GM puts the team on notice

General manager Brian Lawton was so disappointed in Wednesday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Devils, he felt compelled before Thursday's game with the Rangers to publicly let his players know it.

"The biggest thing I want the players to know is that it's really not acceptable last night to come out with a point against that team," he said. "I don't know that it was in the past, but it definitely isn't in the present. ... That was a team that was down, and we have to recognize that and develop more of a killer instinct. To their credit, they did what they had to do, but it shouldn't sneak up on you."

Tampa Bay led 1-0 until New Jersey, in the second period, scored two late goals. The Lightning scored two power play goals in the third period to wipe out two one-goal deficits. A nice flurry, and Tampa Bay is 4-1-4 since two season-opening losses to the Rangers.

But Lawton said that just masks a problem.

"We have a lot of skill on our team. We need to build our structure and our organization and to combine it with more will, and we'll do fine," he said. "Right now, the success that we're having is due in large part to the skill that we have on the club, and that's only good for so long, and we realize that. We need to get that combined with a better team approach."

How do you address will?

"The players address will on their own," Lawton said. "You can mask it for a while, but it generally comes out. Generally, when you have six games in nine nights it comes out. Generally, when you're on a five-game road trip, it comes out. Those are the types of situations that make it more difficult to mask those things."

That is why, as Lawton has said, the rest of this five-game road swing and the Nov. 13 game against the Red Wings at home (which makes six games in nine days) is so important.

If will is not shown, Lawton said, "At that stage, the process is really simple for me. You  ask people if they want to be here, if they want to be a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning because there's not enough commitment. A lot of players didn't show me, even though I heard a lot of things about a lot of people wanting to be part of our team this summer. I didn't leave the rink last night thinking that, and it really disturbed me."

Comments

FIRE melrose he beats up teams when he was a broadcaster now u all know he stinks behind the bench and as a broadcaster

[North Star Fan]

Brian Lawton talking about will!! Hilarious. He was skilled although not highly skilled and was scared of his shadow! He was as soft as butter when he played and there is no evidence of him ever competing hard in the face of competition. The players know this and have to be laughing silently at his wimpy talk. A fraud is what Lawton is.

[D]

Maybe I had the same dream. I don't think that was in response to this slapping and digging at the goaltenders that we've been seeing all year. Was it Neil who ran Kolzig v Ottawa? Can't remember for sure but that guy needed a beat down on the spot and didn't even get his sweater mussed. It looks pretty obvious that the book on the Bolts is to take liberties with the goalie. Free shot zone. Disgusting. Melrose is all hair.

Maybe I was dreaming, but I thought I saw Malone beat up Voros....

[D]

As long as we're threatening. Here's one. This season ticket holder is already in non-renewal status for next year. I've seen enough gutless, sleepwalking, sloppy hockey to last a decade. I'm sick of overpaid, non-producers, i.e. Vrbata. How many times has Smith been abused this season? And not one offender has been properly made to pay for it, until Smith did it for himself last night. That tells you everything you need to know about the character of this club. Not worth the price of admission. Not even close. Have fun coasting boys. You suck.

[Stacey]

I think we all know this tactic. It's where you say you're going to do something ALREADY KNOWING you're going to do it anyway but that way no one says "I had no idea!" "Where did that come from!?" He's setting something up to happen. I wonder who it is they want to get rid of?

[James]

I don't know what the people above me have posted but thier is only one thing that explains the Tampa Bay Lightning right now...

They suck.

Don't you fellas remember when Bolts WERE a good team? I do, and this team now is a complete joke. A crappy hockey team at it's best right now.

They suck. Plain and simple.

Welcome doormat.

[Ruthe]

Why didn't someone beside Smith take on Voros (other than Malone). We have no one on our team who can come to the defense of our goalie beside the goalie himself? He doesn't need to be fighting. All we need is for Smith to get injured. What happened to the team everyone was going to be afraid to play, per Melrose. We are soft. Watch the fights last night around the league. We have no enforcer. Not a Brashear fan but he gave a whipping to the Canes Brookbank. Lawton is not helping by criticizing. He is the one who signed these players. Once again this team is stressed, uptight, and under constant scrutiny from the coach and management. Just let them play!

[PD]

Picard and the guy who leads Ottawa in minutes and NHL defencemen in points, Kuba.

[coach bill]

Great posts Chic and Turtle. The finger pointing doesn't belong in the press and the finger shouldn't belong to the GM ( at least not in the first month of the season). Ajax is right on about the importance of holding the blue line. I wish we still had Picard. He held the line last year for us. To do that you have to have a partner that is ready to cover you and has the speed plus wings that back check to prevent the odd man rushes. Last year we had the problem of Danny Boy getting caught up ice too often as he carried the puck in ( all the way in,sometimes behind the net). There's no reason for this year's D to be so timid unless we don't have the speed ( or the will to backcheck by the wings). We need to hold the line and play more hockey in the offensive zone.Great to be back in Fla. Really missed you guys. Rhode Island is still way behind the times. They now have "sports bars". WOW- what an innovation. Went to a Hooters by the airport to try to watch the Devils/Lightning game. Asked the mgr. if he has the NHL ticket. He said,"What's that?" I said "it's called Centre Ice. It's a hockey package." He looked really confused. He didn't have a clue of what I was talking about. So much for the RI sportsbars. 'Love Fla. Go Bolts!

[léo]

Just caught me a glimpse of the highlights.
What'd I tell yehs about me boy Smith? Huh? Huh?!
Boy just went up another notch in me book.
Gave him a notch off the bat. As I would for EVERY goalie who makes it. Gave him another two cuz I had a "feelin'" about him (y'all remember). Got himself another for being the angry sort. Like Huey. Gets p.oed when things don't go his way. Got another for making do with the transition to TB. May have had a losing record but his talent didn't go unnoticed. Unless I'm mistaken?
Gets himself another 3 notches tonight for bein' a brutal bastich.
Puts him at notch eight in my book.
This guy's great!
P.

[mike p]

this blog is getting sad...that was like 10 posts of the random blog troller talking to him/herself. sadness...let's get it together tbay! this team needs a big win, badly.

That last post was not me, it was, again, the fake imposter. Any other posts by the "imposter" is not really the imposter, but the fake imposter.

Right on Fat Jay!!!

[Fat Jay]

The fake imposter just wishes he/she was the imposter

[Fake Imposter's mother]

No, you are not the imposter's mama!

[Imposter's mother]

I concerned that there's a fake imposter!

[Imposter]

That was not the real imposter but a fake imposter...

[PD]

Gee Lawton crucified for sharing conventional hockey wisdom with the Kool aiders. How dare he talk like that to the enablers.

That was a crime not getting two against Weeks because they had zero chance of getting any against Zherdev and the Rangers.

Want to know why Lawton is freaking ?
Check the empty seats-

Nothing says 9000 like losing.

Smith back to 500 ..gravity.

9:44 post another ajax imposter, I apologize in advance if Ajax posts again and is rude to anyone. Smith is not the problem. One times from 18 ft, two clear break aways(he stopped one), 5 on 3 for 5 minutes straight and they get one goal. Playing good D is not collapsing 5 guys around the goalie. This might keep the score down but you will be hanging by a thread in a bunch of 2-1 or 3-2 games. Ooops that is what we are doing. Good D is winning battles so the forwards can stay up and pressure the other D. Their Dis 5 feet in front of our blue line, our D is 5 feet in back. They were looking so much better, but the gap between forwards and D was huge the last two games and that is why there is so much open ice thru middle ice for their forwards. You ever notice how other teams D pinch the daylight out of our D? That is cause our forwards have to come in so far to help out. I said I would wait 20 games, I won't. Smith alone makes this team so much better than last years. I will make that statement til my death. 5x a night he bails out the D with his stick work. Unlike last year he stands strong in front of the net and hence you don't see as many dunk goals like last year. With a stout D infront of him he would look all-world I believe. He is the real deal. The D is a project at best. I think the forwards since the first 5 games have taken huge strides. I would trade/waive Malik and Roberts and I would package Vrbata and (Craig/Ward/Gratton??) and try to get another 20 minutes a night number 4 D man. Gratton is great on faceoffs but the guy absolutely has -0- passion out on the ice, zip. I have to admit more and more I love Malone. His grit is sorely missed on this hockey team. He is an old fashion hockey player and you can never have enough of them. Marty certainly doesn't look old to me.
I am done from this moment on. Any more Alex posts, good or bad, I apologize for. Damien save us all!!!

[Boltflasher]

Actually a better effort tonight but bad D tonight. Not my comment earlier but a correct comment nonetheless by imposter. ...See, imposter, you are capable of providing input instead of trash to this blog...

[Don in St. Pete]

Ajax, I disagree on Malik but that seems to be the least of our problems. Early in the game Voros was skating right through the crease and at one point upended Smith and no calls were made. Smitty whacked him on the back of the legs because he ran Smith several times with little or no response from our team. More effort but less result tonight. I'm going to withhold judgement, but we had plenty of chances we couldn't cash in on tonight.

[Casper]

I agree, ajax. Four wins in 12 games. This is pitiful.

[ajax]

Oh, and one other thing. Smitty really played terribly, then took his team out of the game completely with those foolish penalties. Water is seeking its own level after the overachieving start.

[mike p]

Guys, I'm in toronto so I can't see the game, only the boxscore...and it says the mike smith got a fighting major?! MAN! i better be able to see this replay! what happened at the end of this game? was that a meltdown or what?

[ajax]

Last post from the real Ajax. The boys were man handled tonight. For about 4.5 periods in a row now the D has been collapsing at the blue line. Everything bad happens from that point on. Did you see our forwards get flattened time and time again when in front of their goalie. That is how to play hockey, not try and poke check the live puck out of their. Definitely two steps back for the D tonight.

[TB]

Lawton should follow his wife and kids back to Minnesota

[ajax]

8:39 post was not me Bob. Bad night with imposter only making me more teed off. Our forwards played the whole game in front of Smith. The boys were playing so much better. Don, Malik made at least three game changing mistakes tonight, all because he can not move his feet even an inch. His penalty was an interference call at center ice, but if he doesn't interfere it is a clear 2 on 1. I look forward to the day he and Roberts are no longer on the roster. It is rare in the new NHl with all of the zillion penalties to be able to fill 2 of the 20 roster spots with elder statesmen who can not skate a lick. Imposter get a life!!!!!!!!!!

[stephen]

This guy is an idiot. Shut your yap. You have never been a gm or for that matter anywhere near a secretary to one. Maybe if you didnt stockpile on players their could be some team chemistry but you seem to think that stuff happens over night. Just shutup and sit down you punk,

[The Dudman]

So we get rid of Torts because he is in the players faces and uses fear...and we have a GM that does the same thing to 'gel' the team...they sure look gellin' to me...

[ajax]

Yeah, it's great for "moral," you illiterate moron.

[Bob]

Someone needs to put Lawton on notice and tell him to shut up.Oh and MaxHunter I liked it better when you were flagged as spam.You think this kind of micro managing is good for moral then you know nothing.

[//]

I dunno Herb. Bottoms up, maybe?

[Herb]

What's Lawton gonna say about this performance??

[Hockey Chic]

Still sportin' the rosies. Still trying to fit on the jumbotron.

[rbc]

Rangers called for unjust penalty. The Bolts paid for it. No more complaints about the reffing please!!!

[Herb]

The PK is starting to fall apart with the Devils and Rags scoring PP goals in each of these last 2 games. The Sens scored one as well on Saturday.

[ajax]

Bobby the Chief made the comment how easy the Rangers break the forecheck. It is very very very easy to break the forecheck if the D don't stand their ground thru center ice. I need a telestrater!!

[Don in St. Pete]

Casper, Hockey Chic et al, Did you watch the same game that Max, VOTT and Turtle watched? We were not even close to physical last night, against a team that hates the physical game we gave up our best advantage without a fight. I'm sorry but Lawton was right. He's calling out several of the best players on this team, one of whom where's the "C" on his sweater. It's not acceptable or leading by example to float through the first 50 minutes of the game. You've got guys like Gary Roberts whose lost a step but at least is playing his heart out to the best of his ability. Also, Jussi has to show a little more pluck in the defensive zone. Good first period, at least a better effort tonight except the fumble at the offensive blue line by Malik and the bungled line change which lead to the PP goal for the Rags.

[ajax]

The boys are falling into old habits. Watch one thing for me gang. The blueline. Rangers D holds the blueline very well. Time after time our D is 10 feet behind the blueline and Ranger forwards skate in the zone versus our forwards forced to dump all the time. Huge part of simple hockey. Even when we are forechecking the D need to hold the red line and when the Ranger forwards break that first forecheck the camera has to scan back 40 feet to find our D. All of this leads to extended time in our own zone and zero transition. It looks like two weeks ago. Hockey 101.

[Boltflasher]

Agree with Lawton. Lightning reverting to old form. Played 11 games to get 4 wins. Last year got 4 wins in seven games.

[The Voice of the Turtle]

As a player, Brian Lawton failed his test as a first round, first pick draftee. He is now demonstrating why the Tampa Bay Lightning needed a strong General Manager to grab the reins. Not him!

Don't get me wrong, Brian's observations are not incorrect. He is, in fact, quite on the mark. However, his choice of a forum for these comments is totally inappropriate. In Tampa Bay, we have had more than our fair share of people who chose to address players through the media, and it is UNWISE as well as unprofessional.

Brian, keep your dirty laundry away from the working press. You might have gotten this job by browning your nose, but you are not going to keep it if you threaten and embarrass your players.

Son, I don't want to read about any more of your public snits. Shut your mouth and do your job. You haven't won any spurs yet, and you have not achieved the right (if one ever exists) to publicly chastise your players.

[MaxHunter]

Disregard the last comment - must have been a bug. :)

Anywho...

What I was saying in a post that was filtered as spam is, I think you Lawton haters are wrong - IMHO.

They looked awful last night in Jersey. IT didn't seem like they had any passion, the looked lost, slow, had trouble skating with a puck. As usual the only person I'm letting off the hook is, Smith.

So, yeah. I'm glad Lawton stepped up to the plate. And, before anyone says it, I don't think it's Melroses fault either. The problems last night were not with the plays but with the performance.

Honestly, I feel a lot of you guys point fingers at Barrie/Koules/Lawton for no other reason than to read something you wrote. Those guys could buy a round of ice cream for the team after a win, and some of you would complain they bought Hagen-Daz instead of Ben and Jerry's. I think the team needs to hear they need to bring the talent EVERY night, not just when the skates get bagged.

Max

(I wonder if it will work now.)

[MaxHunter]

I give up. You win spam filter. I am a horrible spammer that loves the Lightning.

*BLECH!*

[MaxHunter]

ARRRGGGHHH!

Stop marking me as spam!!! I wrot a great comment typepad keeps thinking os spam!

[MaxHunter]

Seriously?

I got filtered out as spam? I'm not spam. I'm not spam. I'm not spam! I'm real and a real fan! Oi Vey.

*Looks toward Heaven*

God, why do you mock me so?!

[shock therapy]

Well I was the first to post, timing is everything i suppose. I didn't realize so much passion and agreement would follow my post.

As I recall, some guy named Torts used to hammer with intimidation last year and players didnt respond once they past his threshold. Have we not learned anything?

How about a few pats on the back for the positives and build off of them, stop nitpicking and harassing the weaknesses and singling out guys who play well (ala smith) and exempt them from team punishments. Win and lose as a team - without GM and coach negative meddling and especially when not deserved.

Now Go Bolts!

[PrimeTime]

If Lawton is this hands-on while they're on the roster, I suspect he'll be riding them after they leave, so the tampering charges will be piling up. We still don't miss Feaster yet though, right?

[Hockey Chic]

Wow you guys are good and ditto I agree with all that was said. Listen Lawton you need to sit in your office work on contracts and keep your mouth shut.

These guys are doing just fine and now you are threatening them. Back the f@#king bus up. Let them play they game, get used to each other and quit bitching about the fact that they did not give it there all and that it was not an acceptable performance.

Dude where the hell were you a couple of Saturdays ago when this blog went balistic due to the lack of passion and effort. Did not hear jack crap out of the front office. Now when they are turning it around you chime in. Buy a clue dude.

Listen OK, coral your man and tell him to lay off. Let the guys play, one shift at a time. The last thing they need is their jobs held over their heads.

That is the least you can do for them after they toured Europe for you and the Bettman clan for ten days.

Support is support any way you can get not how about you show some to the team.

Go Bolts!!!

[Grant]

I agree that we should stay positive! Its still very early and we are within reach of the division lead. I feel a display like this in the media will cause otherwise happy players to get uncomfortable! We're behind you guys! Go Bolts!