Torts takes a shot at the Panthers

Just one small moment from coach John Tortorella's postgame meeting with reporters after beating the Panthers 3-1 and helping to dim their fading playoff hopes.

Reminded that before the game he said he wouldn't mind making things miserable for Florida, which is battling for the East's final playoff spot, Tortorella said, "Yeah, I don't mind that,'' he said. "I make no bones about it, I'm not crazy about the organization. I don't mind that at all. It looks good on 'em.''

Comments

[Voice of the Turtle]

Comments like this can come back to haunt the Lightning. It gives the Panthers more reason to bear down harder against the Bolts in the future.

Okay, good, so the guys won tonight, but must this motormouth puffball mindlessly indulge himself every time a reporter steps up to him with a pad or a microphone is stuck in front of his piehole?

Will Tampa Bay ever be spared of his endless egomaniacal indistcretions?

[Nils]

No, VOTT. Management is playing it on the cheap and the inept tandem will finish out their contracts. Doesn't matter if it's the fantasy owner or the lame duck owner.

One bad season is one thing but I don't see reason for optimism because of overall owner/team philosophy. Meanwhile posters are shuffling lines trying to make chicken salad out of chicken s*it.

[GP]

I wouldn't be alienating teams if I was Torts. He will eventually be looking for a new job and teams remember comments like this.

Nils,

I'm glad to see you are consistently pessimistic. At least you are consistent.

I prefer to be optimistic. My optimism tells me that this organization can not and will not make the same mistakes this year. They finally got Richards burdensome contract off the books. Let's see what they do with it. So my chicken salad will taste great. The more chicken sh*t the better.

[Nils]

I prefer being optimistic, too, GP but my heart doesn't rule my head. Richards was a salary dump. Let's see what they do with the "saved" money. And--this will open up a can of worms--I feel a lot better about Ramo between the pipes than the Flounder. I like the other 2/3 of the deal better than the guy that was supposed to be the key.

[wiggy]

Gp...That's good because you've got a big pile of it to work with.

[GP]

Nils & Wiggy,

Let's admit what we will not do next year. We will not win the cup. Ok, pessimism done. What can we do? We can improve in a lot of areas. Some of that involves using that huge pile of you know what in order to turn it around. I think it is realistic that the team can make the playoffs next season by winning the division. The salary cap has afforded the luxury of quick turn arounds ... ie. Flyers from worst place last year to a playoff team this year. This team has a few legit pieces to start with. V4 & MSL are world class players and it was no accident that so many teams were after Boyle (he's being bogged down by too many mins and IMO trying to do too much). Use the money saved in the Richards deal to fill some holes. Keep in mind, no way will they be able to fill all the holes but that is where you hope some players step up and either evolve into a better player or you fill the needs from outside the organization.

Now the kicker is this. I don't have faith that Feaster can do this. All of this is a pipedream unless he is replaced by a "hockey" guy. I'm looking for improvement and a solid plan for the future.

[Casper]

I’m optimistic we won’t face the Stinky Pink Panthers with Tortorella at our helm. (he's starting to remind me of Inspector Clouseau.) How’s that for rosies?!? Yeah, right.
His comment won’t take precedence over Terry Crisp calling them ‘Kitty Kats’ and Roger Neilsen stuck that comment on their bulletin board.

Good, out of character effort last night, I’m sure they’ll hear about it.

Just quit messing with Karri Ramo’s head and get some NHL caliber defense. Last night was fair, but an anomaly for this coaching staff to witness.
Ponder this: if we’d sent Ramo to Dallas instead of Holmer, and brought in Turco instead of Big Mike, then Karri would push Smith for the starting job in Dallas as early as this September. Their system being the opposite of ours, Ramo would have a 3-5 year wait before some sort of movement, so maybe this isn’t such a bad situation to be in after all.
Certainly is a good thing for us, for a change.
Think Riku Helenius is delighted with this stuff? After a year in Seattle, maybe he’d like to remain out there and study that whatzisname in Vancouver.

I’m relieved that Mike Smith is not seriously done in. Just six more games against three more clubs. No more injuries, please.
Go Bolts!

[ajax]

Everything starts with how the organization is run starting with owners and Jay a close close second. They both recieve F's the past two years. Pardon, Management did give Jay money two/three years ago, he just wasted it on almost every move he ever did. Clean up the top spots and work down. Getting someone with hockey sense is the understatement of the year on this blog. Fire Feaster no matter what the cost, it just might save the organization. The latest move was a beauty(Brad trade) but it only bumps his career grade up to a D with me(Jay)

[Nils]

That's a HUGE kicker, GP. One that I agree with. Also, ajax is correct with ownership questions. That's equally HUGE. Being in a weak division and having such a poor season, i again agree with you that winning the division is within reach. But it's the weakest division in the NHL so our expectation level is pretty low.

We all knoiw what needs to be done but we have varying degrees in faith of the new/old/as yet unidentified ownership to make the right moves.

[Patrick]

If the lightning lose to the panthers the next time we play them, I promise it will have more to do with the players on the ice than Torterella not "wishing them well in the playoffs." We have a very bad history with florida - remember the all the fights at the rookie tournament several years back? Oh and they are our in-state rival. I'm glad he did it. I respect Torterella for speaking honestly about it - it's so rare anyone speaks honestly in sports. The Terry Crisp quote is simply a taunt. There is a difference.

[Patrick]

GP,

I'd love to follow your lead and be optimistic, but it's a bit early in the rebuilding cycle to be optimistic about the playoffs. But we don't have to be completely pessimistic either. The fact that we have so little depth means it's going to be a while before we have a solid team again. We have to put together a couple of good drafts and some good in-the-long-term free agent signings.We only saved 3+ mil on the Richards trade - how many holes can that be used to fill? The first step would be to identify all holes on the roster.

Is Halpern really a #2 center? I would have never thought so, but he just keeps producing offensively. I still think you have to get another capable #2 center. I don't think Gratton can fill that role.

I think we need at least one more top 6 winger - hopefully one can be found in free agency, but whether they gel with our players on the top two lines and in our system will be a big IF. Hopefully Marty has a better goal scoring year next year, because it looks like he's losing confidence in that department. Oulette is starting to look like a good addition as long as he continues to play on whatever line Halpern is playing on.

Don't know where to start with the defense. Ranger, Lundin, O'brien, and Kuba all seem like question marks, some more so than others. I am really hoping Ranger can get it together, but he seems to be missing something mentally - hopefully it's just improving his focus/preparation? If he tightens up, him Boyle and Picard would give us half of a starting defense. Guess there is hope for Smaby still.

Goaltending? Smith and Ramo are both question marks.

I agree with other posts that it starts with ownership. Guess that is the biggest question mark of all right now.

[jr]

I've never been a believer in bulletin board material firing up the emotions of the opposition. There are sufficient competitive juices flowing. It's more of a press obsession and makes good copy.

[jr]

Nice post, Patrick. The kid Picard looks really good with gobs of potential. I think O'Brien needs a good coach. I haven't given up on him yet. IMO, Kuba has been unjustly skewered by the faithful. Yeah, we all wish he would be more physical but he knows how to play defense and work the point. He's less out of position than any other D man we have. Funny you mention Ranger's mental makeup. I have always thought it was lacking. Lundin is not an NHL player. I don't have much faith in Smaby but am willing to be a bit more patient there.

I think Sully really sucks. Yet another Torts mistake. The youth could benefit from a real teacher.

[JTrain]

Nils,

You are clueless and obviously haven't watched Smith play in Dallas or here for that matter if you think Ramo is better in the net now than Smith. Research a little before you spout off, please.

[Another Joe]

I like what Torts said. Its called a rivalry and trash talking is part of that. Ever hear the Bucs say anything god about the Eagles?? No and I dont want to hear anything good about the Eagles, just like i wanna stick it to the Panthers.

Back to the Game. Ramo played great but Smith is the #1 for next few seasons. i think a Smith/Ramo tandem will work out great next year. With the adddition of Picard if we add another blue liner in free agency, get Stamkos or Tavares in draft things are looking up!

Go Bolts!

[Patrick]

jr - Thanks. I don't think Kuba is a bad defensemen either. I think he is a decent 3rd or 4th d-man, but I don't know if he is gonna be worth paying for again when his contract expires next year, I believe.

One last thing about Torts - didn't he say before Halpern even played his first game for us that he thought Halpern could contribute offensively? I thought he was just trying to make the trade sound better at the time, but perhaps this guy actually knows something about hockey players after all. If only we had a couple more...

I have to wonder about Sully as well though. Our young defensivemen don't seem to be taking many steps forward. Reminds me of Tony Dungy... Another good coach, but he could never pick an offensive coordinator to save his job - literally.

[Nate Dogg]

Patrick, read the posts (aka: conversation with GP) I put up under "smith hurt, is it bad?". It basically says what you say in terms of our forwards' depth going into next year.

I do have to agree with you about our young d. It's so hard to remember that Picard and OB have so much potential (well not so much Picard-he's been playing well IN BOTH ZONES *cough* LISA *cough*).

I'm sure Feaster will leave the D status quo anyway for next season, but I would leave it as is by plan. I mean honestly, If Picard and OB really start to hit their potential, all of a sudden, you're looking at a truly great D-core.

1-Boyle
2-Ranger
3-Picard
4-O'Brien (i would argue that he has the potential to be our #2 defensemen, but 4th D isn't too out of line)
5-Kuba
6-Lundin

And yes, if Ranger, Picard, and OB hit their potential, it would be a eastern conference final-level defensemen core.

That's right I said it.

Ranger, who already plays like a 30 year old vetran, STILL has more potential in him. And he's playing at that level already!

However, Shane "Ohhhhh You Didn't Knowww"'Brien has GOT to work on his puck control (it seems to have improved the last 2 games, but so what?). You can see he has the speed and eagerness to jump into the play with the puck, but once he reaches the opposing blueline there's ZERO puck control and offensive creativity. Because of this, we usually see a turnover in this instance. Improving these two traits alone would make him a 3rd defenseman. Working on using that big body of his to lay people out and smoothing out his transition play (from below the goal line) would make him a 2nd defenseman in this league. I'm not saying his ceiling is Chris Pronger-esque, but he does have a high ceiling.

And if he doesn't get any better than his current 5th d status, we should at least try and acquire Exelby from ATL so we can have a Bash Bros d-pairing out there! Yeah!

Hopefully our youthful lumps on the head that we've taken this year can become the catalyst to ignite our d-men's potential.

[jr]

Fair point but I doubt if any other NHL team had such a huge production dropoff between the first and second lines so it may have not been a big stretch to project Halpern as a contributor on offense. Still, I think he's surprised us all, even Torts.

Just my opiunion but think JT's temperament and inability to adjust overrides his hockey knowledge, even giving him credit for a lot of it.

[Nate Dogg]

Another Joe,

I get all creamy in my skivies thinking about the Lightning being able to draft Tavares this upcoming summer, but they can't. He's not eligible until the 2009 draft. (shucks!)

Sullivan...ehh...jury's still out on him. Keep in mind ANYONE who would've dealt with our defensemen/goalie situation this season wouldn't have faired too well. Especially when he's not implementing his own personal system. He's preaching Tort's 'wheel and deal' system...

I wonder how much our GAA would go down if we started playing the trap. Hmmmm....

[Another Joe]

I thought Tavares got cleared to be in this years draft somehow? Or was he just trying to?

[me]

I must have been watching a different game... Ramo is out of position all the time. The kid wins one, and its time for a parade. How soon we forget the game against Buffalo. Most of his 'great' saves last night were shot at his chest and I also counted about four posts (including two on the same shot). The kid is good for his age, he makes some great save, but flounders on the gimmes. The goal last night was nothing more than a simple wrist shot. I think he needs to play a full season down in the AHL, but the problem is, who will be Mike Smith's (best hockey name ever by the way) backup? I think his name starts with a D....

[Another Joe]

If we van get a decent back up then I say let Ramo carry the team for a year in the AHL. If we cant then he will be here. his positioning will get better. He obviously has talent its just a question of how it develops.

[Casper]

Name starts with a D? DiPietro? Dominator? Dany Sabourin? Surely you don't mean....and yes I'll stop calling you Shirley...

No, no he// no, not our own #30! Archive a year back and check the warnings for this year. You want to do it again, give it a third season in the toilet?

How about the other AHL High Flyer, the #3 guy for the Wild, 28 year old Nolan Schaefer? Nah, he won't get any more a decent shot at it here than anywhere else he's been; less even.
Fashion some sort of multiplayer/pick deal (i.e. say we get boned in the draft lottery and draft like, 4 or 5th. A 4th pick, Ryan Craig or Lundin, and Denis for Gaborik-whom Lamaire hates- and Schaefer??) and dish Denis off on the trapping Wild and he might not be so horrid. But no mas here, please.

[skp]

i agree with torts...usually it's us gunning for the playoffs and them pulling off the upsets, if we can't make the playoffs at least we can ruin it for the stinkin' panthers. don't mind the lightning showing a bit of swagger, you don't have to walk around with your head down because your season is lost, and the players probably say far worse to each other on the ice...it's the "shut your yap" tortorella that got this team to rally around him for a cup run, i'm sure players appreciate his combative nature sticking it to the opponent instead of his players

[bear]

Tavares 09
No oneof his ilk this year but about 8 sure fire NHL's

[GP]

Casper,

IMO opinion, I think the Lightning should look for veteran backups that will be UFA instead of trading a pick or players for a backup. I know Ed Belfour wants to return to the NHL and the European leagues are littered with former NHl goalies who could play backup for the lightning and probably only command the league minimum salary. For example, last year Brian Boucher signed an AHL contract and now is now the backup goalie on the Sharks. Also, players like David Aebischer and Robert Esche are playing in Europe. I'm sure there are a lot more. The point is Ramo needs to be starting games to develop and he should do so in the AHL. Mike Smith should play the majority of the games next year and play through slumps instead of kill his confidence and replace him if he has a bad game. A veteran netminder would be a good mentor for him.

[bear]

GP, are you ready to hand the keys to Smith as a legit #1?

[GP]

Bear,

Why not? Who knows what the end result will be but every goalie needs a start. I have limited confidence in the Bolts scouting BUT I have read a lot about how good Smith could be from outside of the Lightning.

Take a look at the career stats of some starting goalies. This does not show Smith will be successful but it does show that he deserves the shot.

Lightning Goalies

M Smith - GAA - 2.40 .907%
M Denis - GAA - 3.02 .902%
K Ramo - GAA - 3.11 .890

M Turco - GAA - 2.14 .913%
Brodeur - GAA - 2.20 .913
Lundqvist GAA - 2.29 .910
Kiprusoff GAA - 2.36 .915
Nabokov GAA - 2.38 .911
MIKE SMITH - GAA - 2.40 .907%
Giguere GAA - 2.43 .915
V Toskala GAA - 2.45 .911
Bryzgalov GAA - 2.45 .915
Vokoun GAA - 2.57 .914
Luongo GAA - 2.58 .920
Khabibuln GAA - 2.68 .908
R Miller GAA - 2.69 .908
C Price GAA - 2.71 .915
Dipietro GAA - 2.78 .905
T Thomas GAA - 2.85 .912

I think the main difference between Smith and some of the other elite goalies would be his save %. That won't improve until he stops making some of his wild "DiPietro" escapades from his net and the Bolts defense improves. If his career GAA stands, the Bolts should have the offense to win more than lose until this thing turns around.

What do you think bear?

[GP]

Interesting story ... made me laugh. I now know why Feaster gave away a 1st rounder for OB. He owed him one.

http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/14656-Jay-Feasters-Blog-Influences-and-role-models-Part-3.html

[Bear]

I'm sure he can play play GP but much of the same was said of Denis.

#1's are a rare breed and only time will tell.

The entire NHL team these days is built from a #1 out, through center with a shut down defenceman in the same hand.

My concerns: we have no shut down D and Smith is an unknown..what choice do we have though but to roll the bones.