Long way down

Snow is blanketing the Denver area again - stunner - as the Lightning prepares to disembark for the third and final game of a so-far frustrating road trip. The team outplayed Minnesota for large swathes of a 4-2 loss on Friday but appeared to sleepwalk through almost 50 minutes of a 4-3 defeat by the Avalanche last night. A power play goal by rookie Steven Stamkos - who has arguably been the Lightning's best player recently - highlighted a spirited last five minutes, but it was not enough to placate interim coach Rick Tocchet, who asserted - stone-faced - that the NHL is a results-oriented business and he needed to get some soon. He alluded to changes - whatever changes he can make within the roster structure - and that it is likely to get "miserable" around a team that has lost four straight.

Happy Thanksgiving. Pass the misery.

Comments

[Tallahassee Mike]

Here's an idea, and it's radical, but:

MAKE RECCI CAPTAIN.

Vinny is clearly not cut out for the job. Yes, he's far and away the most talented player on the team. He's probably top ten in the league in terms of pure talent (excluding goalies, as it's impossible to judge skaters vs. goalies). But he's shown twice now that he's not a leader. I'm not sure how you do it PR wise, and maybe it'll just have to be one of those messy deals, but you need to shift the focus of the team to Marc Recci. Dude is working harder than anyone on the ice, works harder in practice, tries all the time. Yes, he's an unspoken leader in the locker room, but here's the deal: if he says one thing and Vinny keeps his mouth shut and shies away, the team knows that Vinny is the captain and they will follow his example.

This is no knock on Vinny--great player, great person. Some people are leaders. Recci is a leader. Vinny is not a leader. Change it and we'll see some difference.

[ajax]

Tocchet, and owners, need to show real character the next few weeks or the season will be totally lost. Everything is new, and now is not the time to panic, but time to keep teaching more and more. I never like when I see coaches keep harping on effort effort effort. Most of the time it is coaching/system etc. All the effort in the world won't help until all 20 guys are on the same page. THEY AREN'T. Again Chief Taylor said something to this effect last night. You can skate 100mph but if you aren't in the right places it is wasted skating. The system needs to be bought into and the coaches need to keep preaching consistency. They go thru stretches of very effective hockey, I can see that. That is our HOPE. When they have the lead is when they lose their way. You can be surprized, pleasantly how fast that can be turned around, thru COACHING.
One comment about Ex players. We were the worst team last year for a reason. Could argue all night about why but the facts will never change. Lukowich, no one cared one bit and not one person was thrilled about him and his few healthy scratches last year. Now he is on the best team in the league and his plus/minus is awesome and our "owners" screwed up. Lukowich was a minus 15 in just 59 games. Kuba was hated while he was here for the passionless whimpy game he played. He was about a minus 22 for his last 58 games folks. Now he has 14 assists on a last place Ottawa team and he should of never been let go. I could go on and on but the fact is, none of these guys wanted to play here. My only summation to that is to blame it all on Tortorella. But so many of you L*O*V*E*D John also. The foundation for so many of these living in the past statements, dumbfound me. Bring Danny back and what?? we would be instant contender?? Malone has been arguably our best player. He might of been the one not signed if Danny stayed. The naysayers want to tie Boyle to trades and signings that didn't work out, but reality tells you the whole roster would of looked different when you start back tracking, and reshaping how 8 million would of been spent(Danny and Luke). Be honest gang. Does anyone really regret the Richards trade?? Please don't humor me. I choose to say they used the extra dough to sign Malone. Smitty Malone Jussi and Halpern for Richards. Greatest trade in the history of hockey. I can't convince management not to panic but I firmly believe breaking up the Fab4 had to be done. Vinny will drive all of us crazy. I have said this for 5 years. You are never going to see him skating like Crosby or Ovechkin cause it is the weakest part of his game. He certainly looks like he picks his spots doesn't he. But on the worst scoring team in hockey he has 10 goals. The whole team is a negative and he has played on 7 different lines in 22 games and he is a plus 2(plus 6 if you take away the awful -4 game). Where would we be without him?? The only thing that is consistent on this team is the inconsistency. I think he is pouting a bit. I think he sees how awful some of the guys in the room with him are and he "IS" handling it the wrong way. He needs to get pissed and not mopey. I might add on Arty. Two days ago I wrote to the effect, he is an airhead. The next night he is a healthy scratch. I see why, is all I can say. He plays in three minute stretches and he costs the team by not finishing his shifts. I know exactly which play got him benched. When he let up on the blue line and Nolan separated from him for the first goal the other night. Stevie Wonder had to know Arty got an earful on that one.
Anywho keep the faith, true Lightning fans. I use that phrase from Corinthians. Faith Hope and Love. I love my Lighning no matter what. Will always go to the games and spend my money to keep them HERE. I have endless hope for the boys. A two game winning streak changes my whole sports aura. Faith like all things in life, is the true test of all of us. I thank the owners for at least trying, but yes, their inexperience has made many mistakes thru hasty decisions. I want to have faith in Tocchet. He needs to show character and leadership. Nothing changes in a day. With basically 4 all-stars the last three years we flat out stunk more and more each year. Yet so many of you wanted 4stars and whacko coaching the same group. Insanity to me, just me. I hope and have faith that these owners learn from their mistakes and give it some time. I repeat this often to myself. Roberts and Olie need to be coaxed into retirement or something. It is universally known that we need tough blue liners asap. This lineup will be shook up. Have faith and hope that the magic will be found. But how can you not love the Lightning?? If you only love 48-24-10 hockey you should stick to Armwood football. Otherwise hang in there and we will turn it around. Owners with passion are rarely a bad thing. Pithy.

[Hockey Chic]

Let me just add to that Boltfalsher and VOTT excellent posts.

The current bolts have the talent and skills to win and as you have both stated do they have the desire.

I know it is tough on the road and it is equally as tough to have your as#es handed to you night after night.

But until you get sick and tired of getting beat by a lesser team and someone, anyone stands up in the locker room and says this is BS and we are not taking it anymore this streak of 4 - 2, 4 - 3 losses will continue.

Who the hell are the TBL or the BOLTS? Lets see you all stand up and not take the crap anymore. What do you say fellas? Got a Win in you?

Lets go Bolts!!

[Boltflasher]

While at it, why not get in the Bouwmeester sweepstakes?.....we could offer up an entire on-ice set of 5: Prospal, Jokinen, Vrbata, Lundin, and Krajicek (oh!!, they already got rid of him once...). 5 players for 1 guy should make them better, right!?

[Steve]

Tukonen was a 1st round pick of LA a few years ago who hasn't yet panned out and has spent a lot of time playing in Europe. Not sure if we will actually bring him over, but I don't mind seeing Hutchinson go.

[Boltflasher]

Why don't we hire Luke Richardson to work soley with Smaby and Mihalik in Norfolk as his special projects?....

[Steve]

Agreed Mike P, Vinny's recent point streak is a direct result of his talent, not his effort. I wonder how long it's going to be before we see another trade, excluding the big Hutchinson trade of course? Not saying that's the right course but our owners appear short on patience.

[Boltflasher]

Well, Hutchinson is gone to Dallas. Anybody no anything about Tukkonen other than he may another career AHLer? I'd have rather gotten the other Tukkonen that's a defenseman...

[mike p]

I agree VOTT, the major difference between that team and this team is not skill (because especially offensive-wise this should be a better team), but the will. The 03-04 team was Andreychuk's team. He wanted it so badly and his teammates fed off of that. As it's been stated many, many times already, this year's team is Vinny's team. And if you watch him play, and you look at his eyes, he does not want it. Not even at a fraction of how badly Dave did.

[The Voice of the Turtle]

The inevitable descent of the Tampa Bay Lightning continues, almost unabated.

Of all people, Rick Tocchet certainly understands the unavoidable truth that serves as the underpinning for the Bolts dance toward the NHL cellar. It is something that he can no longer demonstrate because his playing days are through. A player either finds it in his soul, does not have it, or loses it (because of the pain of injury, the ravages of age on his body, or feeling too comfortable with his as yet unearned riches).

I refer, of course, to the desire to win replete with its components: intense pride in performance, the willingness to make sacrifices, and the surrender of one's own personal hubris to team dedication.

Tampa Bay saw an inspired group of men face amazing obstacles in 2004. Together, they played at a level that far surpassed their individual native abilities. They strived for excellence together, they looked after each other on the ice, they dined at the same table, and they set and achieved an unreasonable team goal (one that they believed in when nobody else did). There was a magical self-propelled force borne of great character in that collection of champions.

Rick Tocchet understands how that works. he knows that (unlike X's and O's, game strategy, and fundamental hockey skills) it cannot be taught.

[Danger]

When things go bad, and they have, fans get crazy, I understand that. But how about we direct our critcisim in the right directions. I'll be the first to admit Vinny isn't playing is usual game, but he's riding a what?...6 game point streak? 7 maybe after last nights game? Everyone looks to put the captain in the cross-hairs but I'm reading a lot of undue criticisims flying V4's way. He's one of our only players, and his shoulders arn't nearly big enough to carry this squad. Is that his fault? Outside of 4-5 players we look like an AHL squad and everyone expects Vinny to pull us through? Vinny is the franchise and you need to build AROUND him, not including Stlouis, Prospal, Malone, and Stamkos, he has no supporting cast. Tampa Bay has been the Vinny show for a couple of years, and as great a player as he is, he's not single handedly going to get us to the playoffs. And all this "Stamkos is over-rated talk" has got to end. The kid is 18 years old playing in his first 25 games, and anyone who looks at him that CAN'T tell he is going to be something special, is just plain dumb.

[PD]

Brendan that's pretty good.

[mike p]

CHOO! CHOO! What's the sound? Sounds like the Tavares Train has rolled into Tampa Bay. 6 wins in 23 games...just disgraceful.

[brendan]

When do we start wearing our Cowboy hats to the games?

[PD]

So when do Vinny and Stamkos go up there Tocchet?

[KenB]

Although it made Last nights game tough, Here is the quote from Tocchet regarding the Arty 'benching'. If Arty learns from this, and there was someone sitting with hiom during the game, it could pay dividends in the long run. If he can't learn the D part of the game, his hitting/O is not going to help.
"I think Arty needs to watch a game from up top. We've got to teach him stuff and I think right now if he watches a game it will help. I don't want to blame him but there were three chances against that he caused and I think right now he's thinking too much so I just want him to go up to the stands and look at, I think it will help him in the long run."

[Herb]

GOSH DARN IT!!! STOP!!!! with the Lightning outplayed another team CRAP!!!!!! The result is a 4 game losing streak and the worst record in the east. Tocchet is a complete dumbass for benching Arty.

[Joe]

Our defense stinks and its causing problems in the offensive game.

Just my opinion