Vrbata, Gratton assigned

As expected, the Lightning assigned right wing Radim Vrbata to his hometown team in the Czech Republic, Mlada Boleslav. It also assigned center Chris Gratton to AHL Norfolk.

The moves reduce Tampa Bay's roster to 21, two under the limit.

Tampa Bay also assigned goaltender Riku Helenius to ECHL Mississippi. Helenius had been playing for ECHL Augusta, which has closed for business. Helenius had been assigned to AHL Norfolk pending an assignment to the ECHL. Mississippi was a Tampa Bay affiliate last season.

Comments

[leo]

"Boorish" now? My, my, the pride doth hurt.
Here's the straight dope, Tockey:
England MAY have invented soccer (which I sincerly doubt, my thought is the Mayans), but they SURE as heck don't OWN it.
However, Victoria or Halifax MAY have invented hockey and Montreal is the CRADLE of organized hockey and STILL,
Canada RULES hockey with an iron fist. NEVER relinquished.
"Oh, it's because of this, that and the other thing, and 1954, and Sweden and all that, and USA is the best and Canada sucks..." Fine, fine, fine, whatever.
But every World Championship, we hear the same thing (and I've mentioned this before): Canada is THE team to beat.
Russia may have a powerhouse, Sweden might be all that, the Czechs are dangerous as heck and Finland is coming along like gangbusters.
But CANADA remains the team to beat. In men's, women's and juniors. Top to bottom, people gun for US, not the other way around.
Unless I'm mistaken of course, and in actuality, we're no better than anybody else...
Considering WE'RE the ONLY nation that can EASILY ice three teams.
But have it your way; what do I care?
Canada sucks! USA rules!
Right?
P.

[hockeytalkie]

address the "owners" of hockey lack of success since 1954 in the olympics. usa has had 2 miracles in the same span that you bunch of thickheaded newfies have only mustered 1 win as an annual frontrunner. to paraphrase john cleese, when you hold a world championship try to invite teams from more than just w/in your own continent.

based on your previous response, not sure that we agree on england's ownership of soccer, inasmuch as that is where the modern game was born. the same with CAN and hockey.

as far as being a Hab i would say this; be proud, not boorish.

[leo]

Well, Hockeywalkie,
If you agree with all my points, I don't see where the problem is.
Arrogant?
I'm a Montreal Canadien, of course I'm arrogant.
But respectful. And willing to teach to those not as fortunate or as glorious as Us.
Peace

[hockeytalkie]

re english ownership of soccer

it's where the current game was invented. did you know that the english boycotted the world cup befor WW2 b/c they "knew" they were superior to the rest of the world? and since then...

one title (1966 played in England)

every point you made about brit soccer is spot on. but you dont see the forest for the trees.
==========
my point is, wouldn't canada have more to show for itself since 1954 than JUST salt lake city in 2002 if they were so far above the rest? you're as arrogant as the brits are/were about "their" sport.

individually i agree. yes, most of the best players are canadians. unfortunately it's a team sport and that's CANs undoing. play for the name on the front of the sweater not the one on the back. or go back to the old way when every hab was from quebec and play that brand exclusively.

[leo]

The English "own" soccer???
BWAAH-HA-HA! Funny. And the Jamaicans own bobsledding. (I saw the movie.)
Maybe the Habs WILL lose to TB; I can't see the future. And hey, our PP sucks this year, so you guys were all right about that.
I think you all saw the point I was making, despite the singular examples to the contrary we can all pull out at some point in the past.
True to form: They don't call it "The Miracle" for nothing.
And this "money to pay Canadian players being MORE important than The Game itself", you'll have to sell to someone else. Because you have more MONEY, you're better hockey players??? Ummmm...ok.
Same reason why the English don't understand why they always tumble in the second round of Euro or World Cups, considering the Premier League is the best league in the world, they BUY the best players, who come from Brazil, Italy, Portugal and everywhere else in the world EXCEPT England.
We can make a case for Gerrard, Rooney or Croft as the best English players in the world and yet, they're not even the best on their Municipal teams, so don't give me that. But that's neither here nor now.
Thursday, you gonna bring it?
Or are We gonna hafta TAKE it?
Let's get it on. Pray for victory...and then you can bash Leo to your heart's content.
Good times!
P.

[hockeytalkie]

so leo, canada's ownership of the game would probably translate to ALL levels, eh?

(but it's much more like the english ownership of soccer)
since 1956 USA and Sweden have each won twice as many olympic gold medals as Canada.

re: who "whipped" whom
i'm a tbl fan to the end, but a seven game series in which bolts were outscored 14-13, never held the series lead until the end, and that had 2 OT games is hardly "whipping" someone. more accurate to say tbl were the last ones standing in an outright classic SCF.

[Patrick]

If you want to talk about "owning" the sport, Canada owns 6 teams, America owns 24. Yes, canadians make up like 60+ percent of the players, but who's money is employing them and putting them on the ice?

Mike P,

In all seriousness, I have nothing but respect for Canada and its sport. I just wanted to show some of our resident canadians that the disrepect can go both ways. Posting hourly on the forums counting the minutes until our team is gone, salivating over our players - that's not respect. If they lightning Tampa sports so much, lets relive the best memories we have - whupping Canada!

[mike p]

Patrick, I gotta agree entirely with leo here. Also don't you ever forget that the lightning team which 'whipped' calgary had more Canadian players on it than they did. In fact, the majority were Canadian (including the big 3).

[McGz]

Does that mean you guys get whupped even worse by the Berlin Ice Barons or Jamaican Ice Hogs teams filled with Canadians?

[McGz]

LOL Leo, like I said in another blog glad to have you back. Nice to see a Candie(a)n point of view.

BUT, what happens when your Habs lose to us in the mecca of hockey Montreal?

[leo]

Ottawa got their butts handed to them, Pat, not Calgary or Edmonton. Unless you consider a 7-game series a "whuppin'".
But those are semantics.
Funny though, how us Canadians are getting beat in the Cup finals by American teams...consisting of mostly Canadians. Hm.
Maybe you shouldn't overstep, Pat.
Never forget that it's Canada who OWNS this game.
OWNS it. Up and down and all around.
YOUR best players, now and forever, will ALWAYS be Canadian.
Hey, let's NATIONALIZE Hockey, Patrick. AND reduce the number of Canadian teams by HALF, whaddaya say?
And Canada will take the Cup EVERY year.
No?
Put an entire Canadian roster on the Berlin Ice Barons or the Jamaican Ice Hogs and guess what? They'll kick TB's butt too.
Please connect the dots.
And please don't generalize our motivations based on a single beef you have with ONE poster. Please.
Peace.

[McGz]

Jim Hammett
Director of Player Personnel

Jim Hammett enters his first season as director of player personnel for the Lightning. The long-time scout was named to the position on July 9, 2008.

Hammett, a native of Kelowna, British Columbia, spent last season as the head amateur scout for the New York Rangers. Prior to joining the Rangers he served as the head scout for Canada’s Men’s National Teams for one year and was responsible for all of the men’s player evaluations for U-20 players, the selection of Canada’s future National Junior Team, and selection camps for Canada’s U-18 program. He won the Stanley Cup in 2001 as the head scout with the Colorado Avalanche and a World Junior Championship Gold Medal as the head scout for Team Canada in 2007.

Greg Malone
Head Professional Scout
Former NHLer Greg Malone enters his first season as head professional scout with the Lightning.

Malone spent the past two seasons as a professional scout with the Phoenix Coyotes, serving as the team’s head eastern pro scout, monitoring and evaluating professional players and NHL teams throughout the season.

He joined the Coyotes after spending 16 seasons as head scout for the Pittsburgh Penguins. In that role, Malone was responsible for the team’s amateur draft selections while overseeing all junior, college, high school and European scouting. During his time with the Penguins he oversaw the drafting of players such as Jaromir Jagr, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Marc-Andre Fleury, Martin Straka, Markus Naslund, Ryan Whitney and his son, Ryan Malone.

Last time I checked Pittsburg, and Buffalo, and Phoenix, to a lesser extent are deep teams laden with talent. Huge improvement over Feastor's tenure as GM and that inept scouting department. We'll be reaping the rewards after a few drafts with these guys.

[Boltflasher]

As I have said, they may contract 4 teams (say 23 players per team, that's 92 jobs) before they go to 6 (138 jobs) due to NHLPA resistance...even the 4 will be difficult. But even at 6 don't see TB in the mix: CLB, ATL, CAR, PHO, FLA, NASH...not to mention NYI, NJ, LA

[PD]

Well Patrick Leafs have hired the best , gave him the keys and full control. They have some great young kids and lotsa cap room . Probably another top 5 pick this year too.
Terrible

[Patrick]

"The upside for Canadian fans is that those economic woes could mean another team north of the border as owners look to the game's hotbeds as an economic salve."

Well, we now know why PD has posted on this blog 647 times this week. What a joke. If I was a canadian writer in a canadian city and I wanted people to read my articles, I guess I would tell them how they can cheer up about the global economic crisis because teams in non-traditional hockey markets are comin' to canada!

I guess they figure the only way a canadian team is ever gonna win the cup again is if all the american teams come over to their side of the border, given the last three times a canadian team managed to get in they all got their arses handed to them, by american teams, thank you. Including the Tampa Bay Lightning who ripped it from the "We deserve to win it cause we're canadian" whining flames. PD is probably especially motivated since it's been like half a century since the leaves won?

Good luck with that.

[PD]

Of course its not solid evidence any more than Bear Stearns was to most despite the warnings.

The Toronto majors aren't blogs or Puck Daddy

No fans, big cap, no playoffs..try it it works.

[PD]

Leo, glad you are here go read Tocchets denial quote and tell me what he really said.

Higgy yes Plecky yes, McDonaugh and your 1st for V4 and our 2nd.

[McGz]

Saw that one too:

Several hockey sources insist other cash-strapped clubs, such as the Nashville Predators and Tampa Bay Lightning, have come close to missing their payroll obligations (although both the Predators and Lightning insist they are on solid financial footing.)

Still not solid evidence.

[PD]

I think Lenny has been punked

He's brutal

You referenced improved scouting to some one today and I resisted.

Did you see the list of scouts now working for Tampa bay hired by Barrie?

Its all cronyism to an unbelievable degree including his dad, Malone's dad, Koules son, a bunch of investment partners.

I am just fascinated, probably pathologically, to all this because its like a train wreck in slow motion.

[leo]

AJAX???!!!
Tu quoique fili???
Never thought I'd see the day...
Listen to Ajax, everybody! He's right. He's spot on. He's GOT IT.
V4 to Montreal.
Hey, it's Ajax's idea, not mine.
Higgy, Plecky, Dandy?
Lang, Dandy, McDonaugh?
Sergei, Guillaume, Dandy, Bégin?
Don't get greedy.
P.

[PD]

That's a great Q and on the surface you might see it as Jingoism.

Personally its more a matter of a much better product on the ice with only 24 solid teams no matter where they are .

[McGz]

I think Lawton has been correcting your boy, Barrie's, missteps since he was named GM. Notice how he hasn't said a lick in the last month or so, since his 'we'll win the SE' statement?

[PD]

oops
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081207.wspt-nhlmeet07/BNStory/GlobeSportsHockey

[McGz]

So what adds up? The fact that most Canadians want to see the league contracted cause their favorite players are on US teams? Or that that general tendency comes out in their 'reputable' media outlets?

[PD]

McGz if Koules could do that and bring in a real GM he would have done a 180.

[McGz]

Wrong linky PD, same a above.

[PD]

Come on do the math they don't this stuff up.

[McGz]

Meh, I'm bored Brittany, PD doesn't get under my skin too much, he just believes too much Canadian propaganda.

PD, I bet Koules will buy out Barrie eventually, you can quote me later on that.

Dumping V$ right now is NOT the right choice.

[PD]

Here's the Globe directly referencing Tampa and payroll
http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/546765

[McGz]

I read that article already, one line in a Toronto newspaper proclaiming Tampa is said to be a financial basket-case is not solid evidence in my mind. The Canadian media are always calling for the southern US teams to be contracted.

[Brittany]

McGz, I would just give up with PD on finances. I tried to reason with him yesterday, and it didn't work. I give up. I show things that have facts in them, but they just get flipped around and avoided.

"the Tampa Bay Lightning are said to be a financial basket case"

Who said that? Some person in Toronto licking his chops for another team up there? Come on, I want facts (you know, those things that aren't rumors or opinions), not "hey I know a guy, who knew a guy, who dated this girl..." Also, I would prefer something not out of Canada, because they have a very low track record of being even remotely close to the happenings of the Lightning.

[PD]

If Koules could buy out Barrie as you suggested and put in a great experienced GM they would have a shot by dumping 4 , and going young and fast

[PD]

http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/546765
The Star on financials..basket case is never good.

That's the thing , they shouldn't be a last place team with those players.
Its really just dysfunctional right now

[McGz]

Last place team--yes, fail(ing)ed economy maybe not. Wish I had a couple hundred mil, it would be MY fantasy team.

[PD]

Blogged that the other day, both The Toronto Star and Globe and Mail reported it separately and the Can. papers trust but verify twice.
There are no secrets

[McGz]

Hey Flasher--
Missed your post, but agree on the Mezzy trade, should not have given up #1 pick and/or Picard, one or the other should of been suffice. Was that Lawton's first trade? I forget.

[PD]

Those contigency plans would have been basically been two flavors: with playoffs and w/o

No way they could have foretold of another last place team and a crashed economy.

Thats the doomsday contingency and no banker in the world would have touched it.

[McGz]

I hear you on the real estate front...Where's your evidence on missing payroll? Hearsay from the HB crowd?

[PD]

All of Barries $ is in real estate development and that has ..well you know.

[PD]

McGzI think they will be the 1st team to start missing payroll yes because OK is under capitalized and really has no recourse given the market.

The seats are emptying because of a crap team but also Fla and Tampa hard hit.

Totally agree on Barrie bit Koules couldn't come up with the nut and needed a partner.

[McGz]

So you really think TB is the most deserving team to be contracted and moved to Ontario? 4 years removed from a Cup?

[McGz]

NY/NJ/Philly is/will always be a football triangle.

[PD]

sarcasm accepted and missed.
Canadian teams sure wont be paying equalization payments but paying US salaries will cut them deeply but not fatally.

Toronto not at all, especially if they do a deal to let a 2nd team play in TO in a shared 40,000 seat arena.

[McGz]

NJ has trouble keeping seats full too, even with Brodeur in net. I agree on Columbus.

[McGz]

PD, this is why I still like having dissenting opinions on the blog, it makes things entertaining. The negativity does get old though.

L. Barrie needs to go for sure, at least Koules leaves the hockey decision to hockey people.

Didn't Barrie only show up at the last minute of the deal BTW? I would be surprised if he owned more than 15% of the team.

[PD]

Dallas hardly nor NJ but the rest definately and everyone in the SE but Washington.
Columbus too.

[McGz]

My point exactly, thats why most canadians are feeling the financial squeeze too. It was sarcasm. Too subtle for a blog.

[PD]

Why not submit resume MG
Get some defencemen that can play.

[McGz]

PD you do come across as ignorant on business basics. It seems you just read a one-liner about the Lightning in financial distress and run with it. I'm just sayin'.
And I will remember my comment.

Maybe FL, TB, Nashville, Dallas and even NJ will be contracted by the end of the year.

[PD]

The Loonie 's at about 80 cents Professor