Lawton: More tweaks to defense coming

For everyone who has expressed so much concern over the state of the Lightning's defense, Brian Lawton wants you to know he feels your pain. Okay, that's a little journalistic hyperbole, but Lawton, the Lightning's new vice president of hockey operations, said if the season began today, he would not be happy with the state of Tampa Bay's blue line.

"No, not yet," he said. "We have some nice depth and some nice pieces I'm very happy about, but I still don't think we're there yet. We still have some work to do."

Right now, the team's top seven appear to be Filip Kuba, Paul Ranger, Matt Carle, Alex Picard, Shane O'Brien, Mike Lundin and Andrew Hutchinson. It is a very inexperienced group as after Kuba's  531 games, the next most-experienced player is Ranger with 220. That is why Lawton said, "We're very excited about the potential. We don't want to get ahead of ourselves, though. Potential takes time. It's not an easy deal."

Lawton said all avenues of acquisition are still open (free agency, trades and waiver wires with names such as Darryl Sydor and Bryan McCabe floating around), but, really, it would seem trades make the most sense. We already have spoken about how the Lightning, with so many forwards, has some room to play, and it would seem players such as Jussi Jokinen, Michel Ouellet and Jason Ward would be the assets that can be moved. The maneuvering might not come as quickly as the retooling of the forwards. Then again, it is only July. As Lawton said, "We're definitely not done."

Lawton hit on several other topics.

- He said Vinny Lecavalier's contract extension, which will be announced Tuesday, may not be as advertised. It was first reported on Canada's TSN as a nine-year, $77-million deal. But Lawton said, "We're putting on the finishing touches. Everything you've read in the media, it's all false."

- Lawton said the training and equipment staffs all have been retained.

- He said assistant coaches Mike Sullivan and Jeff Reese, still are technically employed by Tampa Bay, are talking to other teams.

- Lawton also better defined the team's management structure. He said he and general manager Jay Feaster are in discussions to define Feaster's role. He said co-assistant general managers Tom Kurvers and Claude Loiselle will split duties. Kurvers will be more concerned with player issues, more so on the minor league side. He said Loiselle will work on contract negotiations and CBA compliance. "So they'll be a division of work, the way I see it," Lawton said.

- Jim Hammett, the new director of player personnel, is one of the "senior people" along with Lawton and owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie, all of whom will be in on personnel decisions. "It's a group decision on everything. At the end of it, we canvass everybody's opinion and then we come down to, generally, Len, Oren and myself," Lawton said.

The good thing about a triumvirate: "There's three people, so there's never a tie," Lawton joked. "Everybody is really good about it. Those guys defer to me if there are opposing opinions. I think it's worked remarkably well considering Oren, Len and myself are reasonably new."

- As for Lawton's role, the hocky operations department reports to him, and he reports to owners Oren Koules and Len Barri. "My (butt) is on the line if things don't go well," Lawton said. "I know that and I accept it. I need to be able to give praise as quickly and as easily as possible, and be confident in myself and my abilities. Everybody else gets the credit if we can do something successfully, and I'll take the responsibility if things don't go well."

- Ultimately, though, Lawton said, "At the end of the day, the titles aren't so much important for this organization. It's more breaking down barriers and removing obstructions."

    

Comments

[LightningRod]

Leo. Leo. Stamkos for Pronger? Not a chance. Pronger is a great player, but bad for the locker room. You must me tooling up your fantasy league.

[old geezer]

Good post GP! Agree with everything you had to say...especially not trading Wishart for 34 yr old and seeing Smaby or Mihalik as the #6 D. Maybe since Smaby supposedly has an extra 15 pounds of muscle on him we can finally start calling him Smashby.

[GP]

NTTM,

Tomas Kaberle has a no trade clause and he said no to being traded to the Flyers last year. I doubt he would come here even if they could work out a deal.

Tampa69,

Trading Wishart for Boucher is a terrible idea. Why would you give up a top puck moving 20 year old defensive prospect for a guy who is 35 years old? Tampa can have 15-20 years of Wishart and maybe 2-3 for Boucher. I like Boucher and I think your idea is on the right track but not for Wishart. Wishart automatically has become the Bolts best prospect. Maybe offer some forwards for him and throw in OB. Who knows what it would take plus you have to be careful how much salary you are taking on without shedding. Also remember that Dallas would not include their defensive prospects in the Richards deal ... ie. Fistric.

Don,

I truly admire your optimism which sometimes has you apologizing. lol However, I would not say the Lightning have a defensive pipeline. They may have quite a few young defensemen but I doubt many of them are better than a #5 or #6 guys. The Lightning do not even have a prospect in the top 50 NHL prospects. I'd like to see either Smaby or Mihalik as the #6 guy this year but we'll see who Lawton brings in. Just imagine the experience our defense will get at Norfolk this year though ..... Wishart, Smaby, Mihalik, and Quick playing big minutes in all situations. The future is looking brighter already.

[Donna In Brandon]

Don in St Pete, I like your idea of getting Schneider. The Ducks could use Oulette and Jokenen and maybe a younger D-man like Lundin. Like I said before, Feaster is gone with a buyout. Good bye to Sullivan and Reese, let them take their 30th ranked GAA somewhere else!!!

[Boltflasher]

Jay F liked to talk about the job (especially how Denis played so well for him there) he was a GM in the AHL. Unfortunately, he and PSE did a good job of turning the Bolts into a top AHL team...I do wish Jay the best in whatever position he goes to next..

[jackie]

very well put. i would be okay with him seeing a little less ice time because even i will agree that there was a lot of pressure put on him last season as a total newbie. as long as he isn't sent down to norfolk or traded i will be happy. i think that either of those options would be a big mistake because he will be/ already is turning into an asset. and don't worry...it doesn't look like feaster will be screwing up things for us much longer! ;)

[Not the Marlboro Man]

Lundin is young, he is a smart, good position playing D-man. He is not physical enough to be a top pairing D-man at this stage of his career. When he is ready for more ice time he will be a great asset to any team. I think his develope ment will come sooner than later. They need to keep this guy and play him as a 6 or 7 D-man. Inuries will happen and this guy has shown that he can step in and do good things. He doesn't embarrass himself in the defensive zone and this is important. If you matched his progress along side Ranger, Lundin would be slightly ahead of Ranger progress at the same time frame. Lundin is definitely a keeper. If anyone has to be traded it should be O'brien, O'brien should've been the one not in the line up...another one of Feaster's busts.

[jackie]

jaron i'm at least glad u agree we need more puck movement. and that's mainly my argument to keeping lundin. i prob. shouldn't have said focusing on hits, i should have said playing more aggresively because u're right, they're not big hitters. but lots of little mistakes and stupid penalties are taken by too many of our guys. and that's not lundin's case 95% of the time. and i agree i love hearing different ppl's opinions! i like discussing rather than arguing.

[jaron]

sorry jackie i have to disagree with you. who has been focusing on hits? one of our biggest issues last year was lack of physicality on the bolts D. other teams walked all over us. although i agree we definitely need some more puck moving from the D as well. but always interesting to hear that people see the game a different way.

[jackie]

steve, if you think lundin shouldn't have been in lineup last year then i don't think u've been paying attention. he is a puck mover. while he may not be very physical (or at all physical) he is constantly the one moving the puck out of our zone or getting it away to someone else like OB. we've got so many guys focused on hits we need someone focused solely on the puck.

[Twinebulge]

2nd Don's remark the VL contract could be a shade longer

2nd the remark you can't trust what these guys say now till further notice - it's possible to regain but work will be required

2nd the motion for further D of the reliable NHL variety

[Don in St.Pete]

Good Thinking DB I hadn't thought of that but it would make sense.

[PD]

Herb even Helen Keller wouldn't be happy to see this defence. Dons on the crack pipe me thinks/

[db]

My guess is that V4 will get a 10yr cap friendly deal that includes part-ownership of the team when he retires.

[Tampa69]

Tampa69 nice idea on Boucher but since Nordstrom retired Stars are looking for a top 4 d too.
.............

There speculation he is available since Dallas has 7 defenseman that are fully capable of playing in the NHL. (3 players entering second season, one veteran at age 24, then Robidas and Zubov)
http://starsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2008/07/so-what-about-the-defense.html

[Don in St. Pete]

Herb is losing it. He needs to switch to being a Sharks fan if he thinks Danny is all that. Sundance and NtMM are right though I would correct NtMM in that Frantisek Caberle, the brother at Carolina is available at only a $2.5mil cap hit. While not quite as accomplished as his brother on the offensive end he is also highly commended for his defnsive play.

[Don in St. Pete]

Herb, You might be surprised! I've heard it from good sources that both Lundin and Smaby have added over 15 pounds of muscle. I've also heard that Mihalik does not want to play at Norfolk next year. In addition Rangers rehab is going well and OB is excited about playing for a new coach and a new system. Picard had also been working his tail off. You guys that are selling our d short, wait until training camp at least. We have one of the deepest d pipelines in the league which management knows and they DO NOT want to discourage our younger players from their opportunity to make the team. I look forward to a bruising camp with the young guys trying to prove themselves and the veterans trying to hold their own. The last year we had a camp like this is the year we won the cup. GO BOLTS!

Vinny 1 year at 8.8 with a players option

[McFeaster]

breaking down len barriers? the greatest hockey player (or gm) ever after gretzky?

how can I guy with 20m co-own an nhl team with a guy worth 50m? another trial coming up - that's no news to the nhl. nhl is the biggest scam in the world of sports. this is another proof of it.

I thought George W was the worst show ever. tampoan fans will prove gwb was nothing compared to these believers. I guess this is the most humiliating loss ever, coming up dear fantasy team fans.

feel 4 u who understand hockey.

god bless or land a good draft class.

[Herb]

Jason Ward an asset? LMAO

[Herb]

Gonna be another long season with the D if anyone thinks Carle, OB, Lundin, and Kuba are worth a hoot. Good luck Danny in San Jose.

[Don in St. Pete]

No, Vinny want's the cup, and he knows what it's going to take to get it and that doesn't include Boyle or Richards. I think the deal they are going to announce is longer and for more money. V4 is anticipating many cups in the future and will not be okay with Stanley losing his tan this time around.

[Not the Marlboro Man]

Pronger carries too much baggage plus he carries a $6.25 mil cap hit. There will be lots of vets in the coming weeks eager to sign for allot less than they would for right now. Jason Cullimore, Aaron Miller, Marek Malik are all still available as well as others. If I was going to make a trade, I would target Thomas Kaberle from Toronto, because Toronto is looking to rebuild and they need some young bodies. Kaberle is only a $4.25 mil cap hit plus he has a tremendous shot from the point like Pronger.

[Sundance Kid]

Nigel does his job well, he should keep it. Boyle didn't, Torts didn't, Sully didn't, and the other guys that won't get contracts didn't do their job well either. We finished in last place! Jay needs to use some of that salary to hire a pt, develop an exersise program. That needs to be his priority. We're gonna love this group of young defensive players, take it to the bank. They will earn their jobs. Ty Wishart is solid, and one thing these guys won't be worried about is covering for Danny 'the whinner' Boyle's as he's caught up ice for the 9th time in one game. How many times did we see him on the ice last year as we blew game late in the 3rd period? Props to our new owners, to Barry, and to our guys busting out of the gate next year with an awesome team.

[JB]

Sounds like my prediction may have been correct. Vinny is re-thinking the long term deal after seeing what happened with Boyle and more importantly how poorly it was handled. Habs fans are probably salivating.

[Mike13]

Canuck_dude: He deserves everything he is getting.

Phhhhheeeewwwwww! I am SO GLAD to read that they aren't done 'tweaking' the D. And by tweaking, I hope they mean getting another top 4 guy.

[Jaron]

We've definitely got some work to do with our D, however, as of now why is THAT looking like our top 7?? Lundin over Smaby or Mihalik? I dont think so. We need a big brusin stay at home d-man & I dont see any of that in our assumed "top 7". Smaby showed just a glimpse of what he's got in the last cple weeks of the season and let's hope he's improved even further. He's not afraid to hit the hell out of someone no matter who is opposing him. I'd like to take a lookie at Mihalik and see what he brings to the ice at NHL level. Just saying...im sick of these two being put off when someone like Lundin or OB are apparently on the top 7.

Interested to see the upcoming changes in D. Let's keep out fingers crossed!

[buck]

So does that mean Nigel Kiwan is safe??

[Don in St. Pete]

If you'll notice the owners have not spoken in the past week, only Lawton. I'm guessing the Danny Boyle debacle had them ready to shun the spotlight. I admire Leo's forward thinking, although I'm not sure I trade the kid for what wo likely be a sure ticket to the playoffs but not necessarily a sure ticket to the cup. Anaheim has issues not douby and Pronger could probably be had, if you were willing to pay the price. It's obvious Burke is frustrated at having no takers thus far for Schneider. Instead how about Jokinen, Ouellet and San Jose's #1 next year for Pronger? Tampa69 nice idea on Boucher but since Nordstrom retired Stars are looking for a top 4 d too. I dismiss all the negative blather about moving the team as hogwash and am encouraged that the management is still looking to upgrade our d.

[JoeG]

Trust me,the Boyle trade will bite the Bolts.Can you tell i'm still mad as hell about that?

[jhkyref]

I said once and I'll say it again, don't believe anything coming out of the 3 amigos mouths until it is set in stone....nothing!!!!!

Stamkos for Pronger? Not a chance.

[tampa69]

Trade Wishart to Dallas for Philip Boucher. Boucher is a first pairing defenseman that can score 15 goals.

[canuck_dude]

Jay Feaster is getting screwed.

[skp]

too many mouthpieces in tampa, only 1 guy needs to be talking to the press, otherwise, they'll continue to contradict each other...how many well-run teams have 3 spokespeople working the press, in addition to players and coaches? it just triples your chance of contradicting one another, ticking off a player with a dumb comment\criticism, or revealing something that's best kept quiet...serves no purpose but to satisfy the egos...enjoy your new toy, keep retooling the team, but for pete's sake, when the season starts 2 of those 3 (if not all 3) needs to shut up and let the players and coach represent the team....any time a GM or owner is the mouthpiece for the team, it's just a circus...3 such guys makes it a 3-ring circus.

[léo]

Sydor? Feh. He could be General, I guess... But he won't carry nuthin'.
McCabe??
Listen to Leo, We know him well. Don't do it. Excellent play-maker; excellent shot; known to lay down the smack-down. Yes.
But he's lost 15% of his speed and vision due to age and injuries...which means he's finished.
Don't know 'bout y'all, but We consider him to be cannon-fodder and We LOVE him for it.
He'll be an excellent General for your kids. Stature and Presence, ok.
But he consistently coughs it up and/or gets turned inside out and/or is blinded by opposing Light (like say, for example, that Kid in Wash, num8, forget his name, somethin' Ova..Over...Shashkin, what is it?). You want him to keep the Light of the NHL in check?
Don't do it.
What about uh... Pronger? Yeah, Chris Pronger. Think Burke has some $ issues. Think he might be more agreeable than you think. Hey, maybe not.
But it's worth a call.
He might hang up in your face but how do you know that fersure if you don't call?
Think you could do somethin' like...I dunno...Stamkos/Pronger?
With the team you got now I would cough up Stamkos for Pronger in a heartbeat.
Let's see what you floridians think about THAT!
Yo.

[Geografer]

Barrie - "We like our team. We're all set." This is also at the same time he predicted we would win the division.
Of course they also said they weren't trading Boyle so who knows.
How is it exactly we are supposed to believe they aren't moving the team?
Don't get me wrong I am extremely happy that they have finally noticed the D is BAD but Barrie was also quoted as saying he was quite happy with it just as it was and that he thought it was better than anyone was giving it credit for. I guess we just need to start thinking the exact opposite of whatever he says. Or better yet - believe nothing he says.

[ant]

For the love of god: Trade Jokinen, a 1st, and other crap for Kevin Bieksa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mike]

Getting rid of Sully will not bode well with us if he gets picked up on an Eastern Conference team. We are looking at a year ahead where we are going to be defensively youthful. Sully did a heck of job in the one season he was with us to spread the defense and make it quicker, especially on transition. In my opinion, he should be head head of heads on the bench for Koules, not Melrose.

[Bryan]

Uh, Vinny better still be locked up for life or i'm going to be pissed.

[Voice of the Turtle]

Thanks! I needed that!

[Steve]

Certainly good to hear about the defense. IMO Niskala may be ahead of both Hutchinson and Lundin on the depth chart since he is on a one way deal this season. Lundin needs to gain experience and strength before playing in the NHL, he should have never been in the NHL last seasson.