Looks like Koci makes the team; Malone out

Before we get to enforcer David Koci, wanted to make sure you saw this. The owner of the HC Slovan team said the game will be streamed live on the Internet at osporte.sk.

Anyway, nobody associated with the Lightning will talk about the last cut it must make to get down to the required 24 players, including extra goalie Karri Ramo. But reading between the lines today, you can make a good argument that Koci likely will start the season with Tampa Bay.

Consider coach Barry Melrose has been talking up the big Czech since before the start of the season, and made a big deal of saying he has promised his stars they always will be protected. On Monday, the Lightning traded Nick Tarnasky to the Predators. Tarnasky is no enforcer, but he was a willing fighter. And while Tampa Bay has a few of those still around, it certainly doesn't want Vinny Lecavalier and Ryan Malone regularly handling those duties. Evgeny Artyukhin is big and can hit, but he is not a great fighter.

So that leaves Koci. Melrose would not discuss the whys and wherefores of the team's thought process, but he did say Koci's skating (a big concern before preseason) is better than expected. He also added this:

"He's been great," Melrose said. "He's one of those players you have to have on your team. He lets your star players sleep at night."

Read into that what you will. Given all the circumstances, though, seems like Koci has the inside track and the final cut will come from elsewhere.

Other stuff from the morning skate:

My plan today was to try to interview whoever was sitting in Section C2, Row 8, Seat 47 at the Samsung Arena. You have to sit in this seat to believe it. It is in the middle of the upper bowl behind one of the nets, but is literally four feet behind what has to be an 18-inch wide pillar that helps to hold up the ceiling. In other words, it blocks the view of the middle of the ice from net to net. So if you want to see the goalies, you have to lean into the beer of the guy or gal sitting nest to you. But HC Slovan owner Eric Assimakopoulos said the seat is not sold.

Lightning coach Barry Melrose said Ryan Malone, originally scheduled to play, will sit out tonight with a sore shoulder. Radim Vrbata will take his place. It's been a tough preseason for Vrbata, who has bounced around from line to line looking for someone with whom to develop some chemistry. He began preseason with center Steven Stamkos and Malone.

"I really like him as a player," hockey ops chief Brian Lawton said. "I really haven't seen a lot of great magic or chemistry out there. That's why he's moved around a bit."

That sets up an interesting juxtaposition. Lawton says he sees no chemistry from Vrbata, so Vrbata is shifted from line to line. Vrbata, acquired as a free agent and given a three-year, $9-million contract, says he can't develop any chemistry while he moves around.

"I would rather stick with one (line) for all the preseason games to develop some chemistry," Vrbata said. "But that's what the coaches want to do, so I have to go with it. But for me, personally, it would be better to figure out the person I was going to play with, how they play."

Melrose said all he wants is for Vrbata to play hard.

"I want to see him hunt the puck a little harder. I want to see him win more battles," Melrose said. "The puck can't always come to him. He's got to work to get in the holes. He has to work to win battles. At times I've seen that in him, at times I haven't. It's just a case where he has to compete a little harder. Even with his talent, the puck is not getting to him. He has to have the puck, hopefully he'll realize that, compete a little harder and everything will be taken care of."

Pretty wild scene at the morning press conference as Slovakian reporters peppered Melrose and Vinny Lecavalier with questions. Of defenseman Vladimir Mihalik, who will make the team in the short term thanks, in part, to Paul Ranger's injured shoulder, Melrose said, "He's one of our biggest surprises in camp." ... Defenseman Andrej Meszaros, of Slovakia, who said Monday about 20 family and friends were coming to the game, now claims his ticket list is up to 30. ... Of HC Slovan coach Zdeno Ciger, whom played with the Lightning in 2001-02, Lecavalier, a former teammate, said, "We had some real chemistry. I love Z. He's a great guy, and I'm glad he's doing so well here. He's definitely doing something right." Ciger has led Slovan to consecutive Slovakia elite league titles. ... Mike Smith will start in goal and play the entire game.

As I explained on Monday and today, the Samsung Arena, which was built as an open-air facility and was finally covered in 1954, is a great place, with 8,000 steep seats, an intimate feel and those crazy view-blocking poles. It also does not have a press box. It does have seats with little work tables in the stands reserved for the press. Problem today was it was revealed that at least some of those seats were sold, and myself and ESPN.com's Scott Burnside did not have a place to sit and work while the game was in progress. After much discussions between the NHL representative here and an arena executive, the issue was resolved. Much more accommodating was the press conference room, which included a server behind a bar, pouring juice, soda and water, and coffee into regular coffee cups with spoons and dishes on which to carry the cups.

And if you think that is service, you'll love this. On Monday, as we sat talking to Ciger in the arena stands, another Slovan executive brought him a drink in a pretty, but small glass. Ciger took a sip and scrunched up his face, swallowing quickly. Seventy proof vodka will do that to you.

Cheers.

Comments

[PD]

I'll take the tickets
No way I want to trade Marty

[ajax]

Trade Marty and you will be dining with Jay everyday. You are fired PD!!!!
Your Golden Parachute (penalty) will be Lightning tickets, right next to me!

[PD]

Ajax if that does happen I'm already prepared like any GM.
I'm looking right at MSL, a great value contract, going for a #1.

[PD]

Abacaus at the ready Ajax.
Almost impossible to see them lopping much off.

[ajax]

Get your real numbers ready, we are in a holding period. Within two maybe three weeks I predict your roster will be at least 5 million more than actual. Negotiations on hold. Gives ya time to wrangle Mr. GM.
But I like the thinking PD!!!

[PD]

Humour me Ajax, if the Bolts are at $53.57 right now why do you insist on a number of 48?

Its a strawman number, I get to make a team with the same amount.

Do you actually think cool Koules can now chop almost 6 million off his roster?
How and why?
Most would be on one way contracts so the number can't be changed unless they trade players for picks.
They would be crucified in the press and in the stands if they tried that.

If that was the Koules direction then they wouldnt have signed albatross 6 year contracts with Malone and Mezsaros.

Sorry level playing field and I have much the better team. Your strawman number doesnt cut it.

[léo]

Oh hey, the Brethren were ahead of me on this one, they got on it in a hurry.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2Uqzt2f8DU&fmt=18
In all fairness, the Boston one was more nerve-racking, but this is still a HUMDINGER!
Season hasn't even started yet...
P.

[léo]

If anybody cares,
ANOTHER preseason game? My Boys beat the Champs again.
Doesn't mean anything, I know.
Thought you'd might want to see the Pac-Man in action before he's retrograded (no room). Or Max-Pac, if you prefer. The Packinator. Max von Paco. Patches. Pax. What'ever suits yore fancy, I reckon.
The Power Forward we've been waiting for, for so long.
Not since John Leclair, can you feel my pain? And STILL, we make do! But soon...mwa-ha-ha!
Oh, and of course, guess who's got the Highlight of the Night? Guess. C'mooooon, take a guess.
Give you a hint: It's a save. Second time he's done it (first against Bahston; you may remember if your eyes are hockey Memory). A heart-attacker.
P.

[ajax]

PD, sir. The whole conversation revolves around a real number of approx 48 million. I have stated a zillion times if they were going to spend the cap, LOTS, of things would of been different. You are going to be squarely on a number that in time will prove to be very unrealistic. I want to see your 48-50 million dollar team, and that will happen soon. Humor me.
Then you immediately defend your 55 mil or so by saying they have to. Again, that ain't the argument. Apples to apples. I say we are going to field a competitive team at 48-50 mil. You say who cares about the argument cause we will stink. But your 55 mil payroll is a dream and not realistic to even consider. If I knew they were going to spend your type money I think Boyle would of never even been considered. I think that is a fair an honest statement. But they will go down and when they do, WHEN they do, you have no shot of making a decent team keeping all of the big boys and filling the last 8 spots with 500-600k players. OOPS, that has been the last two years and BAM, we are back full cirlce on the conversation of keeping all of the studs. WIth your new goalie you'd be at 31 million with just 5 players(35 million with Stamkos). Impossible simply impossible to field a team with 2/3 of your team making an average of less than a million. PD we proved that two years in a row.
ANd can we make an agreement to never bring Bryzgalov and Koules in the same sentence again?? That was the old gang's fault, 110%
I think, and this was the original sentence 3 days ago. The new mix at 48mil will be a much better overall team than any mix possible that includes all Big 5. Before the blog kills both of us, night night and time will tell. Go Bolts, Go Hollywood.
Something had to change and thank goodness Hollywood at least opened the checkbook and tried.

[PD]

Bad trade Flasher either way

[Boltflasher]

I agree they blew it on Bryzgalov but disagree that Kuba/Boyle is a good D pairing, in fact, it is awful. Richie needed to go, but if they had brought in Bryzgalov, they could have gone in another direction with Brad for that #1 D-man and still added Mesczaros but its all hindsight. However, what really hurts in that Richie trade right now is Halpern's knee...no pun intended...

[PD]

Ajax forgot all about Lukowich , you are right on that one so I put him on the blueline , too bad for Mihalik.
Puts my team at 54.8 to a 58.

Im off slightly datewise on Bryzgalov but not by much and it was ridiculous not to grab him. Feaster wanted to.We had dibs to grab him for nothing.

You still have to tell me why I have to cut 4-5 mill. They can't afford to not win early here because the franchise is at risk . But if they do then who is Barrie cutting?

Me if forced, I trade Marty for a very good young D man if thats what it comes down to, I doubt it will.

So I have Lecavalier, Richards, and Stamkos at Center. Bryzgalov in Goal. That's the essential #1 in hockey strength down the middle.
I have a good 1st D pairing with Boyle and Kuba making the rest of them play in better situations.

Three good lines and a crash line.
One of best PP's in the league.

I'm happy with that.

Side note:If they do chop the team salary into the mid 40's you might as well call Mayflower because the franchise would be moving. Losing in this economy will mean an empty barn and major losses for underfinaced Koules.

They HAVE to win.

My sense is that decision gets made around December.

[Don in St. Pete]

Marosh, You are our eyes and ears in eastern Europe, and for that we are eternally grateful. If you can find your way to Tampa/St. Pete I will buy the tickets and you can stay in one of our spare bedroom's. We must seek to promote International Goodwill on all levels, including fan enjoyment.

[ajax]

PD, again a fast one. After months/years of harping on Richy you really thought I meant to trade Vinny and keep Brad. Your nose must of grew a foot. Lukowich was traded with Boyle so you would have to either play him or pay hima as if there was no Boyle trade Luk would still be on team.
The Bolts will not stay at 53 for long, so you can play that tune until then, and when they do I will be writing you to get down to the real number. You will have some time to think about axing 5-7 million PD. Just the facts. For now you are talking apples and cranapples. When the salary gets settled at 48-50 million, the truth will be written about the star system.
Now the real goof. November 16,2007 PD. Ooops.
http://ducks.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=343488
I will give you a head start: so as nothing will "slip" thru the cracks.
Vinny, Marty, Danny, Brad, Kuba, Lukowich, Denis. 6 guys and Denis' salary cap hit. Lukowich had a contract so please do not ignore this. Fair is fair, for arguments sake.
6 guys 32.026 million. Even at 50 million you have 14 spots to fit and 17.974 to spend.
The clock is ticking.
Bryzgalov isn't really apart of this, as I clearly pointed out above.
But even if we are at the wishing well, including him would give you 7 guys, 36.276. Fill in the blanks at 50 million PD. 13 more guys for 13.724 million.
You have gotten a reprieve by arguing this now. But reality will catch up to your argument when they get down below 50 and then it will be time to fess up.
Poke Poke Yeah, I would rather have Richey the Vinnie. Poke Poke.

[Don in St. Pete]

I loved Brad, and hated his contract, but feastie would have looked like schmuch not resigning the Conn Smythe winner at whatever cost. You have to understand that when we won the cup, Richards, Modin and Stillman together were making less than Brad got on his contract, and that was just the thing, Richy was a playmaker not a scorer. Brad was a victim of his own contract. He couldn't ( and nobody else can either ) fill three holes at once. The Boyle trade is the one that's nipping us in the @$$ now as it appears that Carle wil be lucky to log minute as a #6. I sure hope Wishart develops or we'll be forever slammed for this trade.

[ajax]

Matthew I was pulling a funny. Thought that was obvious. PD is constantly drumming the "keep all 4 all-stars" and build around them. He loves Richy, so I thought a cool suggestion was to trade V and keep Richards. IF they're salaries/cap hit are comparible I think the talent level would be very comparible as well. I don't think a GM in the world would rather have RIchards than VL4. I think that kind of hits to the core of what PD and I argue about all the time. Let me say it for the zillionth time. Didn't hate Brad, just hated his (value)/salary.
PS. As did almost everyother writer and GM world wide(except PD)

[PD]

You are hilarious Ajax, I put a much better plan together and you try and move the posts.

That's the team I Ice instead of trading Richards which was always the question as you well know..look it up.

You called me on it and now are afraid to admit that you are totally full of it.

Bryzgalov was available at the wire thats only last February. Same time Richards was in flux and Barrie was in full consultation on that deal.(See Feaster)
Barrie blew and I just showed you why. Thats where I started , you know a few months ago.

Oh and Denis .89 added still way under cap with a cushion.
You can pay for Lukowich the Bolts dont have to. They arent showing it.

Why again to I have to make big cuts Of wise one.??
I will when the Bolts do until then I get to play dollar to dollar. The current team is at $53.57 vs my $54.57 to a 58 Cap. If it makes you happier Ill flip Malone for Prospal and be dead even in dollars.

You said It couldnt be done..voila.

My team is 25% better than the current one that couldn't beat the house league team in 60 minutes today..same price tag.

Matthew, good one.

[matthew]

Ajax your the guy that wanted to get rid of Vinny instead of Richards, that makes a lot of sense de te de!

[ajax]

PD, are you Barnum and Baily or what. Bryzgalov. How far do we get to go back for the dream team?? The new owners weren't even on board then. Once again a fly in the slippery ointment.
IF IF IF??
Also add Denis and Lukowich's approx 40% salaries to your list. Bumps you to approx 55.5 mil. You can't stay their and you have lots to trim, at least 5 more like 7 million. The next 2-4 weeks will paint a truer picture, so start working on your cuts(big cuts, not tweaks) I do love the dialouge though so keep this thread open and I want to see how you weave your GM magic the next few weeks.
But how far can we go back?? Can we go back to 2005 and not sign the Richards contract in the first place PD?? That frees up 7.8 mil and we can have Boyle Mezzy Carle Ranger O'Brien and Lukowich?? I would much rather as GM have that D then Richards anywhere in this conversation. See how you have kinda skewed the real spirit of the contest.
Can we just stick to what really happened?? OR is Koules to blame for Feaster and past sins.
By the way, I will repeat, you need to get your 55.5 million dollar list down to about 48 as this team will be their (at least to 50 million and then lets see how your team looks) Again, You forgot to add in Denis and Lukowich to your salary mix. You must pay for guys weather you cut them or not. Hence you are at 55.5 million.
I like our forwards better than yours. Prospal Roberts Jokinen and Recchi or just Brad?? The only difference is Tarnasky Ward and Koci. With your lineup it would be 27 minutes a night again as their is no 4th line at all. BE honst those 3 guys above would get Roy minutes. 6 minutes a night at top. We are going to use all 12 forwards with the present roster. It will pay huge dividends as the season wears on.
D?? we could argue all day. They were the worse 6 in the entire league last year, why would you ever break that up?? You didn't. You actually like Kuba PD??
Goalie is probably in your favor but you changed the whole rules of the contest on the fly. ANd I love Smith, regardless of Bryzgalov.
PD net you are at almost 56 million. That was the whole point of the argument. They aren't coming in, or at least staying at 56 million very long. Get your roster down to 50 million, please.
Do I get to pull a 4 million dollar Dman and add him to our current roster, cause that would then level the final payroll/cap numbers. ANd another 4 million dollar D blows your tream D out of the water PD.
Anywho I do appreciate the thoughts and the effort and the opinion. SO much better than the two sentence, you are all idiot, routine. In total I think you are way out of whack with the final number and the only way to get there is to chop Malone or Kuba from your list and add another minimum wage player, hence further weakening your dream team. We are going to ax small salaries to get down. Bryzgalov?? Got any good land in the Everglades PD??

[Marosh]

The game was good, our seats were good enough, people were enjoying the game.

I didn´t what to do first, i was looking at the black jerseys like at the girl dancing close to my opened mouth.

really it sounds like early x-mas for me today,.

The refs .... too many bad calls, tampa plays a half game PK!!!

The players what I like were: 14, 76, 26, 41, 16, 8, (4) just because its his 2nd game... 34 and 18 were great on the PK.

I was really disapointed with the play of number 6, 91(very bad) and is chris gratton still able to play on this level?? I know the icerink was different....

What I really missed was dan boyle sorry, he is a terrible home zone protector, but he is the best puck mover with sid in the NHL!!!

Mike Smith was good, but his style is not that What we need to win a cup. He has good size and stick handling skills but he is doing to much moves what can kill himself. Why is he jumping for the puck flying 2 meters over the bar?? He is young aggressive goalie!!

Before the shootout I said how the players will finish their shots, with jussi and vinnie i was right, people around me couldn´t believe how did I know that :))))

really good enjoy for me, btw I was looking for the seat C2,8R,47 but Damian wasn´t there. Of course he got a horrible seat for watching, listening the radio can be better :)

MY finale result is: this is a memory what I like, but I hope visiting the ST.PETE will have a much bigger impact on me! There is only NHL and nothing else men!!!

Thanks Don, you are on the way to become my best friend here :)

I am sorry for my child´s vocabulary, but I have just been started to learn English properly

Not much to take home here. The D stunk

Tampa wins the shootout 2-1 thanks to goals by Juice and Vinny!!

[Geografer]

Shots by Smitty? I don't know that we will know that til after (if ever) the stats get posted by NHL - not something they are talking about (at least in language I can understand.
End of OT still tied 2-2 - going to a shootout.

[Steve R]

How many shots has Smith faced?

[Patrick]

Great to hear that Koci has made the team.

[Geografer]

Meszaros just took a stupid penalty and they scored on very quickly on the Powerplay which means Tampa is now down 2-1

[Kincaid]

PD not bad.
If I was an NHL GM and could add Richards Boyle and Bryzgalov I know which roster I take.

[Adam]

Smitty saving us so far. Our defense is skating with cement shoes. I don't think Ranger would do enough to fix this porous defense....sigh....doesn't look good.

[PD]

Ajax,since you asked and just to put a cork in you, here is the much stronger Bolt lineup that I would be icing to start the season had I had control for the past year.

Do contrast versus the bloated, wasted cap lineup bought by genius Barrie.
They would kick this team's a**

Stronger up front because you have Lecavalier, Richards and Stamkos at Center. Best threesome in the league along with Wings.

Stronger and deeper on D because you have All Star Boyle and vet Kuba.More physical with Picard and Mihalik.

Much stronger in goal with Bryz a young, solid PROVEN #1 who I would have picked up for nothing.

Plenty of toughness. Koci would likely be someone else but he stays as an ear mark for now.

Guess you have an abacus or something because I bought it at almost dollar for dollar with the present sad lineup and still have a 4 million Cap cushion.

Bryzgalov 4.25
Ramo 0.65
Helenius 0.5
Boyle 6.6
Ranger 0.94
Kuba 3
Obrien 0.93
Picard 0.8
Mihalik 0.5
Lundin 0.69
V4 6.8
Malone 4.5
Stamkos 3.7
Marty 5.2
Brad Richards 7.8
Gratton 1.2
Tarns 0.52
Ward 0.7
Hall 0.6
Craig 0.8
Arty 1.5
Koci 0.5
Konopka 0.5
GrinderFA 0.5
53.68

[Geografer]

1-1 tie

and Arty is in the box AGAIN for boarding.

[PD]

Thanks Stevr. Schenn has been awesome.
Wilson says he has not been beaten 1 on 1 all pre season. Regular shifts hes about +4 or 5. Scored the winning goal last nite too. Leafs have 7 or 8 NHL dmen so my guess is that they let Schenn play the allowed 10 games then send him back to Captain the National junior team to another gold.

[TJ]

well, nevermind. I tried the link again and it works this time. Is it still 1-0 Bolts? I'm actually watching at work and have to keep switching back and forth from the game (wouldn't want the bosses to know I'm watching on job time...lol).

[TJ]

I've tried that link, but it keeps asking me for a password.

[slapshot]

the rangers looked realy hot today, beating bern 8-1

[Steve R]

PD, here's a story for you

http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/18210-Campbells-Cuts-Keeping-Schenn-would-show-Toronto-not-turning-over-new-leaf.html

[Don in St. Pete]

Arty was serving the 2 minute penalty called on Smitty for interference.

[Don in St. Pete]

Meszaros has been awesome. He must have played 9 minutes during the first period. Craig had Jokinen wide open and shot instead. V4 has looked good.

[slapshot]

great goal by Arty

looks like the 2 years in Russia paid off.

[Geografer]

Great hit by Smitty - oh look Arty is in the penalty box AGAIN!

[Andrew]

LMAO! I liked Smith's hit on the guy in the corner. You can tell he used to be Marty's backup.

[Don in St. Pete]

Hutchinson has no business being out there. Matching him up with Carle only compounds the problem.

[sandro]

our defense looks bad

[Andrew]

Has to rebuffer a lot for me. Still, better than nothing.

[Don in St. Pete]

Slapshot, Thanks! Artyukhin coast to coast! What a sweet goal by the big guy.

[slapshot]

Don in St. Pete

Go to this link to watch the game (it woks)

http://stream.m4.livetv.sk/STV3live?MSWMExt=.asf

[slapshot]

Don in St. Pete

Go to this link

http://stream.m4.livetv.sk/STV3live?MSWMExt=.asf

[Eric]

Hey that seems to work. Thanks G!

[Don in St. Pete]

Slapshot, On this website, how do you get the video to come up?

http://www.osporte.sk/index.php

I think the game should have started by now.

[G]

Try this link to stream the game (on right now):

http://stream.m4.livetv.sk/STV3live?MSWMExt=.asf

[slapshot]

BREAKING NEWS

NA NA NA NA NA NA

Khabibulin was put on waivers.

HA

I'm taking Melrose's job on ESPN