The Lightning's left- (oops) right-hand man

  Steve Stamkos has a right-handed shot. He signs autographs with his right hand. You’d figure those would have been clues to the ad agency the Lightning hired to put together the 47-foot tall collage of four players, including Stamkos, hanging on the exterior wall of the St. Pete Times Forum at the corner of Morgan Street and Channelside Drive.

Alas, Stamkos, the No. 1 overall pick in last weekend’s draft, the player the team is hyping as the next face of the franchise, is shown holding his stick left-handed. The good news, I guess, is his image only covers 10 feet.

“We made an honest mistake,” team spokesman Bill Wickett said Friday. “It is going to be changed.”

Any idea when?

“Quickly.”

Because Stamkos, who is shown in an action pose, has never played a game in a Lightning uniform, Wickett said the agency photo-shopped Stamkos’ head on the image of another Lightning player and inserted Stamkos’ No. 91 on the uniform.

Wickett said the mistake was caught before several other ad campaigns using the same image were released. But the mistake on the biggest and boldest sign slipped through the cracks.

Advised of the mistake, Wickett said, “Thanks.”

Tough to tell if he was being sincere or sarcastic.

Comments

[harvey]

I would respectfully disagree with anyone who says players won't come here because we finished last. That's insane!

Younger guys have one thing in mind...money. As they grow older, they realize there is one thing they play for and want it. Want it bad. The chance to win it all. Lord Stanley's cup.

To say nobody wants to play here because we ended up last is silly. Unless a forward wants to be "the guy" on a team, who would discount playing with the likes of #4, #20, #26' #22, and last but not least #91. Pretty good company. I don't buy the fact people won't come here because of a bad year. It ain't 2000 or before anymore.

To even suggest that players won't come here because of a last place finish is asinine. How did Philly sign guys last offseason? Let me tell ya....with cash. And they had nowhere near the core talent we have here. Their core guys came through free agency. Show me the money!! Ain't that tough.

If a guy is in his last year or so and doesn't feel like the team who offers him the most has a chance, why would he go? I understand that. These guys play to win and it becomes more evident the closer the best players come to the end of their careers they are looking to win. Period.

The rest will follow the smell of greenbacks.

[Don in St. Pete]

Leo, Kovalev is definitely amongst the most talented players in the league. That being said you probably won't win a cup until his ego is down the road. I like this move by the Lightning. Though what you said ( nobody will come to the Lightning because they finished last )could still hold true. Malone is he main piece of the puzzle for us and as such. this deal is huge.

[léo]

Nuh-uh, Twiney. Not even Mr. 9. That's just tough-talk. I'm sure he could dazzle in practice, or against inferior opponents, but if he got cute with Richard, he woulda lost the puck and his head.
I'm sure Crosby could develop circus skills. You should see the stuff Kovy does in practice; he can score left-handed, ONE-handed from his own blue-line. (and I'm not even making that up) Go to YouTube: Kovalev Warrior.
Yet I never saw him even TRY IT in a game.
No way you'll ever see that in a game unless it's Mr Hockey vs Joe and Shmoe.
I persist and I sign,
As always,

DC, get a life!

[Stu]

Maybe the Rays should hire the Bolts marketing people. They are 17 above .500 and no one is paying attention or going to the games....me included.
Quick, does Malone shoot right or left?
Malone on the line with Stamkos?

[Pedro]

WOW! Vinny, Marty, Dan, Stammer, Prospal back, Malone and free agency is next week. This is going to be exciting!! Michael, you can come back and sit with me to watch the Bolts kick the stinkin Panthers.

[Voice of the Turtle]

At this point, the Times apparently has missed the trade of a 4th round draft choice by the Lightning to Pittsburgh for negotiating rights to Malone and Roberts. If Malone is signed, it becomes a 3rd round choice.

Malone has, so far, publicly indicated that he has every intention of waiting until 7/1 to enter the UFA sweepstakes. Roberts at 42 years of age, will probably be glad to sign up with the Bolts.

One wonders if Koules can convince Malone to jump on board - otherwise the 4th round draft pick will likely be lost for naught.

As most of you know, both Malone and Roberts are clutch players with more than a fair share of grizzliness. Could be fun!

[Hockey Chic]

Leo that is why we love ya man. You sure can get us going on a hot 98 degree day in sunny tampa area...

I could really care less is stevo is a left or right and I agree with Twiney in that what ever the norm is the new kids on the block omg I just told my age lol will be changing it and coming up with something much different.

It is pretty OK get it that we are talking about hockey in late June early July and looking forward to the season. Let the naysayers go.

I love this sport and cannot wait until the season starts.

Leo you should come down to the warm sunny state of florida soon. I bet they will have a sale on tickets oh say around july - october you know the middle of hurricane season. lol

Love ya man you make me smile :)))))

Go Bolts!!

[Michael, Ft. Lauderdale]

At least in Tampa they know who the team is, that there WAS a draft and who the pick is. Down here, no one knows we have a team, let alone, who we drafted. Forget ever knowing whether they shoot right or left!

Wish I was back in Tampa! Good luck this season Bolts!!

[Zim]

Of course it was intentional, it wasn't someone else's body either. It was the shot of Stammer going behind his back, but the ad guys are having fun with all of you and that shmo DC

[Twinebulge]

It never ceases to be amusing when someone begins a post in the manner of "Find a job, hobby or some other way to spend your time, folks? Bickering about [insert topic here] isn't going to get you anywhere"......

...and then continues right on anyway with something like "Well since we're on the subject certainly MY two cents are the relevant and worthwhile ones so lemme take the time to grace you with them about [insert same topic here]...." (:D) tee hee

Obviously there's a big difference between being able to shoot either way and being able to effectively play in a game either way, I don't think anyone would or could even diapute that seriously. The only person I know of to ever master that and use it in NHL GAMES to his team's advantage was Mr. Hockey #9

I will not be surprised some point in the future to see Crosby switch hands (like lacrosse players do all day) on that straight-blade stick of his in order to dance through a defense with some sick twisted move and bulge that twine on his off hand

IMHO this discussion is fun

[We want Roy]

Ray's Who and I love Vinny4 may be on to something. After all, these are the same folks that did the whole Seen Stamkos thing which I thought was very good. I smell a fish. Brittany, that wall has been a curse, so maybe they know that and are having fun with us. It wouldn't surprise me. Looks like they will have us talking hockey all summer which I will enjoy instead of having to wait til September.

[Darth Vader]

Steve, I am your father.

[léo]

Ok, then.
It just sounded all-encompassin' when y'all said it...
Sorry if I sounded gauche.
Still, though...
Funny topic!
Yo.

[Brittany]

Lisa, there is a story on the Lightning website with some pictures of Steven with the kids at the hospital. The kids seemed to be very happy he was there and he had a big smile on his face the whole time. Nice to see that he is already prepared to do those kinds of things and really seemed to enjoy it. It is funny to think that he is only a few years older than some of those kids, it is hard to believe he is only 18.

And really, do we have to put a huge poster on the side of the Forum already? Hockey folks are usually pretty superstitious, haven't they noticed that it seems to be the kiss of death to be put up there? Maybe this will hint to them that he just wasn't meant to be put up there yet. And if they insist in putting him up there, why not call him Steven or Steve, to match the other 3? Sometimes I wonder how long they think these things through.

[I love Vinny4]

That would explain the team saying "Thanks." Maybe Damian was duped. It keeps the team on the front page another day. Can't wait to see next weeks free agent signings!

[Rays Who?]

They have us discussing left vs right in the middle of the summer. Brilliant.

[Hockey Chic]

Apparently Leo you did not read my post closely. I said I can shoot either way I did not say accurately.

Dude simmer down and to further your clarity I am not Canadian and do not declare myself to be so ...I will say that you need to take a zanax and calm down. Dude..

I just stated that I think it is funny that they made the mistake...Now be good little boy and go practice your shooting.. Whatever hand is dominant.

It is all cool Leo chill baby,,,

Go Bolts!!

[Don in St. Pete]

Leo, I'm not a Canadian for one....I like to think us Americans think outside the box. You are right of course in that I didn't play both ways intentionally during games, but stuck with playing right handed. I commonly switched to left handed to take faceoffs against another right handed because I found it easier to draw the puck back left handed. I was a defenseman and only took draws when the center got tossed because I was the best on the team on a draw. The word for left in french is Gauche, which in english also means awkward, though I'm not sure who thought that up. Jean Beliveau's nephew would have creamed me if I'd played left handed against him, so you are right in that regard.

[léo]

There is positively NO WAY anyone is as competent shooting the other way as their original way in hockey.
Sure I can PLAY right-handed. Will it be as sweet and pure as when I play left? No way.
Baseball, yes. Golf, yes.
Hockey? Impossible.
You mean to tell me, Don, that whether you play left or right makes ZERO difference? I love you Don, but I don't believe that for a second. You neither, Hockey Chic.
Unlike baseball and golf where you are ALONE with the object, in hockey, PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO TAKE IT AWAY FROM YOU. How did you develop EQUAL competence in shooting while playing against people trying to take the puck away from ya? No one can do it the NHL but you can?
Like I said, SURE you can play the other way, but you don't. I mean, why would you?
Up north, even against the kiddies, you play the other way, NOT ONLY is it EASIER to take you down but you run the risk of getting CRUSHED because you are offending them. (How would YOU feel if your opponent said,"Hey, against you, I'm gonna play on my weaker hand."?)
Troy Aikman could PROPEL the ball 50yrds, straight'n'true with his weak hand. Funny that he never used it in a game, no?
For giggles'n'tricks? Of course.
To REALLY play?
Impossible.
This ain't baseball or golf; this is a sport. This is hockey. This game is based on speed, strength and precision in OPPOSITION to others who are fast, strong and precise. And to be as good with your weak hand as your strong hand means that ALL of your skills are limited and all your OPPONENTS skills are limited. I'm sorry if that sounds harsh but THE VERY IDEA that someone is a switch-hitter up north is INSULTING to Us. (I'm exaggerating but you see my point.)
No canadian would EVER brag about playing both ways. Nor admit it. Nor be able to survive showin' it. No way. It's impossible.
THAT, you gotta SHOW me.
Yo.

[Chris]

Let's start tracking this hokey writers errors, starting with this one.
Who cares? Met the kid also at the season ticket holder event this week and convinced me to renew my tickets.
Can't wait till October. GO BOLTS!

[Lisa]

I can't find the article about the kid going to visit kids in the Hospital on his first trip to town? Would have prefered to read about how he spent his time here on his first trip. Who gives a crap about some banner? Buying my tickets today to see this kid on the ice.

[eric]

Dude,
Right or left, this kid is incredible. Just having him on the wall demonstrates the team's commitment to trying to get us back to winning. What a nice kid he appears to be - we met him at the season ticket holders event. Can we just get a hockey beat writer who covers hockey and not hokey journalism? The sports section is a mere fraction of what it used to be and this story is what they waste a tree on? Let's see, how many times has the Times printed "corrections" to their ragtag group of writers? Why isn't that on the front page?

[Hockey Chic]

You have to admit it is pretty funny I don't care who you are. Although, I am sure as down to earth as Stamkos seems to be he will pretty much get a kick out of it.

All the talk about shooting left or right is funny. I guess I am among the few as I can shoot either way. I shoot left now but have and can shoot right as well.

I like the character of this kid all ready. Going to the hospital to visit with little kids that are sick shows he is made of the right stuff.

I am not sure I would want my face on the side of the SPTF as it has not been kind to many that have been on there. Remember Denis, Richie, and Capt Dave. Seems like a kick in the pants to get put on there. So maybe they will take him off and leave him off.

It is pretty funny though. Seems to me we are all getting pretty bored.

Go Bolts!!

[Fred]

Find a job, hobby or some other way to spend your time, folks? Bickering about a left vs right handed shot isn't going to get you anywhere.

Maybe you should call 6600 and buy season tickets already?

I am right handed, learned as a child right handed on a hockey stick because that is what felt most comfortable to myself. It is simply what is more comfortable and natural to you -- slightly different than batting and writing.

All in all, it seems a little silly that the bolts are even changing the picture as it is an advertisement, nothing more.

How many days until hockey season?

[Twinebulge]

I'm as lefthanded as they come - even have to reach over past the flap and grab the zipper with my left hand - and I can't imagine having to shoot left. I'd fall on my face, it feels completely alien. Bat left, yes but not in hockey. I don't know how they do it, having their dominant hand below...

But then if you think about it though, why don't more guys, like Stamkos does, shoot right when righthanded - they all golf that way!

[ajax]

My first thought (and only thought with a BIG HUGE GRIN) is I don't care who the 4th person is/was as long as it wasn't B-R-A-D.

[Don in St. Pete]

As someone who played hockey for many years and is still a rabid fan, I never thought about thid, but it rings true to me. It's especially true with goaltenders for a different reason. I'm sure that many goaltenders grew up playing base ball too and so as most were righthanders they would have been used to playing with the golve on the left hand because they could throw better with their right arm. Naturally their stronger hand also ends up at the top of the stick. I probably never though about this because......YES Leo I was a switch hitter in hockey! Although naturally right handed, I shot right handed ( no wonder I never got any scholarship offers ) but I learned to shoot from both sides and heit from both sides in baseball. I used to throw batting practice left handed but never in a game. Woe is me....if I'd only developed that left handed shot.

[harvey]

Shooter, you would be correct sir.

We had a discussion here about the right hand left hand shooting thing here months ago. With all due respect to DC, he apparently didn't read it.

You are absolutely correct in how the dominant hand goes on the top of the stick. It's exactly why most right handers shoot from the left side of their body and lefties shoot from the right side of their bodies. There are exceptions of course and apparently Lil Stevie is one of em.

I don't want to go through that thing again but if someone wants to waste a bunch of time, they could scan all the players in the league and find that in 90% of the players, they hold their stick with the dominant hand on the top. 90% is just a number I threw out there but I'd guess it's higher.

If anything, the ad agency was right and wrong. Right in the sense that if Steve is a righty, he shoots left. Wrong, tremendously so, to assume anything. The ad agency did screw up because they didn't do a little, and I mean a little, homework.

Since DC is our gracious host, I'll let him off the hook for not reading past blogs on this.

[Mike13]

Is this the beginning of "The Big 4". Good lord, please no!!! Stop it now!!!!!

And um.....let's not put Vaclav up there, no --he's only our 1st line LW!

Another thing, what's up with the Marty, Vinny, Dan, Stamkos wording? Could we have been a little more consistent?

The Bolts advertising folks need to be axed and replaced with real people from advertising.

[Shooter]

"He signs autographs with his right hand."

Damian -- ever play hockey before? Or even pick up a stick? Just because a person signs, eats, etc. with their right hand doesn't mean they play hockey with a right-handed shot.

Most right-handed players are actually left-handed shots because a person's dominant hand goes on top of the stick. It is why, if you ever go to a hockey store, you are more likely to see more left-handed sticks than right-handed ones.

Take a peek at last year's Bolts roster. Of 27 players, 20 have left-handed shots. Considering only 10 percent of the population is left-handed when it comes to daily tasks, I'd be very surprised if a significant number of those 20 left-handed shooters are also lefties.

Granted, that doesn't change the error the Stamkos banner. But it is a rather presumptuous to suggest the fact Stamkos signs with his right hand would have been a red flag for marketing group.

No, its not Darth Vader...its Napoleon.

[Brian B.]

Any word on the supposed "Third Jersey" thats supposed to make its debut this season?

[Art Williams]

I think the team should be renamed, the Tampa Bay Stamkos after the young man whom I assure you will be the "Tiger Woods of hockey." Also, let's also be sure that we make it known to him that we expect him to collect 3 or 4 major trophies next season. Finally, let's imprint a head shot of Steve on the ice so he can be constantly aware of our lofty expectations.

Did you know that there is a stained glass distortion appearing on a building next to a church in Clearwater that appears to be an image of Steve Stamkos' face with something that looks like a halo directly over it? Can we please get the Bolts' P.R. people out there ASAP?

[léo]

Ah, Tampa.
Don't sweat it. When Huet started the season with Us a few years back, he wasn't even INTRODUCED in the opening. Embarassing as heck that one, ESPECIALLY after he became (and remains still) The Man in Mtl.
But this tripe about "oh, he signs right-handed; that shoulda been a clue". Please. Do a little math. 65% of folks are right-handed and 60% of hockey players shoot left; there's bound to be overlap.
I'M right handed and I shoot left.
EVERY team is looking for right-handers, yes or no? Part of Stamkos' PACKAGE is that he's right-handed.
I could laugh and say, "You dolts! THIS could never happen up north."
But since it COULD happen cuz it is human to err, then I would look foolish.
So I won't say it. 'Sides, it'll be quickly forgotten (unlike the Huet thing, which We LOVE to bring up due to Cristo's impact; We love'im!).
Point is,
You CAN'T tell what side a player shoots in hockey by watching him sign an autograph. That's baloney. To slip the puck over the goalie's shoulder into the top shelf, you need deftness, swiftness and precision. That's means Left or Right, regardless of how you hold a pen.
Ain't no switch-hitters in hockey.
Yo.

[Nan]

Oh, how comical! OK, Stamkos is in town, take several pictures of him and stick one of him up there instead of using someone else's body. I hope that this mistake doesn't cause an increase in ticket prices!

[Twinebulge]

Being a right hand shot, that jumped out at me a couple days ago in print in the "tbt", the throwaway free version of the SPTimes. What a waste of money having to redo that huge poster.

That area hasn't been very good luck for us since Andreychuk graced prior to the Denis debacle

Is that Darth Vader looking at the picture?

[stamkos]

i can't believe they did this, that's it, i'm out, i'm playing for russia

[Badbud]

Just keep piling the pressure on this kid,soon they will have were he is scared to make a mistake.