Tocchet: Stamkos needs to get stronger

So, this is what the Lightning has in store for Steven Stamkos, according to coach Rick Tocchet.

The team wants the 6-foot-1, 184-pound rookie forward, last summer's No. 1 overall draft pick, to strengthen both his upper body and lower body. To do so, Stamkos will hit the weight room more, have one-on-one on-ice training sessions with assistant coach Wes Walz, especially on days when Tampa Bay has several clustered off days. But Stamkos also may sit out games to make that schedule work, and the first of those games is tonight against the Ducks for which Stamkos is a healthy scratch.

Coincidentally, it was the same day Stamkos found out he will play in the Young Stars game Jan. 24 in Montreal as part of All-Star weekend.

"We've got to start building his leg strength like an 18-year-old should," coach Rick Tocchet said before Friday's game at Anaheim. "I want to start the process now, instead of June or July. He's going to be a hell of a hockey player. His speed is NHL caliber right now. I just want to get the other parts of his game, which we will achieve with this process, clicking for him right now."

"Obviously, it's a new experience for me. I never really had this happen in my career," Stamkos said of being benched. "There's a first time for everything. I'll use it as a learning tool. ... You have to try to draw a positive. You have to keep working harder than before, obviously. It wasn't good enough if you're not playing. I have to change some things up, work off the ice in practice. They explained to me their plan and I'm going to follow it to the best of my capabilities."

Tocchet said Stamkos will play Monday at Los Angeles, but he spent a grueling hour on the ice Friday after the team's skate, working with Tocchet, Walz and assistant Cap Raeder.

Stamkos has struggled for a while, now. He has four goals and 14 points, but is minus-11 and has just a goal, two assists and 28 shots in his past 16 games. Only three times in that stretch has he played more than 15 minutes, and not in his past 12. He played 10:49 in Thursday's loss at Phoenix. Stamkos also has struggled with puck possession and dealing with bigger, stronger defenders. That is why Tocchet said it is time to build some muscle.

"He'll get a lot of time in the gym with our strength coach," Tocchet said.

Tocchet said this is not an admission Stamkos should have spent another season in the minors.

"We're looking at a schedule with the strength coach and we'll go through the schedule and see what games he'll play, which will be a lot," Tocchet said. "Definitely this is better in the long run for the Tampa Bay Lightning and Steven Stamkos, no question."

Tocchet said this is not an admission Stamkos would have been better off spending another year in junior.

"I disagree with that," he said. "Certain kids, yeah, but not Steve Stamkos. I think him playing his first year in the NHL, this is a huge development for him. I just think, with 42 games left, we should start this process for his development. But he can compete in the NHL, no question. I would not think going back to junior was a good idea. His development and learning curve, and being the player he's going to be, is better with him being up here."

Comments

[hyjyljyj]

"See, opinions are usually based on facts and info, what is it called when you just post negative everything??"

"He should have gone into politics, or is he a politican? hehe"

The word is troll. Pretty close to a politician though--the kind that in order to get elected has to have you believe things are awful, you're going down, this is the worst country on earth, no one likes us, we've lost, everything is bad and getting worse, you can't be expected ever to do better for yourself, when I snap my fingers you'll awake feeling refreshed, please just ignore my background, you need the kind of change only the gov't can give you

Negative works & it's obviously easy to get the media on board with that - positive news does not sell

[Tosha]

Tocchet is calling Stamkos "Steve", I thought after all the media & PR hype about him preseason Stamkos said since he's an adult he only wanted to be called and would answer to "Steven"? (Just throwing that out there, as it confuses me how the coach is callin him Steve still. I think requesting to go by some other name is fine for NFL primadonnas, not for an unproven NHL player).
Now as for more about Stamkos, yes he needs to be stronger I thought from first seeing him that the kid needed to add some weight to him and muscle up. That won't happen in a few weeks, it probably won't happen during one summer break but it will be a start. As for drafting him first and if we made a mistake doing so or should have traded him; well any First Round Pick is a gamble. They could be the next Crosby/Ov or the next Daigle; nobody knows for sure. That is the chance you take & why there are over 300 other choices made after First pick. I personally don't see the kid adding up to more than a 2nd line center, and yes he should be at wing (he's not good defensively enough to play center in the NHL). He won't ever come close to Vinny 4's #s and I don't expect to see a similar type of player. I think if OK hockey is looking for a future face to go with Vinny 4 (one around 10 yrs or so after he retires) Stamkos isn't the one.

Now my take on PD, I don't post here a lot but I do read (lurking). He does seem to preach doom and gloom and then only appreciate a guy once he's gone (after wanting one moved, then damn the ones who moved him). He reminds me of a song I hear sometimes on the radio and of my bipolar aunt: If your hot, then he's cold; yes then he's no, in then he's out, wrong then he's right, left then he's right. He should have gone into politics, or is he a politican? hehe

Late Happy New Yrs wishes to you all & Good luck Bolts (sadly I think they still need more than luck). Now my wish for 2009, I'd like to see Kubina back playing for us again... Toronto might want to move him, and he's got solid #s & was great for this team. Of course Kaberle is on the trade block if they ask him to wave his no trade clause as well. Some Dmen that can move the puck and play decent defense will be avaliable; it's just do we have the money, prospects, picks to obtain them at this point?

[Justine]

PD, could you please explain/respond to Brittany about how buying a team by putting in 50% equity is any different than buying a house with a mortgage which usually you'll only put in 20% equity? I would argue that OK would be much dumber to have put in 100% equity, as you seem to think is the only way for them to "own" the team rather than "rent" it, as it puts much more money at risk. In business, people generally like get as high of a loan-to-value ratio as possible - makes the return on their investment much greater. Palace obviously does not want to own the team (in the sense of being in charge of it) - which is why it is giving OK more time to secure credit. In this market, it is pretty much impossible to find credit, that doesn't mean that OK are bad business people. The more you talk about the financials of the team, the more you reveal that you have no idea what you are talking about.

[Boltflasher]

Filatov was considered too lightweight for the NHL (at the beginning of the season)....

[Herb]

Let me add that that makes 4 goals in 6 career NHL games for Filatov.

[Herb]

The Blue Jackets 1st round pick,(at number 7 I think), Nakita Filatov, scored a hat trick tonight. Seen Stamkos?

[Oscar]

No big hairy surprise we need Steven to hit the weights. We needed the same danged thing from Mike Lundin (try to keep a straight face out there...) and also from Ryan Craig when he quiffed to the IR two years ago.
Smaby came along as a big boy just fine, so we now need Mihalik and Wishart to hump the iron too.

They can't all be R2KN mega blasters, there is a competence factor and Stamkos is still learning. From whom---- is what raises the hair on my backside.

Good point about Patrick Kane's size/talent level being similar to #91 but Steven's mentoring is going into the danged toilet.
I worry he'll be streaky like that Weiss kid down in Sunrise, and not the true Whiz his potential demonstrates.

[Patrick]

Did you star at your profession at 18?

Posted by: Randy C | January 10, 2009 at 04:28 PM

Randy,

I don't know if he's a "star" at it, but his profession is tabloid hockey writing.

[Tampa Wine Guy]

It's brutal out there Leo, whattaya gonna do? The daggers are flying......Oops, the wine is a callin'!!......TWG

[leo]

My, my, my. It's WW3 over here.
I just wanted to post an apology. About sending Stammy to the AHL instead of the gym.
Kid's still a Junior...oops.
Sorry.
Lift those weights, kid!
Ok, floor's youse's again.
Yikes.
P.

[Brittany]

PD, I think I am going to just ignore your comments from now on, until you decide you want to play nice and actually add something useful to the conversation.

They are renting the team just like you are renting your house when you pay the mortgage, or you are renting your car when you make payments. Show me one owner who paid cash. Show me a REPUTABLE source saying the Lightning are in trouble (you have never once used TSN or the Times). This mysterious "sources" continues to show up in your websites, but when the owners and lenders say nothing is wrong, you say it is bs. I guess statements from those close to the organization are less reliable than those who live 2,000 miles away. Like I said before, the Leafs tried to have a firesale last season, does that mean their owners have no money too? Maybe they are going to be moving to Vegas instead?

You cannot compare an 18 year old to a 24 year old. You cannot compare someone who is in their second year to Stamkos. You can compare Vinny's first year to Stamkos'. Lets try that:

Vinny had 28 points in his first year. He averaged 13:40 minutes per game. Stamkos has 14 pts in his first 40 games which is on pace for, gasp, 28 pts in 82 games, the exact same number as Vinny. Stamkos is averaging 13:08 so far into the season, all of 32 seconds less than Vinny. Vinny turned out just fine I think, so why are we bashing Stamkos again?

[ajax]

In the last two days doing research of PD/Bear I probably read 6-8 weeks and easily 100 posts or more. I read some in Feb of 08, some in June of 08 some in Dec 08. The same drum each and every blog. Nothing ever wavers with his constant "everything sucks in Lightning world" The closest any of them game to a positve was one he posted about Marty after a two goal game. "nice game by Marty but he clearly has lost a step" That is as good as it will get with him. Every positive you read from players and media and management is snake oil. Of course he said the same thing about Feaster last year. Last year he described Richards as Goldenboy. the 100k a night in a dress player, this year his blogs miss/praise him to death. He clearly was against the Boyle resigning but has hammered management for letting him go this year. Stop enabling him and maybe he will go away?? It is the illness of the man. He is a one man downer. Next year he will change his name and flip again on all of his opinions. He is a unique psychological study if I ever seen one. He changes him mind on every subject, on the fly, and always to print totally negative about the Lightning. 110% negative. No room to debate that statement. See, opinions are usually based on facts and info, what is it called when you just post negative everything?? Surely there is a word to describe that state of mind. Self-serving bias?? It certainly shatters the definition of opinion when 100% of Everything sucks. I have never in my entire life met someone so cynical and self serving. He really needs for everything to fail with the Lightning to feel good. Do any of you spend hours a day writing nothing but hate mail. It truly is scarry when you think about what makes the guy tick.

[Randy C]

18 years old is 18 years old, picard is 24. So PD you want to call Stamkos a bust after 42 games. You have obviously not seen him play or practice. He has all the skills and will shine in this league in a few seasons, he needs to finish growing first. Did you star at your profession at 18?

[PD]

Brittany come on, if I put a site up its legit and its pretty funny that you are using the same site.

Palace agreeing to lease the team is good news? Good luck with that.
Just means Koules/Barrie have no money to complete the deal.

Heh Randy I'm an idiot for using All Star votes, agreed, they must all be from Chicago. Crazy Randy but OK, Lets just use points scored and call it a day.

Alexander Picard, remember him? He has more goals than Stamkos.
Toews and Kane are light years ahead of him in their second year.

[Randy C]

Lets see, How many people live in the Chicago met. area? Maybe 3 or 4 or 10 times as many as the Tampa area. Allstar voting is a popularity contest and has little to do with who is actually deserving. Last time I checked 18 plus one year still is only 19. Apples are still apples PD

[Joe]

Stamkos should be a winger not a center. He'll be fine its just a process he going through. Lets not forget he is 18 years old.

[Brittany]

Oh PD, you amaze me sometimes. You post websites who use 'sources' that are kind of like 'I heard from this guy on the street, who knows this guy who likes hockey, who heard from this guy at a game, who just so happens to hate any team south of Canada that the Lightning are in financial trouble.' Yet when we show you something with sources who are people actually involved with the team (you know, the owners and those lending the money) that all of those things are wrong, it is made up. What is it going to take? Of course if we are out of the playoffs, there is going to be a firesale to get rid of any players signed to one year deals for anything we can get. That's what happens at the trade deadline, your Leafs tried to do the same thing last season, but your brilliant management gave everyone and their mom a NTC so you couldn't do it. Does that mean the Leafs have no money? I also ask, are you renting your house or car or anything you put on credit, because that is all OK is doing with his deal with PS&E. Of course, I'm sure you will dispute that too. How did I know you would use the sale of Bear Mountain as a reason why the team has no money.

[PD]

Second-year stars Kane and Toews finished first and second in the fan voting among Western Conference forwards with 917,551 and 809,599 votes.

Should we book Stevie in for next years team Randy?

[Randy C]

PD, as usual you compare apples to oranges, Toews and kane are both 2 years older than Stamkos, not 2 weeks in the gym. Not sure if you can recall the difference between your maturity level at 18 vs 20. Take a look at the D on the Hawks and you may also see that Toews and Kane can do a lot more floating and don't have to play inside thier blue line as much as Stammer does.

[PD]

Only if your paranoid Hyj
I think Leo has you down cold.

[PD]

Randy, "A great Stamkos" plan, is that like Koules Fluffer, Ajax saying Tocchet is doing a Barry Manilow style "Fabulous job"?

Stamkos is rather soft and one dimensional. Simple really

A couple of weeks in the gym aren't going to turn him into Toews or Kane

[hyjyljyj]

The talk show host comparison is brilliant, Randy. Michael Savage, perhaps? I keep a knitting needle in my glove box to ram through my ears just in case he comes on the radio for a split second

"It looks like he moves a bit too far to the sides when he is making saves and gets himself a bit out of position, but that is just because he is young"

Good eye Brittany, I noticed that exact flaw myself, really it's his only glaring problem--unlike Grahame, who elevated that crease abandonment to an unprecedented level and then developed the patented face-first, frantically flailing belly-flop to follow it up with, for which he will be forever fondly remembered :D

[hyjyljyj]

To Victor the fans of the team are all "boosters"
To Flycoon we're all "goobers"
To PD we're all "fluffers"

Could they....could they be....nah...could they....be the same...they..they couldn't be...

Could they?

[PD]

March 5 is the trade dealine fluffers.
Firesale time. I'd sit on it until then.

Funny not one word in the papers about your sources say Bear Mountain story. They hate the guy in Victoria.That would be news.

I find it rather funny that you 3 or 4 rat packers diss any news story on the Bolts finances as unworthy and non credible and now you are hanging your hats on a 3rd party one? lol

If Barrie had that money then they wouldn't be crawling to Palace renting the team for the next 3 years.
They would just pay what they owe.
But heh its only logic and thats garlic in the Kool Aid World.

Cant wait for Shelton to weigh in.

[Randy C]

Ajax, I have always enjoyed your posts, both accurate and entertaining. PD,you remind me of a talkshow host that cannot attract any callers so you throw out anything to get a response to try to get your "show" rolling.

As for Mr Stamkos, this is a great plan for his developement. Because of his attitude, this kid can overcome any obsticle thrown in front of him. We need to give him time to develope his game and most of all his confidence. It is way to early for ANY "I told you so's" right now.

[ajax]

Patrick, When I was going back over the blogs, In October the rant was a continual, "by Xmas the cowboys will be turning the keys back over" In March it will be this summer. In June it will be back to Xmas 2009. Like I said, if you predict rain long enough during a drought, one day you will be able to say "I told ya it would rain"

[ajax]

Britgirl you are sweeeeeeet!!. But do you really think it will quiet the one?? Everytime someone prints the doom and gloom, repaste that article. Of course I am sure the (sources) will refute. HaHa. I thought all along that a group of very successful business men were going to just turn the keys over after 10 months and flush 100,000,000 down the toilet. Thank goodness for bigger minds in tougher times.
On to "hockey" and opinions versus garbage and prejudice. The Lightning D seem to have about 43-47 minutes of juice in them legs. I wonder exactly how easy the Melrose vacation was. Krijicek is a guy that I just can't let off the hook. The guy simply doesn't want the puck. That is such an earmark for a player. It is off his stick 8/10 times in a flash. Last two games I saw more rap arounds then the previous 10. Hope Tocchet gets them breaking out as a team real soon, I think Tocchet has done a fabulous job of implementing a true hockey system compared to the no-name system of the past 2+ years. 5 up together, 5 back together. (20ft apart, not 50!!)

[Patrick]

2Way,

Thrilling indeed! Marty made Pronger look like a turnstile all night. Marty alone made that game one the best to watch all season, but Vinny's obviously found another level recently as well. He's acknowledged that his production hasn't been where it should be and that it will be better the second half. There is a precedent of this happening before and last time, he kept his word and tore it up the second half. I think we're gonna see a different player the rest of the year.

[Brittany]

Check out the second TSN link I posted (http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=262608&lid=sublink01&lpos=headlines_main ), looks like Len sold Bear Mountain for $500 mil to an investment group in Dubai. Now can we stop with the thought that people are only playing because they are investors in Bear Mountain? Oh wait, let me guess, he sold it because he can't pay the salaries of the players/coaches and all of that money is going to go to paying off PS&E because they don't have any money and we are only renting the team, right?

[Patrick]

Oh, now doomsday is March 5th? I guess that payment that was coming up much sooner wasn't as bad as was you thought.

[Patrick]

PD,

Don't even try to spin Ajax's "outing" of you. Why not just be real about it for once and stop masquerading?

[Brittany]

Gee PD I sure hope that your comment on Ramo wasn't a back handed diss on Smitty. Yes, that is what the goalie is supposed to do, allow 1 less than the other guy, but did you even watch the game? Ramo made some great saves and played very well for someone who had to sit out a while, but he gave up a crappy goal that surprised him and got things rolling the Ducks' way in the 2nd (which was followed 12 sec later with another one that led to the 3-3 tie). I would also say that for the most part the team actually played in front of him, unlike they did for Smitty in Phoenix. Anyway, I think Ramo played a great game, but he still has some things to work on. It looks like he moves a bit too far to the sides when he is making saves and gets himself a bit out of position, but that is just because he is young. I think he just pushes himself laterally too hard and shoots past the goal. It sure will be great to watch he and Smitty battle it out the next couple of seasons though.

[ajax]

No PD I am sure everyone will read this over and over and say what a creep. They will see you for the muck thrower you are. You couldn't stand Brad. Twice you stated I can't believe they resigned Boyle. You have no integrity, zero character. So many flat falsehoods in what you print, all to pour fuel on "OUR" team every fricking blog. Everytime you write something about Boyle or Richards from now on I am going to repost your thoughts on the two from a year ago. I think I speak for the blog, we are tired of you taking up our space with your lies. You are not only negative, you are a dishonest negative. It is so obvious you just like to be yukky.

[PD]

Fluff away Ajax, no one wades through your gigabytes self aggrandizing crap.

In a few weeks it'll be all over your face.

[ajax]

Comments from last year by PD/Bear last year. Just call him flipflop from now on.........
There are so much for being professionals.
The core is rotten..toss it and rebuild. Why they reupted Boyle is crazy..but thats our Jay.
Posted by: PD | April 02, 2008 at 02:53 PM (I could of swore just this week PD said "we should of kept the core" And he is against Boyle being resigned, yet has banged the drum all year about getting rid of Danny. Totally opposite views of his crapola this year......read on....
Max I meant Stamkos as the second horse@ 50/50..
Agree with you totally on Feasty's appraisal talents for D men.
Paying a 1st for Obrien was also insane. Posted by: Bear | April 08, 2008 at 03:11 PM.....(two slams of Jay, the guy he wants back!!!) here is some more......(the Golden boy is Brad, in this post by PD)..
Never was a huge Golden Boy fan but have to agree with Patrick that some are a little hard on Brad.
The guy has a bad case of the flu and shouldn't likely even be dressed.....
Heh Ajax just trying to give Patrick a break, but he's right I let the cat out of the bag by referencing Ritchie as Golden Boy..
He wore a skirt here for 100K a night.
He does have the flu..is that a comprimise?
Go Rangers!
Posted by: bear | April 11, 2008 at 10:17 PM (that is the same Golden Boy PD defends all the time this year, the key to the PPlay, the straw that stirs the drink....He hated Brad while he wore our jersey!!! read on......
Boltflasher:
To your house metephor: "makes no sense to gut your house before you sell it" The players side, (Vinny's) would be to stay out of burning houses. He has that independent choice now.
Agree with the huge problems on D but not one of our starting 4 plays those minutes with a competitive team. Tough to blame Torts.
Posted by: bear | April 14, 2008 at 02:34 PM....(how often has PD defended the D from last year, and yet last year he printed...none of the top 4 would be playing with a competitve team, another full reversal of thoughts) read on...
Ovechkin is Over8ed"
Another floater..(that made me laugh as that is his keyword for VinnyFloat)
Posted by: pd | April 18, 2008 at 01:50 AM ......and what about the Boyle trade?? read on......
Why they resigned Boyle rather than trading him for the future is beyond me. He won't fit the necessary workstyle of next years team anymore than V4 will.
Posted by: bear | March 02, 2008 at 12:09 PM.... (He has hammered present management to death for trading Boyle yet twice in his own words he was against them resigning him, what a difference a year makes for some)....and remember the constant keep the team together by PD??...read this...
Lisa what will be attendance like to watch Vinny, Marty, Boyle and 19 nobodies finish last again?
Posted by: Bear | March 03, 2008 at 10:05 AM (Hello, talk about a 180. Seems last year he actually agreed with the cleaning of house, but such a different tone this year)...read on....
They have marketed the "big three" concept to Tampa fans who really take them at faith when in fact because of no depth the team has been getting worse by the day let alone by the year Posted by: Bear | March 03, 2008 at 01:18 PM .... Again, seems last year he was all in on the "problems"..........read on...
Patrick, I do have those lotto numbers:
10 million V4, 8 million Golden Boy, 5 Million Marty, 6.5 million to resign Boyle..hows that for a lotto..adds up to 29.5 million.
Self imposed cap at ? 48 say leaves 18.5 million for the other 15/16 and still no goalie.
That's the 5 year basement scenario simply because it never works over 82 games in the new league.
Posted by: bear | February 19, 2008 at 02:54 PM ...(hard to believe this is the same guy bear/pd when you read last year and this year. complete 180, PD was all over scrapping the big 3, but has blasted new owners this year for doing it, notice he keeps referring to Richards as Golden Boy, the same Richards that would make a world of differnece according to this year's PD,sad!!!!)...
I think Boyle resigns, Marty stays and we are stuck with Goldenboy Posted by: bear | February 17, 2008..(hard to read the posts of PD this year when you look at the posts of PD about brad last year)...
PD you flip flopped on everything. The only thing constant with you is the hate of anyone wearing our jersey, anyone running our team, and anyone signing the checks. You didn't want Brad, Danny or Jay last year, yet that is all you spew this year. When you said you were Bear last year I couldn't let it go. I knew you were just a guy out to bash the home team no matter what the circumstance. Like lots of us have said, You were just as unhappy last year, with all the players and Gm's you now love. This was posted this week, quite a different tune than what he was saying about the same exact person last year....
How would that record look with an average goalie in net and Brad Richards in the linup for those 43 games Posted by: PD | January 03, 2009 at 11:40 AM .....Boyler and Kubina, along with Habby were the other key players but Ritchie stirred the drink Posted by: PD | December 23, 2008
Sorry PD, You are a fraud. You live to spew this garbage no matter what. I even found one where you blasted Sundin, as Bear. You were arguing with Leo about Canadian captains and Leo was arguing for Euro's and you said look at Sundin, he could take a trade and play for the cup, but no, HE COULD CARE LESS. This is the same Sundin that this year you said was 10x the leader Vinny ever was. Sad PD Sad Bear, SAD.

[2WayCenter]

Yes, Martin, a move to the right, the puck just out of Pronger's reach, a burst of speed then in an instant, top corner. That was a thrill to watch.

Lecavalier with a weak shoulder is still in a league of his own. Who could take his place? Who would go to the Forum after they dealt Vinny? That would be a difficult pill. Hopefully, they are not that dumb or desperate.

[PD]

Patrick the proof will be in the March 5 pudding.

Should be a very interesting few weeks.

[Patrick]

Oops.... looks like now even Canada is starting to get it. Thanks for the link Brittany.

[Patrick]

"Sources have told Sportsnet.ca"

Next.

[PD]

Brittany if true they have agreed to rent the club for 3 years.

What's Palace going to do there never were any buyers.

Doesn't stop the hemorrhaging.

[PD]

Sure Ajax, just like your fluffing of Oren Koules has long been exposed.

[ajax]

There sure ain't nothing wrong with our 3 lines of forwards. With all the mistakes Ranger makes, the sad part is as the game wears on he is without a doubt the only D on the entire team that will pull up his britches and try to move the puck. Lots of you are pretty good hockey people. I will bet there were in the 2nd and 3rd period alone, 10-15 passes from the Anaheim blue line to a forward at our blue line (a distance of 50 feet) and our D were still 10 feet away from their forwards. In the last two games the D has taken a huge step backwards, and it has been that same ugly hockey of the other team having the puck 70% of the game. Ramo was "Underseige" I love the win, I'll take it, but Tocchet needs to get those 6 guys, a case of Budlite and about two hours of film tomorrow. I can't remember, and we have had some ugly games the last 2+ years, any game where our D caved in so badly thru center ice and our blue line. A blind man could of seen it from the bench. I might go back and cut and past all of you that posted Marty is missing a step and we should trade him. The guy has no weaknesses. I will say it til the day I die. Look up hockey player in the dictionary and there you will find a snapshot of Marty St. Louis. One of the best bang for buck players in hockey the last three years. And 50% of you, even some of my allies want to trade him. Can we all agree to stop that nonsense??
...PD/Bear you are a fraud dude. Usually people ride the fence with winners. You ride the fence with just plain "yuk" You're flipflopping has been exposed.

[PD]

You guys are whistling past the graveyard.

Yeah Ajax I make up the stories, me PD

Great win for Ramo tonight! Thats what you want your goalie to do.

Give up 1 less than the other guy.

[Brittany]

PD, check this one out:

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=262608&lid=sublink01&lpos=headlines_main

Seems like things aren't going as badly as you hope they are. Shucks.

[Brittany]

Whoops, I see flasher already posted the TSN link. Oh well, can't hurt to post it twice, maybe people will actually read what those close to the team have to say about all of this bs.

[Brittany]

Hey PD, how about you check out a couple of real sources from people who are closer to the team than all of those bozos who keep writing things that aren't true (his name is Mike Brophy, not John, and he is about as reliable about things happening down here as my grandma).

On the Vinny being shopped front, here is what his agent has to say: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=262584&lid=headline&lpos=topStory_nhl (for those who don't want to click that, it says that it is all a bunch of baloney).

On the team having financial problems, check out what our good buddy DC has to say on this (from PS&E): http://www.tampabay.com/sports/hockey/lightning/article964703.ece (OK hasn't missed any payments, there is no balloon payment at the end, whole thing is a "complete fallacy").

Maybe all of this crap can go away (although I doubt it). The team doesn't need all of these silly rumors which are just blatant lies. None of these people cite any sources, they just make blanket statements without anything to back them up. If there was trouble, the NHL would be stepping in. They would not allow them to be skipping paychecks, it just wouldn't happen.

[ajax]

The lightning D are at least 15 off the blueline on every play up the ice.
I beg everyone to understand the source of all the dire rumors. The guy who hated Richards(called him 100,000 a night in a skirt, and golden boy) and now loves him. The guy who didn't want Boyle resigned, but now loves him. Who stated on Numerous posts last year the our top 4 D couldn't do major minutes anywhere else, but now defends them. He will love Vinny one day when he doesn't where our jersey either. When the same guy labels Ovechkin and VL4 as floaters, you know he is just begging for a fight. Same pattern as always. All the negative news is truth, all the positive is smoke and mirros. One guy, one mission.
D peeling back faster than lickity split.

[PD]

They can't Leo, it was back to junior or stay up because he has a year of Jr left (this year)

[leo]

Waitaminnit.
Does this mean the Mullet was right???
Lordy, lordy, scratching him, fine. Putting him in the gym? What the heck for??? He ain't strong enough for the NHL yet so a week in the gym'll do it?
C'mon. This is foolish.
Send him to the AHL for a few weeks. Betcha he gets strong in a hurry.
If you remember, We did the same last year with the Priceberg...which is the only reason he didn't win the Calder.
What's with these V4 rumors? WE sure as heck didn't start'em, did we? ( "we", not "We")
Oui?
P.

[PD]

Heh Flasher they told Boyle that too.