Recchi, Roberts out of tonight's game

With the anticipation they will be moved by Wednesday's trade deadline, right wing Mark Recchi and left wing Gary Roberts will be held out of Tuesday's game with the Penguins, Forwards Paul Szczechura and Brandon Segal, called up from AHL Norfolk, will play.

With Recchi, the anticipation is there will be an actual trade. With Roberts, he is on waivers. Even if he is unclaimed by noon Wednesday, there still will be three hours in which the Lightning could work a trade for the 42-year-old veteran.

GM Brian Lawton, who said he will be in his office at 6 a.m. Wednesday, said there is potential for the Lightning to be very active on Wednesday. Still, he said, "We're tight with our guys. We're not looking to give them away. If people are going to make meaningful offers to move this organization forward, we will act. But we won't act for the sake of acting. We're going to make deals if they make sense for the organization."

Lawton said Recchi continues to be the Lightning's most popular asset, but discussions have not been limited to a few players.

"Any deal we can make that can move us forward we will look at," Lawton said. "We're probably more of an open slate."

In one other topic, Lawton said the twin surgeries to defensemen Paul Ranger and Andrej Meszaros for torn labrums in their lefet shoulders, came off "without any surprises." The arthroscopic procedures were done in Birmingham, Ala., by noted orthopedist James Andrews. Lawton said Ranger went first.

Comments

[Coach Bill]

Flasher - I called Ajax and wanted to invite him to the beach on May 2&3. Are you coming? Check in when you know. So far it's Tack, Tampa Wine Guy,me and you ( I hope). Maybe Ajax and Chic and Bingo too? Anyone else?
CB

[Boltflasher]

Ajax, I don't understand about the late call to Coach Bill...huh?

[Geografer]

Wow - per TSN - Roberts has cleared waivers - he wasn't claimed. Very surprised by that.

[PD]

Not a better indicator of what a backwoods hockey market Tampa is than the coverage here of trade deadline day.

tsn.ca

Ottawa got a goalie
Kuba and Connely signed multimillion dollar deals.

[ZERO]

Ajax...yeah, almost 20k. I can believe that...it was packed last night. Tons of Pittsburgh fans, though...but still pretty full.

And with the other teams...just goes to show you that the economy is playing a huge part in the numbers. And Tampa's economy has got to be one of the worst.

[ajax]

Can't imagine this being that big of a day in Lightning history. Absolutely sure Recchi will go, but who else?? Vrbata?? harhar.
Found it interesting that we had 19,908 announced last night...let's see elsewhere....Atlanta 10,329....Columbus, smack in the middle of trying to make the playoffs for the very first time, 15,049...Boston did not sell out against Philly....Ottawa did not sell out against Calgary(wow)...Nashville battling for a playoff spot 14,194....If we are going under, we won't be alone going down the tubes..I saw hilites of the Atlanta game and there looked to be about 1248 people actually there.

[2WayCenter]

Koules was on the radio this morning. The station had a gag set up where their guest, Matt Smaby, was to take some phone calls from fans. Koules was going to pose as one of the fans and ask some uncomfortable questions for laughs. Smaby never showed up at the station. Ouch.

Koules stayed on hold for 15 minutes or so and they asked him for some details on today's trade deadline action. He said "younger, faster, meaner" and "looking for players that can help us over the next 10 years."

[tampamarine]

TBLWNSC04--

You used to hang out at sunblades? Did you play hockey on Friday nights a few years back?

[Hockey Chic]

Morning fellow bloggers,

I like the new defense and cory murphy brings grit to the team. He is not a stay at home D guy and can move the puck when needed to pinch in. I also like Pettinger and Smaby and think they are doing a good job.

It was a strange night last night not seeing Reechi and Roberts in the line up. I really hate to see either of them go anywhere, but it is a business and this to shall pass.

Good luck to both of you where ever your path takes you and thanks for the leadership and guidance and work ethic that you brought to the team this year.

The game was rather boring in comparison to the last game in calgary which for me brought way too much excitement. At warm ups, at the glass, in Calgary, I got hit in the head with a puck. Nice little war wound. Spent way too much of my night in the urgent care clinic and could not get seen in time for my flight back.

Got treated here and I have appt for ct scan this afternoon. What a trip Calgary and Vancouver both beautiful places. Vancouver was by far the better for site seeing. Whistler mountain is worth the drive as well as Stanley Park worth the walk.

Glad to be back in the sptf. Lets get a win friday night. The grandson is doing the ice crew so root for JJ the puck daddy on the ice.

Sorry I did not make it to the wall it was hard enough making it to the seats with the new bump on the head. So I will see you all at the wall on friday night.
Go Bolts...

[TBLWNSC04]

Our best defensemen so far, Cory Murphy. Uhm, maybe Smaby ? Pettinger ? I like defenseman who cheat up a little like Dan did, make a play, then get back quickly.

[ajax]

2way...good call...I have seen him talk a few times and the young man does need to work on more "we" and less "I", never a good sign. The less you start your sentences with I in life, usually the better...He threw in the "I was a first pick" also during the conversation and yes, He did strike me as a little to much I-ism's. Krajicek is an UFA....I don't think he is going to get alot of offers which stinks cauase they probably will resign him for cheap dough but he ain't worth nuttin....the boy has no heart....Murphy at least knows how to play the game the right way but is just a tad to small....they were building a pyramid as part of team work drills in practice and Murphy was standing on Marty's shoulders...Ouch!!!

[2WayCenter]

TBLWNSC04 - "We are resting them, don't want them to get hurt, they are both over 40 you know." lol, I guess he was trying to build up Recci's trade value. Having had my chuckle at Mr. Lawton's expense I thought he handled the remainder of the interview well. More humble than I have seen him in the past. Let's hope he can land a pick or two tomorrow.

[TBLWNSC04]

Kraijchek, is you recall, helped the opposition, especially when we played The Penguins the last time. Not a kraijchek fan at all. I thought the gauge of our defenseman was, Kubina, Lukowich, Sydor, Boyle,or Cullimore. Sarich was o.k.I don't like the Doug Janik, or Kuba trade.They didn't look that expensive. Cullimore is a free agent.

Doug is only 3M ! What the hey ! Let's trade Janik,Kuba,and Boyle. Leave our defense open and Malik, Messaros nursing their injuries. Does that make sense ? Not a fun way to put your stamp on this team..

[ajax]

come on flasher.....12,408 were gimme's....don't be a puppet for the Cowboys....my job requires me to travel to Winnipeg twice a month so I will see alot of the Bolts next year....haha....HAHA.....haha!!!!
Coach bill didn't get your call til very late....Bolts rule!!!!!

[TBLWNSC04]

Did you hear Lawton? We are resting our veterans, since they are over 40 and are veterans. They were put on waivers, of course they are going to be traded. It was funny to watch him struggle. Big BB, i agree. I can't remember a time when we won on VS.The hunting channel. What a way to praise hockey. Give it to VS. I like Rick and Chief. I know Rick from Sunblades. Good guy.

I just feel we didn't the bounces tonight. The defence well, they just weren't that great. Outside of Cory Murphy. he isn't Dan, but at least he would come up to cheat a little. Is there anyone out there like him, but bigger more talented. Let's trade Recchi and Roberts for Boumeister. I know, laughable. I would trade them for top round draft picks, or a solid defenseman.

[ajax]

BB FAN...great comment...I didn't get in til late in the third period and was watching the game at a bar and I said to myself this is strange the Pittsburgh announcers are calling the game...and during intermission it dawned on me that it was versus...let's face it....the league NEEDS Pittsburgh in the playoffs...I thought we dominated the part of the game I watched...time after time we went to the net and a pile up and not one call....when you is at da bottom ya ain't going to get no calls....I have seen Koci in about 4 fights and I do not think he has hit one guy....slow slower and slowest....I look forward to our forwards playing with a healthy D and Smitty next year....I am not impressed with Sullivan...he has not made a mark on how the D plays as a unit, IMO....you have to make plays...you have to close space at center ice...I know it is the talent but they don't play the right way....so many times our forwards were dominating play and the puck goes back to the blueline and they dump it to the corner....challenge these guys to hold on to the puck.....to have the guts to skate to the middle of the ice and let go a blast on net....just dump after dump to the corner.....a kid could do that......except for Murphy none of them want to skate with the puck.....I am just saying...demand they at least try...Krajicek wouldn't skate north with the puck if he had a gun to his head....I wish things were different with Ricchi....I think he was one of our better players this year...I think he was a great example to the young kids....he is bye bye tomorrow...Roberts I was wrong on.....they couldn't even get a 4th round pick for him....when the legs are gone it is a tough game...

[Boltflasher]

Reported attendance: 19908

[Ben bolt fan]

These anoucers on VS and the biggest A** kisser for the Penguins I have ever seen. VS can kiss my viewing time as I will not watch another game on there station this year!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just another thing to hate about Pittsburgh and all of there sports franchises.

[Ben bolt fan]

Ramo thorugh two periods has been average, expecially with Krijeck on the ice.
Giving up big rebounds, needs to control the puck.

[Ben bolt fan]

Another minus for Krijeck. I have that guy a lot!!!!

[Ben bolt fan]

Kocci needs to work on staying on his skates. I think he lost this fight. Maybe one punch he landed. The guy does have upside though as a blue liner, even though he is a little slow.
Stamers line is not producing anything and Marty looks very disintereted in skating on that line.
What about the hit v20 laind on his man. Look like Alex Ovechkin's hit on Defenseman Jamie Heward.
I hate watching the bolts PP!!!

[Geografer]

Yes he can play. Even if he clears he can play - normally the teams have 30 days to decide once to do once a guy clears waivers.

[Boltflasher]

Could Roberts play if he's on waivers??