Town hall meeting

It's still tentative but word is the Lightning is planning a town hall meeting Tuesday evening (July 15) at the St. Pete Times Forum, and it is open to the public which can ask questions. Attending will be coach Barry Melrose, the new ownership group and center Vinny Lecavalier, whose believed nine-year, $77-million contract extension likely will be announced that same day.

An official announcement is expected soon with the exact time. But the day, I believe, is pretty much set.

Other notes: Spoke to enforcer Andre Roy Tuesday and have never heard the big guy sound so down. In acknowledging the Lightning never contacted him about a new contract, he said, "It's pretty disappointing. I wanted to be part of it. I always thought Tampa was a good fit. I love the city and the fans."

Should be no surprise at this point, center Chris Gratton likely will not return, either. That is a bit of a surprise as it was believed a few months ago he was wanted for fourth-line duty with Nick Tarnasky and Evgeny Artyukhin. But the huge influx of talent seems to have pushed Gratton out, plus he is coming off hip surgery. Couldn't reach Gratton but it is not a stretch to believe he might not have wanted a fourth-line gig. Either way, his third stint with the team certainly seems over.

It is believed the Lightning will hold a rookie camp July 27-Aug. 2 in Victoria, British Columbia.

Comments

[Don in St.Pete]

GO BOLTS!

[Matt]

Smith didn't want to come to Tampa. He said he wanted to play in a Canadian city, get over it! We're going to have a good year.

[Smacky McConverse]

Roberts went 5-2 on faceoffs last season, and 2-2 in the playoffs. He won against the Caps' Brooks Laich on 12/27, Phil Kessel of the Bruins on 12/20, Mats Sundin of the Leafs on 12/1, Mike Richards of the Flyers on 11/10, and Chris Drury of the Rangers 10/23. The two he lost in the reg season were again the Stars' Mike Ribeiro on 11/30, and the Thrashers' Todd White on 11/24. In the playoffs, he beat Filppula in the 3OT game in the Finals and Chris Drury again in Game 4 against the Rangers (in the offensive zone, no less). His playoff losses were against Mike Richards in Game 2 against Philly (again, in the offensive zone), and Jason Spezza in Game 1 against Ottawa.

[Don in St. Pete]

Flasher, I agree and will ask a similar question if the opportunity presents itself. Maybe Smith wouldn't come here but there are other competent defenseman out there as well. I refuse to give up hope that they are actually pursuing a deal for one.

[Boltflasher]

Yes, I won't be able to go to the Town Meeting but I would like to ask why Recchi was more important than Jason Smith who has worn the "C" on each of his last 2 teams....

[jiffy]

You guys are funny!!

[Don in St. Pete]

Raz, I'm excited for the start of the season, and seeing the new group on the ice together. After last week it's a bit of an adrenaline withdrawal. Glad to see lot's of fans posting and remaining upbeat about the new look of our team. GO BOLTS!

[razman]

Another Joe..totally agree. I think we match up well with Detroit right now.

Now that we have solidified the D, Ramo should be a beast.

Keep the faith Don we are going all the way.

[vagrant]

Regarding the whole enforcer situation. Arty, Tarnasky and O'brien may not fit the whole "enforcer" mold, but they are by no means a group of pushovers. I cant see a legimate concern for cheap shots and other players taking liberties against the bolts. Lest we forget, adam hall and Ryan malone can hold their own and Recchi, even at his age, is not to be overlooked. Koci is always there when needed also. The whole argument for Roy to stay purely as an enforcer doesnt hold much water. I enjoyed watching him during his stint here and he will be missed, comparable to the Ciccone departure years ago. its bitter-sweet at best.
Ive always admired Grats and his heart. No one can say for certain that he will be the same player after this surgery and amongst these new players could fall by the wayside, fourth line at best. He is not a fourth line player and will do well elsewhere.

[Dean Hall]

Wow! It's sure is negative today. Do any of remember all the bad drafts, the Walmart budget of Davidson's ownership and stupid signings since the cup. Yes I hate to see Roy go too. But when you get a new coach in any sport, he wants his type of players. I was hoping Roy was his type of player. Hate to see him go. But glad to see Feaster et al not in charge of talent selection anymore.

[Kenb]

Not signing Gratton is a mistake in my book. Hard to replace the faceoff percentage. As far as the D, I think a that with a new system, what we have is at least serviceable. Tort's downfall was a failure to adapt his system to what he had. Enough with the stick checking, it can go against the defenseman's instincts. Old system relied too much on back-checking forwards, which didn't work last year. I actually think the removal of the offside pass hurt us there more than helped.

[Don in St. Pete]

It's a new day, so I'm moving beyond the disappoinment of not resigning Grats and Andre as I've done previously with Danny. Hope they still have a trick or two up their sleeves. I'll keep the dream open of a veteran d-man to mentor the lads and give OK and crew the time to make it happen. If it doesn't I may be disappointed but my optimism and hope will remain high. Go Bolts!

[Another Joe]

I think our roster now is the best its been since winning the cup. Smith is better then Grahame,Burke,and Holmer. Kolzig is better then them also and Ramo is going to be better then all of them.

We got the MVP line back and Stamkos and Malone on a 2nd line.

Defense is a question mark but they should be faster and more physical. Can they please stop letting guys just skate in on goal!!!!!!!!!!

[Zombie Kid]

I like turtles.

[Twinebulge]

Random notes

Patrick - exc. point about the team having zero enforcer if Koci doesn't make the cut, now that Roy is gone - and you took it one logical step further referring to possible injuries and cheap shots from teams unafraid of having any serious contender step in

David - excellent post all around

GP thanks for the stats - that Roberts stat of over 70% on face-offs is pretty weird. Oddly enough though in league hockey I won about 75% of draws but then had to skate the wing as I am too slow and uncreative to play center or do anything but get in the way of opponents, pass the puck quickly to good skaters, and tap in the occasional rebound

Casper - "the mental 'dumb down' to get a point across to morons is pure tedium as well" - yes it is, nearly as much as suffering the tedium of elitist know-it-all snobs. But what does it say about a person if they choose to hang around morons and then cut them down? D'oh!

Can't attend the meeting but hope someone will post a nice synopsis and some decent answers to tough questions like "What the %$*# was up with that Boyle fiasco?" and "Why have you firmly decided to put us in a hole by starting the season with the exact D we have right now instead of trading some of the 2 dozen forwards for a tough defensive Dman or two?"

[John M]

I am completely fine w/ not bringing Gratton back. Are you going to cart out your slow, not able to score - 4th line center to take key draws, or will you go w/ Vinny, who has improved and you are paying a ton of money for that reason.
Grats stats last year, were very similar to Tarnasky. Does anyone think it is worth it to pay over a mil to someone for that. There is a reason Chris has played for so many teams, and not made a name for himself other than as a slow checking center, who is liked in the room.

Andre I am torn with, as I like his passion, and his shot. Someone will take a chance on him, and he can be an enforcer and 10 goal scorer if he plays within the system, and that is why he is no longer here. Rangers probably could use him, as they have a history of taking on a player of his type.

Roberts and Recchi are ok pickups. Veterans who can score a goal, and lead a team out of a losing streak. If it doesn't work w/ them, someone will take them at the trade deadline for a draft pick.

Remember when the cup was won, Dave and Taylor and the other role players leading and pushing the younger guys.

[keith]

Loved Andre, his enthusiasm on and off the ice. He's always been a fave wherever he's played. Even the talent rich Sens (at the time) fans hated to lose him whem he came to Tampa...he loved Ottawa and its fans too! Chris Gratton. How could you root against an old Lightning lion like him? Both apparently good guys. But thats pro sports.
These two were part though of a debacle of a team last year. As another poster said "no where to go but up". If you always do what you always did, you always get what you always got. The B's survived losing Thornton, the Bolts will live without Danny Boyle.
I am in a wait and see mode. Wholesale changes all over that would have to really stink to be worse than last year. Recchi and Roberts? I'll wait and see. Melrose, lets look at him after 10, 40,60 games. Ownership...seemingly strange moves in places but not a puck dropped yet and not a Feaster in sight. I'll wait to pass comment.
Vinny apparently a lifer, a new season looming. I'm excited again, new faces or not..... is it October yet?

[Brian B.]

Bring back Chris and Andre!!!

[Casper]

Whaaaar's the Deef?
Here's another downer facet of the defensive anemia: practicing during training camp is going to seem like we can score at will, on anybody. Wrong! Falso!!
We're not going to see the converse benefit of tight defense in our practice arena, and going out to lay some wood to other clubs in games on both sides of the street.
(They'll continue to laugh at us in Detroit)

Yo, Hollywood! You need more than stunt doubles on defense to set up your offense.
BTW, when the offense whups the defense like a rented Camaro, the defense rarely improves, or it improves at a more deliberate pace.
You think this alleged 'high power' offense is going to be unstoppable against a real defense that stands you up at the blue line and makes life hell for you around their crease?
(Insert Final Jeopardy buzzer sound here_____.)
But what do I know?

Should have gone with Pat Burns, you dummies.

Okay, I'm out of the Don Rickles character, and whew; the mental 'dumb down' to get a point across to morons is pure tedium as well.

Go Bolts!

[Hockey Chic]

Oh my it does seem that some are drinking the hockey chic coolaide here.

I have not chimmed in lately for two reasons, one there has been so much going on it does take a while to digest.

Two, I am not at all certain where OK is going with the team and rather than second guess I am leaving it up to the experts. I agree with several here who have said it is hard to lose players that have fought and given all for the team. As well as the players that are left have to show optimism while not having some of their old team and line mates still with the team.

Having said that it is hard to see where OK is going with so many fowards. But I am still reserving judgement for the season. Lets see what they can do and for all the newbies on this blog if you have a beef go tell/ask them about it.

Maybe they have good reasoning and we are not seeing it yet. My guess is all those forwards are trade bate and maybe just maybe our D is not as bad as we all were lead to believe.

Anyway the one thing I know for sure is I will be there supporting the Bolts all the way to where ever we go and I am sure it is somewhere but the cellar.

Polishing the rosies..

Go Bolts!!

[Nate Dogg]

For everyone who plans on going (can't make it personally,) and asking OK Hockey about our defense, here's some more food for thought: Maybe we can put some more trust in the young d-core.

Now here me out...
1) Boylegate? Not really...I'm not sure whether it's a good thing or a bad thing that he's gone...it's too early to tell, but I do know this: out of the 37 games he played in, the Lightning were 11-22-4! With Boyle out of the lineup, the Lightning went 20-20-5! Now I know Boyle played the majority of the games after Brad Richards got traded, but still! That's gotta say something! Minus Lukowich, you pretty much have the same d-lineup that we had last year, but NOW we have Carle instead and a legimate goltending duo (Holmqvist/Denis doesn't cut it) to back up the same core.

2) Add that to another year of seasoning to Ranger and Picard, it already is an improvement over the dman core we had while Boyle was hurt.

3) Also, with Tortorella gone, we now have a chance to implement systems/schemes that fit the group of defensemen, which should only make them play better. Last year's "wheel and deal" system did not truly fit our d-group, as they either didn't have the "wheels" (Lukowich, Lundin) or the smarts to "deal" (O'Brien)

4) Even more scoring punch. Last year we had to win with offense. That idealogy isn't likely to change this year with our young defensemen core. What is expected to change is a much higher amount of goals. With all the additions and depth on forward, it would be hard to imagine we don't score more goals than we did last year!

All that said, I can sleep better about our d-core...

Night!
Nate Dogg

[GP]

Boltflasher,

V4's if I remember correctly were around 48% and Malone's were around 38%.

[Boltflasher]

GP, what were Vinny's stats on faceoffs? ...and check Malone's as well if you don't mind..I do think Roberts has been a good face off during his career though he's not a center...good for the PK...

[Boltflasher]

I'd be very happy if they do sign Grats...but it creates quite a surplus...training camp will be a like a pro football camp on who gets cut...

[skp]

i think gratton brings the same qualities is a roberts or a recchi, plus more ability to influence a game on the ice...he is a leader and a warrior on the ice, and if he's healthy i don't see the sense in the move. agree with most of the moves so far, but leaving no room for guys like jokinen and gratton (maybe even oullet) sure seems like throwing the baby out with the bathwater....

[Patrick G.]

The Lightning really should have re-signed Roy. At this point all we can hope is that Koci gets a shot with the Lightning, as Arty ISN'T an enforcer, nor is Tarnasky or O'Brien.

I just can't wait to watch all the injuries pile up because of cheapshots and clubs not being afraid of the Bolts' enforcer(s)

[GP]

Boltflasher,

Your question on who was going to take the key faceoffs gave me the chance to look at stats .... which is an addiction.

Halpern - 52%
Hall - 50.3%
Prospal - 55.7% (took A LOT of draws in Philly)
Roberts - 71.4 (I thought his % was skewed to a point of being funny. The site did not provide how many draws were actually taken)

Gratton had a 54.5% last season.

So who takes the draws? What does everyone think?

[Boltflasher]

Absolutely great post David....unfortunately the ones who need to hear it are deaf...they are too anxious to go "I told you so" when things fail...every work place (and these blogs) seems to have one or two of these guys (for awhile...)

[David (Clearwater, Fl)]

As for the fans who feel they've been patient with the new owners but still have their doubts, two things. First, if the team hasn't even conducted their first practice let alone take the ice for an actual NHL game then chances are you have not been quite patient enough. It almost sounds like you're saying that the time to produce has come and gone for these new players and now you've lost all patience. Easy, they haven't even been fitted for their sweaters yet.

Second, if you feel like you have questions/doubts about the new owners then show up to the meeting. Name any other ownership group anywhere anytime in any sport that would host such a meeting for the fans, and don't overlook the fact that it is free to attend. Name one. I think this demonstrates that not only are they willing to spend money to bring a winning club to town, but they care enough to hear out your concerns in the meantime. Again, no other owner(s) in the entirety of the sporting world would do this.

I think the only intelligent position for a fan to hold to right now is that of undecided. The proof is in the putting and there hasn't been the chance for any of that yet. You can certainly be cautious and/or even pesimistic, but at least remian open and somewhat undecided until we've seen somthing on the ice.

You know the old adage commonly asociated with last place or losing entities "there's no where to go but up"? Well that isn't exactly true. You got plenty of room to move laterally still when you're at the bottom of the league. That's where the Lightning were last season, if you recall, and the new owners have made one thing certain, they have no intentions of moving laterally.

It's always sad to see players go who fought and gave all they had for the organization and more importantly guys who won a cup with the organization. However, the Lightning have tried to reproduce that glory for the past 3 seasons and have only seen decreasing measures of success in the process. Something(s) had to change. I'll maintain in the "open but cautious" camp myself with measure of optimism mixed in until I've seen something on the ice that compells me to take a more concrete stance on these guys.

[Boltflasher]

According to "that" other newspaper, Barrie has said they really like the young D-men they have which is why they are building a large group of forwards...not sure I buy that..

[Casper]

I'll be rooting for Chris and Andre, wherever they are.

Town meeting? Can't make it, but somebody please bring the torches and pitchforks.

Find out why the *firetruck* we cannot focus of defensive improvement. If anybody mentions Carle or Hutchinson in that explanation, they get the fork!

Tell Cubby and Bucky there is a thing called three-way dealing.

For example only:
Sure, the El Stinko's won't send Bouwmeester here directly. But they'd send him to Phoenix ---ooops, they already traded with them----how about Columbus? We send forwards there and they, in turn flip Big Bouw back to us. Think out, whom does a Columbus have (or would have, with our help) that the Panthers covet?

We don't need big stars on defense or anywhere. We're pretty loaded/lucky just with #4, 26. We need effective coaching to bring together a cohesive unit of big timers and lunch pailers.

Still not seeing a defensive guru around these parts.

[schlomo]

i for one am going to miss Roy's interviews with his team mates during the intermissions. He realy did not seem like the same person that was on the ice throwing blows.

[Bryan]

Live around the corner from Chris, he seemed to be moving around just fine, seen him out with the kid and if I remember correctly, the dog.

Town hall should be interesting. I'd like to ask them what the crap they're thinking with Roberts and Recchi.

Fellow lightning fans I think we have one of "those" owners.

[mini_espo]

Gratton was hurt last year so i have to give him credit. I really believe his problem is he does take shifts off and does not really go all out during his shifts. He looks laksidaisical(sp?) at times.

[Bolflasher]

I do think its a good question as to who will take that important important offensive or defensive faceoff late in a tie game...could mean the difference in some of those 1 goal losses the Bolts had so many of last year...

That being said, I only thought there would be room for Grats if they thought Halpern was not coming back, but they may be expecting him now. He would be that faceoff guy I would imagine...

[Don in St. Pete]

OK and Len, We have been very patient and other than the Boyle uprising extremely fosupportive of the moves you've made thus far. However, the extraneous signings of forwards far beyond their scope and potential have raised serious doubts about your decisionmaking and talent evaluation.

i am not feeling this managment team. i've said it before i'll say it again....Shady

[Bolflasher]

OK, here's a chance for all the Doom and Gloomers to look directly in their eyes and ask their doom & gloom questions and get answers...

[Jim-NJ]

I guess when you throw your whole hand in for a set of new cards, you're bound to lose some Aces.

Losing Grats, at his salary, is a huge mistake though.

Jim

[Don in St. Pete]

I am starting to feel the agnst of the Boyle and Richy fans regarding the handling of this franchise. While I can understand ownership wanting to bring in their own scouts, coach and management team, it seems inexcusable to not let a guy like Grats know he was not in their plans and the same could be said for Andre. Whose going to win the draw when the game is on the line?

[Voice of the Turtle]

Chris Gratton is a lionhearted player who never took a shift off even when he was playing with pain or blurred vision. Add to that, he could take the measure of any Lightning Center in a face off circle - in fact he is one of the best in the league.

I have seen no reports that reference his health since his operation; so, perhaps it can be assumed that the lack of Lightning interest is predicated on some problems on that score. If his health is back, I am sure that he will reappear in a NHL uniform.

As for Tampa Bay love object, Andre Roy, it will be sad to see the Bolts hit the ice without #36. He was a great cop and an undeniable fan favorite. The disputes with the controversial Lightning former coach, who still roams the hockey world without credentials, may have poisoned the well for this soft-hearted tough guy. If not summoned back by the new owner/kids, he will be sorely missed by his many friends of all ages in this town.

I try not to get to sentimental, but where hockey players are concerned, I lose it. Good luck Chris and Andre, I hope you guys find your way back here, but, if you do not, I shall always be rooting for you both.