Ranger's return imminent

Forget Marek Malik, the Lightning might be getting defenseman Paul Ranger back for Thursday's game against the Islanders. We likely won't know officially until tomorrow, but Ranger on Monday flew to Birmingham, Ala., to consult with noted orthopedist James Andrews, who performed the arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn labrum in Ranger's right shoulder.

What would Ranger's return mean to a team that has struggled with the transition game?

"What would any best defenseman on the team coming back to the lineup mean?" coach Barry Melrose said. "That's what it means to us. We get another big body that skates well. He's important to us."

Rangers' confident first pass out of the defensive zone will be the biggest addition. Even Melrose has said the blue line has struggled with the transition because of a lack of composure in the defensive zone, where players are more likely to wrap the puck around the boards than hold for a second and look for a play.

Said Ranger: "I just want to get back in there and play."

As for Malik, he is not expected to show up until later in the week, perhaps Wednesday or Thursday. The thinking is the Lightning wants to see him skate first before making the signing official, but that is just me speculating.

Tomorrow's main story in the paper explores just what the heck is wrong with the Lightning so far. We know the obvious signs:

Not getting the puck and bodies to the net, a lack of production by star players, a transition game hindered, Melrose said, by the defense's lack of composure with the puck and a lack of physical play.

But Melrose and the players made the case on Monday that it comes back to play in the Lightning's defensive zone, not just by the defense but the forwards as well. Think back to Saturday's game with the Hurricanes. When Tampa Bay was aggressive and forcing the play, Carolina was on its heels and taking penalties and falling behind 3-0. But when Carolina surged, the Lightning retreated, almost conceding control of the puck in some cases. One of the goals in the Hurricanes' four-goal surge came after the team relentlessly cycled in the Lightning zone without challenge.

Said right wing Marty St. Louis: "We can't have a team cycle us to death for an extended time. You get tired when that happens, and once you get the puck, it's a dump-in and you're off the ice. You can't create like that. All five of us in the end zone, we have to find a way to break the cycles, get the puck back and get it out; not at the end of a shift when you've got to get off the ice. Break the cycles midway through shifts and you still have energy to go on offense."

Coach Barry Melrose addressed those concerns Monday at practice, pushing the players to battle in five-on-five drills and then in one-on-one puck battles.

"We're brutal at that," Melrose said of winning those battles. "If you're going to win in today's NHL, you have to win the physical battles. That's what we worked on (Monday). We'll work on them (Tuesday). We'll work on them Wednesday and continue to work on them." 

Comments

[léo]

In that case, Bryan, I'll be happy to teach you whatever you want to know.
1st rule: Pride is not an argument.
If you understand the point, why submit your 2-period bright side?
Ajax,
It was easy to interpret it that way. You're saying that you lost to those teams because they're so good. How about the possibility of them winning due to the fact that you're so poor? Is that at all a possibility?
Couver, Ajax? Couver???
Are you dealing in beads, mate?
Couver had only 10 shots? Oooooh...REALLY? With such a spectacular offencive corps? I'm shocked.
And you DO know that Vigneault was on the wire last year, right? He barely hung on so don't be surprised if he IS thrown to the wolves this year.
A good example would've been to draw on Detroit City's loss to Toranna, but then again...you're not Detroit City.
No one's worried about THEM because everyone knows what they can do.
What can you do?
Or must we wait for suitable opposition to judge?
When does the St-Xavier Holy Choir for Girls hockey team come to town?
P.

[Steve R]

Ajax, it was fun watching the Caps shut down Van. 3 shots after 2 periods. Captain Roberto getting pulled after 2. Much fun was had at Verizon.

[Bryan]

Thanks Leo, i've never watched hockey before. I left after the second of that game on Saturday. What else happened?

Go back to habsinsideout.

[ajax]

Leo, calmly, the point is, is, some teams with much higher "expectations' then our awful team, have stubbed their own toes. Vancouver gets 10 shots on goal in 60 minutes. Fire the coach!!! Get new owners!!! Oh yes, and follow the blueprint of the Shabs, I might add. I think we played two decent teams in our first three games was my point. Mangle however you will Leo. How could you possibly read what I wrote and respond with what you did?
Nothing remotely close to what I wrote or meant, but thanks once again for helping me to see that "bright light"

[coach bill]

MattR- 28 yrs in baseball,12 in hockey plus 32 teaching Physical Education in Elementary school in Fla. Plus I was with Providence Reds in the AHL for 5 years (not a star-just a lowly stick boy. But hey! I didn't have to pay to get in). Come to the Bloggers Happy Hour on Oct 25th and we can talk about it.

[léo]

So Ajax,
Lemme see if I got this,
You woulda won had those teams been SLIGHTLY less Superior than you?
It's OKAY to lose to the teams you've lost to so far because they're doing well?
You then FORFEIT the rest of your games against them? Aren't you gonna see the Caners, like, 5 more times? You forfeit those 10 pts?
Are there other teams on this list of teams it's "understandable" to lose to?
P.

[ajax]

Anaheim 0-2, Calgary 0-1-1 losing 6-0. Detroit loses to Doormat Toronto in their home opener. Dallas 0-1-1 giving up 8 goals in two games. Philly ready to make a run at the cup, 0-2, giving up 9 goals in 2 losses. And by the way, the team we lost twice 2-1, they are 5-0. All of these well established teams with 90% of their rosters not only in tact but improved. Yeah the sky is falling everywhere, especially on this blog.

[Kincaid]

Casper were the fired with enthusiasm to be true, it might help.
Most of these guys can't be fired and they know it.

The ones that can't don't matter and there are no replacements at hand anyway

[léo]

Bryan,
You are aware, though, that an NHL game is THREE periods long and not two?
Personally, I would be VERY "overly worried" if my team played great for two periods yet sucked for one.
The results in TB so far PROVE this. My Boys were LOSING after 40 min last night...
60 minutes in the NHL, Bryan. Full-tilt boogie.
40 in Peewee. Then you go home and mummy makes you some hot chocolate.
P.

[Casper]

Hmph! The Readers Poll now has "Misses the Playoffs" as the #1 response.

Hope that pi$$es off the crew and they start playing with some 'attitude'.

To quote Vince Lombardi: "If you aren't fired with enthusiasm, you'll BE fired with enthusiasm."

Every single dad gum shift. Every dad burned game. Freaking Win.

Go Bolts!

[shock therapy]

Interesting comments here. How so many of us can watch the same game in interpret it so differently. For everyone who says we played well for a while, and look at all the potential...you must be Chicago Cubs fans also! I do agree to a certain extent, but as long as we keep shuffling lines then everyone might as well fly in town at 1pm game day! Chemistry takes time, why break up the MVP line after two games, do you not think they have proven chemistry, and that V4 is just working out the bugs - give hima break guys and gals, he had major surgery to fix his shoulder, nobody soakrs back automatic, not even him. All considering, he has done great so far. Goaltending, wow, these guys have done so well - certainly exceeded our expectations because we were all ready to hammer the goalies again. So thanks to Ols & Smitty we were actually in each of the games.

I am one who was not impressed with Carle. Ok, he is young, he played high minutes, etc......no excuses. I am perplexed why he played so many minutes. I loved OB, like him or hate him, he simply made things happen, and no worse than what I have seen thus far this year. By the way, how painful is it to see a box score that has Picard scoring a goal assisted by Kuba?I am not so sure losing 4-3 from being up 3-0 is not a coaches fault. yes, guys gotta play, but that is where you coach and remind them over and over about putting a team away. I think I sat in my seat, literally in front of the goal where it occurred, for almost 30 minutes after the game winner in OT. And I wasnt watching the Rays, I was still in shock - it was so remindful of last years game where we blew leads so many times.

Lastly, lets not be the Cubbies. Ok, so we were very close in 3 games so far, and that is the difference in 5 points we could of had. Its over. lets move forward, keep the enthusiasm up at the games, and find ways to not think we made a mistake puchasing season tickets!

One thing we all agree on is that Neil Armstrong, yes Neil Armstrong is his name, did a great job singing our anthem!

[rbc]

YOU PEOPLE, you think after 15 years you would get it??? Some of you on this board are just clueless, I mean when they explain the icing rule on tv i guess you are the people they are talking to. 3 games, we are 3 points out of 1st, wow get a clue!!! I dont want malik, warrener, pratt, mclaren ect. ect. all hasbeens. Give this team time to jell and get to know each other (3 games wow). I am willing to be patient and see what we have after 20-25 games and if after that time they look like they look now then i will start dumping on the owners and team. Remeber,after this year the bolts rid themselves of some contracts and hopefully go big on d-fense next year and pick up a monster(j-bo)type d-man.

[Bryan]

Fact of the matter is, for two periods, you saw just how evil this team can be. They were relentless, offensive, strong, and hungry. They fought through stupid penalties, showed lots of life. It is because of those two periods i'm not overly worried. Based on ice time of that game, we mostly saw lines 1 and 4, some of 2. Think about Stamkos when he gets rolling... Vrbata... when these lines start to roll together this offense is going to scare some people.

Whatever happened in that 3rd period (lack of aggression, complacency, relaxed play that I blame on Melrose, you gotta keep those boys up) needs to be handled, and fast. Niskala and Carle looked good on the blueline, both are very fluid with moving the puck. Heward doesn't need to be here, hate to break it to the guy. O'Brien sadly wasn't the physical presence that everyone thought he was, as he just became prone to being tough after the whistle. When he tried to make hits or pursue players, he was either slow or would make a hit at the sacrifice of poor positioning.

[hupmat]

Maybe we can congress to vote a rescue/bailout plan for the Lightning.

[BoltsFan91]

I agree, getting rid of O.B. was stupid but I disagree that Krajicek was unimpressive. He was working the puck and doing his job and for him only being in town for a few hours and not knowing anyone at all, he did pretty good in my book. I think that we could have gotten rid of Niskala before we got rid of O.B.

I also disagree that Mezaros is a 4, 5, or 6 defenceman. He deserves one of the top spots. He proved it in Ottawa and so far he is proving to be a bigi impact on our blue line. We need someone like him in that first line. Especally when Ranger gets back. Mezaros and Ranger will be a amazing first line defence. I think once Ranger gets back we will be back to normal. Of course I'm not saying that he will hold up the team, I'm just saying having a top 2 defender with a number 3 or 4 defender doesn't help with chemestry. Chemestry is a big part of the blue line. Each defender needs to know his linemate and how he will react in certain situations. I think with Mezaros' tacnical style and Ranger's, not too physical, but physical nonetheless style, we will do just fine in games to come.

[#nine]

I was at Saturdays game and agree that the defense was poor. However, in the third period the wings and centers were no help. With the front line talent and experience we have you cannot hang all that suckage on the defenseman. I thought Lukas Krajicek was unimpressive. I question whether Shane would have not come along in the Melrose camp if given the time. You have to remember he was of disciple of the Torts hit no one school for 2 years.

I am going with the bring Pratt back crowd. He was always a solid D-Man and I am sure could be picked up cheap right now.

Esposito said it that we were going to have a rough start with all the new blood so I am not going to get to down after just 3 games.

[Neville]

Obviously Ranger alone will not fix the mess; and yes, many of us were weeping at how experienced players were being traded willy-nilly for young bucks – especially in the defensive positions. Now that we’re over the “told-you-so” stage, how does it get fixed?

Personally, I believe that unfettered aggression may be what we need (and all that we may be able to hope for). Our defense is too defensive i.e. the best form of defense is attack. I noted hope our young defensemen hold back, hoping to block a shot; whereas the opposition tends to go for the puck, and if that does not work, then board the player, making our youngsters even more nervous and defensive.

This should fit right into Barry Melrose’s style ... so why did he trade guys like O’Brien and Roy?

Fact: The Lightning have a new manager and coach who have been granted a bottomless pocket – They have no excuse not to perform. Just wish they would hurry up and do it.

[Casper]

Malik, no, heck no. McLaren, lots to love about hitting and clearing the crease (right, Nabokov?) but I must admit to the heebie jeebies about his kneebies. Warrener, tough as nails---sometimes. Nolan Pratt, ah, now there's a #7 guy.

The defensive learning curve is maddening but worth it in the grand scheme. Question: What are they learning, and from whom? I liked Wes Walz as a player and Tocchet was one tough son of a gun, but teaching? Hhmmm. Makes it hard to pin a rap on Craig Ramsey or Mike Sullivan, you know?

I like the notion of pressing Smaby and Mihalik into NHL duty, if only we had a mentor on our defense. Meszaros will be fine, and a fine leader if we get someone to back him up on the blue line corps. Lord knows Lecavalier has a formidable support group up front; what about that back line huh?

Get the young guys to slam like "Phaneuffs of the East" and Mike Smith will stop a heck of a lot of pucks. Oops, already has... You get the idea. Carle scares me; Heward is above himself; and Niskala is coming along. (My neighbor asked why have Niskala AND Carle? Dunno. Getting Ranger back will help, but he isn't THE answer.)

Any Club would do fine with Ranger, Meszaros, and Krajicek----as the #4, 5, and 6 guys!

We'll get there...

Go Bolts!

[BoltsFan91]

I think that we should send Niskala to Norfolk. You could have Mezaros with Ranger, Carle with Lundin, and Heward with Krajicek.

I think Krajicek was awesome the other night. I was there in Section 115 sitting next to the guy that sang the National Anthem and I saw Krajicek. For arriving in Tampa at 1 in the afternoon, he was awesome. I think after he gets some chemistry and learns the plays he will be a top 4 defenceman, but until then he should stay a 5 or 6 defenceman. I think we are good with the defenders we have.

As for forwards, I think that the line with Malone, V4, and St. Louis was awesome. It took them a little bit to get there chemistry down but in the second period they were dominating. The second line of Prospal, Stamkos, and Vrbata was good too. I just wish that they would have given that second line more ice time.

As for our goalies, I think we have two AMAZING goalies. I think if we get everything going, we will be unstoppable. Our goaltending to me reminds me of Detriot's last season.

[Big Jim]

Please quit referring to yourselves as bloggers! This is Damians blog, you are simply posting comments.

Malik will be signed tomorrow

[nick]

I agree with Bryan give these guys some time to play together. What about playing the kid with all the speed on 4 on 4? What needs to be done is stop taking stupid penalties. Ryan Malone needs to step up and start earning his pay as well.

[Bryan]

Actually, I can't stand the caps. I just watch enough hockey to know that Malik is NOT A PHYSICAL PRESENCE. That's his biggest knock! He doesn't use his body! He was prone to mistakes when put in a top 4 role in NY. Sure, he wouldn't be in a top 4 role here (or would he?) but he is still soft, and still slow. If you're going to be big and slow, you should at least hit, and he doesn't. I might take a chance on Warrener because otherwise, guys like McLaren, who CAN hit, are made of glass nowadays.

Please, just say no to Malik. Just say no.

[Not the Marlboro Man]

The problem you had wasn't the forwards but it was the responsibility of who's assignment it was to drop back when someone pinches in from the point. Especially in a 4 on 4. They were simply lost out there.

4 on 4 hockey is allot more dangerously played when you have a pinching style of defense. Everyone (d-men) think they need to have 20 goals anymore so they too can get that $6 or $7 mil contract. The other night it looked as if the Bolts dropped their drawers and couldn't find them in that last 30 seconds of that game....once again terrible coaching. I'm not saying that John Tortarella would have done any better, but he sure would have done no worse!

[matt]

Don,
I understood the play and the point I was making was its hard to blame one guy when as stated above Smith was extremely out of position. (Taking the WORST possible angle) and 2 Forwards jerking each other in the offensive zone. Shouldnt they have seen Carle pinching and at least one make an attempt to get back?

[Don in St. Pete]

Bryan, what are you scared of? Do you want Hutchinson back? I'm guessing you're a CrAPS fan trolling on our blog. I believe we'll be fine but am not against adding Malik for size and presence in front of the net. Our goalies will apreciate it if nothing else.

[Craig]

^^Should I try for the hattrick?

[Bryan]

Half of the people on here scare the life out of me. I wonder at times if we even watch the same sport.

Eeesh. All that aside, don't sign Malik. He's a slug. Quit screwing with things for about two weeks, make the boys hang out and get to know each other, and let things start to put themselves together. Philly didn't come out of the gate blazing last year.

[Craig]

Nevermind, I just saw the post about McLaren being put on 2nd standard waivers(special probation?).

And I would also like to thank the new Champions Tour Club section and their big new plasma TV that I was able to watch the Rays game on from all the way across the arena in Sec.303(w/ sound from my gf's radio)! All while watching the Bolts. It was like Picture-In-Live Action...

[Craig]

Nevermind, I just saw the post about McLaren being put on 2nd standard waivers(probation?).

And I'd also like to thank the new Champions Tour Club section and their big plasma TV that I was able to watch the Rays game on from all the way across the arena from Sec.303.

[Craig]

I'm not counting too much on Ranger. Labrum injuries take a long time to heal and a long time to get your range and extention back(see Vinny). Not to mention he hasn't even skated under game conditions yet. And although he's been a decent dman, he's not the dman that's gonna carry this squad on his shoulders(no pun intended) like he's being hyped(probably out of extreme hopefulness).

Also with regard to Malik... they may also wanna meet with him face-to-face before signing him to see if he's "coachable" given his problems with Tom Renney in NY.

And is McLaren worth it, even at half-price? I like his experience and toughness but I always worry about guys coming off knee injuries, especially defensemen. And not that it matters but isn't he colorblind?

[olin]

...coach bill, I will stop in to visit and meet and greet

[Don in St. Pete]

I'll go out on a limb here and side with Matt that Carle will not be sent down. Matt, You have to learn about hockey though and remeber the situation. Your forwards are in deep and the defense piches, attemping to keep the play in the opponents defensive zone. In effect he ties up the opponents defenseman on that side and their right wing. When the attempt fails the opposing center and left wing are free to roam about the building, with the lone defenseman back being Niskala. While I think Niskala has great potential, why do you have him and Carle on the ice at the same time?

[matt]

Send Carle down to Norfolk? Really? Wow... Thats just plain stupid.(And Im not certain that is even possible wo sending him through waivers) If you think he's the biggest liability on defense you are watching a different team.... He's averaging close to 25 minutes a game for the first time since college probably. He's only in his 3rd season and he hasnt made any more mistakes than Boyle made a million times. How soon some forget Boyle constantly being caught in the offensive zone creating 2 on 1's. Those penalties in that game were horrible. Smith took the absolute worst angle on the break away in OT and where were the forwards back checking? But hey, its easier to blame just one guy huh.......

And p.s., if you just now figured out Craig is injury prone you once again are watching a different team.

[MattR]

coach bill, what do you coach? out of curiousity. by the way i sit in the top of 112, thank you boxes for televisions :)

[coach bill]

ATTN. ALL BLOGGERS- There will be a "Bloggers Happy Hour" Sat. night Oct. 25th (San Jose game) at Shots (on the patio) from 6-7:30. The mgr will give us our own section. Hockey Chic,Don in St. Pete, Bingo, Tackleberry w/ Minny Vinny, and I would love to meet you all. Could I get a head count if you think you can make it?

[coach bill]

I too was wondering why all the offense and no D was being added to the mix.I heard somewhere that Nolan Pratt was available. He was always solid for us. A stay at home D and the only D to finish with a plus ratio in '06-07. He would be worth a look. Plus with the plethora of forwards,surely a trade was in the thinking? It's too early to be negative,folks.But that crash Sat night was tough to watch. It was good to lean back ( I was in the top row of 112) and watch the baseball game during that 3rd period.

[jim-nj]

he's better than malik for sure!

fyi just found this online. Says the sharks did not put McLaren on re-entry waivers rather they put him on standard waivers for a second time.

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/sharks/2008/10/13/sharks-put-mclaren-back-on-waivers-but-not-the-re-entry-type/

[Defense Help Wanted]

McLaren on rentry waivers was on TSN.ca's "Ice Chips" section earlier today.

Where did u see McLaren was put on re-entry waivers?

[Don in St. Pete]

Yes, I was one of those bloggers screaming for some veteran stay at home defensive help over the summer. That being said I do appreciate the forward thinking of the owners and management. The NHL is changing dramatically more and more each year, where the emphasis is on speed and quickness, instead of strength and brute force. Of course there will always be those guys that possess a little of both and they need to be defensed too. Most teams now have more than one offensively talented defenseman who can lug the puck up the ice and contribute offensively. The best teams also seem to have one defensive pair they can throw out there against the big bruising Power centers and power forwards. The Ducks have Pronger and Niedemayer, The sHABs have Komisarek and Hamrlik, the Pens have Orpik and Gill, the wings have Lidstrom and Rafalski, etc, etc. I'd like to see the Bolts sign Malik and McLaren should be looked at closely too.Heward has a 2 way contract and Niskala could be sent back to Finland or Lundin could be passed through waivers to try and send him to Norfolk.

[Nan]

So we have a coach who hasn't coached in 15 years, a GM who has never been a GM before and owners that have never owned a team before which basically is a recipe for a disaster. Just about everyone on this blog over the summer said that more veteran defensive help was needed when we saw all the moves being made. I think most would agree that we could have seen these losses coming early this season with such a young defense.

[Defense Help Wanted]

San Jose put Kyle McLaren on reentry waivers today. HALF PRICED SALE!! Doesn't McLaren make more sense than Malik?

[Kincaid]

But we gave up two NHL defenceman and a #1 pick to get Mezsaros.

How can Ranger,( an average rated top 4 guy -13 last year), be our best?

I'm confused.

Doesn't that confirm we have 345 guys playing 12 minutes and thus the problem.

[HockeyBay.com]

Glad to see Ranger back... Marek Malik would also help out things... prolly best to let Carle go down to Norfolk. PS: Is Ryan Craig like Injury prone or what???