Mike Vernon's role

So exactly what is Mike Vernon going to do for the Lightning? He will be based in Calgary, where he was a star goalie for all those years and won the 1989 Stanley Cup title. Owner Len Barrie said Vernon will be kind of a right-hand man and jack-of-all trades. Barrie said Vernon will be a sounding board on player personnel issues. He will be a scout, if need be, in the western part of North America. If a goalie prospect needs attention, Vernon could be dispatched there as well.

There is certainly a lot of confidence there, and it comes from familiarity.

Barrie said Vernon is the second-largest shareholder in Barrie's Bear Mountain Resort development in Victoria, British Columbia.

"I couldn't have done it without him," said Barrie, who played with Vernon with the Panthers.

Owner Oren Koules also played with Vernon in 1981-82 for the Calgary Wranglers of the Western Hockey League.

"He's a Stanley Cup champion and a Conn Smythe winner," Barrie said of Vernon. "We want to surround ourselves with winning people."

Barrie said the Lightning also wanted to hire Joe Nieuwendyk for a similar position, but Nieuwendyk took a job with the Maple Leafs.

Vernon, 45, who helped the Red Wings to the 1997 Cup title and was the Conn Smythe winner as MVP (and had that great fight with Colorado's Patrick Roy), could not immediately be reached. But Barrie said he and Vernon have long talked about Vernon getting back in the game. With a family to raise the timing was never right, until now.

"I have so much respect for him, and he's so well respected around the league," Barrie said. "You look around and you go to the draft and you see guys who surround themselves with people who have won. You can't be afraid to put strong-willed, successful people around you, or you'll fail."

Comments

[Schlobotnik]

Bottom line, I'm just glad to see my hockey hero back into the game. Yeah Vernie!!!

[Hockey Chic]

Really a comment to a comment I think not. It is yet another slap in the face to the new owners.

I say again if you do not like what is hapening with the new ownership I say turn in your season tickets and stay home.

I am all ready so tired of hearing the nay sayers in this new era of trying to rebuild a franchise. You Give it a rest please. No offense/defense intended.Pardon the English,

Go Bolts!!!

[Cookie]

Good lord folks. Give it a rest. It's a comment on a comment. To me, it came across as having a Stanley Cup champ/ Conn Smythe winner guarantees success. We know that is not necessarily the case.

[tundo]

Thank you hockey chic. I am so sick of hearing about Brad Richards. Great players get traded or leave teams all of the time, it is part of the game, especially when you are working with a salary cap. It is time to move on. If we still were paying Richards as much as we were to be a second line center, he still wouldn't have any linemates to play with...

[Hockey Chic]

Surely you are not comparing Vernon to Richards? My question for you is what was the salary for Vernon versus that of Richey? We need to move on folks and live in the present not the past.

I am grateful for what Richie brought to this team in the Cup year. Having said that the old adage of "what have you done for me lately," comes to mind. As well as at what cost? We all know that Richie got his contract due to Torts and Feaster as did Boyle.

Enough said.

Go Bolts!!!

[Cookie]

"He's a Stanley Cup champion and a Conn Smythe winner," Barrie said of Vernon. "We want to surround ourselves with winning people."
Hmm, so was Brad Richards!

[Don in St. Pete]

Interesting. Could be an important guy to have around.