Holmqvist said he had his chances

Goaltender Johan Holmqvist, who was sent with center Brad Richards to the Stars for goaltender Mike Smith, wing Jussi Jokinen and center Jeff Halpern, said he was given plenty of chances during his almost two seasons with Tampa Bay to prove he was a No. 1 goalie. He even said coach John Tortorella isn't overly tough on goalies.

"That's what everybody keeps talking and saying, but he's been really good for me,'' Holmqvist said. "Everybody wants to win. He lets you know right away when he's not satisfied with you. But he's always been good to me. Torts gave me a good chance to play.''

Holmqvist said he does not consider his time with the Lightning a failure, despite this season's .890 save percentage and a 3.01 goals-against average.

"Forty-seven wins over two years,'' he said. "Not too shabby.''

"I love Holmer. I'm sorry to see Holmer go,'' defenseman Shane O'Brien said. "He's a gamer.''

   

Comments

[Dronestate]

I liked the guy. Kinda sad to see him go really.

[Top-Shelf Short-Side]

This entire day has been 1 big joke... and everyone is laughing at Tampa.

Dumping Hlavac for a 7th rd pick was additional proof of that. You going to sit here and tell me this was a salary move too???? The guy works hard, just like Prospal... but we don't want those kinda guys on our team, right Jay???

ONE BIG JOKE!!

[Not The Marlboro Man]

Holqvist will be exceptionally good net-minder with a Trap team. He will face fewer unabated shots from the slot and will be a great back-up for Turco. I really wish they would have kept him here as a back-up.

[Anita]

I'm very sad to see him go. I'm curious to see how he plays in Dallas, with a solid healthy defense I'm guessing we only see the best of Holmer in the future. Good luck to him and Richards. I can only hope they are treated better there than they were here.

...borta bra men hemma bast. Lycka til Lil' Honken.

[Jeep (Since someone else is already Eric)]

Classy and intelligent there Granny. Tell us another hilarious joke!

Loser.

[olin]

Granny-read my lip's...YOU ARE IDIOT

[Jay]

Hey Top Shelf-Short Side, have you watched a Lightning game this year? We're lucky we didn't get a sack of magic beans and a case of Molson for Hlavac. Be lucky we got what we did. I bet you also think Filip Kuba is the next Bobby Orr!

[Tony Nic]

Top Shelf-Short Side,

I understand that not alot of people are happy about today's moves but really Jan Hlavac is what you are upset about???

Yes the guy worked hard - Guess what? He worked hard and still almost always missed the wide open net!

Richards, Prospal - be mad about them and I would understand. But Hlavac? Come on...

[Cris]

I love homer. The guys a baller. Its a shame that the management never gave him the confidence he deserved. It just hope he gets his chance at the cup. Hope the guys have fun with turco. one of the best in the league.

[Byron]

Does anyone know how much time is left on Mike Smith's contract?

[Herb]

Byron...Smith is signed through next season. . Then he can become a UFA.

[Tim]

Does anyone realize we just got rid of our #1 & #2 centers ??? Where does that production come from next season ???
Feaster has managed to shell this team in 2 days.. Want to put an over/under on the number of games we win the rest of the season ??? I say 5 ...

[Lisa]

Tim, Vinny is our #1 center. We did lose a #1 LW in Prospal and a #2 center. This season, we will be struggling, but to be honest, that may be for the best. Finish last and get Stamkos (if we win the lottery) and then he can become the #2 center. Re-sign Gratton for the #3 center spot.

We will have to use the money saved and go after a few good players in free agency. Ryder has struggled this year in Montreal and will be leaving, but he had 2 previous 30 goal seasons. I would look at him and see what his cost and interest in the team would be.

If we don't spend money, then expect to see Vinny leave after his contract is up.

[jr]

There's no indication that this underfinanced Hollywood weasel will spend anywhere near the dough you folks want him to. On the contrary reports have surfaced from several sources that he will spend the same or less than Palace Sports.

What does it tell you when it was the PSE advisor--Sal Galatioto--who tried to arrange the financing and not the borrower? That's why PSE was not upset enough with the lack of progress to pull the plug on Koules.

[Marv]

Good luck Homer. You may be the lucky one as you will at least have someone helping you on defense!

[Joe Schmo]

The moves were good and needed, except I didn't like throwing Holmer in. I hope Smith pans out. Holmqvist was the best since Khabi. I don't see Ramo being anything better than Holmer yet and could have seen him shipped out instead, but I hope I'm wrong and that Ramo keeps improving. Those doubting the Richards trade are completely blind. You simply can't pay that kind of money to someone who hasn't done anything in 2 years. I like him, seems like a nice guy, and I think he just needed a new change. He's almost looked depressed to me when he skated this year. I think and hope he does well in Dallas.

[PD]

Ramo and Holmer are the same guy. We kept the one with lesser payroll and more potential upside. Hlavac was a bust. I Believe he was signed as a UFA so at least we got a pick for him. This is the last roll of the dice for Tors and Jay. I hope we can lock up a #2 center and winger...this off season will be key.

[Mike13]

Interesting minor moves by Dallas. Yesterday morning, they recalled a Goalie and Defenseman from their AHL affiliate.

Couple that with the premature announcement by Yahoo Sports that Richards had been traded for Smith (G) and Fistric (D).

Sounds like the deal changed a bit at the last minute to include Holmqvist.

Anyway, it will be interesting to see how well he and Richards do in Dallas. I would imagine that Richards' +/- numbers will be better.