This is stupid.

So stupid, in fact, I compare it to the old joke about a little boy who goes to school with a five dollar bill. He brags to his friend he has one five dollar bill and is offered three one dollar bills in trade. “Three is more than one!” the friend tells the first boy.

And the kid makes the trade. And throughout the day he keeps trading down like that for more of less.

In the frustrating days of the late 1990’s and early Double-Oh’s – you saw just this happen in trades. Something great traded for more of less. For a team rebuilding, it sort of made sense. While there were hits, there were more misses and that was why fans were not endeared to Rick Dudley…

But when the dominoes started to fall on the more-of-less in this situation, we started with a top pair defensiveman (Dan Boyle), traded him for a young up and coming D-man and a first rounder (Matt Carle), then traded Carle for Eminger and trash-considerations in Steve Downie…

And now we get Noah Welch and a 3rd rounder for Eminger…? You’ve traded Dan Boyle for Welch and a 3rd rounder (after dealing away the draft pick already for a sub-par D-man)??

This is insane.

And I apologize profusely to Noah Welch. I apologize for coming down on him indirectly like this when I have never seen him play and don’t know his future. I apologize to him because this post comes off like a judgment about his abilities when in fact, it’s a judgment of the braintrust (I use that term as loosely as possible) of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

And then again, he just became a piece of one of the most jumbled puzzles of transactions in NHL history. That’s not his fault. That’s the fault of the upper brass who don’t seem to want the fans to understand what they are doing. I’m not talking cliché “happy to have him on the roster and he has great abilities” talk. I’m talking big-picture direction of the franchise talk… What’s-the-plan-going-forward talk. Talk that’s been missing while each and every roster move causes more anxiety, and every lingering rumor seems akin to a bad dream.

Recchi and a 2nd round draft pick next year were sent to Boston (and playoff contention) in return for defenceman Matt Lashoff and forward Martins Karsums.

Zen inspired question of the inane variety:
If a former Stanley Cup winner falls through waivers, does he have trade value?

Gary Roberts cleared waivers… meaning no one wanted to pick him up for a waiver fee.

So unless he’s lumped in as a add on to a trade, I don’t see him moving to a contending team. But with so many hours left until the deadline, I sure could be wrong.

“We’re tight with our guys. We’re not looking to give them away. If people are going to make meaningful offers to move this organization forward, we will act. But we won’t act for the sake of acting. We’re going to make deals if they make sense for the organization.”

–Brian Lawton, General Manager.

With the track record of OK (not really) Hockey, I can’t say I believe Mr. Lawton one iota. Especially after reading that he plans on being at the office at 6 A.M tomorrow morning.

Deals will be done, trades will be made, and the only place they make sense will be on paper. Or, the wise moves will be the small ones that don’t seem to have significance until later on when a young player grows into his role… The Lightning under Koules/Barrie/Lawton have a habit of going with the former: great on paper, lousy on ice. The latter would require a long term blue print that does not sacrifice the nucleus of the roster.

Rumors have swirled for days that Gary Roberts was a target at the trade deadline.

Please, Brian Lawton and OK (not Really) Hockey, tell us WHY he was placed on waivers today? Couldn’t get anything for him? Or just quit trying?

Sports columnist Gary Shelton at the St. Petersburg Times says in eloquence the point worth remembering (for Lightning fans) with the Lecavalier tradewind/storm that has swept up:

It is as simple as this. Fans trust Vinny Lecavalier a great deal, and they don’t trust the new ownership at all.

Around here, Lecavalier is not only the face of a franchise, he is the faith. In the chaos of a season, he is the reason to keep watching.

He is the reason to think things might eventually get good again.

That, in essence, is the point in fan outcry against this supposed trade talk. It’s not a foreign subject for Lightning fans to see high quality players sent packing during down years in order to try to improve the roster. Yet in those down years, it was usually a marginal fan favorite sent away for a long term investment (or a short sighted solution) in return.

And OK Hockey has been all about the short-sighted solution sus-far, or so it seems. Lets secure Dan Boyle… Wouldn’t it be cooler if we traded him though? Lets bring in Barry Melrose and jazz up management and… oh, wait, he hasn’t coached in a decade and look at the monstrosity of incapability he is displaying…

A Lecavalier trade, to me, would be comparable to sending Mario Lemieux packing from the Pittsburgh Penguins instead of Jaromir Jagr in the July 2001 trade… The face of the franchise, the figurehead… hell, the team owner for Christ sake. Mario had saved the franchise when he was drafted. He won Stanley Cups with the Pens, he literally saved hockey in Pittsburgh again by purchasing the Pens…

Some would say Lecavalier joining the Lightning (along with so many other cogs that have come and gone since 2004) accomplished the same in Tampa Bay. A perennial loser became a contender on his watch, and a champion on his watch. A derelict franchise was rebuilt and renewed with thanks to the hope and faith that Vincent brings to roster day in and day out.
Read it all..

For the last ten seasons, there has been a constant dogging Tampa Bay Lightning hockey. Through the tortured days of the late 1990’s through a Stanley Cup championship and back again to the dregs of mediocrity, one chorus has sung itself silly every season. Every season with or without basis.

Vincent Lecavalier to Montreal.

There was the disrespect factor to begin, as Vinny entered the NHL in a non traditional market. Tampa Bay was the joke of the league and of course, fans from Canada treated the Lightning as the joke they were while making up all sorts of preposterous trade scenarios for Vincent’s services.

As the lean years of Lightning hockey pressed on, some of those rumors weren’t based off desire to mock Tampa as so much save Vincent from the lowest of low rungs of the NHL. “He deserves better than that” were the sympathies being sent to the player (but of course, not the hockey fans suffering in Tampa Bay. After all, it’s a non traditional market. Who could care?).

Even with the Lightning on the up and up in 2002-2004, ventures to Canada in December resulted in the same rumors year after year: Lecavalier wants out, Lecavalier’s not happy.

That’s why I don’t get too concerned about Vincent-Lecavalier-to-Montreal rumors that have sprung up today. Vinny-for-Garbage-because-he’s-our-favorite-francophone; the cliché offerings of mediocrity that are supposed to seem all worldly.

Oh, don’t get me wrong — I am concerned about Vincent Lecavalier trade rumors in general right now as I lack faith in OK Hockey to make moves that make sense. Keeping the core intact and building around them imperative. But as I noted earlier today in a post, volatility has ruled the first half of the Lightning season.

And I’ll say this as bluntly and openly as I can and hope to high hell someone with management and ownership actually reads this blog: If you guys seriously want to fuck up your investment in this franchise, trade Lecavalier. If you’re more concerned about how happy you are with the club’s makeup than how well you’re drawing at the arena — by all means, trade him for shit being rumored and continue on your directionless trek through the NHL.

It never fails that the Vinny-to-Montreal rumors surface… But the dealings of OK Hockey make me weary that something may happen that ruins the fragile stability that currently resides with this team. And the only thing worse than this would be to wreak havok on the stability of the Tampa Bay Lightning franchise in general by making a move with Vincent.

While St. Petersburg Times sports columnist Gary Shelton summarizes ownership as the quick-draw-running-joke of the NHL, another punchline has come into play.

The Bolts have been one of several teams courtin’ and chasing Mats Sundin. The following blockquote characterizes why, in most part, it’s a joke that the team is one of ten with interest in Mats.

It would not be simple for Tampa Bay to make such a move. The team already has 14 forwards and it expects center Jeff Halpern (knee) to be ready by mid to late December. That means it would have to clear out roster and salary space.

Sundin is expected to sign for about $7-million, pro-rated to the remainder of the season. If he signs on Dec. 12, that’s 60 days, one-third, into the season, so his contract would be for two-thirds of for whatever he signs.

The Lightning salary cap number is about $52-million. The limit is $56.7-million.

Finally, Sundin, who is good friends with Tampa Bay wing Gary Roberts, wants to play for a Stanley Cup. Where Tampa Bay stands in terms of pl

I’m not doubting Sundin’s ability. As a rent-a-player, however, and as another cog in a team that has no cohesion? Another big name with big expectations? It’s time, energy, and a financial commitment that management would best be spending elsewhere.

I don’t know how far and wide this has carried since I saw it first mentioned in a St. Petersburg Tiems article last week, but Vincent Lecavalier wants to stay in Tampa. That isn’t news (though our friends in the province of Quebec would tell us otherwise)

What is news is Kent Hughes telling the world it’s not a short term deal. It’s a long one. To paraphrase: rest of his career.

And nwo Erik Erlendsson at the Tribune gets a money quote from Vincent:

Despite a pending change in ownership and a certain change in head coaches, Lecavalier said he intends to discuss signing a long-term deal that could keep him with Tampa Bay his entire career.

“I want to. I just think they want to wait to be officially in charge before we talk about it,” Lecavalier said Tuesday. “I’m looking forward to the new owners. They have a passion for the game. Oren Koules and Len Barrie have played the game. I’m encouraged about the new owners, and I’m excited about things.”

There’s no time line. There’s only the talk…

And right now I am still wondering what to make of the direction of the Lightning, as they transition to OK hockey from Palace Sports.

He’s gone. It can’t be so… But it is?

The last few months I have not been comfortable with the direction of the Lightning. Seeing Brad Richards go was painful – though I am told it was a done deal for a while. Now this.

John Tortorella may have lost the players at one point or another but I believed in his style and how he handled things. Though there was resentment and bitterness at times between the players adn their coach — he wasn’t paid to be Mr. Popular, he was paid to get results. And for a long time he was doign just that.

The rumors have Barry Melrose taking over here in Tampa… Which I took for a joke the first time the rumor surfaced months ago. I still find it a joke, and Oren Koules will not be investing wisely in his purchase if he has already settled on this choice.

As for John, I wish him only the best as he has brought only the best out of the players here in Tampa. His name being engraved on Lord Stanley’s Cup is proof of that. And I don’t think it will be the last time it occurs either.

That last poll? About the #1 draft pick? It’s irrelevant. Brant James article in the St. Petersburg Times this morning shows why. Steve Stamkos will indeed be the top pick for the Lightning.

Why so sure? Because when a sports franchise employs a Hollywood marketing blitz comparable to what has been used the last year for The Dark Knight (in theaters later this summer) hyping a prospect, you know they are big on them.

Seen Stamkos?

(hats off to the guys who thought up the flash mob viral marketing, if it was Koules people or an ad agency somewhere in the Bay area)

I gave no coverage to the Lightning winning the Draft Lottery… But I will ask you for your thoughts on what the Lightning should do with the pick.

[poll=46]

And While we’re at it — and local media lacks any coverage of this stuff — head on over to MyNHLDraft and view some fo the mock drafts and other draft and prospect information.

See a negative? Follow it with a positive… I can’t confirm this but Dan Boyle inked a six year deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Forty Million Dollars over six years almost guarantees Brad Richards will be heading out of town tomorrow.

Which really upsets me.

Boltsmag is four years old at this point late int eh month of February and I’ve made no secret of the fact Brad is my favorite player. That being said, I also know he has grown unpopular with the Lightning regulars due to lower production numbers than Vinny and Marty. it doesn’t justify his cost. He has the potential to be a top line center and hasn’t gotten that opportunity due to Vincent being in the lineup… But taht contract of his will limit those who can show interest in him.

RJ had stated this offseason that trading Vaclav Prospal for Anaheim Ducks goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov was a possibility. At least that was the rumor.

Forget a trade now, Bryzgalov is on waivers. Would Jay Feaster want to, or be able to, pick up Ilya if he wanted? Or does the in-flux status of ownership prevent him from taking on more payroll? Also, would acquiring a new goalie show too much of a lack-of-confidence in Johan Holmqvist?

It’s worth exploring, but the team is ultimately handcuffed unless PSE/Absolute Hockey reach an understanding.

A couple of days ago, Damian at the Times via his Lightning Strikes blog reported (and I cannot find this post any more, bloggers don’t remove even false reports – only clarify them) that Doug Maclean had been in touch with former Lightning member (fleetingly former Lightning team member who grudgingly joined the team to begin with and played for one and a quarter seasons here and yet the guy draws raves like he is a career Bolt in some circles. I don’t get this) Dino Cicarelli about joining Absolute Hockey’s ownership group. Dino reportedly nixed the idea (ho hum) but the entire concept just made me more resolute on who should find an in with Doug, Jim and Oren.

Phil Esposito.

I don’t hold Phil in the highest regard as a GM but I do know Phil is the father of the Tampa Bay Lightning franchise. He worked his ass off to get a team in this very non-traditional market. He’s poured more love, more blood, more sweat and tears into the Lightning as an executive and GM than anyone who has played for this team… If there is anyone that should be approached for approaching sake about joining Absolute Hockey, it’s Phil.

Of course, with Phil (as with Doug) I get the fears of hand-in-the-cookie-jar type dealings with the Lightning roster from ownership. I don’t want Jay Feaster or John Tortorella second guessed by the higher ups — I trust them (though seldomly question their judgment) and believe they know what they are doing. Having such a hands-on owner (and I expect Phil or Doug to be as such) could cause trouble.

Yet I can’t get past the fact this (the Lightning) is Phil’s baby. Even if he just invests a dollar a year, get him back into the fold please? It’s only fitting.

With Doug MacLean stepping in as team CEO in the new ownership group, one has to wonder how soon (if they haven’t already started) the Lecavalier/Richards/St. Louis/Boyle trade rumors start up again. Though Jay Feaster remains General Manager of the Lightning, you have to wonder if Lecavalier and the rest will be held in as high a regard as Palace Sports has held the four.

If the status quo remains, I fully expect Lecavalier re-signed before he becomes an Unrestricted Free Agent.. That mega-buck contract might lead to Dan Boyle’s departure from the team… But that’s if the status-quo holds.

If MacLean starts thinking extra-long term however, or has his mind in such a place and it leads to clashes between him and Feaster…. What happens? Does the group have the money to invest in Lecavalier and the rest? Or consistently handle the minimum threshold of the Salary cap?

RJ at Bolts Blog made mention of the same old rumor, making the same old rounds: Vincent Lecavalier is going to Montreal! Les Habs will sell the farm for Vinny! It’ll happen! It’ll happen! It’ll…

**sigh** It’ll never end, will it? :rolleyes:

Let me simply quote Lyle Richardson over at Spectors Hockey (this quote lifted from a Michael Ryder news post):

And no, Habs fans, it won’t be for Vincent Lecavalier, Brad Richards or Patrick Marleau. Those are pipe dreams, ain’t gonna happen, so get over it.

The same pipe dreams, year after year after year.

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!

The following was originally posted here in 2004. I still find it to be my thought on the draft. After watching last night’s mockery event, there are probably more things worth pointing out that I hate about the NHL draft

I continue to hate how the NHL Draft is conducted.

The big board behind the main stage for example… The fact every f’n executive for a team shows up when a player is selected… The fact that the cities keep changing and the response from the crowd is fickle -at best – at times.

I’m not saying over-hype the draft like the NFL but I do believe that the league needs to move forward with regards to how they conduct the draft and stop having such a low-quality operation. They could either stop making the draft a spectacle (which would be bad for the league and would anger a lot of people) or they could start solidifying the event with something that isn’t caked with “tradition” (the big board “tradition”, the revolving cities “tradition”, etc).

For example: move the draft to one place and have it there year after year. I’m not going to suggest New York, however. Probably Toronto at a theater-like location instead of an arena. Or perchance Chicago — which hosts a storied past for their franchise if not a current intensity of interest for hockey. Fans of hockey will turn out in any event at either location…

Start making the draft about the players and not about the executives making the selections! There is not enough clips about players and there is not enough information on team needs being talked about by those covering the draft.

And as for that billboard/big board that lists all the picks? “Mr. Commissioner — Tear this board down!”

———

OK, 2007 thoughts:

Do we really need 20+ speeches being made thanking the host city and getting a cheap pop from the crowd when their home town is mentioned? Shouldn’t Gary Bettman be focusing on the state of the game instead of how wonderful a city is and a franchise in particular is when he’s speaking? Shouldn’t there be some type of continuity — such as a limited amount of time between picks? And while we are at it, shouldn’t podiums look like podiums instead of like cups of iced coffee?

The entire event is antiquated and vaudeville-like. It doesn’t feel like a pro sports league is conducting this event.

The fire sale in Nashville continues as Tomas Voukon has been shipped into the Southeast division and to the Florida Panthers for the Panthers first round pick (#10 overall) and 2 second round selections.

This also confirms the Lightning had #47 snatched up by the Panthers this year (which was the conditional pick in the Chris Gratton trade).

Lyle’s outdone himself… Or should I say Bruce Garrioch at the Ottawa Sun has outdone himself and Lyle at Spectors has simply called a spade a spade in simplicity and eloquence?

Bruce will get us started here — rumor-mongering about the future of Brad Richards in Tampa Bay, as summarized by Lyle:

Bruce Garrioch reports league sources claiming Tampa Bay Lightning GM Jay Feaster might be willing to shop Brad Richards and his $7.8 million per season contract to Chicago, Philadelphia or Phoenix in hopes of landing one of the top three picks in this year’s draft. Garrioch claims Richards might be expendable after the Bolts acquired centre Chris Gratton last week from Florida, and this move would be done to clear up cap space to land a quality goaltender

Now, after a grand debunking of the rumor — Lyle leaves us with the comment that was so profoundly true that I consider it an absolute gem:

nd considering Richards “expendable” because of the acquisition of Chris Gratton is laughable.

This is the literal truth to the matter… At least for me. When I read the original summary — I broke out laughing after reading why Richards had become expendable. Chris Gratton’s acquisition leads to shoving Brad out the door? That’s about as likely as the Beatles getting back together. Chris Gratton replacing Tim Taylor is logical and makes sense long term. Chris Gratton spending time on wing on the top two lines if someone else fills the role of 3rd line center better than him makes a degree of sense as well. Gratton being Tampa Bay’s #2 center….? Excuse me, I’m going back to fits of giggles over this one…

Thanks for the laugh, Bruce! And thanks, Lyle, for confirming my right to laughter.

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages… Your 2007 Off-season guide to Lightning transactions! I’ll attempt to list all on the roster but no one is perfect.
Here’s a breakdown at current of who’s signed and who’s not… Who’s on the roster and who’s been moved:

Last Updated 6-13-2007

(Signed, unsigned (UFA and RFA), left via free agency / via trade, UFA signing, acquired via trade)

CENTERS:
Vincent Lecavalier
Brad Richards
Tim Taylor
Andreas Karlsson
Chris Gratton
Nick Tarnasky
Eric Perrin
Ryan Craig
Blair Jones

WINGS:
Ruslan Fedotenko
Rob DiMaio
Jan Hlavac
Martin St. Louis
Vaclav Prospal
Jason Ward
Kyle Wavnig*
Karl Stewart
André Roy
*Evgeny Artyukhin*

DEFENSE:
Dan Boyle
Filip Kuba
Shane O’Brien
Cory Sarich
Paul Ranger
Nolan Pratt
Luke Richardson
Matt Smaby*
Vladimir Mahlik*

GOALTENDERS:
Marc Denis
Karri Ramo
Johan Holmqvist

NOTE: * = Minor Leaguer / European player or prospect that is property of the team

Follow all the latest team transactions through TSN.ca

Are these the Washington Capitals new jersey’s?

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.