More on DiMaio and Svoboda

I hope you don't mind if I continue this discussion for one more entry. But the thing with Rob DiMaio was how together he always seemed when you spoke to him, even when his symptoms were supposed to be at their worst. He spoke clearly and put sentences together easily. At least it seemed that way.

The reason I mention it is because he was so different from Petr Svoboda. The Lightning defenseman's career was ended by a concussion when he took a stick across the nose in a game in Phoenix in December 2000. That injury didn't look like much at the time but Svoboda was badly hurt. I interviewed him the next April and he still had lots of trouble speaking clearly, forming sentences and keeping focused on the conversation. But DiMaio never seemed that way to me. Perhaps that is part of the reason why he is so frustrated at what he is going through.

Too painful to let go

That is the reason Rob DiMaio said in Monday's paper he does not want to retire, and though he will sit out next season wants to play in 2008-09. Hockey has been his life. He still feels like he has some years left in him and does not want to go out because of an injury. But what an injury: a concussion last September from a cheap shot from Montreal's Guillaume Latendresse that bounced DiMaio's head off the side boards.

As a side note, Doug Janik earned some points that night for going after Latendresse, though Mike Komisarek stepped in to fight Janik, who held his own against a tough guy.   

DiMaio, 39, has played 18 seasons. He's gritty and tough and I like him personally. But after listening to him describe his testing last week at the University of Pittsburgh and how his long- and short-term memory is worse than it was the last time he was tested, it could only be described as scary.

DiMaio, who sat out all last season and is an unrestricted free agent, will always have a place in Tampa's heart because of his history with the team. He has a great wife and twin 8-year-old daughters. He said his quality of life with them has been affected. And yet he still wants to play. Let's hope he takes one of the offers he said he has to work in hockey operations for an NHL team. The quality time with his family, at this point in his career, is way more important.

By the way, nice to be back after some time off. 

Lightning sign Janik

The Lightning resigned defenseman Doug Janik to a one-year, two-way deal that will pay him the league minimum $475,000 if he makes the club or $100,000 in minor league salary if he doesn't.

Janik -- who made the team out of camp last season -- will complete for the sixth defenseman spot with youngsters Dan Jancevski, Jay Leach, Dave Schneider, Bryce Lampman, Matt Smaby and Vladmir Mihalik.

Janik was looking for a one-way deal, but in the end decided that a two-way deal to remain with the Lightning was his best option.

Now all that remains is for the Lightining to sign forward Ryan Craig before his Aug. 3 arbitration date.

Lightning re-sign Stewart

The re-signed left wing Karl Stewart to a one-year, two-way contract, general manager Jay Feaster announced in a news release. Stewart, acquired in a trade with Chicago in February, skated in seven games with the Lightning, recording two shots and two penalty minutes. A 5-foot-11, 180-pound native of Aurora, Ontario, Stewart, 24, appeared in 47 NHL games with Tampa Bay, Chicago and Pittsburgh last season, recording two goals, three assists and 47 penalty minutes.

Give the kids a try

As we read in today's paper, the Lightning has decided, barring trades, to try and fill the last of its top six defensive positions with an internal competition. That means two things. It not only gives players such as Dan Jancevski, Jay Leach, Dave Schneider, Bryce Lampman, Matt Smaby and Vladmir Mihalik a huge opportunity. It also puts on hold negotiations with any free agents such as Nolan Pratt, Doug Janik or Jassen Cullimore. In fact, with the forwards and goaltenders set, it puts a hold on all free-agent shopping.

There are several layers to this, of course:

Camp: The original plan was to have 26 players in camp. Now, coach John Tortorella said, there will be 33.

Financial: With $42.34-million of the ownership-allowed $44-million payroll already spent, and with forward Ryan Craig still unsigned, things are a bit tight. If the team can find a defenseman internally, his contract will pay the league minimum $475,000 or a tick more, considerably less than the asking prices of, say, Pratt and Cullimore. Just a note on Janik, whose agent, Stephen Bartlett said does not have an issue with compensation, rather the Lightning's wish to sign him to a two-way contract that would pay less if Janik were assigned to the minors.

Growing your own: Because of such salary constraints, the Lightning, Tortorella said, better get used to developing its own talent instead of spending higher to buy. "We cannot continue to just go out and sign free agents, not with our payroll restrictions,'' he said. "This is an opportunity to take a longer look and what we have here and maybe develop from within.''

The question, then, becomes, who steps up after the top five of Dan Boyle, Paul Ranger, Shane O'Brien, Filip Kuba and Brad Lukowich? While the competition should be lively, it seems Jancevski, 26, signed as a free agent and a horse last season for AHL Hamilton, might be the front-runner going into camp. Feaster said he has confidence in all the kids. "That's why we either signed them as free agents, or acquired them via trade or drafted them,'' he said.

There's more on this in today's story.      

A final note: I'll be taking the next 10 days off which is why the blog will have no new entries from me. But just a word of congratulations to you guys who keep coming back. The past two weeks this blog was the fifth most popular among all blogs at the St. Petersburg Times. The news shocked my bosses, especially because we aren't even in-season. I told them hockey fans are passionate that way. Anyway, just wanted to express my thanks for your interest. 

10-game ticket plans announced

The Lightning unveiled its 10-game ticket plans for next season. Here is the announcement the team sent out:

The  Lightning today unveiled four different 10-game mini-season ticket plans for the team’s 15th anniversary season, 2007-08. Pricing starts as low as $99 per ticket or just $9.90 per game. Discounts for the ticket plans represent more than 50 percent off standard box office pricing.
The four plans available are called the Big Game, Weekend and Value and Saturday Night Special Game Packs.

The Big Game Pack features Opening Night against New Jersey on Thursday, October 4 and games against 2004 Stanley Cup Finals opponent Calgary (Dec. 13) and Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins (Jan. 10).

The Weekend Game Pack includes nine Saturday night and one Friday night contest, while the Value Game Pack features three match-ups against the Southeast Division rival Florida Panthers and two with the 2007 Stanley Cup Finalist Ottawa Senators.

The Saturday Night Special Game Pack includes 10 October, November and December Saturday night games.

“We are very excited about the schedule for 2007-08 and we look forward to returning to the Stanley Cup playoffs for the fifth straight season,” said Lightning president Ron Campbell. “This year’s schedule allows us a great deal of flexibility in creating mini-plans at strong price points for those fans with differing needs. And as in years past, with discounts of up to 50 percent off of single game pricing, purchasing mini-, half-, or full-season ticket plans is the way to go for the Hockey Bay, USA community. As in years past, we encourage our fans to take advantage of mini-, half- or full-season ticket plans to benefit from the great pricing values we are able to provide for those purchasing these plans.”

Other highlights in the Big Game Pack include meetings with the New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers and Boston Bruins, while Weekend Game Pack holders will see Eastern Conference powerhouse Buffalo, two games against the Atlanta Thrashers and a visit by the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Value Game Pack includes visits by the Carolina Hurricanes, Montreal Canadiens and New York Islanders, and the Saturday Night Special Game Pack features Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals, as well as Martin Brodeur’s New Jersey Devils and Daniel Briere’s Philadelphia Flyers.

In addition to receiving more than 50 percent off box office prices depending on location, mini-season ticket plan holders earn playoff priority in their seating area for the 2007-08 Stanley Cup Playoffs and enjoy pre-sale opportunities for other St. Pete Times Forum events, including access to the best possible seat locations.

Fans can purchase 10-game plans, other ticket plans, get huge savings on full season tickets or receive more information by calling 813-301-6600 or by going to www.tampabaylightning.com.  Group packages for the 2007-08 season are also available by calling 813-301-6900.

Big Game Pack

Oct. 4    New Jersey

Oct. 20  Atlanta

Oct. 25  Philadelphia

Nov. 21  Rangers

Dec. 1   Boston

Dec. 13  Calgary

Jan. 10   Pittsburgh

Jan. 15   Colorado

Feb. 16   Washington

March 15 Rangers

Weekend Pack

Oct. 6   Atlanta

Oct. 27  Buffalo

Nov. 3   Atlanta

Nov. 24  New Jersey

Dec. 8    Islanders

Dec. 15  Washington

Feb. 2    Florida

Feb. 23   Boston

Feb. 29   Toronto

March 29 Carolina

Value Pack

Oct. 10   Florida

Nov. 7    Florida

Nov. 14  Carolina

Dec. 4    Ottawa

Jan. 22   Edmonton

Jan. 24   Ottawa

Feb. 12   Montreal

Feb. 27   Minnesota

March 11 Islanders

March 25 Florida

Saturday night pack

Oct. 6   Atlanta

Oct. 20  Atlanta

Oct. 27  Buffalo

Nov. 3    Atlanta

Nov. 24   New Jersey

Dec. 1    Boston

Dec. 8    Islanders

Dec. 15  Washington

Dec. 22  Carolina

Dec. 29  Philadelphia 

Staff announcements

This is probably more than you need to know about these positions, but here is the announcement the Lightning sent out about staffing, mainly of its AHL affiliate in Norfolk:

Lightning assistant general manager Claude Loiselle will serve as general manager of the American Hockey League’s Norfolk Admirals, it was announced by Lightning Executive Vice President & General Manager Jay Feaster.

In addition, Rob Kennedy has been named assistant equipment manager for the Lightning, while Pete Henderson will serve as head equipment manager and Rodney Bogart will serve as head medical trainer in Norfolk.

Loiselle, Bogart and Henderson will join coach Steve Stirling and assistant Darren Rumble to comprise Norfolk’s Hockey Operations Staff for the 2007-08 season. The Admirals will enter their eighth season in the American Hockey League and their first as the Lightning’s top affiliate this October.

Loiselle is entering his third season as assistant general manager of the Lightning. He is responsible for the overall, comprehensive and day-to-day management of and compliance with all aspects of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). In addition, Loiselle negotiates NHL, minor league, entry-level and various staff member contracts, assists in all other contract negotiations and handles all immigration issues for players, coaches and staff. He also is responsible for all salary arbitration preparation, including maintenance of detailed comparable player information throughout the season, and serves as a pro scout on an as-needed and as-directed basis.

“Claude Loiselle has done a great job this summer building our depth and assembling what we believe will be a very competitive team in Norfolk,” Feaster said. “He has been actively involved, along with Director of Player Personnel, Bill Barber, in all aspects of our minor league operations for some time now, and we are confident that he will do an outstanding job managing our on-ice operation in Norfolk. While he will continue to be based in Tampa, he will spend a great deal of time both in Norfolk as well as scouting the AHL.”

Loiselle played 13 seasons in the NHL from 1981-82 through 1993-94 with Detroit, New Jersey, Quebec, Toronto and the New York Islanders. In 616 career NHL games he recorded 92 goals, 117 assists and 1,149 penalty minutes. He also appeared in 41 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, and was a member of two Patrick Division Championship teams (New Jersey – 1988; Islanders – 1993).
Prior to making the jump to the NHL, Loiselle played three seasons with the Ontario Hockey League’s Windsor Spitfires, and he spent parts of four seasons with the American Hockey League’s Adirondack Red Wings. In 103 career AHL games, Loiselle had 51 goals and 63 assists with 115 penalty minutes. He also appeared in 22 Calder Cup Playoff Contests and won the 1986 Calder Cup with the Adirondack Red Wings.

Before joining the Lightning, Loiselle spent seven years as associate director of hockey operations for the NHL and was heavily involved in salary arbitration, discipline, player transactions and collective bargaining while also serving as the NHL hockey operations liaison with the AHL. An Ottawa native, Loiselle began his undergraduate studies while playing for the Islanders in 1992 and earned his law degree from McGill University in Montreal in 1998, the same year he was admitted to the New York State Bar.

Kennedy spent the past two seasons with the Florida Panthers organization after two years as the head equipment manager for the AHL’s Cleveland Barons. Prior to joining the Barons he served as head equipment manager of the Muskegon Fury for three years, where he earned a Colonial Cup Championship in 2002.

Henderson brings more than 20 seasons of experience as a professional equipment manager to the Admirals. He served nine seasons as the head equipment manager for the NHL’s Boston Bruins from 1998 to 2006. He also has 10 years of experience as a head equipment manager at the American Hockey League level with the Maine Mariners and Providence Bruins. Henderson served as equipment manager at the 1995 American Hockey League All-Star Game in Providence. He was also the head equipment manager with the International Hockey League’s Peoria Prancers and as assistant equipment manager with the NHL’s New Jersey Devils. A native of Camden, Maine, Henderson received a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Prince Edward Island and is a certified member of the Athletic Equipment Managers Association.

Bogart spent last season as the head medical trainer for the Johnstown Chiefs, former Lightning ECHL affiliate. Prior to joining the Tampa Bay organization, Bogart spent five seasons as a head athletic therapist in the Ontario Hockey League. He worked four seasons with the Sault St. Marie Greyhounds and one season with the Belleville Bulls. Following graduation from the University of Western Ontario with a degree in Kinesiology, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League hired Bogart as an assistant athletic therapist.

Would Cullimore fit?

If you've been following along, you read in Sunday's paper the Lightning inquired about free agent defenseman Jassen Cullimore. It was an inquiry only but it was intriguing given Cullimore was one of the key players in Tampa Bay's 2004 Stanley Cup victory.

There are many hurdles to a Cullimore return. His time with the Blackhawks, with whom he signed after the Cup victory, was inconsistent, he had a few injury problems he said have been cleared up and he probably is looking for more money than the Lightning is willing to pay. But he knows Tampa Bay's system and at 6 feet 5, 250 pounds, can be physical.

The Lightning likely would not want Cullimore in a top-four position making his likely salary request of $650,000 to $700,000 a bit problematic. But as far as a fifth or sixth guy who can hold the fort and be a force in front of the net, he may not look so bad.

It is an interesting question and one prompted by what GM Jay Feaster said is an on going internal debate about how to fill out the team's blue line. Should the team go with what it's got -- a top five of Dan Boyle, Paul Ranger, Shane O'Brien, Filip Kuba and Brad Lukowich and a stable of hopefuls that includes Dan Jancevski, Jay Leach, Matt Smaby, Bryce Lampman and Vladmir Mihalik -- or sign another veteran free agent?

The defense is the last part of the roster that needs finalizing. Barring trades, the forwards and goaltenders are set coming into camp.

Money is the other question. Tampa Bay has committed $42.34-million of its available $44-million payroll, and forward Ryan Craig is still unsigned. No matter how you slice it, that is tight. As Cullimore's agent Roland Thompson said of Feaster, "It's a tough puzzle for him to piece together.''

So here are the Lightning's choices: sign someone now (remember, Nolan Pratt is still out there) or go into camp with what it has and see how that shakes out. If the team decides none of its hopefuls can fill the sixth spot, it can look to waivers or remaining free agents to fill the gap.

Anybody?

The new logo ... almost

It isn't the final design but it apparently is close enough that you can get a good idea of what the "modernization'' will look like.

Go to this web address: http://www.modsquadhockey.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=32791&hl=Tampa+Bay+Lightning

Paul Ranger signs

The Lightning re-signed defenseman Paul Ranger to a three-year contract worth $2.8-million

Ranger, 22, appeared in 72 games for the Lightning in 2006-07, recording four goals, 24 assists and 42 penalty minutes. He ranked third among Lightning defensemen in goals and points.

He will make $750,000 next season, $950,000 in 2008-09 and $1.1-million in 2009-10.

“Paul Ranger is a very good young hockey player who should only continue to develop and get better,” GM Jay Feaster said. “He has played some important minutes for us over the past two seasons and we expect he will be called on even more in the upcoming campaign. Now that he has become a regular NHL player, we look forward to him continuing to develop all aspects of his game, including contributing more to the team's offense. We are thrilled to have him under contract for the next three years.”

Ranger, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound native of Whitby, Ontario, made his debut with the Lightning in 2005-06, recording a goal, 17 assists and 58 penalty minutes in 76 games. In five Stanley Cup Playoff games that season he recorded two goals and six points, ranking second on the team in scoring.

Chosen by the Lightning in the sixth round, 183rd overall, at the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, Ranger played a season with Springfield of the American Hockey League in 2004-05, recording three goals, eight assists and 46 penalty minutes in 69 games. He played one game for the Falcons in 2004-05, recording a goal and two assists, before being recalled by the Lightning. Before turning pro, Ranger played four seasons with Oshawa of the Ontario Hockey League, tallying 22 goals and 91 points in 224 games. He ranked first on the Generals in goals, assists and points by a defenseman in 2002-03 and 2003-04.

College defenseman signed

The Lightning signed defenseman Mike Lundin to a two-year, entry-level contract, GM Jay Feaster announced.

Lundin, 22, a 6-foot-1, 175-pound native of Apple Valley, Minn., spent the 2006-07 season with the University of Maine Black Bears. The Lightning picked the defenseman in the fourth round (102nd overall) of the 2004 draft.

During his senior year he played in all 40 games and scored six goals with a total of 20 points.  He tied for the team lead in goals by a defenseman and ranked second in points by defensemen.  Lundin scored five goals on the power play and ranked first on the team among defensemen, tied for sixth overall.  He set career highs for goals, points and power-play goals.

"Mike Lundin has very good offensive skills and skates very well,” Feaster said.  “He is a skilled player who makes a good first pass and sees the ice really well. He already has many of the qualities we are looking for in terms of being able to play in the NHL. Now that he has turned pro he needs to get stronger and he needs to raise his intensity level to match the pro game. We look forward to seeing how he handles the pace and intensity of training camp."

Lundin played 160 games with Maine during his four-year career, recording 13 goals and 68 points.  He also tallied eight power-play goals.

My two cents

As to the complaints about the defense and the PK from last season, I don't think you can understate the effect bad goaltending had on both aspects. In many cases the PK is only as effective as one's goaltending. At the very least, good goaltending covers up for a mistakes. As for the stick-check concerns, I'm with you there to a point.

I love a physical game and there were plenty of times last season I thought Lightning players missed chances for big checks. However, don't forget that throwing checks nowadays is a lot more dangerous than it was before. Time it wrong or miss the check and you are screwed in a league in which you can no longer make a grab or a hook to slow down the guy you just missed.

For me, I'd rather see the Lightning defense stand up a little bit more toward the blue line. I thought they backtracked too much and gave up too much ground to opponents coming over the blue line. You don't have to flatten somebody, just get in someone's way.

Having said all that, I'm not disagreeing with anything written previously, just throwing out some more layers of conversation.

 

Lightning 2007-08 schedule

(All times eastern and subject to change)

OCT. 4      NEW JERSEY     7:30 p.m.
OCT. 6      ATLANTA         7:30 p.m.
OCT. 10    FLORIDA           7:30 p.m.
OCT. 13   @ Florida           7 p.m.
OCT. 18   @ Boston           7 p.m.
OCT. 20   ATLANTA           7:30 p.m.
OCT. 24   @ Washington    7 p.m.
OCT. 25   PHILADELPHIA    7:30 p.m.
OCT. 27   BUFFALO            7:30 p.m.
OCT. 29   @ Rangers          7 p.m.
OCT. 31  @ New Jersey      7 p.m.

NOV. 1   @ Islanders          7 p.m.
NOV. 3   ATLANTA             7:30 p.m.
NOV. 5   @ Florida             7:30 p.m.
NOV. 7   FLORIDA              7:30 p.m.
NOV. 8    @ Carolina           7 p.m.
NOV. 10  @ Washington      7 p.m.
NOV. 14  CAROLINA            7:30 p.m.
NOV. 16  WASHINGTON       8 p.m.
NOV. 19  @ Atlanta             7 p.m.
NOV. 21  RANGERS              7:30 p.m.
NOV. 23  @ Carolina            7 p.m.
NOV. 24  NEW JERSEY         7:30 p.m.
NOV. 28  @ Chicago             8:30 p.m.
NOV. 29  @ Detroit              7:30 p.m.

Dec. 1    BOSTON                 7:30 p.m.
DEC. 4    OTTAWA               7:30 p.m.
DEC. 6    CAROLINA             7:30 p.m.
DEC. 8    ISLANDERS            7:30 p.m.
DEC. 10  @ Toronto             7:30 p.m.
DEC. 11  @ Montreal            7:30 p.m.
DEC. 13  CALGARY              7:30 p.m.
DEC. 15  WASHINGTON        7:30 p.m.
DEC. 18  @ Atlanta              7 p.m.
DEC. 20  TORONTO              7:30 p.m.
DEC. 22  CAROLINA             7:30 p.m.
DEC. 26  @ Washington       7 p.m.
DEC. 27  MONTREAL            7:30 p.m.
DEC. 29  PHILADELPHIA       1 p.m.

JAN. 1   @ Toronto               7:30 p.m.
JAN. 3   @ Montreal              7:30 p.m.
JAN. 5  @ Ottawa                 7 p.m.
JAN. 8   @ Rangers               7 p.m.
JAN. 10  PITTSBURGH           7:30 p.m.
JAN. 12  @ Florida                7 p.m.
JAN. 15  COLORADO              7:30 p.m.
JAN. 18  @ Pittsburgh           7:30 p.m.
JAN. 19  @ Ottawa                7 p.m.
JAN. 22  EDMONTON             7:30 p.m.
JAN. 24  OTTAWA                 7:30 p.m.
JAN. 29  BUFFALO                7:30 p.m.
JAN. 31  VANCOUVER           7:30 p.m.

FEB. 2     FLORIDA                  7:30 p.m.
FEB. 5     @ St. Louis               8:30 p.m.
FEB. 7     @ Nashville               8 p.m.      
FEB. 9     @ Atlanta                 7 p.m.
FEB. 12   MONTREAL                7:30 p.m.
FEB. 14   @ Philadelphia           7 p.m.
FEB. 16   WASHINGTON            7:30 p.m.
FEB. 20   @ Buffalo                  7 p.m.
FEB. 21   @ Islanders               7 p.m.
FEB. 23    BOSTON                   7:30 p.m.
FEB. 27    MINNESOTA             7:30 p.m.
FEB. 29    TORONTO                8 p.m.

MAR. 1     @ Carolina                7 p.m.
MAR. 4     PITTSBURGH             7:30 p.m.
MAR. 6    @ Philadelphia            7 p.m.
MAR. 7    @ New Jersey             7 p.m.
MAR. 9    @ Columbus                3 p.m.
MAR. 11   ISLANDERS                 7:30 p.m.
MAR. 13  @ Boston                    7 p.m.
MAR. 15   RANGERS                   7:30 p.m.
MAR. 19   @ Buffalo                   7 p.m.
MAR. 20   @ Pittsburgh              7:30 p.m.
MAR. 22   @ Florida                   7 p.m.
MAR. 25    FLORIDA                   7:30 p.m.
MAR. 27    WASHINGTON           7:30 p.m.
MAR. 29    CAROLINA                7:30 p.m.
MAR. 31    ATLANTA                 7:30 p.m.

APRIL 2     @ Carolina                7 p.m.
APRIL 3     @ Washington           7 p.m.
APRIL 5     @ Atlanta                  7 p.m.

Sked is out

Go to NHL.com for the whole thing until we can get it up here. But the Lightning opens with a three-game homestand: Oct 4 vs. the Devils, Oct. 6 vs. the Thrashers and Oct. 10 vs. the Panthers.

Mark your calendars

As both the Lightning and Ryan Craig will tell you, they expect to get a deal done before they go to arbitration. But just in case it gets that far, the sides are scheduled to make their cases on Aug. 3.

Craig made $495,000 last season and had 14 goals and 27 points in 72 games. The Lightning's qualifying offer of $544,500 ensured the team retained his rights.

Also, the regular-season schedule is supposed to come out tomorrow. Every year it is the same, the league likes to announce on the day after the MLB All-Star Game because with nothing else going on that day, the release is more likely to get better media play.

Vinny leads the way

It's been so busy lately this kind of slipped by in the paper of July 1. But apparently Vinny Lecavalier is the area's favorite athlete. Web polls, even those done by the St. Pete Times, are generally bogus as the same people vote over and over. Still, it is worth noting, I guess, that Lecavalier beat out very high-profile Bucs like Mike Alstott and Derrick Brooks.

I guess much has to do with how bad the Bucs have been the past few seasons. But it got me to wondering if it is possible for the Lightning, with a great season (not necessarily a Cup season) can take over this town, especially if the Bucs falter again and the Rays continue to play like, well, the Rays. The area always has had a great hard-core group of hockey fans and those fans make the Forum a great place to watch a game. At the draft I was talking to John Dellapina of the Daily News in New York and he told me how dead the fans were in Anaheim during last season's Cup final and how he always recalled how great and loud the fans were in Tampa during the Lightning's Cup season.

So is it possible Vinny really is the area's favorite athlete? And can this area turn to hockey first?

      

More defensive signings; one to really watch

The Lightning added even more depth to its blue line with the re-signing of Mike Egener and the signing of free agent Dan Jancevski. We all know Egener's story. Thought to be close to the NHL when he was drafted in the second round (34th overall) in 2003, Egener has been inconsistent in the minors and fighting to find his game.

More interesting might be Jancevski (pronounced jan-SHEHV-skee), who played 80 games for AHL Hamilton last  season, had seven goals, 31 points and was plus-22 as the team won the Calder Cup. In 22 playoff games, the 6-foot-3, 220-pounder was second on the team in scoring with three goals and 14 points.

He will be one to watch as the Lightning fills out its roster during training camp. 

“Dan Jancevski is a gritty, strong, veteran physical defenseman and a real leader at the AHL level,” GM Jay Feaster said.  “He has a very good shot from the point and he makes a strong first pass out of the zone. We like the physical presence he brings to the game and we especially value his leadership abilities.  We attempted to sign him last summer and he went on to win the Calder Cup in Hamilton.  He joins a host of players who will have a chance to compete for a spot on our roster in training camp, and he, too, adds to our organizational depth on the blueline.  This signing, combined with other blueline signings and acquisitions this week, helps transform our organizational depth on the back-end dramatically and gives our prospects some outstanding mentors at the AHL level.”

Jancevski, 26, is a veteran of 470 American Hockey League games and has recorded 28 goals and 141 points.  He served as captain of the Iowa Stars during their inaugural season in 2005-06, and made his NHL debut with the Dallas Stars on February 4, 2006 against St. Louis .  Prior to his recall to Dallas Jancevski had played in 257 consecutive AHL games, the longest such streak in the league at the time.  He led all Iowa defensemen in scoring that season with 38 points ( 9-29-38 ).  He has appeared in 40 career Calder Cup Playoff games, recording four goals and 17 points.

The former member of the London Knights and Sudbury Wolves played in 197 Ontario Hockey League games in his junior career.  He made his OHL debut with London in 1998-99 before finishing the final 31 games of the 2000-01 season with the Wolves.  During his junior career he scored 17 goals and recorded 81 points.

He was originally drafted by the Stars in the second-round, 66 th overall, at the 1999 NHL Entry Draft.

Egener, 6-4 and 216 pounds, played in 75 games with Springfield of the AHL last season and recorded three assists while leading the team in penalty minutes with 152.  He is a veteran of 158 AHL games with five goals, 11 points and 477 penalty minutes.  Egener played in 224 WHL games during his junior career, scoring six goals and recording 37 points.

The Lightning selected Egener with their first selection, 34 th overall, in the 2003 NHL Entry draft. At the time of the draft he was ranked 40 th overall among North American Skaters by Central Scouting before being selected by Tampa Bay . He was awarded the Hitmen’s Humanitarian of the Year award for two consecutive years in 2002-03 and 2003-04 and played in the 2003 Re/Max Canada-Russia All-Star Challenge.

Craig files for arbitration ... nicely

Arbitration is a messy process. The player tries to convince the arbiter he is worth more money while the team, in effect, tears its own player down in making the argument he is worth less. So if you have to file for arbitration, doing it like Lightning wing Ryan Craig is the best way.

Craig filed as gently as possible and Lightning GM Jay Feaster answered in kind.

Craig said he is doing it only because "it is part of the process'' and he is sure he and the team "can get something done'' before his hearing which has yet to be set but will take place between July 20 and Aug. 4.

Feaster said, "We know it's part of the business. We fully expect to reach as agreement before we get to arbitration.''

Craig, 25, a restricted free agent, was given a qualifying offer of $544,500 by the Lightning (10 percent more than last season's salary of $495,000). That allows Tampa Bay to keep Craig's rights and match any other offers.

"They've been busy with unrestricted guys and things like that and my agent has too,'' Craig said. "It's a situation where we'll sit down and talk and we'll get a contract. I'm just looking out for my interests.''

    

Unhappy Fritz traded for defensive depth

The Lightning accommodated minor-league tough guy Mitch Fritz, who didn't think he was getting a sufficient chance to prove himself, by trading him to the Rangers for defenseman Bryce Lampman, who likely will provide depth at AHL Norfolk.   

Lampman, 24, has been a member of the Rangers organization the past five seasons and last season appeared in 60 games with AHL Hartford, recording six goals, 19 assists and 62 penalty minutes. The 6-foot-1, 193-pound native of Rochester , Minn., has appeared in 258 career games with Hartford , recording 19 goals, 76 points and 234 penalty minutes. He has also skated in 10 NHL games with the Rangers, recording no points and two penalty minutes.   

Said Lightning GM Jay Feaster: "When we tendered the qualifying offer to Mitch Fritz last month he phoned me to express his concern that we hadn't given him a shot at the NHL since we had signed him as a Free Agent and last year in Springfield his playing time dropped noticeably under Steve Stirling. He was frustrated and simply wanted a chance to play. As I told him when we spoke, we tendered the QO because he is an organizational asset and we were not prepared to release him without some form of compensation. We simply don't have enough depth to allow ourselves that luxury. At the same time, we feel we have improved our 'team toughness' in the minors and we expect Brandon Elliott to get significant playing time in Norfolk this season as well. We felt the time was right to capitalize on our asset.

"In Bryce Lampman we are obtaining a mobile, very good skating, puck-moving defenseman with good vision who sees the ice well, makes a very good first pass and who possesses excellent hockey sense. He is also a player who can be used in all special teams situations. For the past three or four seasons now our pro scouts have felt that he was on the verge of playing regularly in the NHL. Based on our discussions with the Rangers it was pretty much an identical situation for them with Lampman as to what we had with Mitch. Bryce had been considering playing in Europe this upcoming season and he, too, wanted a chance to play. He was tendered a two-way QO, just like Fritz, and he has signed that contract. He will come to training camp in September and have a chance to battle it out with probably five or six other players for the sixth and seventh spots on our blue line. Based on everything we have seen from him in the past, he is knocking on the door of being an NHL regular. We are thrilled to have him in our organization and we wish Mitch Fritz nothing but success."

Drafted in the fourth round, 113 th overall by the Rangers in 2001, Lampman played one season for the University of Nebraska-Omaha (2001-02) and half a season for WHL Kamploops before turning pro in 2002. He played three season of junior hockey for the Rochester Mustangs and Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League, appearing in 129 games. He represented the US at the 2002 World Junior Championships in the Czech Republic , recording eight penalty minutes in seven games.

Fritz, 26, a left wing, signed with the Lightning as a free agent in 2004 and appeared in 177 games for AHL Springfield the past three seasons, recording nine goals, 16 points and 535 penalty minutes.

Torts has no fond farewell for Perrin

For some reason this item from Wednesday's paper didn't make it onto our web site, so for anyone from out of town, here is an interesting little nugget:

Coach John Tortorella wished Eric Perrin well but also said not to let the door hit him on the way out.

"He can kiss my (butt),'' Tortorella said.

Perrin, who in 2004 at age 29 got his first NHL opportunity with the Lightning, which got a recommendation from Perrin's college buddy Marty St. Louis, signed with the Thrashers as a free agent for two years, $1.5-million. That, apparently, was just $150,000 more than the contract offered by Tampa Bay, which also offered a three-year deal worth $1.575-million.

"This organization spent a lot of time with this guy, a lot of time,'' Tortorella said. "Eric Perrin did some really good things for us, and the ice time he got, he deserved, but every year it's nothing but a pain to sign him.''

Said Perrin: "I can imagine them, maybe, being upset, but to me it's nothing personal. You're grateful you get your first opportunity in the NHL, but a lot of things have happened since I've been with the organization.''

Perrin had 13 goals and 36 points in 82 games last season playing primarily on Brad Richards' line. He was slotted next season as a fourth-line center. He said the Thrashers told him he will start on the third line.

"That to me was important,'' Perrin said. "I don't think any hockey player would blame me for making that decision. It's not personal and it's nothing against the experience I had in Tampa because everybody knows how much I love playing there. ... But everybody could see the writing on the walls that I wasn't going to get those opportunities.''

Tortorella was not moved.

"I wish him well,'' he said, "but good riddance.''

   

Defense filling out

The Lightning made a nice addition when it got Brad Lukowich for three years at $4.7-million. It also gave GM Jay Feaster and coach John Tortorella a chance to wipe their brows because the blue line all of a sudden seems a lot sturdier. It was getting a bit shaky there what with Cory Sarich off to Calgary and negotiations with Nolan Pratt and Doug Janik seemingly at a standstill.

Now the top five look like this:

Dan Boyle, Paul Ranger (he is a restricted free agent, so figure he will sign at some point rather than hold out), Filip Kuba, Shane O'Brien and Lukowich.

Let's assume for the moment neither Pratt nor Janik return. The competition for the last two spots likely will include Matt Smaby, Jay Leach, Vladmir Maholik and Dave Schneider. GM Jay Feaster, though, says he's not done adding depth.

He doesn't have a lot of room with which to play. The payroll right now stands at $41.535-million. Assuming a self-imposed hard cap of $44-million, that's tight, especially when you factor in Ranger and Ryan Craig, whose combined qualifying offers are $1.039-million.

So, what do you think? Is this a defense with which the Lightning can live?   

Welcome back, Mr. Lukowich

The Lightning signed free-agent defenseman Brad Lukowich to a three-year $4.7-million contract. Lukowich was part of the Lightning's 2004 Stanley Cup team, went to the Islanders and then to the Devils, and became one of New Jersey's most consistent blue-liners.

“Brad Lukowich is a warrior,” Lightning GM Jay Feaster said. “He plays the game with his heart on his sleeve and he does whatever it takes to win. He knows our system, he knows our core personnel, he knows how we do things in Tampa and what we expect from our players, and he is a winner. He is also a very good teammate and a popular player in the locker room. He has personality and spirit and old-school flair about him. We like everything about him and we are thrilled to welcome him back to our hockey team.”

Lukowich, who set career highs with five goals, 19 points and a plus-29 plus/minus rating in 79 games with the Lightning in 2003-04, split the past two seasons between the New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils. In his career, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound native of Surrey, British Columbia has skated in 523 games with the Lightning, Islanders, Devils and Dallas Stars, recording 21 goals, 96 points, 333 penalty minutes and a plus-48 plus/minus rating. He has also appeared in 65 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, recording a goal, six points and a plus-9 plus/minus rating. Originally acquired by Tampa Bay in a trade from Dallas at the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, Lukowich also captured the Stanley Cup with Dallas in 1999.

Lukowich played three full seasons with Kamloops of the Western Hockey League from 1993 to 1996, recording 29 goals, 130 points and 405 penalty minutes in 171 games. He made his professional debut with Michigan of the International Hockey League in 1996-97, and recorded 16 goals, 54 assists and 276 penalty minutes in three seasons with the K-Wings.

He made his NHL debut with the Stars during the 1997-98 season, and became a regular in the Dallas lineup during the 1999-00 season. In 2000-01, his plus-28 plus/minus rating led the Stars and placed him fourth among NHL defensemen. His father, Bernie Lukowich, played two NHL seasons in 1973-74 and 1974-75 with St. Louis and Pittsburgh , while his cousin, Morris Lukowich, played 582 career NHL games from 1979 to 1987 with Winnipeg , Boston and Los Angeles .
 

Lightning signs two depth defensemen

Looking to add depth on defense, the Lightning signed defensemen Jay Leach and David Schneider to one-year, two-way contracts.

Both wil be invited to camp. Of the two, Leach, the captain last season for AHL Priovidence, probably has the best chance to crack the Tampa Bay roster, perhaps as a No. 7, and GM Jay Feaster said he will get that chance. Schneider seems already bound for AHL Norfolk.

Leach, 6-foot-5, 219 pounds, played 73 games with the Providence Bruins last season.  He netted two goals and recorded seven assists while leading the team with 128 penalty minutes.  Leach, 27, finished the season with a plus-1 rating and scored one power-play goal.  He played in 13 Calder Cup Playoff games and recorded four points and 13 penalty minutes.

Schneider, a 5-9, 190-pound native of Melrose Park, Illinois, spent the 2006-07 season with HPK Hameenlinna in the Finnish Elite League.  He played in 53 games with HPK and scored eight goals with 25 points and a plus-12 rating.  The 27-year-old also played in nine postseason games with three goals and five points.

"Jay Leach is a big, experienced defenseman with great size and strength,” Feaster said.  “He has a very good, hard shot and can play the point on the power play. He is an honest, hard-working player who competes every shift, and at the AHL level he is a real leader. We have a lot of young defensive prospects in the minors and we sorely lack a veteran leader to help mentor them.  Jay will be given every opportunity to make our team; however, we are confident that either way we have again improved the depth in our organization.''

Of Schneider, Feaster said, "Our chief scout in Europe, Kari Kettunen, has been watching (him)  play for the past four seasons now and reporting on him to us for at least the past two.  He is confident that given Schneider's mobility, vision and puck skills he will upgrade our blue line at the AHL level and provide us with much needed organizational depth. While he will be given a chance to make the NHL team out of camp, we believe he brings an offensive component to our organizational depth chart that has been lacking in recent years.  We are excited that he has chosen to return to play in North America with our organization.

“One of our stated goals heading into this free agency period was to add organizational depth, at the same time securing some experience and talent for the Norfolk Admirals. The additions of Jay, David, Craig MacDonald and Mathieu Darche on two-way contracts creates more options for the Lightning while ensuring our minor league system will have more of the talent and leadership necessary to be successful.“

        A native of Syracuse, New York, Leach has played in 241 career AHL games with Springfield, Providence and Bridgeport.  He has scored 11 career goals and recorded 33 points.  His best AHL season offensively came in 2005-06 when he set career highs for goals with five, assists with 11 and points with 16 while playing for the P-Bruins.  He also made his NHL debut with Boston in 2005-06, playing two games and recording a plus-1 rating with seven penalty minutes.  He has played in 43 Calder Cup Playoff games and recorded six points.

Leach has also skated in 180 ECHL games with Mississippi, Augusta, Long Beach and Trenton. Recording 13 goals and 38 assists.  His only ECHL playoff appearance was in 2002 when he played 10 games with Mississippi and scored one goal with one assist.  He played his college hockey at Providence College where he skated in 142 games and scored six goals while recording 52 points.  He helped the Friars reach the NCAA tournament as a senior in 2001.

Leach was selected by Phoenix in the fifth-round, 115th overall, at the 1998 NHL Entry Draft.  He was signed as a free agent by Boston on August, 23, 2005.

Schneider spent the previous five seasons in Finland with HPK, TPS Turku and Lukko Rauma.  He played in 193 games in Finland and scored 26 goals while recording 75 points and a plus-38 rating.  Before going to Europe he played in 28 games with Trenton of the ECHL, scoring five goals with 17 points from 2001-03.  He played collegiate hockey at Princeton where he amassed 18 goals and 50 points in 98 games from 1988-89 to 2001-02.

Preseason surgery almost sure for Taylor

Captain Tim Taylor said at the end of last season he wanted to avoid surgery on his degenerative right hip so he could play the final year of his contract. Taylor said he would rehab this summer to strengthen the joint and then use cortisone shots to get through the season as he did in 2006-07. But Taylor said Monday his hip actually has gotten worse and it looks more and more as if he will have the surgery in August.

Taylor said he will wait until then to give his hip every chance to improve, but admitted, "All signs are showing that I need the surgery. It's getting worse as it goes along. I'm obviously disappointed I can't get back to where I want to be.''

The surgery is major. It involves shaving and smoothing the top of Taylor's right femur and inserting it into a new metal socket to ease movement. The catch: at least a six-month recovery. That means if Taylor has surgery in August, he won't be back until at least February, or he might not come back at all.

Taylor, 38, had a rough go last season. He played through the pain and averaged just 7:55 of ice time in the regular season. A cortisone shot help in the playoffs and he performed well and averaged 12:01 of ice time. That is what gave Taylor hope he could delay surgery.

GM Jay Feaster said Taylor would rehab in Tampa, remain the team captain and has  a roster spot waiting if and when his recovery was complete. Taylor said the vote of confidence gives him more incentive to come back and play.

I'll have more on this in Tuesday's paper.

Fourth-line help?

With Eric Perrin off to the Thrashers, seems as if Tampa Bay is trying to find some insurance for the fourth line beyond rookie Blair Jones and hip-challenged Tim Taylor, signing free agent left wings Craig MacDonald and Mathieu Darche to one-year, two-way contracts at the league minimum $475,000.

Likely they will start in AHL Norfolk, but both will be in training camp, so we'll see how that fourth-line competition goes. Remember, Tampa Bay also has the option of dropping Andreas Karlsson from a slotted third-line wing position to fourth-line center.

MacDonald, 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, has played in 160 career NHL games with Carolina, Florida, Boston, Calgary and Chicago, recording eight goals and 22 points.  He spent last season in the Blackhawks’ organization, skating in 25 games in Chicago while playing 50 games for the AHL’s Norfolk Admirals, where he served as captain.  MacDonald, 30, scored three goals and recorded two assists with Chicago and tallied 15 goals with 40 points in Norfolk.  MacDonald finished the season in Norfolk with a plus-9 rating, six power-play goals and four shorthanded goals.

“Craig is a veteran player with significant NHL experience who will be given every opportunity to make our hockey team,” GM Jay Feaster said. “He is a high-character guy who plays hard and competes every shift. He has very good hockey sense, is responsible defensively, is good on draws and is strong on his skates. He does all of the little things it takes to win hockey games and that makes him a good fit for us. He is also a leader at the AHL level and is exactly the kind of depth player we need to continue adding to our organization. We look forward to having him compete for a spot on our roster in camp.”

A native of Antigonish, Nova Scotia, MacDonald is a veteran of 313 AHL games, recording 76 goals and 221 points in seven seasons with New Haven, Lowell, San Antonio, Omaha and the Admirals.  He also spent two seasons with Cincinnati of the IHL where he played in 160 games and tallied 32 goals and 84 points. MacDonald played collegiate hockey at Harvard, appearing in 66 games in two seasons with the Crimson, totaling 13 goals and 33 points.  He was originally drafted by Hartford in the fourth-round, 88th overall, in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft.

Darche, a 6-1, 220-pound Montreal native, skated in 76 games with Worcester of the AHL and two games with the San Jose Sharks in 2006-07. The 30-year-old tallied 35 goals, 45 assists and 80 points with Worcester, leading the team in all three categories while finishing tied for sixth in goals and seventh in points in the AHL. In 436 AHL games with Syracuse, Milwaukee, Hershey and Worcester, Darche has recorded 162 goals and 342 points. He led Milwaukee in goals (28) in 2003-04 as he helped the Admirals capture the Calder Cup.

In 28 career NHL games with Columbus, Nashville and San Jose, Darche has recorded a goal and an assist. Before being signed as a free agent by Columbus in 2000, he played four seasons at McGill University in the Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union, leading the league in scoring in 1999-2000 with 72 points in 33 games.

“Mathieu is a prolific scorer and outstanding playmaker at the AHL level, and will get a chance to compete for a spot on our roster in camp,” Feaster said. “He has great vision and very good hands and he shows excellent poise with the puck. He works hard and competes consistently, and he continues to post big numbers at the minor league level. We simply don't have enough quality veteran depth players like Mathieu in our organization, and we are very pleased Mathieu recognizes the opportunity we present.

“Our scouting staff did an outstanding job identifying the depth players we wanted to target, and Claude Loiselle was relentless in pursuing good, solid contracts with both players. As a result, we are significantly better and deeper, organizationally, than we were prior to the start of free agency.”

How do you rate Sunday?

Cory Sarich teamed with Nolan Pratt to take on the opposition's best offensive players. Eric Perrin was a good defensive player, quick, smart, could kill penalties. Okay, so he couldn't finish anything Brad Richards put on his stick and was slotted next season as a fourth-line center, but he was versatile and filled a lot of holes.

Is one loss worse than the other or is it impossible to compare two completely different job descriptions? The bottom line, was the first day of free agency, with the Lightning feeling it has perhaps solved its second-line woes with the signing of Michel Ouellet, a success, a failure (because of the losses of Sarich and Perrin) or six of one?   

Perrin says it's not about money

The Lightning offered Eric Perrin a three-year deal worth $1.575-million. It also offered a two-year deal at $1.35-million. He chose, instead, a two-year, $1.5-million deal with the Thrashers. But Perrin said his decision to sign with a division rival was not about  money but opportunity.

"I felt like they were taking a certain rode, and it started to get congested on those bottom two lines,'' Perrin said. "I felt I was getting squeezed out of an opportunity. For me, that's what it's about.''

Perrin had 13 goals last season and averaged 17 minutes of ice time playing primarily wing on Brad Richards' line. But he always had trouble finishing (see previous post) and was slotted next season to be a fourth-line center. He will be missed more, though, for his defensive ability and a great story in which he got his first NHL opportunity in 2003-04 off the recommendation of college buddy Marty St. Louis and got his name on the Stanley Cup.

GM Jay Feaster wished Perrin well. But Perrin wanted to make sure he did not burn any bridges.

"This is nothing personal,'' he said. "I'm just trying to make the best decision I can for me and my future.''

Ouellet and Richards

Michel Ouellet said the two-year, $1.5-million contract he signed was not the most lucrative of the "seven to 10'' he looked over on Sunday, but it was the only one that offered him a chance to play with Brad Richards. The two were junior teammates from 1998-2000 for Rimouski of the Quebec Major league. Ouellet said he has wished ever since for a chance to play with Richards.

"He's so fast,'' Ouellet said. "He sees the ice. Every time you get open, you get a pass.''

The way the Lightning figures it, it now has its second line of Richards, Ouellet and Jan Hlavac.

said GM Jay Feaster: "The way we look at it now, going into camp, we have two guys we have every reason to believe will be effective playing with Brad.''

That is quite a statement considering Richards went though just about everybody on last season's roster without finding a decent linemate. Remember what Eric Perrin said, if he had scored as he should have on Richards' setups, he would have had 30 goals instead of 13.

Anyway, Richards said Feaster called him twice to pick Brad's brain about Ouellet, not so much about his on-ice ability  -- "He's a natural goal scorer,'' Richards said -- but how he is off it. Richards said he gave Feaster the thumbs up. As for any lingering chemistry between the two, the Lightning can only hope.

"It was a long time ago,'' said Richards, Ouellet's off-and-on linemate at Rimouski. "Chemistry can come and go and junior is a whole different animal. Hopefully we can get off to a good start.''      

Perrin is lost, too

That nice little story about Eric Perrin playing with his childhod buddy Marty St. Louis is over. Perrin signed a two-year deal with the Thrashers for $1.5-million. The Lightning saw Perrin as a fourth-line center next season despite his 13 goals playing mostly on the second line with Brad Richards. It is believed Tampa Bay offered the same three-year, $1.575-million deal it gave Nick Tarnasky. Anyway, what the Lightning will miss most from Perrin is his defense. He was uncanny the way he could find the opponent's passing lanes and mess up a play. All it means is the Lightning has more work to do, and Blair Jones gets an opening.

Lightning signs Ouellet

The Lightning signed right wing Michel Oulette to a two-year deal worth $2.5-million. The contract will pay $1.2-million next season and $1.3-million in 2008-09. Ouellet, 25, is expected to get a chance to play on the second line with Brad Richards. He had 19 goals and 47 points last season for the Penguins. We'll have more later.

Lightning makes offer to Ouellet, loses Sarich

The Lightning has made an offer to free agent forward Michel Ouellet, his agent said Sunday, the first day unrestricteds can be signed . Paul Corbeil said Tampa Bay is one of "seven to 10'' teams who have shown interest in the former Penguins right wing.

Defenseman Cory Sarich, whom the Lightning expected to lose, signed a five-year, $18-million deal with the Flames.

As for the Lightning's hoped-for addition, "We are talking to other teams right now but we are sure the Lightning is a good team for Michel,'' Corbeil said, adding he planned on speaking the Lightning GM Jay feaster again today and was not sure when his client would decide with whom to sign.

Ouellet, 25, had 19  goals (11 on the power play) and 47 points last season for the Penguins and made $500,000. He was not given a qualifying offer by Pittsburgh because it was worried about what Ouellet might have won in arbitration. Ouellet has, according to the word out of Pittsburgh, all the attributes coveted by the Lightning: he is a hard worker, willing to play a two-way game, good in front of the net and good in the locker room.   

"We'll see what happens,'' Corbeil said, "but Tampa could be a good place for him.''