(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..

John asked for my thoughts on the draft this weekend in regards to the Buccaneers. I didn’t have the heart to tell him that I am simply sour on the local ball team ever since they won Super Bowl XXXVII. Here’s my roundabout way of expressing that:

John: Are you another Calvin Johnson acolyte or do you actually have some thoughts on things that we need instead of want?

Tommy: When Tony Dungy & Rich McKay were running things, i knew what they would do in the draft, and if i DINT know what they would do, I had complete confidence in their abilities to get the right piece of the puzzle.

Since then is another story. I can never tell what Gruden is thinking. And even afterward, i’m scratching my head on his picks. In addition, the end result is generally just average. They haven’t done a horrible job, but haven’t had any picks pan into a WOW, either.

So….

In summary, I’m just not gonna guess anymore, and will try not to be surprised at what they do.

It’s just not easy to get excited about the team with Bruce Allen and Jon Gruden running the show – I don’t understand the way they think. I’m wondering if the rest of the Tampa Bay is starting to feel like this?