played in the Cup playoffs. Every game, a new notch was put up. Though it should have only been victories (I was young and stupid! Forgive me!), I notched every game – win or lose.

Some people blamed lack of updates on loses the Bolts suffered in the Eastern Conference Finals and Stanley Cup Finals. This made me more responsible in updating said-graphic. After the Bolts won the Cup in 2004 — I neglected to update the graphic once again to register the 7th and final game.

This is my attempt to rectify that situation and perhaps throw off a jinx that the Bolts have had since:

Boltsmag was put together some five years ago… and now I announce that Boltsmag is going on extended — if not permanent — hiatus as a Tampa Bay Lightning blog.

Today, I announce the opening of the newest Sports Blog Nation website, Raw Charge.

There’s more to talk about with this, and I probably will post further remarks in this very post when they come to mind… But it’s the end and the begining… all at once.

OK, I am doing some housecleaning on my linkroll/blogroll… This means it MIGHT be a good time to contact me about a link exchange requests and what not. I’ve been horrible about keeping up with some of the requests that have come to me.

EDIT: Yikes, run a blog for five years and you see an accumulation of dead, dying or downright gone blogs. Speaking of which, the Boltosphere has dried up to levels that were comparable to what I found when I started Boltsmag: not much at all (that I am aware of). Credit goes to Cassie and Co at Bolts Blog for keeping things going while all hell breaks loose with the hockey club.

Just a general heads up to the Tampa Bay sports bloggers out there:

Have you gotten your blog listed on TampaBLAB yet? The BLAB is a general listing and aggregation of local blogs in the Tampa Bay area.

While Buc’em, Bolts Blog, Best Bucs Blog and Rays Index are listed — I’m surprised there aren’t more… Especially considering how sports nuts the area is.

So if you want to further reach local readers, consider signing up. Self promotion is not a bad thing.

(Editors note: The following was written by Jes Gölbez, previously of Hockey Rants and posted here with his permission)

Radim Vrbata’s tenure with the Tampa Bay Lightning, less than half a season into his 3-year, $9 million contract, has come to a quiet end as the slick Czech winger is going back home to play in the Czech Republic for the remainder of the season.

That was quick!

Coming off of a career high 56-point season, Vrbata was in that class of second-tier free agents that would be a good pick up for most teams.

The problem? The Tampa Bay Lightning wasn’t one of them, and it was never a good fit from the start.
Read it all..

Technical and off topic mumbo jumbo here…

I’d like to point out that, for a year or so, I have had in my ownership a domain name of a site that I thought went dead… Tampa Bay Sports Net (the domain name is tbsports.net). I snatched the domain up when it expired and have held onto it for safe keeping and possible use in the future. If you visit the domain, it currently points here (as does Raw Lightning)

While doing some research on Friday for a friend, I happened across… well? Tampa Bay Sports Net — the same Tampa Bay Sports Net that had previously owned said domain name. I’ve attempted to contact them through email and through their site (contact form is broken) because I had no malicious intentions when I snatched up this domain name. I was and am hoping to return tbsports.net to it’s proper owner.

So let me publicly request someone at TBSN1.com get in touch with me if they’d like their domain name returned to them. Thanks.

…which doesn’t mean I will be blogging more often but I was tired of the old design, big time, for Boltsmag.

As it stands, it’s not easy to find comments unless you visit the permalink for the post. That should be corrected with time.

BUMP AND UPDATE 10-07-2008: Some aspects of the site are still not working and I can’t quite remedy them until next week. I’d appreciate it if people can either use the contact form and report errors on the site or try to leave a comment (I can’t guarantee comments will get through with thanks to anti-spam software).

Got a post-mortem season poll for the Bucs up over at Sticks of Fire regarding the team’s direction. Please head on over there to vote, kvetch and all that jazz.

The site note I have to bring up is a change to the anti-spam plugin employed here at Boltsmag. I’ve just switched to the built in anti-spam Akismet plugin for Wordpress due to a conflict inspired by Spam Karma on my other blogs. The technical mumbo jumbo shouldn’t effect many (or any) on Boltsmag but if you suddenly find your comments locked-out, please get in touch with me over the problem.

To Boltsmag readers, my friends and acquaintances on the Tampa Bay and Hockey blogosphers… I wish you all a safe and happy new year.

Another site note here at Boltsmag: You’ll notice a (ugly, misaligned) calendar on the left hand sidebar where the Poll usually is located. This is due to be an all-purpose calendar for the site — not only will it display days where I posted, but also show upcoming events in red. I want to get the calendar to look right before programming in every event (game days, deadlines, etc).

Believe it or not, I’m not dead, maimed, brainwashed or any other malignant thing…. well, that’s subjective (lazy can be termed as malignant, can’t it?).

At any rate, I’m currently working behind the scenes here at Boltsmag after upgrading it to the latest version of Wordpress. Those who actually are on the site (hi Tiny) may run into a few problems or speed bumps or what not. Pleas let me know if you do run into a conflict (note — a conflict with me not keeping the site up to date during the season doesn’t count :-p ).

Thanks

Update: Mind the error codes, will you?

And I’m now aware the Lightning Wallpaper page isn’t quite working. Why doesn’t anyone kvetch to me when these things break?

Update #2: I’d like to announce an official Archives page has been added to the site. I need to make some changes around here so that the Archive page shows up in the title menu…

I gotta get on a jet plane in the morning and travel ou twest. That being said, rumors of my return to Boltsmag and blogging my discontent about the Lightning at the moment have been greatly exaggerated :p. I’ll be back around Sunday though.

We got a few games between then and now – including tonight versus Florida. Matt Smaby has been recalled, Dan Boyle is back on IR and Absolute Hockey’s purchase of the Bolts couldn’t come soon enough.

Just a heads up to readership here at Boltsmag — I wrote up a preview of the Lightning’s 2007-08 season for Pensblog. Of course, Pens fans aren’t going to be cheering anything about the Lightning (we being the thorn in their side last season and now employing one hugely frustrating players on the Pens last season) but that’s a different story (or an explanation for the comments on Pensblog, take your pick ).

I moderated a discussion between Ski of Best Bucs Blog and Scott of BucStats this week concerning the Buccaneers upcoming season… Though we rambled quite a bit with the discussion and not all of that is included, you can check out part one now at Sticks of Fire…

…Part Two has now been published.

The whole thing was a ton of fun and I really wish we could have gone on for a while. Of course, giving questions and witty retorts to replies is easier than what Scott and Ski had to do in giving answers. Hats off to them.