Lightning re-signs Picard

The Lightning announced today that it re-signed defenseman Alexandre Picard and signed defenseman Kevin Quick. Picard, a restricted free agent acquired from the Flyers in the Vinny Prospal deal, signed a multi-year, one-way deal, while Quick received a multi-year, two-way contract.

"Picard played very well for us following his acquisition last season and both ownership groups established re-signing him as a priority this off-season,” GM Jay Feaster said in a news release. “We are pleased to have him under contract for the next two seasons and look forward to his continued development into what we believe will be a top-four defenseman for our club.''

Picard, 22, finished with three goals and three assists in 24 games.

Quick is a 20-year-old defenseman who was a third-round draft pick in 2006.

"Kevin Quick was able to dip his toe into the professional waters with Norfolk at the end of the season and we trust his experience there helped reinforce the hard-work he needs to put in this summer in preparing for his first NHL training camp,'' Feaster said.

Comments

[Blindside Czech]

Alexandre Picard is the answer to the Lightning's woes? Pure idiocy.

[léo]

Well,
1st shoe has dropped.
G'bye Tortie. You'd look good in Ottawa, I tell ya.
P.

[léo]

1st point, Karma: Yeah, but WHY? Was he really faulting Tampa in round 2? When y'all CRUSHED us? You guys crushed so bad that year, we don't even hold it against you. Y'all are still aces in Our books. A 4yr old child could see the perfection in your whuppin of us, but Melly didn't?
Ok, he bashed you when you were excellent. He probably thought he could do a better job and now he even accepts it despite the fact that this ain't that team of yesteryear. Well...he's GOTTA step up now, right?
Cuz yer watchin'im like 'awks...ready to dive on him.
That, plus the change of air in the dressing-room makes me believe this could be a GOOD thing. But I've been known to be wrong.
From time to time.
Point 2: That's what I'm sayin'. Heck, I admit, didn't think he could play so HOT, didn't think he had it in him. But last night? Wow. I take Fleury off "the" list. I'm not saying I'm putting him on "The" list, but I'm taking him off "the" list.
Now here's where I rejoice: If Fleury did it, I know another kid who can do it.
And he inspires me much more than Fleury.
Yo.

[karma]

Leo,
Well put. Point made. However, for just a minute, put yourself in a Tampa fan's shoes. We stunk for years. We finally put together some exceptional young talent through the draft and found a way to keep them here. Stole a goalie from Phoenix and had the second best record (Wing's were President's Cup that year)heading into the Cup run. No longer the laughing stock, and we were darn proud of our boys. Melrose found a way to be partisan against them through out the playoffs. Some things you just don't forget.

Now about your second point...I think we watched the younger "flower" mature into a man last night. (I remember a night the Bolts spanked him for 9 or 10...ouch!) Unbelievable. Looking forward to tomorrow and hopefully another outstanding performace.

[Phil]

The reason Koules has not commented to the media about anything is not because he has a gag order. Word has it he is working on Saw V, VI, & VII to pump some cash into this Team and make it a contender! I for one like the Saw movies!

Also, who cares about "mullets" and such nonsense? Many of you seem to spend so much time tearing people down with ad hominem attacks. Why not give OK Hockey a little room to breathe -- at least take ownership of the Team?

Geeeesh. Grow up already.

GO BOLTS!

[WIZ]

Picard has a chance to to be a viable NHLer, but he is a developing player and it will take some time. You have to wonder why the Philly team that traded him is in the F.A market for a couple of defenseman.
It is tough to not want to retain a coach that has contributed to a Cup win.
I think that is the reason there is no excitement and just resentment in watching a TV color guy suddenly be thrust in a role of co-ordinating assistants, and running a bench, practices, because there has been a stretch of time since his last work in this capacity.
Good assistants can make of break a head coach.

[léo]

Ok, Karma and Ajax. Thanx fer the info.
So he bashed the Bolts. That it? You guys spend yer time bashin'em!
Jokes aside, why did he bash'em? What motive did he had? Did he ONLY bash them and noone else? Was/Is he anti-Bolt or did y'all take it personally? Bowman bashes My team all the time; D'still take him as coach. You should hear the stuff Guy Lafleur says. Lafleur! "The team is a bunch of 4th liners." He said that THIS year. That hurt. He amended, though, to his credit. People "critique" when they're analysing, that's their job. Melrose probably said what he thought at the time, I'm sure; not with a hidden agenda to "destroy" you, c'mon. Events proved him wrong to your delight; would you've preferred that he'd be right? The conclusion that he hates the Bolts cuz he spoke his mind and that he "doesn't know hockey" cuz he was wrong, seems a little...well...childish. Unless I'm missing something. Did he insult the team? Steal from them? Make them look bad? Ridicule the organization? Like I said, I don't know.
Question is: can he do the job or not?
The 13 year hiatus has more weight as an argument against hiring him because the game HAS changed, but at the same time, if WE realize the game has changed, has he NOT? Was he on Venus all this time? Does all his knowledge become totally obsolete? Is Bowman also "ignorant" of the new NHL? C'mon.
Melrose must have some good qualities if he's the prime candidate, or is it because noone else wants the job? I remember Melrose (and Gretzky) bringing the Kings to the Finals. Who won that one? I forget...
Anyways, point is,
If he's "unfit" fer the job, how is he in the hunt with the duck at the end of his sight?
Don Cherry was talking about an AHL coach John Anderson, who's apparently from the crop of Christ and never gets a shot in the NHL cuz he's always in the post-season when NHL GM's are interviewing. Food for thought...
As fer last night, one word: Marc-André Fleury. That's it; that's all.
And y'all know it.
Peace.

[karma]

(Man I'm tired today. What a great, great hockey game last night. Those kids in yellow and black pulling the sweet taste of the Cup and victory from Detroits lips with 30 seconds to play...and Sykora, a "called shot"? Arrogant, but he delivered. Here's to Game 6 being even a little longer!)

[karma]

Hey all, I agree, why would ANYONE want Melrose? Which begs the question: Why would Koules want Melrose? The only thing I could come up with, as far reaching as it is, was that he'd need him behind the bench in a new market (which is another of those "Bad" rumors floating out there.)

I think it makes ZERO sense to move this team. Great facility, loyal, intelligent fans, and a Cup winning history. But, I'm not the owner-to-be. A lot of people argue that the team is nothing more than 41 bad nights in an otherwise sold out entertainment facility. You could move the team and keep the concerts/ice-capades, monster truck garbage and make more money.

I hope Oren reads this stuff. I had heard that he was an intense hockey guy when the first group was put together (Dougie Mac, never really had a dog in this fight). Just don't put a bad coach behind our bench...spend the money on salaries instead!

[wahls]

kdr, I think you are right. With the last name of Picard, he has to be a captain sometime. I don't care if they do it for one game and that is it, just as long as I can hear them announce him as "Captain Picard". Make it so!

[Another Joe]

Picard is going to be a solid blue liner. Just need to dump Obrien and Kuba now!

[Tackleberry]

Karma, Why would Vegas want Mullet-boy? Doesnt make sense.

Great keeper with Picard. I just wonder how much $$ he got? If Feaster didnt pay him $5mil per year, Jabba the Hut got one right.

Dont care what line they put him with, he showed his worth the last couple months of the season.

[kdr]

Oh Good. Now we just need to make him Captain. You know....As in Captain Picard of the Enterprise. He He He He...Just kidding. I think we all know some potential captains in our locker room! Go Bolts!

[ajax]

Pens win.
The MVP has to be the coach of the Pens.
He complained and complained about obstruction on HIS team.
The net effect is the Pens got away with about 10 penalties tonight. It is amazing that a team can so dominate a game and the other coach says his team is being held. His team can't even get the puck out of their zone if not for PPlays!! And he is getting his share of those.
Detroit dominated the whole game and the penalties in overtime were 3 against Detroit and 1 against Pittsburgh.
After watching this game I am very close to believing in the "fix"
The NHL so desperately wants Crosby to hold the Cup that they are bending over backwards to give his team as many powerplays as they can get.
It is the only way they can score.
If I was in the stands tonight I would of showered the referees in beer after the game. What a joke.

[Don in St.Pete]

An homeric struggle worthy of the history of the Stanley Cup. Bobby Orr and Don Awrey, legends in the making.

[boltflasher]

Terrific hockey game going on tonight...

[boltflasher]

Another rumour is KC with same team from west or a team from an island...Hint: look at the bottom 2 in revenue (not the Bolts)...

[boltflasher]

No, the rumours are not the Bolts to Vegas, it is team already in the west...think about it...

[matt]

As far as moving the team, didn't OK buy the Forum as well as 5 acres of Channelside? I have to imagine selling the Forum without a sports team would be rather difficult, No?

[Don in St. Pete]

Karma, I really can't believe that's part of the plan.Until this past season the Lightning had been pretty predicatbly selling out. Add a couple playes like Vrbata andMalone and the fans will be clamoring for tickets again. Go Bolts!

[karma]

So, Part II.
Maybe it's part of OK hockey's plan...they aren't bringing in side-show Barry to put butts in the seats here. They're doing it to put butts in the seats when the move the team to Las Vegas...think about it.

[karma]

Leo,
First, let's go back to the year before the Lightning won the Cup...Melrose had nothing good to say about the Bolts as they found a way to Beat Jagr and the Caps for their first series win. Then, against the Devils, he absolutely ripped the team day in and day out. Fast forward one year, and any good Bolt fan will remember that tv sideshow tell the US audience how the Bolts would lose to the Islanders, Montreal, Philly and then Calgary. He was roundly booed whenever he came near the building because of his historically anti-Lightning bias. If it was his decision, we wouldn't even have a team in Tampa (more on that in a minute).

Second, we have one of the best coaches in the game in John Tortarella. He may not be a fan favorite, but his demanding style is that of a winner. Replacing Torts with Melrose is like would be like replacing Lombardi or Landry with the guy who played "Coach" on the tv show. It's worse than a joke.

This team and City DESERVE a first rate coach if they are going to make a change. And when you look at the number of coaches out there who are even slightly better than Melrose, you could probably include that joker of a former goalie (Roy). Think about all of the talent in the college coaching ranks. Or, all of those assistants like Rammer who could coach an NHL team to another Cup win.

Keep the bad suits, bad hair, bad coaching (Leo, the game has dramatically changed since this guy was last behind the bench) away from my team. If Melrose is Koules first move as the owner, then he clearly will prove that he has more money than hockey sense.

Adieu.

[Don in St. Pete]

Mike, we are starting to get some depth at the AHL level on defense. They made some good picks although most of their gambles on the forward lines have been putrid in recent years. I'd like to see them hire a good coach for Norfolk as that would go a long way toward helping to reinvent the pipeline.

[Mike13]

Glad to see Picard get signed by the Bolts. Also, I hope Quick can continue his development, despite being stuck in one of the worst development programs in all of hockey (TBL's).

[Don in St. Pete]

Great point Ajax! Whenever I heard the word Lightning come out of Melrose's mouth there was always something negative attached. I find it hard to believe an owner would bring someone in who has been so obviously critical of the franchise even while we were winning the Stanley Cup. That is not the way to sell hockey in Tampa Bay, especially to those of us that are already sold on hockey. I think Craig Ramsey should be in the mix. he's knows this team better than anyone but Tort's and is a class act himself.

[ajax]

leo, leo, leo
He is like 13 years removed from a serious job and only had 3 years experience before his hiatus. Does that sound like I guy who will eat sleep and drink hockey to make it work? I think he will quickly establish himself at Burns in the seat Brad left.
I will remember the famous words of one Barry Melrose during our Cup run. Tampa has an exciting offensive team with a big power forward in Brad Richards. He couldn't even do his homework in a job that required one hour a day, how is he going to be a full time asset to the organization??

[léo]

Forgive my ignorance on this matter but WHY exactly do TampaBaynians hate Melrose?
Sorry.
I ask cuz the fat lady may not be singing but she's certainly clearing her throat. Looks like a done deal up north, fer better or worse, I don't know.
One more thing,
What'd I say 'bout Detroit? Crosby or Jesus, Malkin or Buddha, wouldn't make a difference THIS year.
Ouch!
Peace.

[Don in St. Pete]

A new GM would be a treat that we may not yet be in store for, though I'm sure that's the plan eventually. I hope they thoroughly investigate the options before they hire a new coach. I hope they nab a couple of 2 way forwards in free agency, not just the best available scorers. The defensive contributions from our forward lines was as bad or worse than the performance of our injury riddled defense and overwhelmed goaltenders.

[bob]

We need hockey sticks not bats but maybe thats asking to much. Also Melrose ain't the coach yet. The fat lady hasn't sung.

[PAUL]

Good Signing ... Picard WILL be a top 4 D-man. He's got the talent but one would hope Melrose brings in an excellant Defensive Coach to teach these kids breakouts
assuming Coach Melrose keeps the up tempo attacking team that Torts started and add a big mobile d-man who can 2 pass it out of the zone... a la Detroit. Sign a pass specialist winger for SS and away we go!
Thanks and good luck Torts !
GO BOLTS - worst to first on 09 !

[chris]

it's a start, now move feast (bag of bats anyone) and start the serious work

[The Voice of the Turtle]

Feaster is looking forward to Picard serving as a top four defenseman, but the kid looks like an attractive "maybe" player who could possibly be considered a building block for this team: far from a cornerstone (top four D-man). If Feaster is banking on this youngster (albeit one with some demonstrated potential) to fill that role next year, he will be overlooking one (or two) of the greatest needs known to the Bolts. Hopefully, he is regarding Picard as a potential top four guy after a two to three year period.

There are exceptions, but not that often do defensemen mature at such an early age.

The drafting of Stamkos notwithstanding, the Lightning needs to be a very active participant in the free agent sweepstakes this year if they entertain any interest in climbing out of quagmire produced by Feaster and his gang. As pointed out by so many observers and contributors to this blog, the franchise needs to produce a viable product in Tampa while building strong levels of depth in its minor league organization.

Too often has Feaster's wishful thinking ultimately been treated as expectation while holes in the roster become major gaps, ultimately filled by substandard players who had already failed to be productive at levels below NHL competition.

Of course, this will require money to accomplish. Yet, if $6 million is available to compensate the likes of Barry Melrose over a three year period, perhaps there is hope that the flamboyant Hollywood mogul, Oren Koules, is, after all, prepared to reconstitute the Lightning roster and its minor league counterparts.

Somehow the production of tasteless, exploitive movies like the "SAW" series and the hiring of this media cliche, Mr. Melrose, do not at all seem inconsistent. At the same time, bankrolling for the reconstitution of the Lightning organization by Koules seems significantly less likely.

[wahls]

I agree Don, wonderful news. I was starting to get worried when I hadn't heard anything about Picard being signed, he quickly became one of my favorite players after the trade deadline.

[Don in St. Pete]

This is great news! There should be some healthy competition among the defense at training camp this year.