Tampa Bay Lightning's 2009-10 schedule

The Tampa Bay Lightning's 2009-10 schedule begins Oct. 3 at the Thrashers and includes 12 sets of back-to-back games. It also includes only seven games out of the eastern time zone and none after Dec. 18 at St. Louis. The Olympic break is from Feb. 15 through March 1. Here is the schedule. All times are eastern.

Oct. 3 at Atlanta 7:00        Jan. 6 at Buffalo 7:00

  6 at Carolina 7:00            8 at New Jersey 7:00
     8 New Jersey 7:30             9 at Philadelphia 7:00
     10 Carolina 7:30              12 Washington 7:30
     12 Florida 7:30               14 Florida 7:30
     15 at Ottawa 7:30             16 at Florida 7:00
     17 at Pittsburgh 7:30         18 at Carolina 7:00
     22 San Jose 7:30              19 at Rangers 7:00
     24 Buffalo 7:30               21 Toronto 7:00
     29 Ottawa 7:00                23 Atlanta 7:30
     31 New Jersey 3:00            27 Montreal 7:30
Nov. 2 at Philadelphia 7:00        29 Anaheim 7:30
     3 at Toronto 7:30             31 at Washington 3:00
     5 at Ottawa 7:30         Feb. 2 at Atlanta 7:00
     7 at Montreal 7:00            4 Islanders 7:30
     12 Minnesota 7:30             6 Calgary 7:00
     14 Los Angeles 7:30           9 Vancouver 7:30
     16 at Phoenix 9:00            11 Boston 7:30
     19 at Anaheim 10:00           13 at Islanders 2:00
     21 at Carolina 7:00           14 at Rangers 1:00
     22 at Atlanta 5:00      Mar.  2 Philadelphia 7:30
     25 Toronto 7:00               4 at Washington 7:00
     27 Rangers 7:30               6 Atlanta 7:30
     28 at Dallas 8:00             9 at Montreal 7:30
     30 Colorado 9:30              11 at Toronto 7:00
Dec. 2 at Boston 7:00              12 at Washington 7:00
     4 at New Jersey 7:00          14 Pittsburgh 5:00
     5 at Islanders 7:30           16 Phoenix 7:30
     7 Washington 7:30             18 Buffalo 7:30
     9 Edmonton 7:30               20 Washington 7:30
     11 at Colorado 9:00           21 at Florida 5:00
     13 at Chicago 7:00            23 Carolina 7:30
     15 at Nashville 8:00          25 at Boston 7:00
     17 at Detroit 7:30            27 at Buffalo 7:00
     18 at St. Louis 8:00          30 at Columbus 7:00
     21 at Islanders 7:00          31 at Pittsburgh 7:30
     23 Philadelphia 7:30    April 2 Rangers 7:30
     26 Atlanta 7:30               6 Carolina 7:30
     28 Boston 7:30                8 Ottawa 7:30
     30 Montreal 7:00              10 Florida 7:30
Jan. 2 Pittsburgh 3:00             11 at Florida 5:00

Young Guns camp ends, Alex Killorn stands out and other tidbits

Alex Killorn said he understands that Lightning prospects were not, technically, being evaluated during the week-long Young Guns camp at the St. Pete Times Forum. Then again, as he said, "Every time you go on the ice, when you have a GM in the crowd and owners in the stands, there's always going to be a close eye on you. So, every time you can do something to stand out, it's always great for your career."

Killorn, 19, a center, did his part with two goals during Saturday's scrimmage and a work ethic and focus that got him noticed. Defenseman Luke Witkowski and forward Matt Marshall also had standout camps. But Killorn perhaps was a step ahead.

"He just plays the game with his head up," GM Brian Lawton said. "He fits what I was talking about, guys who are willing to go into traffic areas to make plays. They're not bashful about it. (Dana Tyrell and Carter Ashton also fit that bill.) It's one thing we really want to upgrade on our existing team."

Killorn won't be in a Lightning uniform any time soon, or perhaps even signed.He still has three seasons left at Harvard, and as Lawton said, "We're not going to be an organization that pushes people out of school."

Teams have the rights to college players for four years. Killorn was drafted 107th overall in 2007.

Other points to remember:

Lawton said the Lightning will hold a prospects camp at the Times Forum just  before the opening of training camp. Lawton said 19 players will be invited. Training camp for the big club begins Sept. 12.

Lawton said the team will not have an ECHL affiliate next season. In fact, because of financial constraints, it will have only 20 contract players at AHL Norfolk. Lawton said the rest of the roster will be filled out with loaner players from other organizations. Riku Helenius and Dustin Tokarski will be the goaltenders. If Tampa Bay signs draftee goalie Jaroslav Janus, he perhaps could be loaned out to an ECHL team to get playing time. The same plan would apply to any players the Lightning determined needed more playing time that he was getting at Norfolk.

The arbitration hearing for defenseman Matt Smaby is July 28. The sides can continue negotiating until that time. Smaby, given a qualifying offer of $660,000/$65,000, is seeking a one-way contract.

Tanguay? Sykora? Satan? Lightning said to be "tire-kicking"

Let's start with this: If the Lightning was to sign any of these still free agents (Alex Tanguay, Petr Sykora, Miroslav Satan), it will have to be at a bargain price. The team, with a payroll already pushing towards $50 million and with pieces such as Matt Smaby, Matt Lashoff and Mike Lundin yet to sign, isn't going to dive into any more big contracts. So the team will wait, most likely, and see if the market falls and sees who is available as training camps get closer. Either that, or the team can do a sell job such as the following ...

After a down season, come to us, play with Vinny Lecavalier, score your 30 to 35 goals and parlay that into a big contract in 2010-11. In other words, Tampa Bay will use the player for a year at a discount and then wave goodbye as that player (after a presumed big year playing next to Vinny) commands a contract more than the Lightning can afford.

It is an argument not totally out of line when talking baout the above players, all of whom, in one way or another, had disappointing seasons and have reputations to resurrect.

How serious is the Lightning's interst with these players?

It is no secret that in a perfect world, Lawton wants to add another top-six forward and even a bottom six. In fact, there is some scuttlebutt Lawton took a look at Tom Kostopoulos, a gritty, bottom-six player, before he signed with the Hurricanes. But, first, let's go back to the payroll. It seems the team will try to move at least one defenseman since there is some depth there (whether it's Lukas Krajicek and his $1.5 million salary or one of the youngsters is the question), and perhaps another player to get the payroll down, though it's looking more and more as if Jeff Halpern, despite a $2 million salary, will start the season as the third-line center.

In the meantime, all the agents who represent these players declined to coment. But another, well-aware of all things going on around the league (agents goosip, too) said he would characterize the Lightning's interst in Tanguay, Sykora and Satan as "tire-kicking."

If Alex Tanguay is asking as much as rumored, he probably won't be playing for the Lightning

As I've said, I generally don't like writing about every rumor that comes around, but after several e-mails asking, I figured this was worth exploring.

I've always thought Alex Tanguay was an interesting player. And given that he sustained a shoulder injury when checked by Tampa Bay's Evgeny Artyukhin and played just 50 games last season for the Canadiens, he had a pretty good season: 16 goals, 45 points and plus-13 while averaging 16:05 of ice time.

Tanguay is an unrestricted free agent. And while the Lightning, as GM Brian Lawton has said, would love, if the circumstances are right, to add another top-six forward. Tanguay's agent Bob Sauve would not say if the Lightning has been in contact.

"We've  been contacted by five or six teams," Sauve said. Asked if the Lightning had called, he added, "I just don't want to comment."

Asked how Tanguay, 29, with 193 goals and 580 points in 659 career games, might feel about lining up next to Vinny Lecavalier, Sauve laughed and again said he could not comment.

The conversation is probably moot, though, if the scuttlebutt about what Tanguay wants in a contract are true. One agent said he heard Tanguay wants $5 million for one year. He made $5.375 million last season. If his asking price is true, that's way too much for Tampa Bay, which has a payroll headed toward $50 million before signing players such as Matt Smaby, Matt Lashoff, Martins Karsums and Mike Lundin.

Perhaps Tanguay's price comes down if he is not signed as the summer goes on. There is a market for Tanguay, maybe even for what he wants. But at that price, probably not in Tampa. 

Young Guns Camp will end with second scrimmage (updated)

Originally, the last day of the Young Guns Camp (Wednesday at the St. Pete Times Forum) was going to be a regular practice. But camp director Wes Walz decided a scrimmage would be more productive, so the boys will be playing at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Times Forum. It is free and open to the public.

Not the change in time from what  we had earlier. The Lightning changed the schedule. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Scrimmage is a blast for almost 5,000 at St. Pete Times Forum

It has been a pleasure to write about some positive stuff concerning the Lightning the past few weeks. The team has made some fine additions through free agency and now has what should be a respectable blue line, and there should even be some competition for jobs. 

Saturday night's scrimmage at the St. Pete Times Forum, the highlight of the week-long Young Guns camp, added to the list.

For starters, the turnstile count was 4,717, and the fans were enthusiastic. As owner Oren Koules said, "It was good to feel a buzz in the building again. We're glad to see the great fan support for our prospects and newest players."

Here are some snapshots:

The day actually began with a news conference to introduce  defensemen Mattias Ohlund and Matt Walker, the team's top free agent signings. But it was Koules whohad the best line. Calling the signings "Plan A," he added, "It was kind of a risky proposition because we didn't have a Plan B."

With his usual No. 2 already worn by defenseman Lukas Krajicek, Ohlund will wear No. 5. Walker will wear No. 8.

Center Steven Stamkos said players appreciate that management is taking steps to improve the team. "It's great from a player's perspective. You're looking at them, and they're doing everything possible to help this team out and giving us, as players, as opportunity to make something happen, and that's all we can ask for. They're being proactive and going out and getting pieces of the puzzle for us. We want to go out there and put those pieces to the puzzle together."

Alexander Killorn had two goals and Luke Witkowski and Matt Marshall had a goal and an assist each as the Black beat the White 5-2 in a scrimmage oftwo 20-minute periods with a running clock. Killorn and Juraj Simek tied in the hardest shot competition at 91 mph.

Killorn, who is at Harvard; Witkowski, who played last season for USHL Fargo; and Marshall, who played at the University of Vermont, earned their notices with good aggressive play. Matt Read, from Bemidji State, had two assists and also was noticeable and had the best shootout move of the night a clearly practiced deke off his skate that resulted in a goal.

Rookie defenseman Victor Hedman did not do much to stand out, and at times seemed tentative with the puck, and on one ill-conceived play, moved in off the blue line, lost the puck to create a two-on-one the other way. But let's give the guy some slack. He had an assist and is adapting to a new style of play in North America and on a smaller rink. He'll get it.

Forward Dana Tyrell lookedgood in his first game situation since blowing out his knee in a warm-up game for Canada against Sweden before the junior world championship. He showed good speed and several times carried the puck to the net and forced the goalies to make good saves. "I was flying out there," he said. Lightning assistant coach Wes Walz, who is running the camp, agreed. "He looks as strong as ever. His skating doesn't look like it's missed a step for me. If anything, he looks a bit quicker because he's fitter than he was. If there is a silver lining to this situation, he's had a lot of time to train and get stronger. He's busted his butt real hard."

Can't the son of owner Oren Koules get some respect? Miles Koules is 15 years old and attends Shattuck-St. Mary's High, a hockey factory in Minnesota. Miles,  though up to eight years younger than some of the players at the camp, held his own during the scrimmage. He even got an assist on Killorn's second goal into an empty net. Butwhen the assist was announced by the PA guy, Miles' last name came out as Cow-less instead of Koo-liss. Sheesh.

Bottom line, give the Lightning and the fans that showed up a thumbsup for a well-done evening.   

Lightning's new backup goaltender Antero Niittymaki insists his hips are "not a problem," and he "never signed " in Russia

All things being equal, the Tampa Bay Lightning's signing of Antero (pronounced AHN-teh-roh) Niittymaki, looks like a good deal. Especially for about $600,000. He's an experienced guy who can fill in ably for Mike Smith (25 to 32 games according to GM Brian Lawton). He also has a good pedigree, having won a silver medal with Finland at the 2006 Olympics, and he has a Calder Cup championship under his belt from 2005 with AHL Philadelphia.

He also was pretty good last season for the Flyers, going 15-8-6 in 32 games with a .912 save percentage and a 2.76 goals-against average.

And here is quite the stat: Niittymaki is 13-0-0 in his career against the Thrashers with a 1.78 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage.

What makes things a bit unequal are Niittymaki's hips, which have undergone three surgeries. He had surgery in May 2006 for a torn labrum in his right hip, surgery in April 2007 for a torn labrum in his left hip, and surgery in September 2008 on his left hip, a procedure Niittymaki characterized as a "clean-up." Though he missed training camp, he came off the bench to play in the Flyers Oct. 11 opener.

"I know there's a lot of talk about my hip," Niittymaki said from Finland. "I mean, it's good. I'm not going to lie to anybody. It's not like a normal, healthy hip, but it's as good as it can be. The doctor says it will be fine many years from now, and I'll be able to play many years from now. So, I don't think it's  a problem. I feel 100 percent right now."

"In depth," GM Brian Lawton said when asked how extensively the team looked into Niittymaki's medical history. "The trainers have looked through the file. (Head medical trainer) Tommy Mulligan has been involved. There's no guarantees, but we feel very confident."

 Niittymaki, 29, sounded confident, too. He said he could play 50 or 60 games, "And the hip is not going to be a problem."

Lawton, though, sees Niittymaki playing between 25 to 32. That would give Smith 57 games at most. After playing 41 last season and not skating since Jan. 30 because of post-concussion syndrome, Lawton said he believes that is a good number. He also stressed that Smith is "100 percent" and "the starter, so don't read anything in to this that way."

As for the Internet report that Niittymaki had signed with a team in Russia's Kontinental Hockey League (reports that never came with attribution or an official announcement, by the way), Niittymaki said they were wrong.

"I don't know who put out those rumors," he said. "I never signed. There was a lot of interest from Russian team, and that was pretty much it. I never signed anything, and I don't know how it came out that way. My first thing was always to look for a job in the NHL." 

"He did not sign anything," Lawton said. "That question was asked to him and every member of their legal team."

Tampa Bay Lightning signs goaltender Antero Niittymaki

The Tampa Bay Lightning signed free agent goaltender Antero Niittymaki (6 feet 1, 195 pounds). The Turku, Finland, native has played in 161 career NHL games with the Philadelphia Flyers. He is 62-61-23 record with a .901 save percentage and a 3.01 goals-against average. He won a silver medal with Finland in the 2006 Olympics going 5-0-1 with a 1.34 goals-against average.

"We fully recognized the need to add an experienced back-up goaltender this summer and today we feel we’ve accomplished that goal," Lightning general manager Brian Lawton said. "Not only is Antero already an established number two in the NHL who can steal games, but we feel he is very capable of working with Mike Smith to give us a formidable 1-2 punch in goal."

Former Lightning goaltenders coach Jeff Reese lands with the Flyers

Jeff Reese, the long-time Lightning goaltenders coach who helped lead the team to the 2004 Stanley Cup, but was fired in June 2008 with coach John Tortorella, was hired as the Flyers goaltenders coach, the team announced.

Defenseman Victor Hedman signs his rookie contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning

In what was more a procedural exercise than a negotiation, defenseman Victor Hedman, selected No. 2 in the draft, signed his rookie deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning. It is a standard three-year contract for $900,000 per season. With bonuses, Hedman could make up to $3.75 million, though that is highly unlikely.

Here is the announcement from the team:

The Tampa Bay Lightning signed defenseman Victor Hedman to a standard three-year rookie contract today, Executive Vice President and General Manager Brian Lawton announced. Hedman was selected by the Lightning with the second overall pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, the first time in franchise history Tampa Bay has picked second overall.

"We are thrilled to be able to take this next step with Victor today," said Lawton upon making the announcement. "He has a bright future and we intend on him being a member of the Lightning for a long time. We are excited to get his signing behind us so he can solely focus on hockey and the continued development of his game."

Hedman, 6-foot-6, 220 pounds, was rated as the top European player and one of the top two players overall available in the draft according to NHL Central Scouting. He spent the 2008-09 season with MoDo of the Swedish Elite League where he earned Rookie of the Year honors as an 18-year-old. Hedman recorded seven goals and 21 points for MoDo in 43 games. He ranked second on the team, first among defensemen, in plus/minus rating with a plus-21 and was second among defensemen in points (only behind former NHL player Mattias Timander).

A native of Ornskoldsvik , Sweden , Hedman represented his country in each of the previous two World Junior Championships, winning the Silver Medal twice. During the 2009 tournament he recorded two assists and had a plus-4 rating in six games as Sweden fell to Canada in the Gold Medal Game. In 2008, Hedman was named to the tournament all-star team after recording an assist and a plus-5 rating in six games. He also played for Sweden at the 2008 World Under-18 Championships, recording a goal and four points in four games.

Hedman has spent the majority of the previous two seasons with MoDo, playing in the Swedish Elite League. During his two-year professional career there he has amassed nine goals and 25 points with a plus-22 rating in 82 games. He also played in five post season games with MoDo in 2007-08, recording one goal.