Things are getting started

It's 17 days until the start of Lightning training camp but a few players have been out playing pickup games for the past week or so at the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon. They usually start at 10 a.m. and go for about an hour.

New alternate captain Marty St. Louis is there along with goalies Marc Denis and Johan Holmqvist, defensemen Filip Kuba and Dan Boyle and forwards Vinny Prospal, Brad Richards, Chris Gratton and Jan Hlavac. Also skating are former Lightning forward Chris Dingman and Nolan Pratt, still without a team.

You're not going to see anything thrilling during these games. It's pretty tame as the guys pretty much just pass the puck around and take half-hearted shots. The real fun was after the games when the players set up the nets in the same place as they will be when camp starts and they start skating in circles around the nets.

Even more fun is seeing them in the locker room after the skates. Dan Boyle, clearly winded, slumped down in his seat and said, "It doesn't matter how much you work out.''

For the record, everyone who skated Tuesday looks like they took the summer seriously. Boyle, especially, has put on some muscle, and Denis and Holmqvist both look as if they added muscle at the expense of fat.

And speaking of Denis, let's give the guy credit for his efforts at Ice Fest as he stayed well past his alloted autograph time to accommodate those in line. 

Okay, so this isn't the most thrilling stuff. But what do you expect in August?

Here's something to wet your appetite; a good idea of what to expect from early training camp lines:

Prospal-Lecavalier-St. Louis

Hlavac-Richards-Ouellet

Ward-Gratton-Karlsson

Roy-MacDonald-Tarnasky

   That last one is the most intriguing because it leaves out Ryan Craig. Craig certainly wil get his chance and early lines don't mean a heck of a lot. But if it does shake out this way, it might be a wakeup call for Craig that he will have to earn his place after a weak second half of last season and with questions about his right knee. It also seems to mean Craig MacDonald, 29, who at 6-1, 202 pounds has eight goals, 22 points and 75 PIM in 160 NHL games, will be given every chance to make the team.

Competition always is good.

       

    

Comments

[Sohbet odalari]

thank you

[bolts canucks fan]

Tarnasky on the second line? I like him, but it's unlikely he is ready for that. He can play the physical game, but it's unclear that he can be a point scorer on a consistent basis. A second line guy must be able to do that. Maybe in time, yes, but now, he's better off on the 3rd or 4th line.

I have seen Hlavac play in Vancouver and was not impressed. He can skate well, but never found his niche with the Canucks. Maybe he will in Tampa, but for me, he's a bit like Perrin. Don't expect crazy numbers from him. Ouellet is a guy I don't really know much, but I just hope he can feed the puck to Richards and vice versa. We need 2 playmaking forwards to make that second line work. If not, then they will just clog up Brad and it will be the same story over again this year. Brad is an perplexing player. I have been to games where he scored 4 points and kicked butt. Then, I have seen him in games where he was bottled up all night. He just needs to be more consistent. When that happens, everything will open up. We'll see...

Everything else looks good. Do I see Denis making a comeback and returning to form? Not sure. His confidence seems to be rattled and his game suffers when coaches and the organization give him less and less starts. Really nice guy when I met him, so I do want to see him succeed. Maybe the revamped defense will give Denis the jumpstart he desperately needs. I think how Denis plays this season could determine if we make the playoffs or not. We need him to contribute in a big way. He's that important to this team.

[keith]

Is it October 4 yet?

[goldenbolt]

Sounds like a rooting section today. After the two year journey for a "NEW" design my mother in laws thought YUK and she's a spry 84. Yes, it is good to think, talk smell the sweet luv of the ice. Can't wait for the crash of glass and a bit of the other team's blood smeared looking for the ref to clean up. Man I'm ready for hockey.

Da Bolts - now that would have been something to enjoy.

[DA REAL NI&&A WHO KNOW WER IT AT...HO3S KNOW ME, PLAYAS HATE ME]

LECALIER IS A REAL PLAYER .....HE DA MAN.....KEEP HITTIN DIM HOMERUNS FO-REALL

[Micheal Van Buren IIIII]

Mr. andreychuk was a great player with amazing puck skills ....I miss him with a PASSION!!!!!!..I LOVE YOU MR. DAVID

[HO3G3TT3R]

YO DAT MARTY SAINTLUIS IS DA SHIZNIT 4-REEL YAAALLL!! CHEERIN FO DAT 26 YEEEEA BOIIIII

[i want chicken, i want liver,meow mix meow mix please deliver]

MARC DENIS IS THE MAN! 30!!!!!!!!!!!

[Another joe]

Lets get the season going.

I think Tarnasky should be on the 2nd line.

Tarnasky-Richards-Ouellet

I think he would add some toughness to the 1st two lines and he skates well enough to do it.

Im a big Tarnasky fan. What you guys think?

As far as Denis goes this is a new year. even though he is over paid for this role I think he is a solid #2 behind Holmer and if he starts 20 games or so I think he can win 12 or 13.

Is it October 4th yet!!!!!

Go bolts!

[Eric]

Hmmm...Karlsson catches my eye there, especially with Craig left off. Craig has proven more in the NHL than Karlsson, even if Karlsson did look like things were starting to click near the end of the season there.

If Torts really wants a more grinding team, I gotta think Craig will make the roster ahead of Karlsson. Will be interesting to watch.

As far as these guys taking the off season seriously...you aren't kidding. You see Kuba at Ice Fest? Granted, I never saw him in person prior to that, but that guy is no joke. Looked real solid. Would love to see Lecavalier on that list up there :)

[F.T.B.S.]

You know, I can't find fault in a guy who gives the extra effort.
I'll give Marc a second chance (or is it third?), but my total faith is going to be hard to come by after what I/we witnessed last year.

I still think deep down #30 will do a fair job beating out Holmer in regular season; then fold his tent in the playoffs, breaking our hearts again and make the idiot Barry Melrose look sagacious.
I hate that notion, man.

Not ashamed to admit I miss Dinger. If he had Mercurial skates, we wouldn't need Grats. Another bottle of Tums is on reserve for that fiasco.

Saving the heavy pharmaceuticals for when I see what passes for defence in the Bay this year. No Ramer to kick around when we see gay poke checks, eh Boyle?

Go Bolts!