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.

Comments

[Lightning rod]

Small things can add up to much bigger things in the long run. I like what Feaster is doing for organization's overall depth and development potential. I see it has a very positive change in the organization's attitude and commitment.

[Tim A]

Good ridance to a self proclaimed star that has a terrible attitude and will most likely never be much more than a hockey goon. I imagine if he ever makes it in the NHL you will be laughing at his black eye and fat lip after an Andre Roy or Georges Laraque beat down.

[Randy]

Well, as a Norfolk ADs fan, I am very pleased with this trade. I have watched Fritz in the AHL, and he was awful. And now he seems to have contracted Artukyin disease, that is having an unrealistic view of one's talents.

When I saw the Bolts gave Fritz a QO, I was dismayed. Because I knew he had zero chance of playing in Tampa and we would be stuck with him here in Norfolk. And that would have been a waste of a roster spot.

That the Bolts were able to get a decent dman in exchange should be prosecuted somewhere as robbery.

I glad he will take his overinflated view of himself to Hartford next year, because he won't be playing in New York unless it is Albany, Binghampton, Syracuse or Rochester.

Thanks for letting us dodge that bullet.

[Joe]

Mitch Fritz apparently does not have the ability to produce much of anything shy of penalties for a NHL or an AHL team. At 26, he has had opportunities to strut his stuff and he has failed to make a strong impression. The Rangers seem unimpressed with Lampman, but it appears evident that Bryce is the better as well as the younger of the two D-men. Last year, he earned a cup of coffee in the NHL, and that, in itself, is an indication of some promise.

It is likely that Lampman will do nothing more than stock the Bolt's minor league roster for a while. Hopefully, there will be another chance for him down the road (we all know that blueliners tend to develop later than wingers).

Maybe the Rangers want to have someone like Fritz to call upon, when they need to threaten or to beat up some of an opponent's menacing players. We all remember the unpleasantness that New York had with the nasty and pugnacious Philadelphia Flyers last year. It took Shanny out of the lineup and when he returned, he was not the same player. I wonder if he ever will be again.