Lightning has interest in Tocchet

Adding to the almost certainty that Barry Melrose will be the next Lightning coach is this: the team apparently has asked for permission to speak to Coyotes assistant coach Rick Tocchet about joining Tampa Bay. Neither the Lightning, incoming owner Oren Koules nor the Coyotes are talking, so it is unclear if Phoenix granted permission or if the sides already have spoken. But the pieces fit. Tocchet's Phoenix contract expires at the end of the month and he played wing for Melrose during the 1994-95 season with the Kings. He also played the tough, hard-nosed game Melrose favors.

Tocchet, 44, was involved in a gambling scandal that broke open in February 2006 and ended with him in August 2007 pleading guilty to promoting gambling and conspiracy to promote gambling and receiving two years probabtion. An independent investigation by the NHL was said to have found no evidence of gambling on hockey in the ring that news reports at the time said received more than 1,000 wagers exceeding $1.7-million, and Tocchet, who took a leave of absence after charges were filed against him and two others, was permitted to return to the Coyotes bench in February 2008.

Tocchet played 18 NHL seasons, mostly with the Flyers, and had 440 goals, 952 points and 2,970 penalty minutes in 1,144 games.

   

Comments

[Eric Greenaway]

When I was a kid, I had a poster from 1989 of Rick Tocchet cutting the ice from behind the net. It was signed, I mumbled the number 22 before bed every night thinking of the way I was going to play the game next day. Recently I had a head injury and after a few weeks coma when I started to come to, all I wanted to say to my wife and anyone else was 22. I was trying to settle myself down when there were too many people in the room, cause I just wanted to sleep...Guess what poster is now on my living room wall in a glass frame. Every jersey I wear is 22, or 92. I have made a complete recovery and am getting involved with sharing hockey with anyone! Maybe a year before I could work and drive again...It's been 4 months and I'm fine. Rick Tocchet will bring the style of play to the Lightning that they need to win it all! Don't go on the ice thinking about what you have to do later that night or the next day. Go on the ice and fight the other team with your life! 2972 PIM, 952 points...Play hockey not basketball, Hockey is a mans sport, play it like a man. Nobody in my mind shows the facial expression of kill the enemy like Rick Tocchet!!!

[léo]

Good man, Casper.

[bear]

Casper the guy has a contract , he's the guy.
He needs a good start.

[Casper]

I'll agree to disagree with many, on Big Mike flopping on the deck of the boat making him a bad risk in net.

I will say that he snatched pucks out of the air that were dead on lamp-lighters that would never have been kissed by Ramo, Holmqvist, Denis (ugh! Puke!), Burke (even in his prime---wait a minute---there's a terrific comparison---Mike Smith and Sean Burke), or Grahame.

That leaves the stunning feats of that Russian dude, whatzisname, though careful not to compare #41 to #35; at least for a few years and All Star defensemen from now.
I can say I heard folks exclaim,"Did you see that?", on some marvelous stabs by Big Mike. Not heard such gushing sighs since The Wall was back there. (No point in going further back in time for comparison.)

I'm giving Smitty a fair chance and don't give a rat's gooloo if no one else does. I see it.

[Don in St. Pete]

Casper, great post, like myself I'm sure you bleed white, blue and black. Or best card we can play without destroying the identity of the team is Danny Boyle. While I appreciate his efforts on our behalf over the years, it's a business and he can bring us a solid return which could solidify our base into the future. Leave Smitty alone, he'll probably be okay after the layoff with less pressure and more performance.

[Casper]

I say no way we give up on Big Mike Smith. A point was made on the Sharks keeping Toskala over Kiprusoff. So much the better for the Flames, and eventually the Leafs. In Dallas a few whiles ago, Dan Ellis took flight before Smith. So much the better for The Preds and later, the Lightning.

Support this Kid. Get him some defense that won't embarrass and that same Def-coach will re-hash his limitations beyond the crease.

[Don in St. Pete]

Leo is right! As a Bruins fan for the first 30 years of my life it pains me to say that, but Leo is dead balls on and I'll bet if you cut him he would bleed Les Habs Rouge, Blanc et Bleu. Since we are at least in a semi-rebuilding stage it makes no sense to mortgage our entire future and team identity for what MIGHT be a beneficial trade. Every deal is a gamble. Look at how Ottowa when down the crapper after they traded Corvo. We have some potential future stars here whether you believe it or not. Defensemen take longer to develop to the NHL level. Witness the overabundance of near antique d-men still playing or just retired. Chelios, Wesley, Nordstrom, Lidstrom, Sydor, Berard and Richardson to name a few. Don't give up on the squad, instead hope the new ownership adds a few pieces and we draft responsibly. The coaching and ownership questions are out of our hands. Let's hope for the best and cheer louder than the rest!

[léo]

No.
Only Pittsburgh can afford to take 2 other picks in the top6 instead of num1 Stamkos, because they don't have a wealth of star forwards, they have a Plush Plethora of star forwards (they're gonna trade Malkin ferpetessakes) and they could certainly use the D which is the main quality of this year's draft.
EVERY other team in the League MUST choose Stamkos, unless a deal comes along which is so spectacularly evident to garner a Stanley Cup that it is impossible to refuse.
Buying into the hype? Perhaps. But "hype" doesn't stem from marshmallows; it comes from SOMEWHERE, mate. The kid has DOMINATED all his life while that so called example on tsn.ca (which I read this morning, yes) is tagged on a guy I never heard of. If he was soooo "close to Stamkos", we woulda bloody 'eard of'im, no?
Gotta be honest, hearda Beach and Filatov, can't really remember anyone else. They're no Stamkoses.
I'm probably wrong but the REAL last num1 bust I can think of is Alexandre Daigle and even he wasn't so bad. You could tell he had talent but man, missing that nhl-Idunnowhat that separates ahl superstars from NHL oomph. Point is, MOST num1 picks live up to their CALIBER, if not their hype.
Don,
For Vinny, you gotta get a Star in return. And more. Or else? No deal!!! Like Ajax says, dare to compare to the Richards deal and how much you got in return and like Leo says: at trade deadline, you can r*pe other teams cuz they NEED more than you do.
Uuhhh...Sundin is UFA, btw, sooooo I dunno if that would work. Isn't Kaberle...? Not sure.
Toskala a top5? No. I'll say a top10, to be nice, but I don't really believe it.
Now, as for "competing directly next year", that's crazy. You keep the Stamkos kid BECAUSE he's young, BECAUSE you're rebuilding a new, cohesive, enduring, UNIT. Take the time! That's how you're gonna win! Am I missing something? How can you get 2 picks in the top 6 instead of num1???
Trading away your future for a "shot" at competitiveness, I mean, it's just so..ub, bdub, ub..
Hey, you know what?
What do I care?
So, what could MTL offer you for your 1st round pick? How about...ummm, it's gotta be good...something you need...um..ohmygod, how does Ryan O'Byrne and Ryan McDonaugh sound? The 2 Ryans for your 1st pick.
Would you go for it? If so, Bob'll hear it; I'll put on cyberpresse. If not, tell me, how can We accomodate you? Let's work together. Let's make each other happy.
P.

[bear]

Don you gotta read
I said Toskala is a top 5 quality goalie..Sharks kept him over Kiprisoff who should be on your list. Wilson says he's as good as Nabokov. Mike Smith he isn't.
And I think I alluded to Biron being aquired in a trade for a pick.

[Don in St. Pete]

Bear, Philly did have Carter and Richards. But Biron came for Buffalo. Ajax, while I agree we need serious help the management will not be eager to lose the teams identity. I've been watching the Lightning since the first game and I agree that management should leave no stone unturned in the effort to improve the product on the ice. I'm sorry but I see that Lundin had the best plus minus of all defenseman on the team, while he didn't always match up with the other teams top line I think he could be a good player with a little more seasoning. Don't give up on Smaby. There was a reason he was a Hobey Baker finalist as the best college hockey player in the country. he started to show the mean streak at the end of last year but may still be a year away. He has the size and skills to be a top 4 shutdown d-man with a little more experience. Vladimir Mihalik had a good season with Norfolk and will be pressing for playing time in the next year or so. Kevin Quick and John Wessbecker have shown great promise as well. As Leo said in regards to Smith, don't throw the whole organization under the bus before the Free agency period even starts. I challenge you to find a GM in this league that would say Toskala is a top 5 NHL goalie. He has talent and could develop into a top 5 goalie, but he's not even close at this stage. Ask Nabokov, Brodeur, Turco, Luongo, Lundqvist and others if you don't believe me.

[bear]

Right on brother Ajax

Bolts have a once in a lifetime chance this week to drastically reshape this team for the better. Like you, I don't get the sense that they are even thinking about it.

[ajax]

I love the chatter. I think regardless of the outcome, Feaster should at least be out their scouring other teams with offers for VL4 and/or the top pick. That is what good businessmen do. It is a business and businessmen that look at every angle, every option are usually the ones who end up on top in the long run. Feaster should be in overdrive mode but instead I feel he is stuck in the same mode he always has been stuck in. Give the community some nice juicy headlines, really sweet press conference introducing the "stars", while the meat of the team is never really improved.
Just look at the Richards trade everyone, PLEASE. We got a boatload for him, what do you think we could get for VL4? It is a no-brainer to at least LOOK!!!! And then add a top 8 player and say the 5th pick for Stamkos?? I read and read and read and can't figure out why Feaster at least wouldn't be exploring the options with a blessing from every Lightning fan.
Sign Vinny to a large term deal and we still wake up with the same 12 player team. Stamkos will have an enormous amount of pressure to perform immediately on this roster. Who thinks that is a bad idea?? ME.
We are sitting with some 5 star assets. Dangle them, please. You will never convince me that we are "this' close to competing again.
Last year we missed the playoffs. The two previous years we made the playoffs on the last weekend, once with the best shootour record in the entire NHL (like 12-3) In other words we are inches away from 3 straight times missing the playoffs. And of course we were swept out of the playoffs embarassingly easy when we did make it. Oh yeah, we are real close. P-L-E-A-S-E
I will spend one moment on the D.
We have a guy named Lundin who played every game last year (15 minutes a night? and had 13 registered hits for the entire year. He is small, non aggressive and an average skater. Nothing about his game is even a "C" YET he was better than Janik and Smaby, with no one, and I mean no one even pushing for the job in the minors. We need HELP gang. SOS!!!!
No more feel good headlines from Jaybird!!! We need proven NHL players at every turn. No more 30 year old rookies, no more Euro diamonds in the fluff, no more making a trade only to see that player come here and ooh us and ahh us only because they are just flat out better than the 8 or 9 stiffs we have in a Lightning uniform that only can make it in the NHL thanks to our pitiful team.
Come on Jaybird, wheel and deal!! You have so much to gain and nothing to lose. Push push push!!!!

[Bear]

Well Don on behalf of Brian Burke, via Cliff Fletcher, the Maple Leafs accept your offer.

Toskala is a top 5 quality goalie, don't kid yourself and yes the Leafs have Justin Poggee apprenticing in the wings.

Philly had Carter and Richards don't forget and they came up through the AHL winning a championship. Flyers managment has always had a winning attititude and did I mention Biron?
He grabbed the Habs series by himself. Not a bad pick up for a 2nd round pick.

If Vinny infuriates you now you should have seen him before Torts forced an attitude adjutment on him.

[Don in St. Pete]

Mike13, I have mentioned the Flyers turnaround repeatedly, to guffaws from Bear amongst others. Unlike what he said the Flyers didn't build from within for the most part although they did have some pieces to trade which got them Hartnell and Biron. Bear, I don't see Toskala as any better than Smith and the fans in Toronto didn't seem overly impressed either. He's a borderline #1 at best and although the leafs resigned him I thing they have a stud coming up through the system who should be ready in a year or two. While Vinny infuriates me sometimes with his lack of intensity at the defensive end I think that was part of being overworked and under appreciated by our former head coach. If the Lightning were to trade Lecavalier to Toronto, I would expect them to get their #1 pick, the rights to Sundin and Thomas Kaberle in exchange.

[Mike13]

You guys are conveniently leaving the Flyers out of the argument about how long it takes to build a good team. They stunk last year. Yet, they brought in a few key pieces (Timonen, Briere, et cetera) and voila! They were battling for the Prince of Wales trophy again.

[Bear]

Well Don on that compensation for V4, stay tuned. It all happens before the draft.
If the Bolts wanted to take some salary back they could get a Number 1 goalie as part of a package.

If it was the Leafs that would be Toskala, poof, problem solved. Heck the Leafs could take Denis too and just pay him to be the back up in the AHL.

[Bear]

Leo I think you buy into the star hype complex. If an NHL GM had a choice of Stamkos or 2 of the top 6 instead , I'm pretty sure what the outcome would be.

Even a guy 8 or nine in this draft will be a keeper:
"From TSN: One scout dubs the Brampton Battalion forward Hodson as the sleeper of this year's draft, a complete package forward who maybe isn't as big or as fast or as purely skilled as some, but one who puts all elements of his game together as well as just about anybody in this draft class. "He's really not that far off Stamkos," the scout said. The folks at Hockey Canada would concur. Hodgson was the best Canadian at the recent Under-18 world tourney and displayed terrific leadership and character, plus an ability to score big goals and be the team's defensive conscience up front"

This team needs NHL bodies badly.

[léo]

"What I thought of Price"? As in, I don't think it anymore? Wrong. I still think it and I ain't the only one.
Stop lookin' at him if you don't like him. Laugh at me if you want for believin' in him. But mentioning him in the same sentence as Denis is an insult to hockey.
I don't know what people were saying about Denis when he was signed; I wasn't here, but I saw what he did in Columbus and if I had been here and if I had emitted an opinion, I woulda said, "Feh, I dunno... He's made good saves but he's not the greatest positional guy in the world and he plays best when there's no pressure." Mind you, I didn't expect him to suck so bad in Tampa but neither can I say that I'm shocked. Columbus were CLEARLY not interested in re-signing Denis; that should've been an indicator.
A couple of 1st round picks for V4???
Uuuhhhh, hey! We'll give you 3! We'll even throw in a bucket of pucks too. Folly, pure folly.
Stamkos has been ranked num1 in the draft for a straight YEAR, with NO competition behind him. Like the guy says, wire to wire. Not only is there NOT 6 or 7 guys who can be better than him in the draft, but there's noone even close. The kid's a Star. If you trade down, We will LAUGH at you.
Bear, what's wrong? What's going on? Are you sick; this isn't you, mate. Snap out of it. The hockey-gods are listening to you; watch out...
They might grant your wish.
P.

[Don in St. Pete]

I agree that Ellis has developed into a solid #1. The Lightning could be looking at him or as Ek suggest's Huet, though I think Ellis has shown more. I have no problem with the Lightning targeting a goalie in Free Agency, but I don't believe they will trade Vinny unless he says he won't sigh a long term deal. Two #1 picks would be giving him away, Leo has the right idea about compensation were we to trade Lecavalier. I have to say that Feaster would not trade him for two #1's even if he had 2 broken legs. I believe Toronto has offered 3 #1 picks in the past and been rejected.

[bear]

Don, Ajax and I have pounded the trade Lecavalier meme ad nauseum for a year now. Problem is that I wouldn't trust Feaster to make that trade.

Nothing really jells here until we know what Koules is actually going to put on the table for CAP purposes.

If its under 50 then V4 should go and Boyle too. Otherwise they stay on the same mediocre treadmill for ever.

With respect to a goalie , I think Ellis will be be a great #1 addition for someone, likely Ottawa or St Louis.

[bear]

That's kinda what they thought about Denis too Leo or what you thought of Price. Maybe in time but how many here are convinced?

There are at least 6 or 7 players that could easily end up being better players than Stamkos in this draft. Trade down a notch or two and get two of them. Bolts need a whole bunch more than just a center.

I think you are high in the trade return for Vinny. A couple of 1st's ought to do it. Don't forget the 60 million in cap relief that comes Bolts way along with the picks.

[Don in St. Pete]

Bear, You are right on about the draft and the Lightning's prior record in that regard has been pitiful at best. That being said they've done much better the past 3 years with Billl Barber on board as Director of Player Personnel. We have some solid defensive prospects at Norfolk whether you believe it or not. It takes longer for most defensemen to develop that forwards. That being said we have absolutely no scoring depth in the system. Chris Lawrence will probably develop someday but other than that our depth consists of AHL journeymen. I think trading Lecavalier would be foolish, but Boyle could bring us the defensive help we need while not sacrificing our future. Smith might not be the answer but he deserves a fair shake and our support. With no frontline goalies available in free agency, you would have to give up too much to trade for one. We have some excellent goalie prospects in the system and need to jettison Denis so they have the chance to play regularly at Norfolk. In similar fashion, we need to find an excellent coach for Norfolk that can develop the talent we do have and will hopefully be getting in the future.

[léo]

1)I'm happy you remember that 10game thing, that was the point. Considering the STATE the team was in when Smith joined, I think he did very well overall. Hey, it's your team; what do I care? Trade Smith for umm...Hal Gill? Yeah, get a veteran defensemen in here, right? So what if hockeynews and sportsnet and goalieworld ranked Smith in the top5 upcoming Stars in the net? (Leclaire,Price,Ellis,Smith,forget the other one) So what; trade him for Gill. Put Ramo in net. Get Denis back here. Throw that Smith guy over the cliff with the other lamers; he stinks. Ok?
2)Again, I agree about the development angle. But that's true for every team. Every team should do that; this is not some big mystery. The reality, though, is that some teams can't AFFORD to develop over a few years; they'll lose their fans who don't want to watch their team suck for 3-5 yrs. So they go for the quick fix, with the results that we know. We can be high and mighty about it, "Pfff, they don't know how to run their team, pff, suckers...", but they do what they gotta do to SURVIVE. I got no problem with that.
But the teams who CAN AFFORD it, we can laugh at, i.e.: Toranna. Pfff. Suckers.
3)Sure you can make an overnight jump, and you will; I guarantee it. If you finished 29th, you will have overnight-jumped one team. That's progress, isn't it? Baby steps, man.
4)You know that I've always agreed to a V4 trade IF AND ONLY IF, it brings you the moon. You can get a defensive superstar for him, plus 2-3 quality players, plus more draft picks. If you don't get a superstar in return, get him to sign. If he won't sign, hold him to the trade deadline next March and R*PE the team who wants him for their playoff run. THEN we'd see a heck of an overnight jump.
5)But if you trade away Stamkos...I...I..don't have the words. No wait, I have one:
Madness.
This is ANOTHER Vinny, here! A guy who'll be basically playing for FREE for the next 3 yrs! Bb-bb-duh..bb!
Hey, WE'LL take him, if you want?! Yeah? We'll trade ya!
P.

[Bear]

Leo you said the same 10 game thing about Smith last year.
We did,we saw, no Koules pun.
You honestly think he is the answer that you bet your franchise on or just another Feaster #1 wannabee?

BTW, what my point was re: Rose colored Don, you can't make an overnight jump over other teams in this league without a consistant drafting and development program. Bolts don't have one, so adding a few free agents to a bad soup is not going to make it bouillabaisse.
There is no quick fix.

Precisely why trading Lecavalier and even Stamkos could bring a vastly improved balenced team with a future. But I digress.

Bolts all the way in 08

[léo]

Bear, what's wrong? You're going all out.
It was implied in Don's post that howsoever you build your team (long draft to pro development vs flash free agent acquirements) the order of importance should be...so on and so forth. One does not exclude the other.
You're absolutely right, Bear, about drafting and all that; I also wholly suscribe to that, and so does My team, who decided to follow Detroit's example. But!,
Draft from the net out, if you can. Get the best player, yes, but for equal value? Draft from the net out.
As for Smith's "hotdogging gaffes", don't make me laugh, fellas. They were NOTHING to my Boy's hotdogging gaffes, NOTHING!!! In the playoffs, no less!
But We have total confidence in him anyway; he's gonna go all the way, We KNOW it.
Have some faith in your guy. Season's not even started and you're throwin'im under the bus. You talk about him floppin' but you conveniently forget the glorious saves he made, c'mon.
Wait 10 games into the season. Let him play 10 games, then we'll see, then we can bash the guy.
Oh boy! Bashy-bashy-bashy!
P.

[Bear]

Don for being a self described "serious hockey fan" you comments on a team going from the bottom to the top in a cap world are laugable.
You can add some pieces, but unless the team has drafted well continuously and developed the kids then there is zero chance of any meteoric rise. Do actually feel this team has any solid NHL quality kids? Really

Right on about Smith Twinebulge and I would add to the required recipe for success a shutdown defenceman.

Try buying one..there aren't any.

[Twinebulge]

You build a team from the Goal out, down the center. That means goalie first, then D, then center, then wings. That priority wins championships. Anybody who thinks the goaltender situation is fixed now is in for a big surprise, but is entitled to their opinion. We'll need Stamkos's production just to offset Smith's hotdogging gaffes with the puck as he pretends to be a backchecking winger.

To listen to some people here, you'd think we were going to come in worse than last place next season. Give it a rest.

"Melrose has had no success at coach." You don't count the Memorial Cup and the Calder Cup championships, and getting to the Cup Final, eh? He's had similar success to Tortorella, who didn't have 3 years head coaching experience before he came here. (Short memories, or young brains addicted to E and video games...?? >:^D) And he's so bad at being a hockey analyst, he keeps getting hired and re-hired with a seven-figure salary as a hockey analyst at ESPN, the #1 top sports network in the entire world. Not just Florida or the USA. Ask yourself--Could you even get a job as a hockey analyst at the St. Pete Times? Then what qualifications do you possess to judge Melrose's suitability for the top position? The fact that you disagree with him and dislike his HAIRSTYLE? OK.

It's worth remembering that Koules may not be as cash-strapped as his scummy, crummy French bank made him look. He has a successful franchise catering to people who derive pleasure from watching actors simulate horribly gruesome torture and mutilation, with gallons of stage blood flowing. Such people can always be counted on collectively to fork over millions of dollars for the privilege of watching the next installment to feed their need, and then again to buy the DVD and wallow in the sickness again and again. Hey, at least those actors aren't making LOVE on screen. Such awfulness would never be allowed.

And at least Koules also likes REAL blood, so he wants to own a championshipo hockey team. Len Barrie, too, is a hockey player who never got to lift the Cup and now has another shot. I sense commitment.

Plenty to be pumped about. Who's excited about the upcoming season? After reading all the doom & gloom, I am. New owner who knows & cares about hockey, new coach, new star center, hopefully new FA forwards/D, new GM and a real NHL starting goalie at some point. Nowhere to go but up.

[Don in St. Pete]

In the new NHL with the cap a few signings can send a team from bottom to top in a couple of years or less. A couple of high draft picks helps immensely as well, but the fact is Philly was dead last in the east last year and made a good run. Pitt was last 2 years ago. Washington the year before that. We had some injury issue last year that coupled with a lot of new guys learning Tort's system left us hanging in the breeze. Smith might not be the answer, but he's shown enough, in Dallas as well as here to get a fair shot. If the new ownership opens the pursestrings just a little we should show significant improvement.

[léo]

Gennl'men. Be'ave yoreselfs.
Bear,
I can't EXACTLY recall if I STATED that Smith will be a true num1. If I DID, then I stand by it. But what I know I DID SAY, was that, fersure, Smith will be much,much,much,MUCH better than what's been between the pipes since Khabibulin left.
Hey, some of Us, (arrrgh, not me!) LOVED Theo. Some of Us (me too) liked Hackett and Garon. Alot of Us ADORED and adore still (me!) Crrrristo!
But every single one of Us KNOWS that the Kid is the best thing we've had since Roy. We still know it even after his playoff meltdown. (He got a shutout in a game 7, ferpetessakes, he's 20, all is good, man!) 20 months in a row, not a week off, nonstop hockey, only natural. We forgive'im.
Point is, we know all this cuz we can SEE IT, same way you could SEE IT in Luongo on his crappy team. (Again, radical example, my Boy is not Luongo...yet.)
Can't you see that in Smith, Bear?
Don,
I think Brodeur would've done ok on this team, Nabokov too, Leclaire, Ludquist. Maybe Brygalov. Ouch! Maybe my Boy. Hello! (ok, enough)
And as fer Hockey Chic?
Now THAT'S what I'm talkin' about!
That's a hockey post!
You go, girl!
Watch the teeth.
Yo.

[Hockey Chic]

Hey guys while you beat each other up over who is right we still need a head coach, the deal closed, stamkos drafted, some very great D acquisitions this summer. This is just to fill the holes for everyone that is still rehabbing when camp starts.

In addition our D needs a shake up. I am not even sure we could be a trap team if we wanted to. We need some huge guys with big hitting abilities so that our offense can play and not get beat to death. I am hoping with all my might that DFB, Ranger, Tarno and Arty if they sign him are well and ready to rock. We need to see some of that wicked slapper from DFB from the blue line.

If the goalie situation does not fix itself with the acquisition of Smitty then fix that as well. This is a fix it year to say the least starting with the new owner.

Here is hoping with my Rosies in hand that we can fix at least one or two of our woes and I would be a little happier. At least it would be some sort of improvement rather than the funk we have seen for the past two years.

p.s. Tackelberry glad to see you made it over there ok. Take care buddy.

[Steve]

IF Feaster can add a top 4 defensemen and top 2 line wingers, with a little more depth, this team will be better than last year. I'm not ready to say they'll be in the conference final, but we won't be the worst in the league either. I don't think any goalie would've looked good behind our defense last year, but another year of growth and adding a solid defenseman would go a long way. For everyone whining about Melrose, SJ and Florida both just hired coaches with no NHL head coaching experience, and Florida's hasn't coached guys over 20 years old. This team sorely needed a new voice, so I'm willing to give whoever our new coaching staff a chance, and I'm praying Feaster will add as mentioned above (though that could be wishful thinking). Should be an interesting 2-3 weeks coming up.

[Bear]

Time for your prunes Don but I see you have your rose colored glasses at constant hand.

I'll play your game, Denis and Smith all the way to the top.

[Marv]

Tell me this is a bad dream.... no a nightmare out of one of one of Koules movies! I can't wait to see the new uniforms. Man, wake me up this can't be real.

[Don in St. Pete]

Bear, Once again you've proven you don't know anything about hockey. No goalie is going to win every one on one battle or be able to play his best with little or no defensive help. I suggest you study the game a little before you make such idiotic statements.

[bear]

Heh Leo we saw Mike Smiths act last year. He spent more than half the time flopping on his back.

And your projecting him as a #1 ..please.

[Don in St. Pete]

Leo, Thanks for the excellent post! You seem to be the only one here with enough hockey knowledge to see not only the obvious, but the not so obvious. Smith walked into a pressure cooker here last year. I agree that a coach with a better defensive scheme that gives our goalie a chance is in order. I think we have some talent in the defensive corps that needs to be nurtured. That being said, If I were the GM I would be trying to trade Boyle at the draft to pick up one of the top 5 picks and a solid stay at home defenseman or a top notch prospect. I think Smith has a great upside and that if we play solid defense in front of him, that we'll be pleasantly surprised. It might be a great thing to have a new coach coming in with the young defense and goaltenders.

[madgal]

Please tell me this is all just a nightmare and I am going to wake up soon.

[madgal]

Please tell me this is all just a nightmare and I am going to wake up soon.

[léo]

Excellent post, Goalman!
Disagree with you, Rich. While you might be (and surely are) correct about Ramo, have you forgotten what the Richards trade brought you? Name Mike Smith ring any bells?
Big debate around here: order of hierarchal positional importance in building,rebuilding hockey teams. EG, Ajax says,
Defense/Forward/Coach/Trainer/Water-boy/Goaltender. (Yes, I'm exaggerating.)
Leo says,
Goaltender/Defense/Forward, with SPECIAL ATTENTION to be given to the GOALIE.
You got a goalie now. NOW, get some defense (you need at least 2, surely 3,you SHOULD go for 4).
Think about this before you tear into me: Before bringing in the good, in hockey, you gotta fix the bad. The baddest thing you can have is an unreliable "last line of defense", the goalie. Grahame and Denis would STILL suck with Lidstrom, Pronger and the dream-team before them, though a VISIBLE amelioration in their stats would be observed. Doesn't make them any less or more reliable; they suck! You can SEE what you can see, right?
Mike Smith is the BEST thing that's happened to TB in a looong time, to be passed by Stamkos, of course. Sure the guy lost some games, but does he suck?
NOW!, get some defense and give Smith a shot, just like Grahame and Denis got their shot and I GUARANTEE that Smith will blow their performances out've the water. Is that not the very precursor to a "better" team?
It's ok to dream about the penthouse, hey, everyone does, but first, get outta the damn cellar.
Yo.

[Kip]

I don't see everybody beef with Melrose anyway. Maybe he'll be able to reteach O'brien and company to, I don't know, hit somebody?

Damn it man,would you place some$$$$ on that.you could be my personal ATM.

You think Ramo whos won ,4-5 NHL games,who is god awful in the shoot-outs,weak on 1on1,is going to do all that.Please.After review,No I dont want to bet with you it would be like stealing.

[Medicine Man]

Mark the post whiners. 6th in the east next year with a trip to the 2nd round. With a little luck, the conference finals. All on the back of Ramo. Not that slouch we got from Dallas.

Watch the difference in d play. Torts never understood d play. Still doesn't. All he wants is a good pass out of the zone. If you can do that, and be -24 in a short season (are ya smilin Danny?) you get 6.7 mil.

That's all about to change.

Keep crying and give up your season tickets. Can't handle a rough year you aren't much of a fan anyway.

Please call 1-800-my mydol for some relief. You'll be glad you did, and so will those who have to live with you.

[Rich]

None of you can be serious. Remember the worst team in the league last year still has no goaltending. We now have a questionable coach on the way, a questionable assistant. Ownership that is going to remind people of the owner that drafted vinny 4, or even worse namoli of the rays. Not to mention we still have the guy that has picked the last 5 goalies... Hell this is awesome, no season tickets for me, thank you anyway. Lots of Money Saved, I will play hockey with my kids this year, and see better play.

[Don in St. Pete]

Sorry Rudy and Medecine Man but Badbud has a point. Though I don't usually agree with him, as a serious hockey fan I've already been hearing it from my Canadian customers about the rumours. One Leafs fan from Toronto told me " Don't worry! Melrose will figure it out in 4 or 5 years". For serious hockey fans we will probably be the laughingstock of the league, until management and the teams proves everybody wrong.

[Badbud]

WOW, in my world losing 50 Games is worse that losing 42 games.

Yeah they had the worse record last season,,,,Guess what, they going to have it 2008-2009 Also.

I dont need a crying Towel, I know they SUCK, I also know they Can and Will Suck again.

All you 2004'ers are so funny,you have not seen the Bolts be bad.

[Medicine Man]

Guess badbud didn't see we had the worst record in the NHL last year rudy. Rather than argue with him, hand him a crying towel and a few pamprin tabs. He'll get over himself in a few days.

Leave it alone rudy. Being a crybaby is the easiest thing in the world to be and you can never change one. Please allow him or her to wallow in their own self pity.

Woe is me..........the sky is falling!!

[Rudy]

We were on very last place weren’t we?

[Badbud]

"Can’t get any worst".

This has to be from someone who NEVER sat and watched 4, 50 loss seasons in a row.It can and has been worse.

Koules Barrie Melrose and Tochett,it is already close to worse.

[Rudy]

Hope they going forget all Torts tell them, so they can be a better team , and get better position that last overall. Torts work with best talent too, and cannot get anything from it, so he destroy a team. so I don’t see your argument David. He was a couch of USA team this year, we got worst achievement in 10 years. They chose him only because he was only one available. Common, stop whining everybody, we be fine. Can’t get any worst.

[David]

so Melrose has extremely minimal coaching experience. He has NOT had success at a coach (he made his playoff run with one of the best teams (talent-wise) in NHL history) and did not have success outside of that one season.
He is NOT A GOOD ANALYST so how can we expect him to magically become a smarter man at hockey. Melrose is a horrendous man for the coaching position, luckily the team leaders have learned enough from Torts to be able to carry the team despite a bad coach.