A little about Tarns and Wanvig

I like Nick Tarnasky, not only as a person but as a player. I will never forget the March 1 game in Washington in which Tarns scored the winning goal in a 10-round shootout. It was his first shootout try ever, in any league. He must have been busting his buttons but the wing tried as hard as he could to keep it calm and cool in front of his teammates while describing, as he called it, "one of the most exciting moments of my life.''

If a guy ever deserved to celebrate, it was Tarnasky, who was like a lost puppy early in the season after making the team only because Rob DiMaio was injured. But give the wing credit. He stuck to it and by the end of the season was a reliable third- and fourth-line player supplying lots of much-needed grit and character. He never backed down. Remember the game he fought Edmonton's Matt Green after Green ran over Eric Perrin?

That is why Monday's signing of Tarnasky to a three-year, $1.575-million contract was so good for Tampa Bay. He's willing and unafraid and if he can score a few more goals, well, all of a sudden they have Bobby Nystrom.

But getting back to my earlier point,what is so fun to watch about Tarnasky is the way he tries to be unaffected when he gets into the spotlight. Take our conversation Monday, when he told me about catching a 250-pound marlin while on a fishing trip in Panama with center Brad Richards. Pretty matter of fact, like it happens all the time. Same with seeing the Panama canal: "It's cool to see.''

It will be cool to see Tarnasky,24 and 6-foot-2, 233 pounds, develop over the next three years.

As for wing Kyle Wanvig, who signed a two-way deal Monday, he didn't do much in Tampa Bay after coming over from the Thrashers on Feb. 1, in fact he had zero points in four games. But he shined with AHL Springfield with 11 goals, 18 points and 40 penalty minutes in 23 games.

"When he went down, he did nothing but score,'' general manager Jay Feaster said. "He was the most consistent guy there for us from the time of the trade. And for him to be willing to sign a two-way deal ... he does believe we do things on merit here in the organization, and that he's knocking on the door and has a chance. So from that standpoint, I'm very pleased that he decided to accept the deal.''

Feaster said he and coach John Tortorella had conversations with the 6-2, 210-pound Wanvig, 26, before he was sent down about preparation and what is expected. Feaster said he also will benefit from having a training camp in which he can convince Tortorella he deserves that chance.

"I do believe it is very difficult in our organization when you haven't had a training camp so John can see what you're capable of,'' Feaster said.

Wanvig does have an upside. He has five goals and 14 points in 68 career NHL games, most with the Wild. But he is another banger. In 51 games with Minnesota in 2005-06, Wanvig had four goals and 64 penalty minutes. On a team still trying to move the grit meter, that is important.

       

Comments

[SarasotaBill]

Bobby Nystrom? One of the last to not wear a helmet. Hair flying everywhere. Who could forget? Interesting comparison and not far off at all. How great would that be for all of us? Bolts fans, the Lightning organization, and Nick himself. Nice thought!!

[SarasotaBill]

Mike13 and slapshot. Let me do the best I can with this.

First of all, I'm not an agent, GM, or someone who knows all the rules, but I will try to answer this as best I can in general terms.

Mike13, your assumption is correct. A 2 way deal pays the player according to where he plays. AHL or NHL. A "one way" NHL deal pays the player the same amount regardless of where he plays. But there's a little more to it than that.

Look at the recent signings. Tarns and Wanvig. From what I've read, Tarns has a "one way" deal. That means he gets the full amount of his NHL contract regardless of where he plays. Not only that, if for some reason the Bolts send him down and give someone else a shot, they are on the hook for his full salary AND, because it was a "one way" NHL deal, not only do they have to pay him the full amount of his salary but the entire amount counts against the cap no matter where he plays.

Wanvig however, signed a "two way" deal which means he gets paid according to where he plays. My guess, and it's only a guess, is that he signed for the AHL maximum, and the NHL minimum. My numbers could be wrong here but last I heard max AHL salary was 95k and min NHL salary was 475. If for some reason he plays in the AHL all year, he will collect 95k or whatever he signed for. Whatever he gets paid there does NOT count against the cap.

If he plays the year in the NHL, he gets his NHL salary which the minimum is, last I heard, 475k for the upcomming year. Whatever he makes in the NHL counts against the cap as long as he is here and the Bolts are paying him his NHL agreed wage. If he slips to the minors, or moves back and forth, he will be paid accordingly. If he signed a 2 way deal, he only gets what he gets according to where he plays. His salary only counts as cap money for the time he spends in the NHL. Prorated of course.

Good Lord I hope that made sense.

[SarasotaBill]

Great comments Damian. Your words about Tarns just described the humility, unassuming nature, and personality of many young players who are living their childhood dream and loving every minute of it. Instead of shooting his mouth off and singing his own praises as we see so often in other sports, he's a typical hockey player.

I remember the hit Green put on Perrin very well. I also remember seeing Tarns skate cross ice to go after Green. What a beautiful thing. Perrin was the first to say he appreciated it. This brings up the instigator thing but that's for another time.

Tarns kinda blew it off simply saying he was standing up for a teammate. Not much for words or the limelight, but look in his eyes. There is a passion hidden there that only comes into view to those who can see it. The kid's coachable, loves the game, respects the game, and appreciates what it is doing for him. He has a quiet confidence and he does his best to keep it that way. In time he will grow as a player and establish his roots. He may even toss up a quote or 2. I don't expect flamboyance from him, either on the ice, or in his words. It's not his style.

He's a hockey player!

[Mike13]

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but a 2-way contract just means that while he is in the NHL, he makes 1 figure, say $425K. When he is in the AHL or ECHL, then he will make a lesser figure, something closer to $45K.

[Tim A]

Nick Tarnasky is ultimately the best new young hockey personality on the Bolts. I.m glad that this young banger has a chance to show us once again that he loves to play and doesn't mind dropping the gloves and mixing it up. He was one of my absolute favorites last year and one of the many bright spots on the lightning's future. This is the kind of player that the NHL needs more of. I'd pay to see Tarnasky mix it up on the fourth line rather than pay to see Sidney Crosby whine it up any day. God bless the Bolts for making the oustanding decision to bring back Tarnasky.

[keith]

waay to go Tarns! Couldn't happen to a nicer more deserving guy.

[slapshot]

these are great signings because these guys are young and thier game will improve.

What is a two-way deal?

[F.T.B.S.]

Excellent signings for the long haul. Forechecking freaks that listen to Coach, I like it.

Any word about a sniper or goalie coach for Norfolk?
If left to Sterling and Rumble, things are going to get pretty mundane at the NHL level fairly soon.