Minor trade coming? Scouting moves

The Lightning apparently is going hard after Flyers minor league defenseman Janne Niskala. Not sure what Tampa Bay is offering, but the player, a restricted free agent, has a pretty good minor league resume. The 26-year-old had 19 goals and 25 assists last season in 80 games for AHL Milwaukee. The good news for Tampa Bay is Niskala already has been given a qualifying offer (from the Predators before he was traded to Philly on June 25), and that offer travels with him to the Lightning. His agent Craig Oster said he didn't have the numbers in front of him but believed it is a two-way contract in the $525,000 range if he plays in the NHL and $70,000 if he is in the minors.

The move, if it's done, would give Tampa Bay at least another option as far as puck-moving defenders. Niskala, 6-feet, 200 pounds, will at least give the Lightning some blue-line depth.

As for the scouting department, the team hired Greg Malone, the father of Ryan Malone, and Tom Kurvers. Both were with the Coyotes last season. Kurvers was director of player personnel, Malone was a pro scout. Their titles with the Lightning are unclear.

Never a dull moment.

Comments

[karma]

Not sure that it makes sense to trade Boyle. Remember Oren stating last week that the only high caliber UFA they wouldn't go after was a "Puck moving defenseman" because they already had the best in the league. I'm surprised with the speed of some of the moves made, but I think this kid is in addition to Boyle, not a replacement for.

[Don in St. Pete]

One of my employees just told me they heard the trade confirmed on 620WDAE.

[Don in St. Pete]

Interesting development. I'm not sure he's ready to step into Boyles shoes right away, but it sounds like a fairly good player to have at Norfolk or possibly on the Lightning. It sounds like it will be another interesting evening.

[Petri]

Niskala is from Finland...

[Bryan]

Damian, i'm scared.

Hold me.

[Not the Marlboro Man]

Good Move by the Bolts again to go after a puck mover. I firmly believe if the Bolts do something about the defensive scheme (that they've run for the last 3 seasons), they will vastly improve their game before they ever even hit the ice. You can never have enough puck moving defenders. Most teams have at least two and one that quarter-backs a powerplay. The Lightning have had one, and last season winged it with none. With Dan Boyle back in the line up and Paul Ranger making some decent strides, the Lightning have improved. Picard is no slouch and nether is Niskala. Now with the size that the Bolts possess, Smaby, Picard and Mihalik... they will definitely be a force to fear coming across the neutral zone. Thank God the old pinch and stench is gone. Now just go out and grab another old geezer defenseman who can pull the crew together when the going gets rough.

[tank]

Yeah, I was thinking the exact same thing slapshot. I keep hearing rumors that Boyle's on the block. It is interesting though, since allegedly OK Hockey was involved in the extension. Only time will tell, although I think his trade value increases on July 3rd, when teams that thought they were going to sign a big time free agent defensemen dont and they feel they have to do something to get better. As long as they get value for him, I really dont care. Boyle is a great offensive player but he also has his mandatory terrible penalty at the worse possible moment EVERY game.

[slapshot]

I wonder if the Lightning are going after him so he can replace Boyle, because there have been rumors that the Lightning are willing to trade Boyle.