Should we hear from Koules?

A reader brought up an interesting point in response to today's story about Hollywood producer Oren Koules, who is trying to buy the Lightning.

I said in the story I believed Koules needs to be heard about such topics as keeping the team in Tampa, signing Lecavalier, others in his ownership group, payroll and the basic question of how much he wants to win. The reader said Koules doesn't owe anyone an explanation. It is the current Lightning ownership and management that has to give answers.

My response was that if Koules is going to own the team, it is his voice that, at this point, is paramount. What this team is going to do going forward is much more important, I believe, that rehashing what has gone wrong. And we certainly have beaten those reasons to death; bad personnel decisions (especially at goal), horrible drafting, allowing free agents to depart without compensation instead of trading them at the deadline.

Still, I thought it worth a discussion. Like I said, I'm in favor of knowing more about the guy who is going to own the team than going over again what we already know has brought the team down. That's why I want to hear from Oren.

By the way, how about Vinny finally scoring after going 12 without a goal. How about Marty scoring? And how about that it happened after they were taken off each other's line? ... And we knew Mike Smith was eventually going to get burned with all his puck-handling, didn't we? ... How much do we like Jeff Halpern?

   

Comments

[Herb]

Ajax I am with you to the hilt. Well said!!

[ajax]

Damien does read these blogs and I believe we are among thousands with the same thought. I have had season tickets since the barn. 1st, no way will I ever buy tickets if the deal falls thru. NEVER. How the summer and free agency/Vinny plays out will dictate full, half or none on season tickets. They will be waiting for my check as well. Hopefully the Times can write a serious article about a serious concern. Then of course, us poor hockey fans aren't the BUCS.

[boltflasher]

Ajax you are right on about the foolishness of Vinny on a line with Tarnasky and Lessard...Good Grief!

[boltflasher]

Yes, this season is cooked...What this team does regarding the draft, offseason player movement, and coaching staff will determine if I re-up for tickets next year...Dolts, er, I mean Bolts, are you listening?

[Jeep (Since someone else is already Eric)]

Badbud: Mine is sitting unreturned as well. That's a 4,200 investment I'm not sure we'll be making for the first time in many years. Why are prices going up when the payroll (courtesy of Koules again) is rumored to be going down to the 40 million dollar range?

Why don't we have the right to ask a very active potential owner about whether or not OUR (at least that's how they say it at the games) is staying or going?

[Jeep (Since someone else is already Eric)]

If Koules is going to have a say in the team's future (and with him being a major impetus behind the 19 trade, it sounds like he is), he needs to stand up in all aspects of the team. You can't be the guy pulling the trigger on major personnel decisions, but be unaccountable to the fanbase that pays for those players. That's the end of that, plain and simple.

Halpern is the best thing we got out of that trade. He's no Richie, but he's got spunk, and I like the way he plays.

Smith hasn't wowed me consistently yet. He's no better than Ramo or Holmer far as I've seen. He just seems luckier than either.

[Badbud]

So you just keep sending out VL and Marty and get the sames results.

Text book definition of Insanity

Do the same thing over and over and expect differant result.

Why should koules be quite,he was loud mouth on trade day.

Speak up Man. the ticket ivoices are out,Bet VERY FEW HAVE BEEN RETURNED.

Mine want be early for 1st time since there has been a Tampa Bay Lightning.

[Herb]

It is hard for a NHL team to compete with AHL talent. There are only 7 or 8 players that should be at the NHL level on this team. Thanks Jay for your expert knowledge on what it takes to win at the NHL level. Thanks for nothing. Just makes me sick to know that both Jay and John will be here next season. I am with the bloggers that suggest that this is a ploy to move the team. All they have to do is run this team into the ground and let the fan base get to TB Rays level so they can up and leave. I am sickened beyond belief. OK hockey is a farce.

[IceMan]

You're absolutely right on this, Damian, so I'm glad to see you stick to your guns. The question that keeps going through my mind is whether the current leadership, who have so badly failed (GM) and are failing (coach) are going to be shown the door, as is desperately needed. Everything is at a dead standstill until we know that and the results are showing even with the newcomers playing well.

[ajax]

How about an open letter to John Tortorella from the fans of Tamba Bay. After 189 points in two years (VL4) and 175 (MSL) can you just stop messing with them, stop challenging them, stop punishing them. Enough already. When can the guy use a little human intuition and know when enough is enough. Is it his goal to p_ss off the two guys who have saved his job?? Oh I forgot, it ain't a popularity contest. Watching him put VL4 out there today with Lessard and Tarnasky was about the lowest he could do. He is sending quiet a message to Vinny. Get the heck out of Tampa Bay!!!!!!!!!! What is wrong with Feaster that he doesn't step in and tell coach that enough is enough with the mental games. They should be giving Vinny and Marty part ownership for the crap they have had to play thru this year. Yes, Vinny has been poor the last 10 games. Imagine where this team would be today if the skate would have fallen on him?????

[olin]

..Damian, a better thought for a new story should be, PSE is still the owner of this team, what do they plan to do about the LOSING season we have all paid our hard earned money for? How can you bring OK hockey into the fold, Oren is not the owner of the team. A even better story might be will PSE bring John Torterella and Jay Feaster back for another season. I would enjoy reading what these blogger's have to say about that storyline. Talk of Oren Koules ownership/plan's for is just speculation at this point, it hasn't happened, until then let's hit up PSE hard.
I am glad to see V4 and MSL get on the scoresheet today, but to my eyeball's they are both waiting for the season to get over and hoping for a new GM/Coach to be named to take a load off their back's. The BR trade hit them hard obviously even though it is a business venture.The rest are just playing along to make a statement for next season to hopefully make the roster again. We do have 2 pretty decent goalie's to start next season with and to build around- the problem is the defense PSE just want's to pass the buck to OK, and lay low until ???, I don't believe OK sign's the paycheck's as yet...

[olin]

...we all do Boltflasher, were all in the same club unfortunatly.

[Bob]

I feel bad for Halpern, he's always working but is always on the losing end. I'm starting to believe he's in fact the Perennial Loser no matter what.

[boltflasher]

I have to decide if I can stomach going to the remaining games that I have tickets for and all the gas and aggravation to get down there to watch pretty meaningless games...

[boltflasher]

Yes, I would think most fans would be on the same page on this one...

[ajax]

jr. you are correct. He is ignoring his (potential) investment. Bad timing to be ignoring as the $$$$$ might be slipping away without something to give the fans some hope.

[Rudy]

“How about Vinny finally scoring after going 12 without a goal. How about Marty scoring? And how about that it happened after they were taken off each other's line? ...”
How about winning..
How about Marty was newer good with V4, it was Prospal who made it happened?
How about Smith is maybe not so good like Holmer?
By to way I don’t think so , he is maybe notch biter or worst, they are very same. Smith is better puck handler, but that they going to cut down now.
And “all that puck handling” is not a problem. We got just one goal because of mistake, but how many we got for other reasons? Like bad line change, too many man and that is taboo to even talk about, we don’t want upset a coach, right?

[jr]

Well, I'll keep on topic if no one else will. Anyone who is an ardent fan will know that Koules should be open to questions. Absent a lucrative NHL TV contract, he is totally reliant on an enthusiastic fan base for his "investment" to be fruitful.

Damien, you are absolutely correct, albeit, in my opinion, a little late to the party. Your employer's name is on the building and that should be extra incentive to probe the prospective owner and the deal itself.

[boltflasher]

Yes, Damien, I agree it would be nice to hear from Mr. Koules but don't know how that can be with the league imposed gag...Maybe the league office can actually do something useful and release a statement...

[boltflasher]

I think I remember it working once last season, but I think the other teams have been successful with it a couple of times against the Lightning this,...of course....

[Rudy]

Does anybody remember when was a last time we score instead get empty netter? It’s ever work for us? Each time we call goalie off, its look to me (maybe that me only ) that everybody are so lost, and nobody know what really to do? I just know, we getting one more. Maybe like other teams take time off, and get some instructions, and rest, will be more appropriate? Or is it really true that we like to finish last to have chance to get Stamkos?

[boltflasher]

Smith played with confidence in his previous starts, not today...hopefully, its a just one game and he's not already broken down in just 2 weeks in this broken system...

[boltflasher]

I think all of the line juggling just shows that Torts, in trying to get Vinny and Marty to break loose, is guessing and doesn't really know what to do...