Lawton: Malik not signed ... yet

Well, we got the basic plot right last night.

Hockey ops chief Brian Lawton went on the record with the Times and one other reporter on Wednesday, confirming the team and defenseman Marek Malik have a "tentative" deal -- Lawton didn't say how much but it is believed to be for one year and somewhere between $1-million and $1.2-million -- that will not be signed until Malik proves he is ready to play.

"Before he signs a contract, he has to be in game shape," Lawton said.

Under the rules of the collective bargaining agreement, players can use their own judgment whether to skate with a potential employer without having signed a contract.

That process, Lawton said, begins Thursday night when Malik flies to Tampa from his native Czech Republic and takes a physical. Then, Lawton said, Malik has to get in game shape. Our timetable from last night was generally correct, too. Lawton said there is no chance Malik plays Thursday against the Islanders and a somewhat better chance he plays Tuesday against the Thrashers. The best chance right now is seeing Malik suit up Oct. 25 against the Sharks.

Lawton said Malik has been on Tampa Bay's radar since the summer, and the sides had conversations through training camp.

"Finally, something got worked out that we all can be in agreement with, if everything is as advertised," Lawton said.

Malik, 33, a 12-year veteran, has 33 goals, 163 points, is plus-136 and has 584 penalty minutes in 649 career games. 

   

Comments

[Goalman]

Could someone add up the numbers for me. Truly,I forgot them. Lets see,Danny Boyle was making 6.5 million and that's the reason we got rid of him,Right? Carle makes? Marek will make? Hutchinson makes? Zenopka makes?Jason ward makes?Craig makes? Mezaros makes?Vrbata makes?Recchi makes?Roberts makes?
My head hurts!

[keith]

Goalman, Boyler was worth five of any of those guys. Doesn't make sense at all.

[Casper]

Geez, we go after ANOTHER Czech defender and his name isn't Rotislav Klesa.

Brilliant.

[Alexa]

Our defense is struggling right now. Boyle was the best we had and we let him go for a group of defense who don't even compare to him. can't see the logic behind that move. hopefully ranger's return will do somethingg for us

[Topshelf]

Thanks for clearing that up, I wondered why TSN reported it, but nothing on the Tampa Bay Lightning website.

Reason we didn't sign Malik in the off-season, but have been playing hardball with him. I like Malik but no way should the team be paying him much more than the $1.2 mill we will sign him for. Good to see the team wasn't going to overspend and waited for the guy to take a low price.

[stephen]

do you people have any sense. dan boyle couldnt play any defense at all and his goal scoring ability was the only thing that took our attention off his defensive ineptitude. While i think trading and stockpiling players as the "cowboys" have done is admirable it isnt smart in building team chemistry which obviously this team lacks.

[rbc]

dan boyle 4 games, 0 goals, 2 assist +/-1. mezz 3 games 0 goals, 1 assist +/-1. Get real, you people are jokes. Get a clue. go bolts!!!!!

[coach bill]

I was in the middle of posting my tidbit of useless wit when my post got erased. I'm back and Stephen just stole my thunder. Danny Boy was great at bringing the puck up but he forgot to stop at the blue line. As a D he really was a liability ( -29 in 37 games!)He was largely resposible for the "patented" odd man rushes we were so accostumed to watch in horror. Dumping his 6.5 mil helped to bring in lots of players. I wish we had taken the D a little more seriously but I have to think we're looking at some trades. Our new ownership has spent alot of money and are trying to bring us a winning team. I think we should back off and pray for the best. Our goaltending looks good. Our offensive lines should gel. Danny Boy wouldn't help us at all with all the offense we have now. We really need the D to come together.

[schoony]

GET OVER BOYLE!!!

[Don in St. Pete]

Dan Boyle had 3 penalties in last night's game as well. Lucky for the Sharks the hapless Blue Jackets were only able to tally 1 goal when he was in the box. Jason Blake had 2 penalties, one of which lead to a PP goal for the Jackets as well.

[Hardhat0038]

Boyle was not a physical presence, I love the guy, nut he's not worth 5 of anybody....

[skp]

plus 136 is nothing to scoff at

[Sal the Barber]

That's Rob Blake in the Shark Tank.

We got Boyle from Fla because they try to have some semblance of defense and Danny got laughed out of there. The joke was on them the way he could generate offense and score, but they got the last laugh over his 'defending'.

[kincaid]

He really must suck sal to be on the 1st team pairing on a legit cup team.
get real

[Hockey Chic]

Gotta say that Paulie sure has to feel the pressure of coming back and so called fixing the D. Much like Boiler did when he came back after his freak accident.

I do think it is way to early to hit he panic button. The one thing I see with this team is that they are not afraid to admit that there are problems.

Unlike the Tortie era of there is an elephant in the room but hey let not talk about it. So I feel like they are aware and are trying to shore it up early in the season rather than waiting. It seemed last year they went crazy at the trade deadline. Next thing you know they are all saying whoa nellie what the hell we going to do now?

I am still hopeful, still breaking out the rosies and looking forward to a Bolts win for my first home game of the regular season. I am really looking forward to seeing someone MSL and company skating rather than me. Five games in a weekend is a little much but there is no such thing as to much hockey .

Hey I got er done...

Welcome back Paulie and lets kick some isles butts..

Go Bolts!!

i agree, we should get Denis back.

[ajax]

Always the argument of money in money out, but one thing everyone forgets. When you pay someone 6-7-8- million you still have to have other people, all who make money. So anytime you have a conversation about any top paid star that is gone remember, his salary usually necessitated a bunch of minimum wage people in our pay scheme. WHen Danny and Lukowich were traded you got rid of actually 8.2 million in salary. Considering we in net replaced those two with about 4 guys, you really have to look at about 9.3 million (minimum) that we got rid of. The return on investment is what fuels these blogs. I am, on a scale of 1 to 10 about 7.4 optimistic that it will come together. Some of you are 9.9, some of you are 0.00. Ooooh well.

[Hockey Chic]

Ajax,

I know it may surprise you but I am about a 8.25 % convinced about the team and the D right now. I guess we will see. ROI is and always should be the bottom line.

That being said maybe I should look at that with regard to the $10.00 a beer consumption at the game. 10.00 = one huge headache in the morning and a drained bank account. lol

Go Bolts!!

who are those 4 replacements again?

[ajax]

PS, Picard getting #5 minutes with Ottawa, O'brien 3 games, all #5 minutes with Vancouver. Lukowich getting #5 minutes with SJ and ouch, was a healthy scratch one game. None of them are above 17 minutes a game, draw your own conclusion on the studs we let go.
Time will tell.

[PD]

Ajax neglects to point out Vancouver has one of the better D's in the league, Picards been solid on a good Ottawa team ditto Lukowich on a cup contender.
Kuba has 4 points

And that 1st rounder we gave is on the burner, so to speak.

You know as opposed to playing hero on an AHL defence.

But why quibble

[Voice of the Turtle]

The high value of Danny Boyle is indisputable, but, mistake or not, the deal was made. The only thing that matters is adjusting the team's present roster to the circumstances that prevail right now.

Malik, if and when ready to play, fills in some important holes on the Lightning team. It appears that he might be just the player needed to solve some current blueline problems. Considering that he was earning $2.75 million in New York, $1.2 million does not seem unreasonable - he holds the proper credentials.

How can one not respect Marek Malik's career achievements?

[Sarasota Bill]

I'm saving these posts from you clowns who think this roster of has beens, Pillsbury doughboys, castoffs, and prima donnas will make the playoffs. It's not that they have just lost but the extent they've been outhustled and outshot.

And you can't expect a coach who's obsessed with the lore of the cowbell to lead this team out of sub-mediocrity.

[PD]

Bill, some here are on straight helium

Vott , agree the milks spilled and what the hey, nothing at all to lose giving Malik a shot.

[ajax]

PD forgets to point out they all are #5, anyway you slice the cheese, they get minor minutes with their new team, SURPRIZE SURPRIZE. See to PD, a number 5 anywhere else, even at a paltry 16 minutes a game is a proven NHL stud, PD always has a reason why all of our guys stink and all of the losers we let go are awesome in their new home. Luko, Healthy scratch?? Ottawa has been flip flopping a forward at D this year so yeah, Picard really has to beat out alot there. In the last 2 games he had 12/14 less shifts than the 4 guys in front of him. Yeah he is getting major playing time, please. Kuba LIKE HERE can play the point on the PPlay and struggles everywhere else 5/5. He has 4 points and is his usual stellar non-existant self on D as he is a +/- of 0. Brad Richards had 5 goals in 30 games with Dallas Last year. What a stud!!!! If we got him back, PD would immediately post, "another horrible forward brought in by inept management" But as long as he plays for Dalls he is a "superstar let go" Hard to guess who was the 0.00 on the blog??

[jim-nj]

danny shoulda been a winger with this new system. Perfect set up man who could find the net from anywhere in the zone. Great skater passer shooter playmaker. Defensively he was a liability I'll agree but he was good at d when he wasn't getting beat to his goalie. Trading him was stupid. They shoulda found a way for a guy like that to fit in.

[Jayson]

Bill would you care to explain who the "pillsbury doughboys, castoffs, and prima donnas" are? Id love to hear this.

[PD]

You are frothing again Ajax

Me I'd rather play my part on a good D, but thats just me

[Jayson]

I dont understand why everyone is complaining that our defense is "bad" because Boyle isnt here. Are you high?

In essence for trading Boyle we got Carle and a big piece of getting Meszaros. Both have the same over better stats then Boyle thus far into the early parts of the season.

The difference is those two are YOUNGER, have MORE POTENTIAL, and we get 2 of them for the price of one Danny Boyle. I was a Boyle fan, but I understand hockey and how it works. That trade (and the other for Mez) for GREAT moves, not only for now but even moreso for the future.

[JM]

Turtle -- Malik's "career achievements" are nothing compared to the product he showed on the ice the last three seasons. If he is the solution to a lot of Tampa's blueline problems, you're in for a LONGGGGGGGGG winter.

[Jayson]

JM- And where was he playing the last 3 seasons? Top 2/3 Dman minutes. Which is not what he is suited for. Playing here he will playing 5/6/7 minutes and is an upgrade over Heward. There is no way this is a bad move.

[leo]

If that has to be explained to you, Jayson, you don't know/understand hockey. Get a clue.

[Jayson]

If what has to be explained to me?

[mike p]

first off, the comment above by 'leo' was not the true leo because he does not call people out on 'not knowing hockey'...second, dan boyle WAS a defensive liability and yes it is great to have an offensive defenceman (he is probably the best defence at offence in the league) but not for 7 mil. The other 7 mil d-men are good at both offensive and defensive aspects of the game. I think the real dealbreaker in teh dan boyle trade will be to see how Ty Wishart develops. I don't think carle will ever be a #1 or 2 defenceman but if Wishart developes into that, the trade is well worth it!

[Boltflasher]

You're right, Mike P, that leo was not the real léo. Unfortunately, several of us have had fakers but, hey, you know that saying, "imitation is the greatest compliment". The real léo can get into enuff trouble on his own without the fakers...

[Don in St. Pete]

Kincaid, You really should read the boxscores or watch the game. Boyle is playing on the second defensive pairing in SJ with Lukowich, behin Vlasic and Blake. If he was with Anaheim, Detroit, Montreal, Ottawa anywhere except here he'd be at most a #3 or 4. Just because a guy can move the puck, doesn't mean you throw him out there against the best forwards on the opposing team. Believe me, the Shark's wouldn't be 4-0 if Boyle was playing against the other teams top forwards every shift. If we sign Malik ( along with the return of Ranger ), I think we'll have some good balance and be more consistent and able to weather the surges from the opposition. I like both Niskala and Carle, I think both have great potential, however it's tough to be learning on the job in the NHL. Lundin was a rock during the 1st 39 minutes and 52 seconds last game. However, he made a huge mental blunder when he didn't challenge Pitkanen with 8 seconds left and the subsequent shot was deflected into the back of the net. If he takes away that shot, we go into the locker room up 3-0 with 20 minutes to play. He was on the ice for the next 2 goals as well. I like Lundin, but at this stage of his development he should be playing 12-14 minutes a game or watching from the press box as the 7th d.

[Boltflasher]

Also agree that Carle will probably never be a 1 or 2 and Wishart is what will eventually make or break that deal...

[matthew]

This is a decent deal anyway you slice it. This can only help the team esspecially the return of Ranger our #1 or #2 defenseman however you see it. I really see this as making this a somewhat defensive sound team now. Niskala has picked up basically where Kuba left off at with a decent scoring touch and a somewhat enept ability on defense! Heward will be on the bench which means Mihalak will get big minutes at Norfolk which will determine where he plays next season as our #4 defensman or back in Norfolk! I still see this team getting another sound defenseman before the deadline! Also every game this team is starting to get better. Did anyone think that this team played a great 40 minutes against Carolina and just sat on it. Melrose will get to them and this team will finish the Islanders with ease. Given what I saw the other night I am quite optomistic about this team getting better and jelling a lot more esspecially if Malone stops taking dumb penalties, god and everyone was woried by Arthukhin; just goes to show you. You cant judge a book by its cover!

[Don in St. Pete]

R2KN, Is 1 of the best skating big men in the league. Make no mistake he has the kind of power and moves that define Hossa and Cole. If he can continue to improve on defense and curb the habit of taking cheap penalties, he'll eventually be a top six forward in this league and potentially one of the best power forwards. That being said raw talent does not equate to production and there is much refining in store for the big Russian project. While I'd love to see him on the second line with Stamkos and Vrbata, I'm not sure he has the defensive responsibility necessary to fill that role at this time. If that did come to pass, you could move V20 back with V4 and MSL and put Malone with Gratton and Hall. Now you've got a serious checking line and Jokinen, Roberts and Recchi would be an awesome 4th line. For tomorrow, I see the d as Mez and Krajicek, Ranger and Carle, Niskala and Heward. If and when Malik is signed he replaces Ranger on the 2nd pair, Ranger moves up with Mez and Krajicek drops to the 3rd pair with Niskala and Heward heads to Norfolk as future player coach.

[Voice of Reason]

San Jose 4-0....Tampa Bay 0-3...thats the only numbers you should be worried about!

[Voice of Reason]

All this talk about Mez and Carles stats vs. Boyles stats. Sorry they dont have a stat titled "getting the puck the hell out of your own zone" because thats what made Boyle so valuable...and that can help keep you from 40 shots against every game

[léo]

Heeeey! Thanks, guys. Cool that I don't even have to mention why.
Didn't wanna say nuthin' about this non-scorin' business in TB, an element, I admit, that I had not forseen in the algorithm I designed. Blasting the Bolters for that has me at a loss for words (and therefore posts).
Hey, my Boys are gettin' bashed tonight too.
Breakdown: Complacency after opening blitz + crazy bad bounce off the boards right in front of Our net + utter shutdown in overtime + a Priceberg Wall in the shoot-out, with Tanguay unceremoniously BLASTING it Top-corner + victory...
Team's STILL gettin' blasted ta heck. Not GOOD enough.
So I hears ya. I hear yer pain.
So how 'bout them bloody Buffalers?
Yikes. Vanek's kickin' butt.
D looks to be holdin' up too.
Oh well.
Can't be TOO easy, can it?
P.

[PD]

V. of Reason or Voice of sanity, aptly put on Boyle.

Don I too love Arty's raw tool set. What bothers me is that I agree his defensive posture isn't great but isn't that a lot easier to coach than trying to teach offense. This is where the coaching staff needs to be measured a bit and R2kins progress should interesting to track.

[PD]

Well you grabbed the W anyway Leo but the Beaners get a point too.

I hate that rule

Should be winner take all

[Josh R]

Interesting. We seem to have a problem running the powerplay and making the transition from defense to offense. Wait, didn't we have the best defender in the league at doing just those things? Wait, he plays for another team now.

[Boltflasher]

I don't like that some games have 3 points given out some 2, i.e., each team gets a point for end of regulation tie, then 1 more point for the win (3 points total) versus a regulation win (2 points)....very uneven. I think a total of 3 points should be available for each game. Winner in regulation gets 3, winner in OT/SO gets 2 and loser in OT/SO gets 1.

[léo]

That exact proposition has been put on the table ever since the return of the lockout.
Point-wise, it makes perfect sense. It also assures that the dynamic of the game is forever up for grabs as opposed to the time when teams would content themselves to share the 2 points for fear of making a mistake in overtime.
3 pts for the winner would just add MORE incentive. Workin' fine in soccer.
Here's the rub though:
Hockey is an EXTREMELY comparable sport. Everyone (me too) is always talkin' about who we would rather have on our team compared to others and which teams are better than others and so on and so forth. We USE stat-history not only to base our claims but to glorify our heroes. Those stats have remained pretty much standard.
When the Rocket put in 50 in 50 games, we KNOW what that means. Well...what if we had SHORTENED games to 50 minutes, due to commercial air time, what then?
See what I'm sayin'?
If we say "Hey, Detroit got 120 pts last season", we all go "Wow". Or Mtl getting 137pts in 1977, we go "Zowie!"
In the 3-point system, 33 W, 33L, 8LO, 8LS comes to 125pts. Zowie? Uhhh, no.
Kinda destroys the mystique of Hockey History. Detroit's 120 loses a bit of pep.
Keeping 2-point victories STAYS THE COURSE of Hockey History. Can't go faster than two points a game. If you play as good as Detroit, you'll get as good a tally.
There's just MORE teams in the hunt is all.
My take.
P.

[PD]

Reasonable but then why not just keep it the way it was. 2 for W 1 for Tie.

[coach bill]

PD- Back in the day, it was winner take all. Every other league had OT. We had it in pee-wees,and when I played high school hockey( No. Providence),we beat a powerhouse(Mt. St. Charles) one night in the last minute of OT in one of the greatest games of that era. BUT the NHL wouldn't have OT. Every pro league had it except them. The reason being that it takes a vote of all teams to pass the "new" rule. The weaker teams were reluctant to concede the point in OT when they'd hung in there for 60 mins.( and by number,they controlled the vote), so it kept getting voted down every year (as the fan base continued to scream for OT). Sorta' like today's version of "Why don't they have playoffs in college football?" That's how the compromise of the losing team getting one point came about.

[léo]

I also preferred it that way. Heck, I LIKED ties.
But the overtime effort wouldn't equal game-time effort, cuz no player wants to take any chances that might cost his team victory and people don't wanna see ties anymore.
Gotta admit, the three point game as is, I find VERY interesting. I mentioned this last year:
Regulation victories are still HUGE, cuz the team you beat has MISSED OUT on points.
Missing points is WORSE than any overtime.
Even a 2-point victory reflects that.
It's ok not to win.
But whatever you do, don't lose.
Sound contradictive?
Not at all.
P.

[léo]

...WORSE than any overtime loss...
lost the loss.
P.

[ajax]

You ever watch the last 7 minutes of a game in March or April when a game is tied between teams battling for the playoffs?? that is why they need to change the rule. When it is 2-2 with 7 minutes to go they might as well call the came cause no one is going to play to win and give up that guarenteed point, kinda cheats the fans and the game. I remember one night last year when like 6 games went into OT. I said to myself, that is because of the OT rule. Must of been real fun for the league to sit back and say, whoa, everyone is playing like a scrimmage until we get to the 5 minute OT. Not good IMO.

[léo]

Those teams you're referring to, Ajax, HAVE to play that way to have a chance to be able to squeeze into the dance.
Not a concern; quickly eliminated.
Detroit doesn't have that problem.
Using mediocre teams as an example isn't an example at all.
Teams having to struggle in the last games for any hope is NOBODY'S problem but their own.
I'm sure you agree with this, Ajax.
P.

[PD]

I'm with Ajax on this one. All teams start dropping a guy back at the 15 min. mark when tied.

What was wrong with a point for a tie and why does hockey have to mimic other sports? A road point was always a very good night for most teams.

Some of the greatest games I have seen ended in a tie.

Where this becomes a double whammy is when a team needs to get hot and make a run at the playoffs. Its very tough to do now with so many games offering up a bonus point in the standings. The team ahead of you loses OT and still gets a point in the standings

Thats why its rather important not to fall to far back.

[léo]

Best game I had ever seen was a rerun of the Montreal/USSR tilt in (?) 1979.
3 - 3. By the end of the game, the City was chanting "Tretiak!, Tretiak!, Tretiak!"
Swear to gosh.
That WAS my favorite game of all time.
Then came the game on February 22nd, 2008.
I don't think I'll ever see a more thrilling game in my life.
P.

[PD]

Leo that was the xact game I was referring too
New Years eve I believe

[léo]

Further proof we are dealing with an impostor.
A leafer not only WATCHING that game but referring to it within "some of the greatest games you've seen"?
Never.
So I'll ask again:
Who the heck is ya and what've you done with PD?
P.

[PD]

Funny, I was cheering for Tretiak.

[léo]

Oh.
Ok then.
PD it is.
P.