Lightning add defenseman Kurtis Foster, and could have a backup goalie by Thursday

The Tampa Bay Lightning continued to revamp its blue line with the addition Wednesday of free agent Kurtis Foster, formerly of the Wild. It is a one-year deal for about $600,000.

Foster is a 6-foot-5, 220-pounder with 186 career games with the Wild and Thrashers. Foster played just 10 games last season after recovering from a broken leg. He had a goal and six points, was plus-7 and averaged 13:35 of ice time.

You might recall Foster by his injury. It happened in March 2008 when he skated toward the end boards to touch a puck for an icing and was drilled from behind into the boards by San Jose rookie Torrey Mitchell.

"Big shot, big shot," Lightning coach Rick Tocchet said. "And he's a lot better defenseman than people give him credit for. ... He wants to re-establish himself. He has a carrot in front of him. It's nice to have players like that."

So that makes the blue line Foster, Victor Hedman, Mattias Ohlund, Matt Walker, Andrej Meszaros, Paul Ranger and Lukas Krajicek, and that leaves someone outside looking in, and it mostly likely would be Krajicek, whom Tampa Bay probably will try to move. It also means looking at Matt Smaby, who has filed for arbitration, as a depth player, along with Matt Lashoff and Mike Lundin, if they are signed.

As for a backup goaltender, GM Brian Lawton said he has an offer out to a player, but declined to say whom, understandable considering the player might say no.

One other piece of housekeeping. The Lightning apparently is narrowing its search for an assistant coach. It is believed the Lightning has gotten permission from the Stars to interview associate coach Rick Wilson, who believes in strong, disciplined defense and ran the defense during games.

Oh, and, by the way, Hedman said he will wear No. 77 next season because he idolized former NHL star Ray Bourque.

Comments

[Mike13]

Great post skp. I agree 100%.

[Don in St. Pete]

One thing I wanted to mention about the defensemen that have been brought in is that none of them is an overly physical player. Ohlund averages the most hits per game at around 1.25 and almost 2 blocked shots per game. Walker and Foster are both around 1 hit per game and 1 blocked shot per game. Matt Smaby you may remember averaged 2.9 hits per game and 1.59 blocks. If the competition is fair and the players get an equal opportunity to prove themselves, then I'm confident Smaby will make the team out of training camp. Matt Walker never played a full season in the NHL until last season, even though it was his 6th season. Foster has a great shot on the PP so I like all of these signings. Hedman may even have a tough time playing his way onto this squad. He too young for Norfolk so if they don't feel he's ready he would go back to Modo. I think the chances of that are slim, but it is a distinct possibility. I wouldn't be surprised to see any of these guys dealt as part of a package for a top 6 forward ( except the recently signed UFA's ). I think they should give Vrbata another chance to make the team out of training camp. here's the link to a nice story on Kurtis Foster from TBO.COM.

http://www.tboblogs.com/index.php/sports/story/an-amazing-road-back-for-kurtis-foster-new-lightning-defenseman/

[skp]

i think this might mean the movement of a major piece on defense, perhaps packaging paul ranger with vrbata to get a legitimate top 6 scoring winger in here....vrbata at $3 mil is impossible to offload, but vrbata + ranger at $4 mil would probably interest some teams, while unloading a bad contract and creating the space we need on the NHL blue line. krajicek was an insurance policy they now don't need, and it looks like they pulled the trigger too soon on that signing.

[Steve-O]

The problem with the depth on D is How many of them are on two way contracts? We can't keep any extras if they will only get plucked away on the way up or down. Is that right? The depth guys need to be two way or they are virtually useless but for one time.

Smabes, take the two way for one year earn your spot and get the good contract next year. Supply and demand young man. Supply the grit, hits, steals and puck battles and then demand bigger money.

[karma]

All I can think is that after last year's mess on D with the record number of players skating back there, it's nice to see that we might have a few more NHL-ready guys in the wings in the event they are needed. Competition goes a long way in camp and during the 82 game season; it shows you what these guys are really made of.

Now if we can only get more depth on the forward side of these lines. The top 6 should be set, but we really need stronger defensive forwards with the 3rd and 4th lines. I have no use for Vrbata - a quitter. Might as well go to Alaska and spend some time salmon fishing instead of returning here.

[Randy C]

Don,

There will be some feirce competition for those last 3 spots. This makes it important for Smaby to have a 2 way contract this year. We should find out soon if you are correct about trading any of them for the help in goal or up front. I remember on several occaisions Tocc complaining about effort and toughness. Those 4 games in 4 days will be perfect to see what he wants for this years blue line.

[ZERO]

PD, I have a boatload of congratulations cards to send you, but I need an address.

ps...it's spelled T O R O N T O. This is T A M P A. I think you need to recalibrate something.

[hyjyljyj]

"You might recall Foster by his injury. It happened in March 2008 when he skated toward the end boards to touch a puck for an icing and was drilled from behind into the boards by San Jose rookie Torrey Mitchell."

::soapbox::
One might have thought this totally needless injury would momentarily distract the NHL from their autistic-savant focus on penalizing as "interference" or "hooking" every little butterfly-touch between players in a puck battle, and make them finally adopt the commonsense no-touch icing rules used by the rest of the world to prevent such senseless injury on a meaningless play. After all, if you're like 99% of hockey fans, the next time you see a goal, or even a shot on goal, result from an attacker winning that breakneck race headlong into the boards will be the FIRST time. But no, they are obviously waiting until it is not a leg but a neck that is fractured--maybe on a young superstar player they were trying to market--and the guy ends up either six feet deep or an NHL poster child, drooling in a wheelchair for life. THEN they'll suddenly rub a couple brain cells together and spark a fricken clue -- "for the safety of our players".

::/soapbox::
>:^p

[Don in St. Pete]

I'm tired of reading about the Leafies on a Bolts blog. Ajax, I agree the Bolts owners and management deserve a shout out for the well run draft and for being agressive in free agency. I am somewhat puzzled by the signing of Walker and Foster. Both of these guys have been 3rd pairing D at best, though Foster has worked the PP. We now have about 10 defensemen, most of whom fall into those #5-6 slots. It would be good to have some competition in training camp, but may be hard to get all of these guys enough ice time to show what they've got and then only a short time to build some chemistry with their defense partner. I am convinced Lawton will be dealing one or more of these guys to try and bring back a backup goaltender and/or a scoring forward. With Vrbata reportedly returning to the US and Hedman and the RFA's remaining to be signed we are likely close to or over the salary cap. I hope the rehab of Rags and Mez is going well though I've seen no reports, perhaps that is another reason for the influx of defense UFA's. Hope to hear some reports if anyone is attending the camp.

[Randy C]

Ajax,

Seemed like 85% to 90% to me. We don't know how this new group will mesh but it sure looks way more promising than I had hoped for.

Go Bolts!

[PD]

Absolutely Flasher but d'oh, not with those guys on defence and a healthy Toskala.

[Boltflasher]

"Have you added a Bozak,Hanson, Gustavsson,Orr,Komo, Beauchemin?"

Who off your 30th ranked PK is going to kill the penalties from Orr, XLB, and Komo?

As has been pointed out:

"The Leafs’ penalty killing statistics since the lockout do not lie:

2005-06: 24th in the NHL at 80.0% efficiency.

2006-07: 27th in the NHL at 78.5% efficiency.

2007-08: 29th in the NHL at 78.1% efficiency.

2008-09: 30th in the NHL at 74.7% efficiency."

[PD]

Seems Toronto finished well above Tampa Ajax with their #1 goalie down for a triple operation.
Based on your argument, paying Burke millions a year to be GM isnt putting money into the team?
While you have a 25 cent GM ? Funny

Have you added a Bozak,Hanson, Gustavsson,Orr,Komo, Beauchemin?Hilarious Ajax, say hello to BB

[PD]

Previous comments brought to you by the self appointed class monitor.

Two gigs of the finest self aggrandizing one can find

[ajax]

I can't say I don't love the "effort" of Matt Smaby...I am not so sure about the talent....more and more teams are going speed first....In today's economy...only time will tell...but Smaby was playing for a team with nothing....zippo D wise....hold out for more money at his age and his career sheet??....bad move Matt....Wouldn't it be nice to see Barrie sell Bear Mountain for 350 million.....man what will that do to the 20 month speel from PD about the owners being an inch away from being broke...sort of discredits the hater on so much....but us life long bolt bloggers are pretty sure of the non-stop bs hate spewed daily for what it is...just hate....very little documented facts.......Now for the rest of you bloggers...Isn't it time for someone at the Times to write an article about the conviction of these owners??? No doubt they have made some moves that puked....but isn't it time to at least stop doubting the conviction to win...I said 8 months ago I would take owners who were trying...anyday...over rich owners who could give a pee about the franchise and the city.....time proves everything...but something tells me that the flat out desire of these guys will prevail....they bought the worst team....at the absolute worst bad luck economic time in the last 80 years....and they are still standing and firing cannons to try and win....how about a little credit from the community for "E" for effort...big effort...wasn't it just three weeks ago that 80% of the blog was ready to crucify these guys....shame shame......never discout effort...it goes a long long way towards success....Just a gentle reminder about another headline in the bay area.....Tampa Bay Bucs have spent less money than any other franchise in the entire NFL......a franchise that has absolutely been printing money and screwing the community by not putting any of it back into the team....flipflop and look at the Lightning with nil for TV revenue and 3000 less fans and they are throwing everything into winning...Go Cowboys Go !!! the Bucs remind me of Toronto in the NHL....money coming out of every pocket and none of it being spent on the team.....imagine the Toronto blog with a billion dollar franchise and another 5 year plan at 8 million below the cap....and a goalie who got pulled 7x's last year...ha ha....hahaha..Toronto Weepy Weaves what losers...

[Boltflasher]

Isn't Brent Johnson left?

[Don in St. Pete]

I will echo what the marlboro man says on Matts. If we are foolis enough to let him go he will haunt us for a decade or more. While I apreciate the treams attempts to improve the defense their are teams dying to be in our position.

[Kenny]

I have a feeling the goalie that was offered a contract is Manny Legacy. On the radio, Lawton said the person is experienced and has had some success in the past. I think Legacy is the only one left that fits the bill

[Mike13]

Smaby shot himself in the foot by not accepting the offer that was made. Now, his competition to crack the top 6 just got a whole lot harder.

I feel compelled to say though, that I am very pleased with the targeting of tough defensemen this offseason. It gives me hope that, for the first time in about 3-5 years, we will have real NHL quality D.

I'm also very excited to read that an offer is out there to a backup goalie. Let's just hope it isn't Grahame. :)

[Not the Marlboro Man]

Smaby was one of the better draft choices made by the Bolts over the past however many years. They should have kept Picard as well as keep Smaby. If they think they will make up for Smaby by keeping Mihalik, I think not! Smaby plays a sound positional game and has a big intimidating presence. You can't teach size and you can't find too many good American born players. I'd take Smaby any day over Krajicek. Smaby is a hitter and plays hockey the way it was meant to be played. If some other team is allowed to pick him up it won't be good for us. Smaby is a future all-star just wait and see. He has solved his skating issues and now all he has to do his is gain some more confidence with his shot.

[gus georgiou]

Jim-NJ, I agree that Murphy is great running the power play and is a good puck mover, but he can't compare defensively to Smaby in taking players out of the play or making sure they are looking over their shoulders in the corners. Our play in our own zone killed us last season and to me that is more important than Murphy who had trouble checking and moving guys out from in front of our goalie.

If Mezzaros could learn how to put his shot on goal from the point on the PP, we would not be missing Murphy's skill back there. Mezzaros has one of the hardest shots from the point and would help this team immensely if he could keep it on the net.

One of the biggest complaints I had last year was how soft we were on the ice and it sure would be nice to have opposing players be a little hesitant coming into our zone or looking over their shoulders. Smaby was fantastic in taking players out as they crossed the blueline!!!

[Steve]

Could be Brent Johnson, Manny Legace, Nittymaki or even Biron since no starting jobs are left. Tampa might be ideal since there are no starting jobs left for these guys and Smith's injury concerns.

[Boltflasher]

Who are the FA goalies left that they may have made an offer to?

[KRB]

ALL u guys need to grow up come on Murphy he might have done alright but he is to small. Smaby is a cry baby if he wants to play so bad take the offer the bolts gave u and dont cry and jim-nj we where the push overs of the nhl last year koci could not win a fight for his life and if u watch those guys u call oversized u might learn some stuff

[Patrick]

If given a chance to compete for a position, I think Smaby can beat out some of these guys for a spot - possibly either Walker or Foster, and definitely Krajicek. There's a couple months time though for things to fall into place, so it's still early to really get upset until the opening day roster gets set.

I like the number 77 for Hedman. I big number for a big guy. Following in Ray Bourque's footsteps wouldn't be a bad thing at all.

Hey, if anyone made it to the forum today let us know how some of the young guys and Hedman looked, please.

[Lightning Rod]

Does anyone know the status of Murphy recovering from his injury?

[Jim - NJ]

Unbelievable. They have a chance to bring back Murphy and they still insist on the oversized and underskilled. And that stuff about not saying who the backup goalie is bs- it never stopped them before.

Murphy is a cheap talented scoring quarterback. Why is this not being talked about by Lawton? I refuse to believe this is really happening. Rediculous says this observer.

[Kenny]

I really believe Smaby deserves to be one of the 6 regulars. He played great with an injured foot. Krajicek's awareness and willingness to battle disgusts me. I think Walker should be a depth guy that Tocchet can put in if he wasn't satisfied with somebody's committment in the previous game.