A sad performance

I've been watching the Lightning for a long time and I have to say I believe the team should be ashamed of that performance against the Panthers. Florida is not even on the same page as the Lightning as far as talent, so for Tampa Bay to get just 24 shots (four in the first period), allow two power play goals to the worst team in the league with the man advantage was unacceptable.

And it should be unacceptable to the team. I am really interested to see how they come out against the Red Wings. I know the previous post talked about how unfair the schedule is to the Lightning, and I still think so. But this is a game in which the team has got to muster itself. It does not want to be embarrassed at home, and given how good are the Wings, we know that can happen if Tampa bay shows up like it did against a Panthers team that was 1-5-1 coming in.

Really, this is on the players now. if you have reservations about the coaches, forget it for now. If you have doubts about personnel moves, put them out of your mind. This is mind-set now. The Lightning has the talent to compete. It has shown it. Perhaps on Thursday night we find out if they want to battle, skate and move their feet. And get some shots to the net.

It's a great test, a sixth game in nine nights against a fresh Detroit squad that's mad about Tuesday's loss. It's one of those backs-against-the-wall moments when character is called upon. It will be a great story if Tampa Bay answers. If not, it's another story entirely.

Comments

[PD]

Leo I'm sure the universe will unfold , should be a great game Sat. Hope I can grab it somewhere.
Grabs racked up another at Rexall.10 pts in last 6 I think and playinf solid D.

[léo]

Can't disagree with any of that, PD, except one thing: It's the Kid, not kid.
Feh, bump in the road.
Detroit lost 7 in a row last year. 9-3-2 after 14 ain't too shabby. Bad week is all. Let's see how We do this Saturday against ... them. Then we'll see if the situation is truly worrisome.
As of now I don't see how it is remotely comparable to the fiasco "down there".
Unless I'm mistaken.
Tanguay and Saku's still rollin'; how's V4 and Stammy doin'? Heard about their minutes; what'up with that?
A Mullet fer petessakes. Y'all need to fix this, far as We're concerned.
Fix this pronto, nevermind Our Toronto.
Yo.
P.

[PD]

Heh Leo , you projecting?
Is not the question whats going on up there?

First the Leafs Hammer you then Boston does an even better job.

Komo got pummelled in that fight.

The cubbies are a good little team.
They are hanging the kid out to dry.

actually LD it means good bye Bolts.

Palace gets them back and they will act accordingly

[léo]

There is no Pat Burns as coach!!!
I say it again and again: FORGET PAT BURNS!
Eric is absolutely right.
Three out've the five captains Globalpuck named are Euros. Interesting.
If RECCHI is the spark of the team, you really got problems.
Vinny played 16 minutes last night. Less than Vrbata. I'm sure V4 is THRILLED about that and that his relationship with the Mullet has only been strengthened because of it.
I do miss Ted's posts as well. They would certainly seem MORE à propos in THIS context than they were in the last.
I only caught the highlights so y'all know better than I do, but WHERE'S the desire?
T's'goin' on down there?!
P.

[Larry David]

I am thinking worst type owner.

Bolts are in deep trouble unless Barrie hires someone better than he estimated, meaning a GM capable of dual manipulation, one with Barrie while still managing a team.

Not easy but possible, otherwise it's on the job training for Barrie, that means good bye to Vinny, as he won't be wasting his time in Tampa while Barrie learns.

[PD]

Larry , our friend Barrie bought himself a real life version of NHL 2009 and he intends to live it large.

He calls the roster, (see Bye bye Boyle) and sticks his nose in the dressing room.

Most of the new players have been involved with him or his buddy agent Winter..Lawton was just happy to get the posting but he certainly is not charged with the remaking of the team. Brian Burke he isn't.

Think Jeff to Larry David

The absolute worse type of owner, Mark Cuban lite.

[Herb]

I never thought that Vinny4 should have been named captain in the first place.

[Larry David]

PD,

I get it.
You need to realize that with the right GM comes success, many times DESPITE the owner.

Barrie must surround himself with people that are MUCH better than him in the hockey world, Lawton is not.

[Casper]

Forgot the last shot at Vinny-Baby:

You're playing right now like last year; with no heart, no soul, and just waiting for Cooke to come along and put you out of your misery.

What are you going to do about this, without Tortorella's tiki torch beneath your butt?

[PD]

Larry david, you don't get it. Lawton is just the puppet of Barrie.

Love your show though.

[ale guzzler]

Here's the deal: the coaches you mention will not come here. We are stuck with Melrose. Lawton mst go and go now. His tinkering with the locker room and making trades of marginal players doesnt nothing for team chemistry, Lawton should have never been give this job. He has no experience. At one point he refused to report to the minors as a player. He conned the present ownership and they in turn look like a joke also. Im sure all of this is Torts and Feasters fault. Lawton is so bad we wish we had Feaster back. At least Feaster didnt panic. Do you think Art Williams is interested in buying the Lightning again?

[Larry David]

Lawton should be fired.
The manner in which he makes deals is reason to say Take a Hike.
Lawton has demonstrated a LIMITED ability to make deals, that right there tells guys like VC only trash will be coming to Tampa.
With no hope comes no effort.

To anyone suggesting Halpern should be considered as a candidate for the "C", think again, he's a perennial LOSER.
Always has been and always will be.
I don't care how hard he works, he's a Munson/Mush. Bad Luck.

[PD]

Tack try it this way:
Boyle 4g, 7a, 11pts, +/- +7, 48sog
Luk 0g, 4a, 4 pts, +/- +7, 12sog
Kuba 0g , 14A* 14 pts +5 18 sog

* leads league
bonus 1st round pick and Picard,( 2G), to Sens... priceless.

Nolan or Paul Maurice for coach but doubt either would work with Barrie.

[bingo]

What we are seeing is the result of no leadership. I was hoping that Vincent had grown and that the demise of Torts would give him a new lease on leadership. It is obvious, at least for now, he is not capable of the job. Also, the same could be said for the coach. I'm the GM and I give you 3 times the talent than what you had last year and you after 20 games can make no headway? There is something drastically wrong in the room. In Hockey terms they and I mean most all players and coaches have taken a big skate. Were it not for the Goal Tending we would be 0 - 15.
One other side note torts was known for camp Torturella - Well at least we did not have all the groin and muscle pulls that we have seen with these folks this year. Maybe conditioning does count, versus the big skate.

Time for change maybe bring Torts back he is still under contract. That would really be a hoot!

Bingo

[Tackleberry]

To all,
The Melrose replacement ideas went around about a week ago. There are several descent coaches out there (ie Nolan, Burns, etc....). Realistically, Lawton is not going anywhere.

Lets hear who your candidates are for a new coach. What would it cost the team?

A lot of griping out there with few suggestions.

[Tackleberry]

I would only have to assume that L Berry, Koules and Lawton are kicking each other in the keister for that Boyle trade. Has anyone seen the Boyle/Lukowich stats?

Boyle 4g, 7a, 11pts, +/- +7, 48sog
Luk 0g, 4a, 4 pts, +/- +7, 12sog

Most bloggers agree that Boyle was key to the TB defense. Luk was getting better. Apparently he is doing well in SJ. With the TB defensive woes, this will likely haunt TB management/owners the most.

Harold is right about the team taking time to gell. Unfortunately, the bolts are taking some heavy lumps in the process.

Someone (anyone) needs to fire up the players. One idea: if the players are not performing up to expectations, send them down to Norfolk for a while. Let the farm-boys get a shot. Maybe that will put some fire/intensity into some of the players.

Go Bolts!!

[vs Bolts, the NYSE looks good]

Suggestions:

Pat Burns as new coach
Pat Quinn as new GM
New uniform color until the Lightning players decide to play with pride and desire - plain logoless gray (to match the players verve and spirit) with shock pink trimmings (to demonstrate the players level of aggressiveness and boldness) and remove names and numbers from the jerseys (the Bolts probably would prefer to remain anonymous anyway).

New name should be Les Miserables de "Hockey" Bay.

Why are people blaming Barry Melrose for all of this? He doesn't go to the practices, so how can he be held responsible? Don't people realize that we are talking about a big national media personality here? Rick Tocchet is, perhaps, a better bet (or, better, experientially-speaking, to TAKE A BET).

Oh...and one last question...if the Blackberry guy buys this franchise and moves it to Ontario, would he please give me back the money I wasted on season tickets?

Tonight, we'll see a real quality hockey team, but I'll still be hoping for a Lightning miracle.

[vagrant]

the closest the Bolts came to forming an identity came thru the Recchi, Jokinen and Artyukhin line. They played and still play with grit and determination and i think that the injury to Artyukhin and his absence in the past few games has hurt the lightning more than people think or choose to acknowledge. When he is on the ice, opponents notice. Adam Hall plays his heart out every game, along with Roberts. The the first line has "underperformed," at best. Quite a let down.
Don't quite understand the Carle trade. Eminger is a solid Dman, but the constant lineup changes maybe hurting the team more than helping. It is hard to develop an identity when the personnel is constant in flux and it ultimatly comes down to the leaders on the team to create and spark this team. The C and A's are not doing what needs to be done.

[danger]

whatever methods Melrose is using to motivate these guys is obviously NOT working. the tounge lashings, and taking the day off from practice didn't help in the least. to me it looks like the players have stopped responding to him. they're not even playing. the past two games were the worst two hockey games i've watched in a long time. not the worst lightning games either, the worst hockey games period. i've seen high school kids play with more enthusiasm. if the players have stopped playing for melrose, get him the hell out of there and bring in someone they might actually have respect for, or the only positive that's going to come out of this season is getting another 1st round draft pick.

[harold]

Just a couple of comments.
1)I think its just going to take some time together for this team to be a team. They havent been together long enough to "know" where each other is going to be yet. Some basic errors combined with lack of second shots game after game.
2)The lack of televised games is killing me and my family. We have season tickets but we have had so many schedule conflicts that we have been giving them away to church and funraisers and charity (people still want to go even as poor as they are playing) we cant get any continuity in following the team this year.We dont know half the players and we are starting to think that the team doesnt know half the players.

Are there less televised games this year?

[Jay D.]

I just wanted to say to you DC: good post. Just hope the team reads it.

[Patricia]

The players and the staff just Suck!! There gonna lose me as a fan! Can't stomach to watch these games anymore. where are the hockey players who care and actually know how to play and earn there paychecks!!! Not in Tampa!

[PD]

Spooky, Burkie will be in Toronto as soon as next week.

Nolan would need the bullet proof contract of bullet proof contracts before he came.

People, Brian Lawton is a puppet, shill, figure head who shuffles the paper for Cowboy Len Barrie who is the architect of this chemistry experiment.

He is the guy who should be forced to go behind the bench because he does it between periods anyway.

If and when the franchise starts going under these clowns won't be ones trying to move it to the NE as some have called. Fact is Palace actually will be the ones selling the team at that point. Jim Ballsillie is quite ready to buy it.

[wbinvt]

Sorry about the ranting! Just a question: Are these guys being fined for good play and hustle? Are they getting bonuses for slacking and the such?

[wbinvt]

I want my center ice money back! It seems the grass is always cleaner on the other side! At least with Torts this team was prepared most of the time. With Smellrose????????? Is he coaching or auditioning for another anylist gig? We have talent on the ice but NOT in management! In this economy I could use my $170 right about now!! This reminds me of the movie Major League! If attendance falls below a certain level good bye Tampa!! The league should actually look into this insanity!!

NEWFLASH:

ARTUKYN IS A CRAPPY HOCKEY PLAYER

[Mike S.]

Anyone know what Andre Roy is up to these days?

[Spooky]

"Put your stick in their side! Lettim know you're there!" -Reggie Dunlap, Player/Coach Charlestown Chiefs

Players are phoning in performances. They system does not exist, and there is no motivation. These guys don't even know each other, and expensive aquisitions like Stamkos (via draft) and Vrbata and Malone are not being forced to play together with enough frequency.

The blueline is a revolving door at this point, and I don't recognize any names or faces beyond Paul Ranger. While the defence is suffering, where are our forwards?

Nobody knows they're in the game registering no shots on goal, or the product that SOG's produce. The MVP line has played together long enough to generate some offense on their own, even without Boyle and Kuba and even Kubina to steal-and-pass up. They know about forechecking and backchecking.

Never mind guys like Roberts and Recci who should be teaching the crop of kids the same fundamentals. Where is there leadership and experience in this unbalanced equation?

We didn't have the money for any quality defence over the summer, but went after old-timers and ne'er do wells like Gratton (who has never added a thing to the TBL. Lawton has shown no plan at all, if he sells the present (Boyle) for the future (Carle) and gives the future up for nothing. Kuba for Meszaros will pay off, but in the mean time, Mez needs mentorship and a quality defensive partner. Ranger is the same way. Probably Carle was too. SO'B- that's still a headscratcher? I want our first round pick back.

Marek Malik was known in New York for a lack of hustle and was scratched as often as he played. The only player that could possibly be a worse mentor in terms of attitude and intelligence would be Sandis Ozolensh. Just what we need, another faded athlete withouth the physical tools to compensate for his lack of knowledge and with an attitude that says "I don't care."

Just like the rest of the Lightning seem to be.

Answer? New coach: Teddy Nolan
New GM: Brian Burke

Nolan to motivate and teach.
Burke to build on a plan, with an eye to the future while addressing the many present deficiencies.

[Brian B.]

Oh, and as an addendum to my previous post, look at the Panthers' newly acquired Corey Stillman. Its his first season there, and they slap an "A" on his jersey. Why? Because he's a well spoken veteran who knows the guys and knows how to motivate and bring out the best in a team.

We have that in our locker room... Marty needs to keep his "A", but Meszaros?? Heck no, lets get some real voices going. Roberts, Prospal, Ranger??

[Brian B.]

A good coach finds ways to motivate the players, pros or not. You say its on the players, I say its on them and the coaches equally. A well defined system that new players can focus on together and gel would help, but at the very least motivation would seriously help this team.

It's clear from last year V4 is not a locker room kind of leader, which is something this rag tag group desperately needs. Dave Andreychuck was at the end of his career when he came to Tampa. He was not a 50 goal scorer and he was not a huge hulking defenseman. But he had intangibles that went far and beyond anything the Bolts have ever put on the ice, and frankly I don't see anyone measuring up to that sort of standard right now.

Jeff Halpern could do it I think, if he was here. Tim Taylor did do it before he was injured. Very rarely do you see young guys truly succeed with the C, Sid the Kid and that guy in Chicago are proof. I just think that locker room leadership needs to be addressed.

[madman]

Where is the defense? I am a Lightning season ticket holder and it is plain to see the problem is defense. The new owners have to address this by changing players on the blueline until they get the right mix. Bring up the young guys and let the coach show how good he can be. Melrose knows how to teach young players defense.Start bringing them up so they will learn his system 1st hand. It can't hurt; last to better is better.

[jiffy]

I do not see this team moving anywhere. Decisions on what players to move looks like it is going to cost this team it's entire season. (I do hope this happens though.)
I agree Smith is the one bright spot. If they are going to get going EVERYONE needs to be on board- coaches included! These guys are getting paid big bucks to play a game- and if that is what the want to do- they better start moving their feet!!

[deanhall]

Do the names Al Davis and Jerry Jones ring bell. Cowboy Len Barrie (Joe Jock) meddles speaks way too often. A-Hole GM Brian Lawton's constant public comments reaching over his coaches and into the locker room must have this team tight as a drum. And they said Torts made them grip their stick too tight? The fix, muzzle Barrie and fire Lawton. I don't believe these players will ever trust Lawton again.

[Ruthe]

What's the first thing you see when you log onto NHL.com. The Allstar Game ad and whose picture do you see for the West? Iginla, Luongo and Dan Boyle!

[Lee]

I have a suspicion that ownership and management want the Lightning to fail so they can justify a move. Remember, these guys are from the Pacific Northwest. Can you imagine the Portland or Seattle Lightning in a year or two?

[Eric]

Someone's gotta say something nice about the season so far, so I'll say this:

Mike Smith is doing an awesome job, and we'd look so much worse if it wasn't for him.

[Hockey maniac from the great white north]

Time to wake up. Tampa Bay veterans dont want to play for a guy who coached only 3 seasons in the NHL, 13 years ago, and this with a dubious record.

[Lee]

The Lightning are in such bad shape that it may start showing at the gate. Maybe ownership wants the team to fail in Tampa. Remember where these guys are from...the Pacific Northwest. Do you think we may have the Portland or Seattle Lightning in a year or two?

[Ale Guzzler]

This is sad to see this franchise turn into such a joke. Hopefully a few years from now we will get a new ownership instead of a half dozen egos that have no idea how to run an organization.
Torts is laughing all the way to the bank. You think Feaster and Torts didnt see this coming. Danny Boyle is probably thanking his lucky stars to be out of here. Too bad for Vinny he is trapped. Get your St. Louis jerseys now. He is next to go.

[HockeyBay.com]

I found out a way for the Cats to win the Cup, just pretend every team is the Lightning! ( put lightning jerseys on their helmet visors )

THIS IS YOUR SCENARIO [vision version]

A former Chicago Blackhawks draftee and an NHL veteran, with a dream and millions to spend, do what no one said could be done and buy the team. They hire a coach with 300 games of NHL experience as a defenseman who's won a championship at every level he's coached except the Stanley Cup Final, a man whom no less a player than Wayne Gretzky calls an outstanding coach, to lead a team that finished last. Fans rejoice, finally some NHLers are in control of the team instead of Davidson & Co. who do not care one whit about hockey. They name a man captain whom the vast majority of analysts a season ago routinely call the best player in the NHL, even ahead of Sidney Crosby.

The gigantic hole in net is finally plugged but things go rough at the outset as over half the team is replaced with new talent unfamiliar with each other, the coach hasn't been behind a bench in 13 years, training camp is replaced by a European vacation, and the captain has major shoulder surgery. Other blood & guts leader types Paul Ranger, Ryan Craig and Jeff Halpern also have major joint surgery and take a while to recover. Impatient fans stuck in 2004 call for the return of the coaches & players they formerly trashed relentlessly, and jump off bridges all over Tampa Bay as team struggles to feet. Sometime in December/January, maybe after the All-Star break, die-hard fans are rewarded. And if not, they're still die-hard fans who buy tickets again because they love hockey. They were there for the cow-barn and the baseball stadium, the Cup, and what lies beyond.

This team has always $ucked turds in Sunrise. I toss that game in the garbage and look forward to tonight--remember when they played DET at home and the shots were 20-0 Lightning at the end of the first? Different team, different coach, different era....That won't happen tonight, but I bet they win.

[Globalpuck.com]

Lets talk about consistency for a moment....

Good captains: Lidstrom, Alfredsson, Koivu, Sakic, Drury.

Good GMs: Holland, Gainey, Sather, Murray, Lacroix.

Consistency is years at the top of the conference standings, perennial playoff berths, NOT one shot in the dark Cup victory. You need a common vision off the ice and on, patience, and above all time. Rome wasn't built in a day.

A guy who produces gore films along with Len Barrie, who is a real estate shark, hired an ESPN personality to lead a team that finished last. They name a man captain who was once stripped of the title. THAT IS YOUR SCENARIO.

Why would you expect anything other than consistent inconsistency?

[coach bill]

I have an idea. Put a C on Hockey Chic and get her butt out there. She would not put up with slackers.

[coach bill]

Gotta admire Hockey Chic's attitude. She's got the will and fire we are lacking. Unfortunately, with that lack comes lackluster ( as in our performance of late). In The WIZ, they sang "Can you see a brand new day?". That was because they had gotten rid of the evil witch which was the block in their path.(get my drift?)
By the way,Chic- Samson was a big guy and could take care of himself. We could use him. The guy that took down Goliath was actually David -a little guy. Go get 'em Lundin!
See ya tonight,Chic

[keith]

The saddest part is I dont see this team getting much better anytime soon.
Put mirrors in the lockers, maybe the players can see themselves with a logo on their shirts, maybe find some heart. If not get out of the way and get some guys who WANT to play a game for a living, not these guys masquerading as TBL pro hockey players.
Danny Boyle is smirking somewhere!

[anne]

We have the talent, we just need a coach! Can we please get rid of Melrose and get someone that knows what the heck they are doing. Then I bet the players will listen.

[Winnie]

Can't Brian Lawton resign? Enough good people have, why not the guy that made this roster?

[Hockey Chic]

Any given night, you can do it, get er done, thats what I am talking about, woo hoo to name a few.

This is to my beloved team who is shooting themselves in the foot for last nights performances. Forget about it. Today is a new day. Hopefully you got some rest in your own beds last night and can muster up a performance that will stand all the people who have ever said you cannot do something on their heads.

This can be done, samson can take down goliath and that means you guys. You are the under dogs so what. Take it and make it your sole purpose for winning the game tonight and defeating the Red Wings.

I know it was a long hard road trip, so pull out whatever you can in that bag of desire and get a win at home for your other team. THE FANS!!

Go Bolts!!! Lets get er done tonight. Crash the net, shoot and shoot often, skate your tired legs off and turn this into a positive for all the hard work the team has done..

See ya tonight at the game..

Go Bolts!! Go Bolts!! Go Bolts!!