I am not exactly crying over the news Steve Downie was sent down to Norfolk.

Apologies to the Admirals. You deserve better.

Karri Ramo (whose name I mispeeled in the previous story) and Jay Leach have been called up by the Bolts.

This doesn’t get me excited whatsoever. Ramo needs time. Leach? Career AHL’er.

Oh, it gets better:

Ramo said at practice that he’d been told he would play Thursday night against Toronto.

So the Bolts are prepared to potentially toss Karri Ramo to the wolves, eh? Fantastic. I’m not doubting Karri Ramo entirely – except he has no numbers to justify some of the hoopla I’ve seen about this move… The chips are also down and this isn’t the type of situation anyone would want a young goalie to be used under.

Yeah, it’s been quite a while but Ryan Craig actually appeared in the news, he’s been sent to the Norfolk Admirals on a conditioning stint after his lengthy time on IR.

But I don’t honestly know how this will play out in the end. It’s not like Craig MacDonald has played poorly. Or Darche…

The one telling sign that there is trouble in the House of ‘Ning (and by God I vowed to never use that nickname to describe the Bolts, shame on me!) was Jay Feaster loading up on defensive depth this off season. Those acquisitions have bogged down the Norfolk Admirals in while they have been short on forwards. The Lightning franchise as a whole lacks offensive depth at this time as well (and please, no one cite Alexander Polushin. That ship has sailed)

Last weekend, at the request of Jay Feaster, Mike Egener was inserted at wing on Blair Jones and Kyle Wavnig’s line. Mike was Jay Feaster’s first draft pick as GM and has been bounced around in the minors while trying to adapt his game to the “New NHL™”. While Matt Smaby, Vladmir Malhik and Andy Rogers have kept the Lightning’s attention as defensive prospects, Mike seemed to fall out of the teams graces (even if certain fans by the name of ME kept hoping he’d get his shot).

So the Egener Experiment commenced. And lo and behold what happened? OntarioFan’s comment surmises Egener’s weekend on the wing:

On a unrelated note. Mike Egener had a good weekend playing forward and surprised the coaches with his ability to battle in front of the net and actually score. Few realize that because his father was in the army and the family moved often that he was forced to play defence to make new teams. He began as a forward and played that position until he was 11-12 and was a goal scorer! If he is given a lengthy chance he might be an asset.

Mike clicked on the wing? BoltProspects.com furthers the tale of the Wing and the Eg:

With the Norfolk Admirals short on forwards to start the year due to four recent signees experiencing work visa issues, and a hoard of defensemen vying for coveted starting spots, it seemed like the perfect time for a career change of sorts for Egener. At Lightning General Manager Jay Feaster’s request, Egener was moved up to the wing. The 6-foot-4, 213-pounder responded with an honest effort each night, physical play, and even chipped in a rare goal against his former team, Springfield.

Egener’s career high for goals in a year – at the WHL, ECHL, or AHL level – is three (2004-05 Springfield).

…

“We are going to continue experimenting with him on the wing,” Feaster told Bolt Prospects. “We need his toughness in the line-up and we think he is a better fit on the wing. He likes it and is having some success.”

So what can be made of this in all honesty? A fast skater, booming slap shot who has played defense most of his amateur and professional career now playing a proactive role on offense instead of reactive role on defense? While Boltprospects article compares Egener’s position switch with Ben Clymer’s switch in 2001-02, I’d like to think the sky is much more the limit for Mike and what he can accomplish for himself and the team. A power wing with two way prowess is a commodity in this league.

As some of you may have noticed, we have a new poll here asking who amounts to the biggest off-season acquisition for the Bolts?

I added two names that were brought in specifically for depth — Lampman and Jancevski who both have a shot at the #6 D-man role. The poll race truly should be between four players and the roles they may or may not be playing with the Lightning this year:

Center Chris Gratton: Welcome back Grats. I’m still a little miffed that we gave up a 2nd to get Chris back in the fold but he’s an upgrade to Tim Taylor in that he’s younger, he’s willing to do more, he’s got a reputation for scoring somewhere near 40 points a season — which is much more than Taylor chips in — and has leadership abilities (though he will not be wearing the A or C while Vinny, Marty and Brad are around or Tim for that matter). I know I vented because this is Gratton’s third tenure with the team and he’s played the journeyman roll in the league since his last appearance in a Lightning uniform (Buffalo, Colorado, Phoenix, Florida with the Flyers having been his 2nd team after his initial spell with the Bolts)… yet I couldn’t help feeling like this is where Chris is supposed to be after seeing him at the jersey unveiling and reading some of his quotes regarding the turnout for Ice Fest. He was part of the 1996 first-playoff team but you realize what he’s missed out on in TB? The ascent of the franchise from dismal or also-ran status (even in 1996 where the team was competitive) to the Cup championship team. Hockey’s not so new here any more, Chris, nor taken as a novelty… Welcome to HockeyBay. Gratton will likely helm the third line while chipping in on special teams…

Oh, and Bruce? The insinuation he is capable of replacing Brad Richards remains ridiculous.

Defensiveman Brad Lukowich: For all the hell that Marc Denis and Johan Holmqvist have gotten for quality-of-play last season, I found (more times than not) lackluster play in front of them from lower defensive lines to be as much of a problem as keeping the puck out of the net. Note Holmqvist’s 9-1 shootout record and how he plays one-on-one… Then complicate that picture by throwing 2 guys who are supposed to be helping him and extra attackers in front of him and you see Johan as merely a passable goalie and a highly questionable #1. Why is that the case? Answer: Because Corey Sarich is not a poke-check artist and Nolan Pratt is a 7th defensiveman playing on the third pairing. Oh sure, Boyle, Kuba, Ranger, Janik, Richardson and O’Brien can receive blame and get crap thrown at them too for dropping the ball at times too. But the point is that adding Brad Lukowich back to the mix brings in stability, experience and shot-blocking expertise to the blueline. This will likely help relieve some pressure on the goalies which could make a very big difference in the team’s record. But that remains to be seen.

LW Jan Hlavac: You see those skates that Jan is scheduled to wear on ice this season? They once belonged to Fredrik Modin. How’s THAT for high hopes and expectations? The hope is that Jan plays the role of power-forward next to Brad Richards and contributes… But for a player who has been out of the NHL for the last two seasons (three if you include the lockout 2004-05 season), that’s a mighty tall order.

RW Michel Ouellet: Is the Bradmaster’s magic with Michel still possible? Will Hlavac click as well and give the Lightning a two line offensive threat again? You can read the recent Rimouski Risk post and see some of the ups and downs of Michel, but the promise is there — even if the correct spelling of his last name is not.
Read it all..

Doug Janik signed a 2 way contract with the Lightning today (this is days after Karl Stewart also was re-upped) and immediately sticks his foot into the #6 D-man role by default. Whatever your opinion is of Janik — he is a veteran of the Lightning’s defensive system which puts him in the lead among the new depth signings and prospects.

But this benchmark can easily be jumped by most anyone on the Lightning’s defensive depth chart at current. Lampman, Jancevski, Smaby, Rogers, Egener, Malhik need to perform (at whatever level and whatever pre-season training camp — Traverse City or Brandon at the Ice Sports Forum) better than Janik to begin their quest for a roster spot. Getting past each other, however, may prove more difficult than getting past Doug Janik though.

The Lined Up Update has been updated to coincide these transactions.

Jay?

Thanks for listening…

Jay Feaster
General Manager
Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey Club
401 Channelside Drive
Tampa, Florida 33602

7-15-2007

Dear Jay Feaster —

It’s been a couple of months since I talked to you directly about the future of the Tampa Bay Lightning… That was at the trade deadline where I implored you not to make a move that would put the Lightning’s long term picture into murky territory if you made a move for a big name instead of planning for the long term.

Yet here we are, just a few months later and there is a rumor Jassen Cullimore will be brought back to Tampa to round out the defense, again shutting the door on the young players in Tampa Bay’s system. Smaby, Rogers, Egener, Mahlik — by selecting these players near the top of the last few drafts, you have committed the franchise to them. There are rumblings, however, that this isn’t the case. Management doesn’t seem comfortable with these players for one reason or another and more depth at defense has been brought in. Brad Lukowich was re-acquired in part because he knows the system and fills that depth need. And now there are rumblings that Jassen Cullimore – another former Lightning player that will it your “locker room chemistry” MO, will be brought in as defensiveman #6.

Please, no.

This isn’t sullying Jassen Cullimore and what he has meant to the team in the past. This is, however, thinking both long term and present with the Bolts. The past the past and trying to re-capture the past through old roster members doesn’t always work out in professional sports. The team needs to plan for the future and start addressing the future by giving other players the shot at the #6 defensiveman role. You do recall the 2005 pre-season, where John Tortorella was happy with no one as a 6th defensiveman, correct? Timo Helbing ended up making the roster for opening night, and yet in a matter of days Paul Ranger replaced Helbing in the lineup and shined with his opportunity.

You’ve voiced the desire to have the Lightning’s defensive prospects play more minutes in Springfield instead of potentially riding the pine in Tampa… Just when are they supposed to get NHL experience though? How are they supposed to break into the league? Mid season in last-resort call-ups?

Jay, these players need exposure to the NHL game. Filling out the roster with seasoned veterans may be perceived as the clearest path for the 2007-08 season but what about beyond that? The focus cannot be on the immediate return at all times, it has got to be on both current and long-range planning. That’s why I liked the Shane O’Brien acquisition and that’s why I’m asking you to let the prospects and “depth addition” acquisitions get a shot at the role. Stunting and blocking the growth of the players you’ve invested time and patience in isn’t the way to go about things unless you intend to move these players for other pieces of the puzzle.

When will the Lightning chose if their prospects are pieces of the puzzle? Deferring that moment to a later time clouds the franchises long term future and risks the team further depending on free agency instead of player development (which is an additional risk under the NHL’s Salary cap system and the Lightning’s self imposed budget).

Look to the future on defense, Jay, and let the chips fall where they may. Do not get caught looking to the past as if it will be the same as it once was. It won’t. It almost never is.

Sincerely,
John
Boltsmag.com

P.s. Go Bolts!

Though a couple of days old, BoltProspects.com reported that the Lightning have invited another Oulett into the system:

According to the Halifax Daily News, the Lightning has extended a free agent tryout to Cape Breton Screaming Eagle Dean Ouellet. The 5-11, 172 pound Ouellet had 40 goals and 85 points in 70 games for Cape Breton last season as a 19 year old. He will turn 20 in early August, a month before he participates with Lightning prospects at the Traverse City, Michigan prospects tournament. Ouellet, a left winger, also had over 100 PIM last season before he scored 9 goals and 19 points in 16 playoff games.

No relation to Michel Oulett — the recent addition to the Lightning roster. Yet this invitation seems to be an attempt to add some forward depth to the Lightning organization.

More defensive depth has been brought into the Lightning organization and the Bolts possible #6 D-man in Dan Jancevski:

From Erik at the Trib:

The hub-bub from inside the organization is that Jancevski, who was a big part of Hamilton’s Calder Cup championship team lalst season, comes in sitting as the No. 6 defenseman on the depth chart right now ahead of Matt Smaby, Jay Leach and others heading into training camp. A 6-foot-3, 220-pound native of Windsor, Ontario, Jancevski spent five seasons in the Dallas system before playing one year in the Montreal organization last season. He has played 470 games in the AHL scoring 28 goals and adding 141 points. He earned one call up with Dallas during the 2005-06 season but appeared in two games before being sent back down.

Defensive prospect Mike Egener has also been signed to a one year, 2 way contract.

Jancevski’s signing and status creates a few questions about the Lightning defensive prospects. Matt Smaby, Andy Rogers and Egener have all been highly touted and future pieces for the blue line in Tampa… Yet with the Lightning adding defensive depth this off season (for both AHL Norfolk and in Tampa) one has to wonder just how close these guys are to breaking into the NHL? Is Feaster tryng to delay Smaby and Co? Or simply provide a challenge for them, drawing a line in the sand if you will? Competition for the #6 D-man role could be a boon for the Lightning and it could be a non event a-la the 2005 pre-season where no one stepped into the role outright (Timo Helbing ended up being dubbed the teams #6 D-man out of training camp with Paul Ranger replacing him several days later).

Whatever the case, the beat goes on here in the NHL off-season. After less than a week of free agency the Lightning are different and yet the same.

…so sayeth the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Bolt Prospects has touched on the rumors up north that the Lightning and Springfield Falcons may terminate their affiliation deal.

The Norfolk Admirals were named within the rumors as becoming the Lightning’s new AHL affiliate. Lets keep our ears open on this one.

Jay Feaster
General Manager
Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey Club
401 Channelside Drive
Tampa, Florida 33602

2-19-07

Dear Mr. Feaster;

I’m writing to you today with concerns about both the current Tampa Bay Lightning season as well as the long term future of the Lightning franchise. While the Lightning are at a point where they are in contention for Lord Stanley’s Cup, there is a large cause for concern about the long term implications of focusing on immediate contention and not addressing an area that has been and will continue to be a tender area for the Lightning after the 2006-07 season concludes.

Mr Feaster… Jay… The Lightning have a number of defensive prospects with zero NHL experience. The Lightning have a defensive core that has been shaky this season (and last) as well as unrestricted free agents after the season. Rumors have been around since last fall that you were shopping for a defensiveman from another team and I am left trying to understand why.

Jay, you have stated in the past that you prefer “the kids” playing every day in Springfield instead of potentially riding the pine here in Tampa Bay so they get more playing time. I understand that, I agree with it to an extent as well. Yet in this situation the Lightning are currently in — where we have prospects that need to learn the NHL game and get acclimated to it, where the Lightning lack depth in experienced defensivemen and need to upgrade the staff, all while living life under the salary cap — giving prospects such as Matt Smaby, Mike Egener or Andy Rogers a promotion to Tampa is a long term move that lets the players learn the NHL game while not throwing them to the wolves (a la Paul Ranger in 2005-06 who did a better-than-expected job when punched into the lineup).

Giving a prospect a shot and not forcing them into the lineup full time is not detrimental. Though waiting and waiting and waiting for the perfect trade, possibly involving one of these players or another core player, is. Is Mike Egener the future replacement of Cory Sarich when he leaves the Lightning after this season? Is Andy Rogers able to take Nolan Pratt’s job immediately? Could Matt Smaby be a top four defensiveman? Now is a risky time to find out, but it’s a better time to do it than next season in training camp when the Bolts are trying to fill holes with players they haven’t seen perform at the NHL level before.

You may be skeptical when I bring up promoting prospects. You may say that the free agent market can fill voids better than promoting unproven prospects. Yet life under the salary cap is tight as you have learned. Not just tight but with Vinny Lecavalier’s contract year next year, with prospect Egener’s contract renewal coming up this offseason as well as Johan Holmqvist needing a long term deal, the Lightning are better off growing their own talent at current instead of picking NHL free agents.

Of course, these concerns do not address the lack of forward prospects in the Lightning system and I do believe the Bolts need to find a gritty winger (or a two way forward) to fill the void that has become glaringly apparent with the departure of Fredrik Modin. But at the same time — this cannot be an elder NHL veteran. For the longterm, not short term, the Lightning need to look for a player who can be a mainstay on the roster for a few years. Not a rent-a-forward for a cup run this year.

Time and again we see teams throw everything they have into making a Stanley Cup run, raiding their system of both prospects, players and draft picks for cogs that will only propel the franchise for a few months or less, who are older and more experienced but who aren’t long term fixes for problems.

In closing, Jay, don’t sell the franchise out long term for a Cup run. Don’t make your job harder in balancing the salary cap by going for more than the Lightning can afford (both immediately and long term). Plan for the future as well as the now. Take a chance with commodities the Lightning system has at your disposal instead of risking the long term with a quick fix. Yes the point of an NHL season is to win the Stanley Cup, but the point of a business is long term stability and viability. Even if your goals are short term, please keep a firm eye on the long term effects.

Sincerely,
John
Boltsmag.com

P.s. Go Bolts!

Bolt Prospects reports that Timo Helbling has been released and has had the fact confirmed by Jay Feaster. News off that site also suggest Helbling has signed a two-way deal with the Washington Capitals.

During the 2004-05 campaign — some people had a hard time seeing #5 out on ice. The had a hard time becuase they associated the number with former long-time Tampa defensiveman Jassen Cullimore, and the body under the #5 sweater was clearly not Jassen Cullimore.

They had problems because one of the usually suspects out on ice when a goal was given up, or a flippant mistake was made on defense, was #5. Daryl Sydor came to the Lightning to add defensive talent as well as playoff experience to the defensive corpse in 2004, and now his time in Tampa is over.

Having to make cap space for RFA signings, Jay Feaster dealt Daryl Sydor to the Dallas Stars on Sunday for a 4th round draft pick. It does leave a hole in the defensive squad, but it was a move that had to happen for (as already mentioned) financial reasons as well as play.

Jay Feaster told the St. Petersburg Times this morning that he was through dealing besides minor moves here and there and I believe him (though another salary dump is not out of the question — with Vaclav Prospal being the likely target). I believe this gives defensive prospects such as Mike Egener, Andy Rogers, Matt Smaby and others more hope if they plan to crack the Lightning roster in the pre-season.

Pete and Chad over at Bolt Prospects have some news on the goalie front for the Lightning:

Bolt Prospects has learned the Tampa Bay Lightning has indeed re-opened talks with Finnish Olympic goaltender Fredrik Norrena. In fact, the two sides have been in talks since before the 2006 World Championships. Norrena and the Lightning agreed to a contract last summer, but Norrena backed out of the agreement causing Tampa to temporarily shut the door on the chances of signing the Linkoping goaltender in 2006. That door, according to GM Jay Feaster, has not been shut completely, and in fact has now been re-opened.

Norrena, a 6′0″, 190 pound 7th round pick of the Lightning in 2002, is coming off a 5-0, 37-save shutout vs. Sidney Crosby and Canada at the World Championships in the Bronze Medal game.

Johan Holmquivst and Karri Ramo are also discussed in the article. Holmquivst, in fact, has his own article on BP stemming from multiple foreign rumors of the Lightning trying to acquire his services..

Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Weekly has an article and interview up today about Lightning prospect Mark Tobin (who is another alum of the QMJHL’s Rimouski Oceanic).

Not the greatest piece — you can see most of Mark’s answers summarized in a lead-up to his responses — but worth a look if you interested in Lightning prospects.

Taxi squad time. From the Tampa Tribune:

The team announced that forwards Nick Tarnasky, Darren Reid, Norm Milley; defenseman Doug O’Brien; and goaltender Gerald Coleman have been recalled from Springfield of the American Hockey League. They will be joined by forwards Jason Jaspers, Zdenek Blatny, Marek Kvapil and Mitch Fritz.

I’m disappointed that Gerard Dicaire and/or Mike Egener were not given a spot on the taxi squad after a trying season for both of them. Dicaire had medical problems early in the season and Egener had a bad training camp and was sent down to the ECHL at one point to help renew his confidence.

You’d think letting one of the Lightning’s top defensive prospects taste the NHL at Playoff time would be a huge confidence booster…

Dirk Graham that is. He was ousted from his head coaching duties with the Springfield Falcons (AHL).

The Springfield Falcons report that Timo Helbling was recalled by the Lighning today. Timo, as Lightning fans should remember, started the season on the Lightning’s roster but lost his spot to Paul Ranger early on.

This casts an eerie shadow over the team. It’s common place for a team, with nothing to play for, calls up prospects late in the season… With the Lightning in the thick of the playoff hunt and injuries to their top defensivemen, their hand has been forced and warm bodies are a necessity on defense.

It can be argued about Helbling’s promotion however. Timo is a -22 with Springfield this season. He does have 21 points over 60 games but that negative plus/minus looks monstrous right now. The alternative selection for promotion would be Gerard Dicaire, who’s medical condition seriously hurt his chances with the Bolts during training camp. In Dicaire’s 39 games with Springfield, he’s notched 1 goal with 7 assists. He’s also a -4…

The Lightning have made a move:

The Tampa Bay Lightning have recalled centre Nick Tarnasky and right wing Darren Reid from Springfield of the American Hockey League.

Nick scored a hat trick versus Bridgeport last night, so he is coming up while flying high.

I’m curious if it’s just the lack of intensity that led to the call ups — I have not heard about injuries. I hope it’s not the “We won’t make a trade but must shake things up” type move.

No, no, no, not THAT Eklund… If it was THAT Eklund, we would have run him out of town already.

I’m talking about THIS Eklund who’s had THIS happen to him after being demoted to the ECHL.

This site tries to pride itself in covering not just the Tampa Bay Lightning but also local hockey (SEJHL, High School and what not). Unfortunately this is a one man organization right now and I am not as informed on said topics as I should be… Therefore I’m looking for help reporting on the Tampa Bay Sandsharks of the SEJHL, prep hockey from local high schools as well as the occasional informational post on the USF Bulls hockey program.

I’m also interested in finding someone that can contribute posts about the team’s minor league system on a regular basis. I believe the Cap ups the importance of reporting on the Lightning system in general (from junior level prospects to the AHL) and thus it ups the importance of Lightning fans knowing who the depth is and who (potentially) the future is.

If you’re interested in helping me out — either use the contact button on the right hand menu or email me directly at webmaster at boltsmag.com

The Lightning have recalled Left wing Ryan Craig and RW Darren Reid from the Springfield Falcons for tonight’s game versus the Detroit Red Wings. Craig is the Falcons captain and leading scorer (with 12 goals). One has to assume that the call ups are tied to an injury Ruslan Fedotenko sustained during Thursday’s win against Phoenix, as well as Evegny Artyhukin’s possible suspension for bad officiating and idiotic-Coyote-retaliations…

In an amusing note, Joe Tasca of Tasca’s Take has a lot of love for AHL hockey and has a lot of love for Mr. Reid (sic)… (Compliments to Joe for the photo).

An old friend and one of the more knowledgable Lightning fans have there own blog up and running at BoltProspects.com. Chad Schnarr — an old friend from the old FanHome community and the original Boltsmag message board — and Pete C are keeping up with the minor league and junior hockey (as well as foreign prospect) status’ of Lightning players.

These guys can talk circles around me and leave me in a tizzy… They are two of the most informed Lightning fans out there…