Lecavalier on board with Tocchet

Lightning captain Vinny Lecavalier said Wednesday his hour-long meeting on Tuesday with coach Rick Tocchet was a good one, and that he and the coach are definitely on the same page.

"Tocc is talking to players, he's listening to players," Lecavalier said. "He's telling us things and how to be better. It was a good conversation."

Tocchet wants Lecavalier, as captain and part of the team's leadership group to help shore up a couple of "sloppy" areas in and around the team, including off-ice stuff such as being on time for team buses, meetings and practices.

"It's not like we were out of control, but we can be more precise in what we do," Lecavalier said. "If there's a 12 o'clock bus, be there at 11:55, not 12:01. It's little things, meetings, video, maybe show up a couple of minutes early, things like that, just to make the place more precise; little things that might not look like a big deal but at the end, it is. The way you act in the dressing room and toward your teammates, translates to the ice."

Lecavalier acknowledged that as captain, he has to take a hand in keeping things professional.

"That's what we talked about too. It's not only the coaching staff that has to tell guys to be on time, when the bus is and all the other stuff that surrounds the locker room," Lecavalier said. "It has to be the players, myself as team captain. I have to do that, too."

Tocchet said he liked the way Lecavalier responded to the conversation.

"I've talked to players in the past, I've played with players, you're having that talk with them and they look at you, like, 'when am I going to lunch, where can I get my car fixed?' where as he's actually looking at you," Tocchet said. "There's no question he was absorbing. He understands it. He knows there are some things he has to do better and he's willing to do."

In other stuff: Center Jeff Halpern and left wing Ryan Malone are ready to play and will be in the lineup Thursday against the Avalanche. They played on the same line in practice with right wing Paul Szczechura. Tocchet said Halpern, playing his first game since May reconstructive knee surgery, will likely get "spot duty." ... Goalie Olie Kolzig has a minor upper body injury, Tocchet said. It must have happened in Tuesday's practice. However it happened, Tocchet said Karri Ramo will be called up from AHL Norfolk to back up Mike Smith. ... Right wing Mark Recchi had the day off, so did center Jussi Jokinen with a lower-body injury that should not keep him out of Thursday's game. ... Tocchet said he mostly was pleased with the players' work during three days without a game. He said he it was a good sign no one bitched. "I think they know they really needed something," Tocchet said. ... The coach called the next five games against Colorado, Atlanta, Pittsburgh and two against Florida, are critical if the team is going to have any chance to get back into the playoff chase. "We have some teams trying to find themselves," he said. "We'll see what kind of  team we have in the next five games."

Comments

[dagored]

Re Don Cherry's "Thugs" remark. He was talking about both the Bolts and Sens.Film showed them arriving for the game.Players on both teams had caps on, listening to Ipods in all forms of casual dress and looking like they would steal your tires. Cherry was basically saying that both last place teams need to be dressed for success and come to the rink as a team, not a bunch of individuals.Then he showed the Caps arriving in suits and ties and said thats how a first place team dresses.
Clothes do make the man and the Sens and Bolts did look like they were heading out to work at the factory.
As far as V4 goes, didn't he learn anything from Andy and Tim Taylor? What happened to watch and learn?Was he z-ing out in class? He should have been riding herd on the boys as soon as the C was stitched on.
Why an hour meeting? Aa a 10 year vet and former C, he should have learned from the past and now have some clue how the drill is performed. Actually makes him look like a slacker.Maybe he doesn't have what it takes to lead.Get it together son, the Bolts go where you lead them.As my DI at the Island told us--Don't think,just do.Adjust,adapt and overcome.

[Mike13]

Here's a pic of Luongo with the C.

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0dDzaLm78L6Pb/340x.jpg

[Mike13]

Yep. On the neck guard. He had it painted this summer when they announced him as the C. Since they couldn't put it on his jersey, they put it as close as they could.

[PD]

Thanks coach, (I think).

Have my daughters 2nd grade xmas concert tonight 6-8p or I would call in, appreciated the invite. Hi to all please.

Keith, oddly enough Luongo wears a big C on his mask.

[keith]

Relax Brittany.....its all in good fun, and as Coach Bill says, its only opinions. Put five of us together, you get five different opinions.Its nothing personal. Go throw back a cold one with the guys. I wish I could. I'll be in ATL on Saturday.
Go Bolts.
BTW you learn something every day...never knew goalie couldnt wear the C. I was thinking about Luongo. Kind of hard to differentiate between "real" C or "just for the title" C.....still means the same doesn't it. Maybe the goalie doesnt get to go to the officials booth at disputes, but other than that seems the same to me. Anyhow.....I will always learn something new!

[TBOLT]

Well Vinny you got the "C"..Start leading!

[PD]

Absolutley right Nan.

Tocchets doing his job and if he didn't do that, at the minimum, then really what outcome could any expect?

More Brittany please!

[Nan]

Well said Brittany. You bring a different viewpoint as well as Hockey Chic. It is clear there has been organizational dysfunction from the time the new owners came in. It just appears to me that Tocchet is simply trying to right the ship and wants the leaders on the team to help him do that and that starts with Vinny.

During this 4 day period between games Tocchet is doing everything possible to get the team going in the right direction together. People on this blog are making a big deal out of nothing.

[Brittany]

Keith, Smitty isn't allowed to get a letter on his sweater, it is against the rules. He could be named captain (a la Luongo), but it would simply be title alone.

As so blasting anyone, I didn't realize I did that (and sorry to anyone who thought I was, except maybe PD, he deserves it sometimes). I'm pretty sure I never called anyone dumb or said they didn't understand something, so I don't know how I was blasting people. I might not agree with what most of you say, but that doesn't mean that my point is any less valid. I was using PD's comment to show that you guys are bashing Vinny for doing something that one of YOU said his job was, not because I don't "understand" what his role is. You don't have to play hockey to understand what is going on. I didn't say that Vinny was a good or bad captain in that post, I was simply saying that 30 games is too soon to tell anything. If you think 30 games is plenty of time, then that is fine. I guess we might as well get rid of Stamkos too since he has had his 30 games and hasn't set the world on fire. I'm simply trying to make points as to how outrageous some of the things you guys are saying sound when they relate to something else. If you think that giving the 'C' to someone else is going to magically solve all of our problems, then whatever I say won't change your mind, but I would bet everything I own and everything I will own that it isn't going to do a darn thing except tick off a lot of people and cause more unneeded drama. As to being late, I was simply trying to say that maybe with all of the change there has been miss-communication, not that I think any of them should be late. It is unacceptable, but I think since Toc wasn't P.O.ed about it, he understands that things have been changing so often that they just all need things set out in black and white. I'm pretty sure Toc praised Vinny for the way he acted in the meeting, why does everyone else think he shouldn't be captain?

I think I'm going to take some time off from these blogs. I've tried to add a different side to what most of you guys think (in what I think is a friendly and intelligent manner) and I end up being the one bashed.

[leo]

Last thing,
When Sarasota Man sides with Leo, you can tell that the Great Cataclysm is truly approaching, and much quicker than any expected.
P.

[leo]

Brilliant point, Keith!
Which only HIGHLIGHTS what a captain's job is. Tell ya why:
Mike Smith is still pretty new to the team. One you would figure still wouldn't want to make too many waves.
But not only is he playing great overall but he is doing so CONSISTENTLY. He is RELIABLY great.
The captain doesn't have to be a "go-between". Weren't a lot of go-betweening between V4 and Tortie as I recall and you still got a Cup.
Cournoyer and Bowman hated each others guts; they NEVER spoke! Gainey and Lafleur weren't too hot about'im either. You all know how that turned out.
I'm sure you can all come up with a host of examples one way or the the other but let Leo give you the straight dope:
The captain is the one who management and the coach can RELY ON to not only be consistently great but who can incite THE OTHERS to be consistently great. That's it. It ain't complicated.
The captain should be the one who "brings it every night" and has the Presence to make the others do the same every night without ANY compromise, the BEST. (sorry for the ugly sentence)
Now, if THAT'S what you meant by "go-between", then I agree.
But if not, you should know that Hockey is BUSINESS.
Not DIPLOMACY.
P.

[hyjyljyj]

NHL rules forbid a goaltender being captain, keith.

Vinny is the logical captain of this team, has been leading on the ice, scoring lots of goals, even got the Rocket trophy for doing it. He comes through in the clutch. Has matured into an effective enough leader all right. I don't believe anyone is a born leader, though aptitude is a part of it. Those with the aptitude can acquire the skill through patience, tenacity, drive, work ethic and a passion for leading a group in a worthy cause. Having good leadership and people skills demonstrated to him while young is a big help too. Even these can be learned later in life, though. Plenty of books out there on the subject. I've seen it happen time and again.

I have no problem with Lecavalier being the Captain, unless he's the one showing up at 12:01...the team is just struggling as a whole right now, last place in the league...no other player wearing the C would be able to change that. It has to be a group effort.

[keith]

We hear that Smitty is becoming a leader in the room.Someone not afraid to speak his mind apparently. How about doing away with the two A's and making Vinny and Smitty co captains? Smitty has certainly led the way so far with his consistency and effort. If he had some scoring support he'd be in the top three GK so far.

[Boltflasher]

When you have to be told "how" to be the captain, then, perhaps, you should not have been the captain?? But if it helps then so be it...

[PD]

Patrick I'm sure that you would see the world as a much more comfy, safe and enjoyable place if you controlled it so that we all thought like little Kool aid Patricks..

Not going to happen.

[Patrick]

PD,

You and your split personalities does not equal the majority, not even close. Olin is just the latest actual fan of the lightning to tell you to get off the blog, rightly so.

[PD]

Bang on Brittany ..expectations.

Stripping the C would be a PR nightmare, won't happen but hopefully Tocchet has tabled the rules of engagement going forward and the captain better have the mates on board.

Way behind 29 other teams in that respect.

[Brittany]

I know I'm one of the few who see absolutely nothing wrong with Vinny being the captain and I think that 'C' should stay there until his #4 is hanging from the rafters, but to call for him to step down from the captaincy after all of 30 games is a bit much, isn't it? I mean, I know we are very much a results oriented society, but can't we give him a bit more than 30 games? He just came off of major surgery (which he may or may not be still feeling the effects of), has a team that has encountered 36 (oh wait, 37 now with Halpern) different players, 2 different coaches, new owners, a complete overhaul from top to bottom and we expected everything to go smoothly and Vinny to lead us all to the Stanley Cup in... 3 months? How about we give him at least a season or two before we say they made a terrible mistake and that Vinny is clearly not captain material. The last time he was captain, he was way too young and to compare the two times is unfair.

Also, I don't understand why people are up in arms that Vinny had a meeting with Toc. Maybe the reason the players are late is because things have been changing so much lately that they just simply have no organization? Maybe under Melrose, he could have cared less and there was no system? And if Vinny's job is to be the go between for the players and the coaches (as I think it was PD who said this), then what is the big deal with them having a meeting? Doesn't that mean that Vinny is fulfilling his duties as captain by meeting with the coach in order to know what he needs to relay to the players? I think it is safe to say that up until very recently, no one had any system, organization or anything; so is it really that difficult to believe that things are completely dysfunctional and the players need a reminder of what is expected of them?

[PD]

Olin, what am I shoving again, and where and why?

Seems the majority here get that that the org structure here is very dysfunctional, almost criminally so given the money that fans are shelling out in tough times.

Let's see, two guys with questionable money issues buy/rent a team before the recession hits.

All of their efforts, in a drama queen manner, are directed at getting free publicity not building a franchise, (see hiring Melrose, Seen Stamkos, Free agent Boondoggle, two terrible meddlesome trades, Saw masks).

Hiring a coach and GM as non-autonomous puppets to Barrie.

No concern about actually having the team ready on the ice.

30 games in and in last place, with no discipline, no team pride.

The captain likely as guilty as any arriving late for practice or meetings dressed in flip flops.

Hello Olin.

[Badbud]

...NEW management,Is not the problem,them being so FREAKING INEPT,Is the problem.

[keith]

Leo, Sarasota Bill...ditto, ditto, ditto
Vinny love you on the ice baby,and I think you are a hell of a good guy but as captain you cant tell the press you just now started to realize guys have to be on time for the bus and video.......as skipper you just now start to realize you may have a major leadership role. Vineeeeeee! Youve been in the league for 10 years.
So whose dragging tail? Roberts, Recchi, Kolzig, all seasoned pros who could be helping the effort, or the young guys who are still trying to make a name for themselves...are you kidding? Get to work on time.

[Sarasota Bill]

I understand your comments Olin, but with all due respect, Leo makes a great point. Who the ____ is running this team anyway? Late for meetings? Late for busses? What the ++++?

I can't believe what I just read. 30 games in and players don't know the rules? Don't know practice times, meeting times, ................................

That's the silliest thing I've ever heard.

Or wait...............maybe we are 30 games in and the players just don't care. I assume even the 500k minimum wage guys can afford a Timex. If not, I'm sure the adoring fans will all chip in and buy them Rolex watches and pay for their wake up services. I can't believe this. Who is in charge? Apparently nobody. There is no excuse for this behavior from professional athletes. None!! If there is no off ice discipline, can anyone expect on ice discipline? Does anyone see a pattern here?

OK.......players don't seem to care, they come and go as they wish, so lets bring the Captain into this. In many ways that makes perfect sense. Peer pressure is the strongest pressure most people will ever experience. Screw the management, screw the fans, but my teammates........ That's a bit of a different story. I've heard all the cliches about playing for the logo on the front of the jersey and not for the name on the back. Let me clarify. It's about playing for your teammates more than anything. Chances are high the team you play for has nothing to do with where you grew up or even what team you idolized as a kid. But your teammates.............. You live and die with them. That will never change. Ever!! Peer pressure works if you like it or not. It's life.

That brings up another of Leo's comments. Why the hell is this aired in the press? What ever happened to "whatever happens in the room....." What I just read is complete nonsense. Does this team have to air all it's laundry in the press? The new owners wanted to make an impression. That they have done. Problem is they have made a tremendous impact in the press with little noticeable effect on the standings. And the press clippings continue....

Those of you who know me know I'm not a whiner. I don't have the time or inclination to cry about every little thing. This is different. Hope you understand!

I have some more to say about "systems" and other crap but that is enough for now!

[olin]

....siting down to my dinner and reading this latest DC blog and preceding post's of Leo and PD, I would like to tell you PD, you can take your "Most dysfunctional org design on the planet and shove it where the SUN DON'T SHINE, right up you know where PD, that sort of stuff on the TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING STRIKES blog DOES NOT BELONG.
...yes we have our problems here for now and NEW management IS/ARE trying to solve this, and turn the train back on track. Give us a break here guy's, seem's that last Hab's/Bolt game and quite a few others from past, if I remember right, incl playoff's ended up in loss' for Red/Blue. V4 is learning, the whole team is learning, the mangement is learning,coaching staff is learning, this is almost like a new franchise it's not the time to hang our neck's from the highest tree.
I'd just like to say if you guys are gonna post here make it in a positive way. We all know the BOLT'S are struggling, give 'em a break, I hate to see the loss's as well, but somewhere ya gotta start. LEAVE IT....

[Thunderbug]

I can believe that they don't show up to meetings, practices on time... since they haven't showed up to most games this year either! Don Cherry called them "Thugs". I wouldn't go that far, but he has a point to some extent. These 'little things' reflect on the bigger things that aren't getting done -- winning games. Hell, everyone posting in these blogs for weeks have noticed the lack of discipline throughout this team. Now V4 gets called into the office to help get control (i.e. LEAD) of his team?

Let's get the guys in suits, be on time for practice and meetings, play hard on the ice, get some lucky bounces and try to turn this ship away from the oncoming iceberg. Otherwise, its time for "Herbies" and layoffs -- just like other businesses are doing now. Play hard or hit the road!

go bolts.

[Herb]

It just goes to show you where the Bolts stand as far as being a competitive team. The Bolts get shut out by the Sens and the Trash whoop the Sens 4-1. As comedian Bill Engvall would say......THERE'S YOUR SIGN!!

[PD]

If Vinny has to "learn" any of this stuff, then god help the Bolts.

This is stuff that you learn in bantam hockey at age 12.

Most dysfunctional org design on the planet Leo.

[Joe]

Vinny is learning as well. these are the types of meetings and practices that should have happened in training camp. They obviously did not! Thanks Melrose!!!

Go Bolts lets get a win!

[The Voice of the Turtle]

Vincent Lecavalier must recognize that the captaincy is not just a title given to the best, highest paid, and/or the most popular player. It comes with responsibility and accountability. The coach should not have to monitor and deal with players who do not respect schedules or fail to exert a full effort in practice. It is the captain who must get involved with these issues because he walks that tightrope between the concerns of the the coaching staff and the posturing of the players. The degree to which the captain succeeds or fails in this role is a reflection of his propensity for leadership.

Leaders need not necessarily be aggressive, but they must be assertive. Leaders need not necessarily be outspoken, but they must effectively communicate. Leaders need not be demonstrative, but they must have impact on those who follow.

The leader should most effectively both set and represent the goals and expectations of the team.

I believe that Rick Tocchet, in his own words, is trying to convey these ideas to Captain Lecavalier. If Vinny is listening closely to his coach, he will realize that these expectations are really demands. His job calls for more than good performances on the ice.

Essentially, he must be responsive to this challenge or relinquish the captaincy.

[HockeyBay.com]

next five games against Colorado, Atlanta, Pittsburgh and two against Florida are pretty much all losses... Better start looking forward to next 1st round draft pick and trade 'seen stamkos' for defense!

[leo]

Oh. My. Gosh.
Vinny, little advice:
Admitting to shoddy implication is NOT a step in the right direction.
Why are YOU talking about this to the press?
Oh my gosh. This is truly a circus.
Tocchet?
Time to show you're a man. Think Tortie woulda allowed anyone to PLAY the next three games if they had been late for ANYTHING??? DO something!
Who's in AUTHORITY here??!!
Vinny?
So make HIM the coach!
P.