Lightning to extend goalie Smith
As if the Lightning wasn't busy enough, now it appears the team will soon announce a contract extension, believed to be for two years, for goaltender Mike Smith. The goalie has one year left on his contract that pays $950,000 next season. Not a bad move, especially with Kolzig coming in. Will give the kid a sense the Lightning has not lost faith in him.
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Whether they trade Smith at this time is immaterial right now. More likely is they keep him and Ramo to try and challenge Kolzig for long stretches of reg season, then if neither young goalie is able and ready to rock for the playoffs, you have an seasoned pro who's been there and also lacks quirky OCD compulsions like giving up a softie on his first shot (NK) or in the final minute of the 2nd (JH) or flopping on his belly with arms flailing at a weak shot from the corner (JG) or....etc.
Posted by: Twinebulge | July 02, 2008 at 12:15 AM
What happened to Gratton?
Posted by: Bob B. | July 01, 2008 at 11:00 PM
Sportsnet has had us shoping Vinny forever. Along, with marty, richie, boyle, blah blha blah.....
There is nothing to the news you don't sign a player for a 3 year extension to trade him off do you?
What a difference a day makes.....
Malone, vibrata, Kolzig, Hall, Roberts, Prospal. Tomorrow the trade for a 'D' man. Someone please put together the numbers for the cap..... r u kidding we are a bit over that 40 million tag that everyone mentioned.
This is heaven in Fl..... Palace who.
Posted by: bingo | July 01, 2008 at 08:57 PM
I read that bolts are shopping Smith on sportsnet.ca. Please tell me that is a stupid rumor. That makes absolutely no sense at all.
Posted by: James Rosene | July 01, 2008 at 08:35 PM
TSN has yet to get anything about the Bolts correct. Maybe they should just admit they take a WAG to sell news!
Posted by: Marv | July 01, 2008 at 07:39 PM
And yet TSN is reporting he's being shopped...
Posted by: Sunny | July 01, 2008 at 06:10 PM
I don't quite get the mentor thing. Smith sat behind Turco in Dallas for a couple of years and even started for him when Turco went down. You can watch Smith and see Turco's influence. I think this is more about giving Ramo more time to play every day in the minors and refine his game, which is reason enough to sign Kolzig.
That said, I don't know why you extend Smith before he's proven that he deserves it, especially when Ramo shows every indication of being good enough to be a #1. Seems a bit frenzied to me. Certainly a gamble.
Hey, Tackleberry. Check your stats. The Bolts were 12th in shots allowed last year. Dead last in save percentage. We don't need to spend on D to block more shots. We're fine there. Young and improving.
Posted by: Dave | July 01, 2008 at 05:15 PM
Tack, Kolzig's stats stunk last year because the team stunk --as it has for years. They pulled it together and he was doing well for the most part. The guy is a former Vezina winning Goalie. He can still be a fantastic mentor and a more than solid backup.
Posted by: Mike13 | July 01, 2008 at 04:14 PM
Boy o' Boy. In less than a week, we have a different team. I know the dead cat kickers are already complaining; but I can't wait to see them play. It use to be OK didn't have enough $$ to buy the team; now it's that they don't really know what they are doing. OK is sure making the splash that they said they would. I for one will wait until this up-grade team plays some, before passing any judgment. I really like what I see right now.
Posted by: LightningRod | July 01, 2008 at 03:57 PM
Boy o' Boy. In less than a week, we have a different team. I know the dead cat kickers are already complaining; but I can't wait to see them play. It use to be OK didn't have enough $$ to buy the team; now it's that they don't really know what they are doing. OK is sure making the splash that they said they would. I for one will wait until this up-grade team plays some, before passing any judgment. I really like what I see right now.
Posted by: LightningRod | July 01, 2008 at 03:56 PM
Boy o' Boy. In less than a week, we have a different team. I know the dead cat kickers are already complaining; but I can't wait to see them play. It use to be OK didn't have enough $$ to buy the team; now it's that they don't really know what they are doing. OK is sure making the splash that they said they would. I for one will wait until this up-grade team plays some, before passing any judgment. I really like what I see right now.
Posted by: LightningRod | July 01, 2008 at 03:56 PM
Boy o' Boy. In less than a week, we have a different team. I know the dead cat kickers are already complaining; but I can't wait to see them play. It use to be OK didn't have enough $$ to buy the team; now it's that they don't really know what they are doing. OK is sure making the splash that they said they would. I for one will wait until this up-grade team plays some, before passing any judgment. I really like what I see right now.
Posted by: LightningRod | July 01, 2008 at 03:56 PM
Boy o' Boy. In less than a week, we have a different team. I know the dead cat kickers are already complaining; but I can't wait to see them play. It use to be OK didn't have enough $$ to buy the team; now it's that they don't really know what they are doing. OK is sure making the splash that they said they would. I for one will wait until this up-grade team plays some, before passing any judgment. I really like what I see right now.
Posted by: LightningRod | July 01, 2008 at 03:55 PM
I'd like to see the contract $'s before passing judgement. Good move in theory though.
Posted by: Mike13 | July 01, 2008 at 03:21 PM
Isn't Hall another forward? OK, what's goin' on here...
Posted by: Stacey | July 01, 2008 at 03:03 PM
Jon Jordan on Hockeybuzz.com is reporting Ollie the Goalie is a BOLT! He also says they are looking at Adam Hall.
Posted by: Don in St. Pete | July 01, 2008 at 03:00 PM
Not that we want him but it is interesting to note that Washington just signed Theodore to a 2-year contract. So we will be seeing plenty of him this season. This pretty much leaves Huet as the only real started out there (you know the Avs have to be going there). Then you have Kolzig, Conklin and Auld.
Posted by: Geografer | July 01, 2008 at 02:59 PM
Isn't that how we screwed with Denis??
Posted by: Kus | July 01, 2008 at 02:54 PM
Looking at Kolzig's stats. Nothing spectacular last year. He played in 54 games (Started in 52).
GAA 2.91
Sv%: .892
Won: 25
Lost: 21
Shutout: 1
Mike Smith's Stats (last year):
GAA: 2.46 (Stars), 2.71 (bolts)
Sv%: .906 (Stars), .893 (bolts)
Won: 12 (Stars), 3 (Bolts)
Lost: 9 (Stars), 10 (bolts)
Money better spent building a defense. If defense is not enhanced (significantly), Olaf will be taking a lot of shots from the opponents, thus his stats going down like Smith and his predecessors.
Not sure about this acquisition. I would prefer building Smith and Ramo. I think they are diamonds in the rough. With the Proper tutoring, they can become top goalies.
Posted by: Tackleberry | July 01, 2008 at 02:54 PM
Smith having a breakout year then being a UFA did scare me a lot. I
Posted by: dave | July 01, 2008 at 02:49 PM
Hey - why not lock him in now for a low number then risk him having the break out season we all hope he has and being up for the big bucks. He doesn't pan out as a started he is still low enough to be back up somewhere.
Posted by: Geografer | July 01, 2008 at 02:43 PM