Malik might not play right away

Tough to get information on exactly what is going on with defenseman Marek Malik, but this seems to be the most plausible scenario.

He is supposed to get to Tampa Thursday night, and as soon as he passes a physical, will begin working out with the team. There seems to an outside chance he could play Tuesday against the Thrashers but a more likely target is probably Oct. 25 against the Sharks.

Assuming no other roster moves, signing Malik will give the Lightning eight defensemen, though it was unclear if the team would cut that to seven or keep the eight and make roster trims from the forwards to stay at the 23-player limit.

Things are already getting crowded. Adding defenseman Paul Ranger to the roster puts the team at 23 with center Ryan Craig on injured reserve.

Anyway, none of that is in stone, but, like I said, that seems to be the prevailing opinion as to how this whole thing will happen.   

Comments

[Wade]

Nice, this should add a bit more depth but i'd love to see him play saturday.
Its funny if you remember that crazy shootout goal he scored between his legs 3 seasons ago on Ollie Kolzig, i wonder if he'll embarass him again with that shot in practice, haha

[Bryan]

Another signing, yet we don't pick up anymore grit. He's soft. S-O-F-T soft.

[mike p]

lol, guys, when has the lightning defence not been soft though? Dan Boyle wasn't exactly MR. GRIT! The lightning aren't really in need of more grit as we seem to be taking enough penalties. They are in need of stay at home defensemen, and dmen who can make that lead pass to help jump start the offence.

[Voice of the Turtle]

This team will be helped significantly by the inclusion of Marek Malik and the return of a healthy Paul Ranger. One can expect the offense to catch fire as the puck finally gets cleared out of the defensive zone. If I am correct, these additions will affect the team energy level, work rate, and confidence in all zones of the rink.

Barry Melrose is surely aware that Steven Stamkos needs to get on NHL ice, otherwise, he'd be better off returning to Juniors. He doesn't need to spend the year getting splinters on the Bolt bench.

The time has come for the leaders of this team to step forward, not just with empty words and tired platitudes. As it has always been in the NHL: leadership is a matter of effort; rugged physicality; and, a brink-edged determination to win.

The hour has arrived for the Lightning to strike and brilliantly illuminate the long road to the playoffs. All the pieces are in place. It begins on Thursday next.

[Beau]

The Lightning aren't taking penalties because of their "grit". They are taking penalties because all they do is hook, interfere, and hold. Guess that's better than being tough, eh?

Lets see, lazy penalties or aggressive penalties? Hmmm...give me the aggressive penalties anyday of the week.

[PD]

and Beau thats because their team speed is poor.

[Boltflasher]

If the Bolts win or blow away the Isles please do not say we have "turned the corner", ....yes it will be great to get a win but this is a crummy team from the Island.

If we LOSE, yes, it means the Bolts have a lot of work to do..

[TopShelf]

Lack of hustle forces bad penalties. Malik is a solid guy to have, might be good to pair with the mistake filled Carle or with a skiny little guy like Krajicek (who might his just as much as Malik). Malik is rock solid defensively.

Ranger Meszaros
Carle Malik
Lundin Krajicek

Or if you really wanted to find a shut down pair of giant blue liners, sign Malik and call up Mihalik. Pair them together and their wingspan would cover the whole width of the rink. Malik could mentor Mihalik's game. As long as he doesn't influence Mihalik to stop hitting.

[Boltflasher]

For those who say Malik sucks, he is a +125 over his last 5 seasons (what other Bolt defenseman in Lightning history has matched that or even come close?). That doesn't happen by standing around or not playing your position...

[et]

It is official tsn reports Malik has signed a 1 year 1.2mil pro-rated contract. He is a steady stay at home d- man, good signing.

[Leanmean43]

PD,
The Bolts speed isn't that bad, here is a list of the good skaters: on the team: Vinny, Marty, Stamkos, Jokinen, Artyukin, Vrbata, Recchi, Carle, Ranger, Meszaros, Krajicek, Lundin.

They're are at least two guys on each of the top 3 lines that have good speed. The 4th line of Roberts, Gratton, and Hall is slow but that's about it, and they don't play much anyway. All of the defensemen are good skaters. You can check the scouting reports for each player on Sportnet.ca if you don't believe me.

[Mash]

As a Rangers fan who has had to deal with this guy for the past three seasons...I'm telling you guys you're going to regret this signing.

He's not terrible, but he tends to make some mind-numbing mistakes typical of some European defensemen. He might bring some offense, but there's a reason this guy wasn't in the league to start the year...

[Boltflasher]

Mash, you have not been watching the D that has been played here with the guys here now...

[coach bill]

Good post Turtle. It's a bit disappointing to read so much negativity so early in the season. There's alot to be concerned about,but let this team have a chance to gel. We do have good speed and our goaltending has been solid. The D needs to get in sync with the offense. Vinny sure was taking alot of shots Sat which is good. Stamkos has looked great in camp. Give him a chance to get comfortable. Hopefully we'll all meet at Shots on the 25th ( San Jose) 6-7;30. Look for the bloggers table.

[BoltsFan91]

I agree with Coach. The team has a ton of potential, they just need to get chemestry and with all of the contract signings and movements no one has chemestry. The only people with chemistry is the forwards. The defence hasn't had time to gel. Just give it a game or two. I think we need to work with the team we have right now before we put someone else in the pot. It is just going to make for a bad ending to such a great beginning. Tampa has always struggled with defence and the one good thing about Torts and Feaster's setup was that there wasn't much defensive movement. They always had a great lineup, that struggled but in hockey you have to make your linemate your best friend. You need to know him to a "T" and with all of the defensive movement lately it has been hurting us. They need to stop signing more contracts and just work with what they have for the time being until we get something working. It has only been three games and they have already gave up on our "D". These owners do not have any faith in our players at all. If you remember correctly at the Town Hall Meeting, when someone asked about Roy not being resigned, he stuck on how physical and how awesome Shane O'Brien was but then not even a month into the season he gets rid of him. What's with that? Have no faith?

Just give us time to gel and everything will be ok. The owners are hurting us more than they are helping.

[Patrick]

Malik sucks, this team sucks. We're too soft, we don't have enough grit. That is the Tampa Bay Lightning in a nutshell.

Voice of the Turtle -- feel free to pass the joint....

Go Rays.

[BoltsFan91]

Grit isn't all you need. By the way dude. Do you even know the team? Are you even a hockey fan? Just because we don't fight every game doesn't mean we suck. Okay maybe we lost the past three games but look at who we played. The Rangers, who are still 5-0 and the Hurricanes, who are still 4-0. We lost to VERY good teams. The players we have are very good, we just have no chemestry. Stay off of the bloggers comments if you don't know what you are talking about.

[mitchell margolis]

The lightning are a good team, they just need time to get chemistry which boltsfan91 mentioned.
Luckily they only have like 4 more games this month so they can gel for a couple weeks.
By next month this team will look a lot better.
And i think this signing is great as long as the guy getting sent down is heward because no matter what you can say about malik, he is better than heward.
good luck ranger.
and melrose, i think you should understand that Stamkos can play hockey a lot better than he can sit on the bench, also put prospal where he belongs on the MVP line.

[Craig]

I'm okay with picking up Krajicek and Malik but now they should just let the dust settle and give the bluelines time to develop and THEN evaluate and see where changes need to be made, whether it involves releasing guys, sending them down or bringing up Smaby and/or Mihalik.

They seem to be tinkering too much without really knowing what guys are capable of. I know people have been critical of certain players like Matt Carle but I'm willing to give them some time, at least more than 3 games, to adjust to their linemates and more importantly, the system.

The one area that concerns me at this point is the lack of willingness to knock guys off the puck in the defensive zone, finish checks and dig in the corners. That's all effort stuff and there's no excuse for not executing. Melrose has addressed it, we'll just have to see if they've gotten the message.

We definitely need to cut down on the passive hooking penalties.

[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.

[JM]

"For those who say Malik sucks, he is a +125 over his last 5 seasons (what other Bolt defenseman in Lightning history has matched that or even come close?). That doesn't happen by standing around or not playing your position..."

Boltflasher -- remember those words when Malik stands around watching the action going on around him or when he makes a great pass to the opposing team.

[keith]

Couldnt have said it more succintly Sarasota Bill. I think we are all in for a loooong season. And boy would I love to be wrong!

[kincaid]

no sht Sara Bill but the Koulaiders won't like you.

[BoltsFan91]

Okay! Look at our lineup, we have two top 20 NHL forwards, two great veterans, both are phyisical, along with at least two more VERY physical players, two great goalies, a rather young defence but has alot of potential in Lundin, Mezaros, Carle, Niskala, etc.

All I gotta say is that if we don't make the playoffs this year we will make it next year and we will make it far. And it is only three games into the season most of yall don't know what yall have coming to you. I bet we make the playoffs. Maybe not far but we will at least be seeded 8th.

I'm tired of hearing that we have no potential. Most of yall must not know the guys we have and have been paying attention to them in there recent places and don't know what the reasons were that they were let go. Trust me, do your research and you will see. I don't think we have a terrible team like everyone on here is making it out to be but I don't think we have NEARLY the best team in the Southeast. It will be a tough season. But I think all of yall will be eating your words come December.

[Boltflasher]

JM,....please explain just how Malik got his +125

[Boltflasher]

Oh, maybe, Malik was just lucky during the 19 to 20 minutes he logged every game...

[matthew]

oh yes he gets lucky by just sitting there and letting Jagr and the other panzy's the rangers have score and assist the goals come on get for real boltflasher!

[mike p]

matthew, I think boltflasher was being sarcastic. If you read his comment before that and the context of the post, it comes off as sarcasm to me, but that's just me.

[Boltflasher]

Yes, Matthew, my point exactly. He didn't end with such a +/- by being lucky...