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.

Nikita Alexeev has been traded to the Chicago Blackhawks for DefensivemanLeft Wing Karl Stewart and a sixth round pick. Details to follow as well as linkage.

UPDATE #1: Stewart is another younger player (23) with only 50+ NHL games to his credit. He has 5 points and 45 PIM this season in 37 games with the Blackhawks. He’s an enforcer for sure with some scoring knack from his junior days but not a huge offensive threat. He is not a huge guy (5′11″, 185 Lbs) but he is willing to drop them and I assume throw his weight around.

…Unlike Alexeev.

Credited as one of Rick Dudley’s “Soft Euro” draft picks, Nikita has never utilized his size (6′5″, 227 Lbs) to his advantage to drive to the net. I always figured that was the role the Lightning anticipated Alexeev to grow into — sort of a Fredrik Modin with more.

But it didn’t work out that way. Though Alexeev has registered a career high in goals and assists this season (10 / 11) he hasn’t used his size to his advantage and that has hurt the Lightning at times.

2ND UPDATE Jason Ward has been acquired from the Los Angeles Kings for a fifth round pick. He’s a former first round pick from the Montreal Canadiens. I’m actually at a loss to figure this one out. Ward’s a right wing and I am unfamiliar with his career. He’s not a goal scorer (28 points is his career high), he’s not an enforcer. Someone please do me a favor and enlighten me on this move — why Ward?

3RD UPDATE: I get the Alexeev deal. I initially wrote some shocked remarks about the trade (because I was misreading TSN.CA’s draft tracker) but I understand this move. Alexeev is a big price to pay but a I said above, he never lived up to expectations. Stewart comes in with more NHL experience than minor league tough guys like Mitch Fritz. He is the gritty winger that Jay was after. He is also able to be a part of the organization for a while if he earns his keep.

That’s the one thing in the O’Brien and Stewart deals that makes me very happy — both additions are not going for veteran grit, veteran costs and what not. They were long term acquisitions. They’re technically still kids. While you see other teams adding veterans in a traditional push — we’re adding young role players to round out the veterans we already have.

It’s almost as if Jay Feaster read me loud and clear.

4th UPDATE: TSN.ca’s player profile for Ward sheds more light on why Feaster would have picked him up:

Assets Works hard every shift and knows how to take care of his own end. Doesn’t mind playing a crash-and-bang style. Is a quality teammate.

Flaws Doesn’t own top-end skating ability, which hurts his level of production. Has had trouble finding his niche in the NHL. Is too inconsistent.

Career potential Checking line forward.

Rob Dimaio anyone?

OK, so I am not liveblogging like the immaculate James Mirtle or the perpetually superior Lyle Richardson, but I did have to tip my hat to both of my fellow bloggers.

If you don’t know Lyle by name, you know him by reputation (perhaps). Spector’s Hockey anyone? This is your absolute source on reported (verified) news on trades and rumors and I highly recommend any NHL fan who wants to monitor the comings and goings today to check in with Lyle.

As mentioned above, James will be liveblogging for the Globe and Mail and while we are at it — let me give public props to Paul Kukla (who I gave private grief earlier in my career) and Kukla’s Korner as another source for up-to-the-minute media news reports from around the league. Paul’s site is another must-have for general NHL fans.

EDIT: Let’s not forget TSN.CA’s Draft tracker for all of you who are not in Canada and want to follow the very very latest.

If anyone wants to voice their opinion on a league deal, please use comments on this thread…

DEADLINE HAS PASSED Still waiting to hear if the Lightning have pulled off any last minute moves. I will be content if they didn’t.

I’ve been taking a sabatical from the computer the last few days — startin gyesterday — and I’ve just become aware of Jay Feaster’s latest move:

The Lightning acquired Shane O’Brien and a 2008 3rd round draft choice in exchange for their 2007 1st round pick and Gerald Coleman….

My very first reaction to this is: “Say What?!” simply because I do not know O’Brien.

But seeing he is a 23 year old with a +5 in 62 games at the NHL, he is obviously a long range acquisition as to a short term fix. I like that aspect of the trade. I already noted a few days ago that the Lightning need to not only strengthen themselves for a playoff run but put themselves in a position to deal with pending free agency from Lightning defensivemen. I believe this move accomplishes that…

But it is certain to disappoint some fans who would like a name brought in — someone who is a polished veteran — not a up-and-comer.

Taking a little time to read the latest at Spector’s Hockey, I was left laughing out loud over Bruce Garrioch’s latest rumor involving the Bolts:

- The Buffalo Sabres could finally be ready to move goalie Martin Biron, but there’s some concern over how much cap space they’ll have. Garrioch suggests they may be on the verge of moving him to the Tampa Bay Lightning for forward Ruslan Fedotenko.

I said I was left laughing out loud over this. It wasn’t because of disrespecting Biron and what he is capable of… But I’m thinking of things from both team perspectives. if Ruslan Fedotenko was all it took to land Biron, it’d be a shock. Likewise, the Lightning going for Biron after paying a sum for Denis, having him outplayed by Johan Holmqvist as well as investing in Karri Ramo this off season just seems like a ruse. The Lightning’s concern right now is both at the forward position and at the blue line. Not in net. Yes, Denis isn’t all the hype he was made out to be by the team but he and Holmqvist have been a sight better than John Grahame and Sean Burke in the net last season.

Even in a more balanced deal, I don’t see this happening. The Sabres can get more for Biron and the Lightning aren’t in a position (financially) where they can pick up another goaltender in the higher end of the spectrum.

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!

I know that Boltsmag regular and TB blogger Tiny commented the other day asking about Freddie Modin rumors that were making rounds.

Though a deal to re-acquire Modin would follow Feaster’s MO of keeping the locker room chemistry snazzy, Lyle over at Spectors reported (via the Columbus Dispatch) that Modin’s close to re-signing with the BJ’s. That being the case, don’t expect a sign-and-trade deal like in the NBA if things get done.

From Eric at the Tribune:

There are not too many of those type of players rumored to be on the market this year, though St. Louis defenseman Eric Brewer might be an impact player should the Blues fail to re-sign the pending unrestricted free agent. While bringing in a defenseman has been on Feaster’s radar for some time, he is also believed to possibly be looking at acquiring a gritty forward or somebody who could play alongside Brad Richards on the second line.

I’m at the point where I don’t think Feaster is going to pull off a deal that is worth it if he makes a deal at all. The Lightning want to win now, but the team needs a long term basis for contention. Bringing in a rent-a-D-man for defensive prospects doesn’t help the team long term . Those kids shoudl be getting a chance to play on the roster currently — even if it means time on the pine.

So I am officially not big on acquiring a Defensiveman.

A “Gritty forward” however… Someone who can play both ways and has a contract that lasts longer than a couple of months might be worth it.

Just as long as it doesn’t compromise the cap situation further or the long term contention of the Lightning.

There’s been talk, there’s been posturing, and there’s been more hype than it deserves but Peter Forsberg was finally traded tonight from the Philadelphia Flyers to the Nashville Predators for… for…

Just plain, flat out, too friggin’ much.

Yes, you want your team in the best position to make a run at Lord Stanley’s Cup, but you do not compromise the long term viability of the franchise by going for one player who’s status in the league is always at question due to injuries, homesickness and the like.

I like Peter Forsberg, don’t get me wrong, but in the new NHL — Peter isn’t worth this much of an investment.

Tom Jones does what he can in the St. Petersburg Times to give Jay Feaster a vote of confidence after the lack-of movement last week around the Trade deadline.

Rolson, Khabibulin, Noronen — the big name goaltenders were brought up as topics of who the Lightning had supposedly targeted at the deadline and Jones does what he can to debunk them all.

That still doesn’t clear Feaster or the Lightning from lack of movement.

In the past, I’ve speculated that the Bolts would make a lateral move instead of a blockbuster of any kind… That’s not trying to put down the idea of a blockbuster — this is just following Feaster’s MO. A lateral move does not mean the quality of those acquired may or may not exceed what we already had – but it would be a shakeup none-the-less and change the chemistry of the club a bit.

A trade wasn’t the only way to do this and Feaster opted to stand pat. There were various players who passed through waivers proceeding the deadline that Jay decided against… Now, I have to re-iterate the lateral movement idea here again. To put in a waiver claim for Phil Sauve or Mike Morrison sends a message to the Lightning’s goaltending pair directly as well as adds depth to the franchise at goalie — though the goalie pick ups may only be on par with John Grahame/Sean Burke at best. Perhaps neither goalie would stick around after the season, or play worth the money invested in them, but in the Lightning’s situation they are looking for immediate impact… Having a waiver pick-up as a rent-a-player is less costly than trading for a rent-a-player of higher calibre.

In closing, Jay Feaster’s dropped-ball at the deadline wasn’t making a killer move or going for a big name being thrown around at the deadline. That tends to not be his thing anyway… But he still failed to make a move – even one less costly and with less potential impact than what the fans hoped – to improve his club during the stretch run and that is the factor that earns Feaster the disappointment of the fans.

I know transactions and the trade deadline are more complicated than black-and-white, yes-and-no stuff, but I believe I’m not the only one taken aback by lack of movement by the Lightning during the past week…

I’m also dumbfounded by the stubbornness of General Manager Jay Feaster (AKA “Feaster Cheetah” for his fondness of Cheetos snacks) to not consider moving people on the Lightning 23-man roster or make waiver claims. The former does have it’s bad side (the “what ifs” of moving out a central player from the roster) but the latter wasn’t something that would hurt the team as-so-much make the club take a chance on a player not performing well with his current club. Several goalies and other position players have moved through waivers lately and instead of taking a chance in order to add depth – Feaster’s stood pat in hopes to instill confidence.

Yet, isn’t that what the Lightning have tried all season with no results? “Stay the course, 1000 points of light, history will prove me right” and such?

I didn’t want to see draft picks dealt (which Feaster prefers instead of trading players), nor did I want to see Brendan Witt brought in (which was the name so often associated with coming to town)… Yet I don’t want to give Feaster the benefit of the doubt because of unknown circumstances to transactions and known circumstances of the status-quo.

EDIT: for a general rundown of blogosphere and news media interperatations of Trade deadline deals, check out Abel to Yzerman

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.

What do the Florida Panthers and Montreal Canadiens have in common?

They can both score on the Lightning in less than 30 seconds, play terribly on offense and still make minced meat of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Canadiens came into Tampa on Saturday night and had Christopher Higgins score on the games opening shot, 12 seconds into regulation play. The Lightning allowed all of two shot sin the first period but that opening shot and goal hung over there heads during the first period.

The second saw the lead widen as Higgins would score again before Ruslan Fedotenko put the Lightning on the board late in the period. The Lightning peppered Cristobol Huet with 23 shots between the two periods but Les Habs were magnifique and intense in front of their own net. Savage is seldom used as a derogatory term, but I can think of no better way to describe the Habs defensive effort in front of their own net. It wasn’t pretty, it was often overzealous but none-the-less effective.

And then there is the third period…

Vincent Lecavalier ties the game on an early power play and you figure the Lightning are back in this thing and have a shot to win. They’ve been all over Huet in the first two periods… It’s just a matter of time, right?

Wrong.

How wrong? Try Zednik, Ribeiro, Kovalev and Bullis. Four unanswered goals on 10 shots in the 3rd period. The Lightning simply rolled over and played dead and I’m wondering where the passion went?

Does anyone really need to be reminded of what supposedly shook the Lightning into their January/February Run? It was Corey Sarich dropping them in Los Angeles versus Tom Kostopoulos… John Grahame started to play like a determined goaltender and the Lightning seemed to get their focus back what the point of the season was — the defense of their Stanley Cup Championship.

It’s been only a matter of days and it looks like the Lightning have totally forgotten once again the reason they are competing.

6-2 the final at Times Palace tonight. John Grahame gives up 6 on 20 shots… The trade deadline looms large and instead of trying to disprove the need to change the team chemistry around, the Lightning seem to be waiting for an ax to fall.

The Lightning are shopping for depth on the blueline as the trade deadline looms, for the second season in a row. Two articles are out in the local rags today that say exactly the same thing: It’s the blueline or bust in a deadline transaction. We’ll start with the Times where Tom Jones uses Emphasis — if not a guarantee — on what the Lightning are shopping for

The Lightning needs a body, specifically one that plays defense. The Lightning can add a player who is making as much as $3-million and, if it does make a deal, it will be for a defenseman. The Lightning has used, essentially, six defensemen all season and fears an injury or two would create a gaping hole.

That’s his emphasis, not mine, on will. At least that is how it appeared in the print edition this morning. Erik Erlendsson’s article in the Tampa Tribune basically re-iterates what Jones published int he Times… Especially the mention about the Cap situation being a non-issue::

One thing that won’t be an issue is the salary cap. Though the Lightning have been up against the $39 million cap for most of the season, Feaster said there is enough room today to add a face-value contract worth $3 million. "In terms of the money itself, we have room," Feaster said. "I don’t feel we’re constrained because we are so tight up against the cap. Being able to bring in a contract worth $3 million, that’s pretty good."

So in a world of rumors, what can we expect the Lightning to do? Feaster’s modus operendi is to acquire tough players who put the team first and will not shake up chemistry too much. Stan Neckar’s acquisition at the 2004 trade deadline is an example of this — as was Daryl Sydor’s acquisition (which Feaster talked out with former Lightning defensiveman Brad Lukowich, Sydor’s former teammate in Dallas, about before pulling the trigger to assure Sydor was the one to be acquired as blueline help). Both players had ties to the Lightning locker room and weren’t going to shake things up when brought in. That’s part of the reason I believe rumors about Brendan Witt coming to Tampa is utter bullcrap. Witt has been saying he wants a trade since before the season… His club is on the upswing but it will be a climb back to the top (locking up goalie Olaf Kolzig long term and having the real "Next One" makes the Caps future look bright) and with Witt pressing for a trade, it looks like he is more concerned about leaving a sunk ship than being part of the team concept. If this trade demand is what he does when he knows he will be playing on a team out of contention for a playoff spot, what type of antics would he pull on a playoff team that is two games down during a playoff series? Feaster’s known M.O. and rumors about Rick Dudley scouting the Lightning earlier this season also justifies rumors about re-acquiring defensiveman Jassen Cullimore from Chicago… Though I do have my doubts that it will happen. And remember, kiddies, the best site for a rundown on hockey rumor speculation is Spectors Hockey. If you haven’t — bookmark the site. It’s a resource that any transaction speculating fan should read for a healthy dose of reality (instead of a healthy dose of bullcrap from lie-mongers).