Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Brian Lawton talks about the process

There were a few moments this week when general manager Brian Lawton spoke about the Tampa Bay Lightning acting like a real organization. That is, he said he was, as commissioner Gary Bettman has mandated, able to make the hockey decisions, which, really, is what is supposed to happen.

The draft and free agency were the first real tests for the Lightning after Bettman called squabbling owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie into the principal's office and told them that Lawton was in charge of all hockey-related transactions. That did not mean Koules and Barrie were out of the loop, it just meant Lawton was the one authorized to make contractual offers and do trades; you know, the things a GM are supposed to do.

Lawton, after talking about Victor Hedman and about signing defensemen Mattias Ohlund and Matt Walker, said things went pretty much to plan.

"Just to have that clarity makes my job a lot easier," he said. "Ultimately, I'm only as good as the authority I have. If that wavers in any way shape or form, that job becomes next to impossible and, quite frankly, I  wouldn't even want to do that job."

As for the overall structure under which Tampa Bay is now operating, Lawton said, "It operates like all other organizations. The owners are involved. They are consulted about everything. But they have to give me the authority to do what I see as the best course of action for this organization. They've done that with the caveat that if things don't go well, I probably won't be here. Ultimately, that's all I ask is the opportunity to make decisions for hockey operations, and to be judged on those decisions."

Just like any other organization.

"At the end of the day, our organization is built on teamwork and support, but there still has to be somewhere where the buck stops, otherwise there's no accountability and a lack of responsibility. Everybody has ideas. I take everybody's opinions seriously. But at the end of the day there has to be a clear vision. Let the GM be the GM. Let the players play. Let the owners own."

Comments

[D]

Excellent point Jim - NJ. I don't recall Dan Boyle clearing people out of the crease, either. The Bolt pp got noticeably better with Murphy. Krajicek was just awful all year. So, who does Lawton re-sign? Bad personnel moves have become the hallmark of Lighting hockey.

[Patrick]

Steve-O,

Thanks for posting that. Good to hear from an objective source that Lawton has indeed been doing a good job lately. And funny that they are agreement that the leaves are only doing so-so thus far.

Another forward the leaves won't be signing - Rick Nash. PD, What happened?

[Steve-O]

From Puck Daddy

Tampa Bay Lightning: Up is down, left is right, hamburgers eat people -- the Lightning are winners at the Frenzy.

Defenseman Mattias Ohlund(notes) wasn't returning to the Canucks, but his signing with the Bolts was an early day shocker on Wednesday. Not to say it didn't make sense: Big minutes, veteran presence, mentor to Victor Hedman. He signed for seven years and $26.25 million, with $4 million up front. In addition, they add defenseman (and noted creepy finger guy) Matt Walker(notes) for four years and $6.8 million and re-upped with Lukas Krajicek(notes) for another season. The Tampa Bay Lightning, with six NHL quality defensemen and Vincent Lecavalier(notes)? C'mon, the circus was just getting good ... GRADE: A-

Toronto Maple Leafs: Mike Komisarek(notes) presents a classic conundrum for Leafs fans like Pension Plan Puppets. See, on the one hand:

Knowing that Canadiens fans will have to bend themselves into pretzels to hate and demean a defenceman that they have lauded as being the lynchpin of their defence while having to find ways to like a former object of derision, Hal Gill, makes me laugh.

And yet here is a player Toronto loyalists have been calling overrated for years, and he's the foundation for Brian Burke's reconstruction of the franchise.

Five years and $22.5 million is a lot of dough for a defensive defenseman, and Komisarek had his struggles towards the end of the run in Montreal. But Burke's vision for the Leafs is clear, and Komi's clearly buying into it: "I was pumped to see Brian Burke's approach, his vision for the team, having a physical, aggressive team that's tough to play against."

(The notion that Habs fans can call a traitorous former player-turned-Leaf a "Komi" is all sorts of hilarious.)

The Leafs also inked RFA and noted Habs-lover Mikhail Grabovski(notes) to a three-year, $8.7-million deal; as well as Rangers bruiser Colton Orr(notes) to a four-year deal for $4 million, which is really easy math for a guy like Colton Orr to figure out.

The Kubina trade isn't an easy one stomach, because those false-starts at previous trade deadlines would have produced so much more. But Garnet Exelby from the Thrash certainly fits the Burke mold.

No, they didn't get the Sedins, and Mike Cammalleri is a Hab. But Brian Burke is well on his way to putting together his collection of goons, brawlers and about three or four skill players that worked so well in Anaheim -- while completely pissing off his division rivals along the way. Gotta love it.

But when is the team going to upgrade at forward? And when we find out the fates for Curtis Joseph(notes), Olaf Kolzig(notes) and Martin Gerber(notes)!? GRADE: C+

[Don in St. Pete]

PD, If you mean Ohlund by on the slide then I agree the contract is too long but not on overpaying. It seems he's getting much less than Komisarek who has less career goals than Ohlund had last season. If you watched the Nucks vs. Hawks series, then you saw that Ohlund was Van's best defensemen, at least in the playoffs. Speaking of overpaying, how much did the Leafs give a 20 goal scorer? Seems like they gave him 30 goal scorer money after 1 20 goal season.
To everyone else, great thread you've got going on here. I will agree and say again it should be critical they get our new defensive coach signed and in here in time for the prospects camp. It would be imprudent to make Helenius the backup here as he should have a full year starting in the AHL at least. If you do that you also end up rushing Tokarski who should get a full season in the Echl as a started before moving up to the AHL. I'm sure Lawton has a plan but I hope they get on it 1st thing monday before Tellqvist and Danis are gone as well. I'd prefer not to see Raycroft attempt to rejuvenate his career in Tampa. How much do you all figure it will cost to sign a scoring winger out of the 2nd tier UFA's that are left? Anyone have any insight into Kotalik, Williams, Pyatt or any of the others?

[PD]

Really Flasher? Most don't see overpaying for a guy on the slide as a smart move. Then giving him a 40 year old's contract.Feh

[McGz]

All that and I forgot about Lashoff, who I think starts the season off in Norfolk, but may overtake Krajicek or even Walker at some point this season.

[McGz]

Now this is the Lightning Strikes blog I know and love! Great to see NTMM, Hockey Chic and Lightning Rod posting again. Where's VOTT?

Anyway, its nice to feel good about the direction of the club again. Still some holes to fill as everyone has repeated. Casper brings up very good points about having an ECHL affiliate and the importance of a SYSTEM from top to bottom of the organization. Defense coach and PP coach are still needed.
Forwards are not set, but with our forwards getting healthy and the marginal players skating their butts off in MI all summer, the team will only be improved.

I look to see a slight upgrade on the checking line, with young up-and-comers rounding out the fourth line. How about Tyrell centering Ashton and Hutchings?

With the likes of Malik, Melichar and Koci definitely not playing defense next year and the addition of two solid FAs (including a legit number 1) plus Hedman in the draft, stability on the backend seems to be building momentum.

Remember the 300 game cutoff when NHL defensemen finally 'get it'? When you look at our young defense, only Ohlund will have played more than 300 games. Meszaros, Walker and Ranger will be hitting that milestone this year, with Krajicek on their tails. With Smaby and Hedman rounding out the top 7 on the depth chart, every one of them they will be appropriately slotted, although not necessarily in that order. Their development will be back on track.

If this group stays together another two years the NHL will be put on notice, especially when we plug Wishart into the group once Krajicek runs his course.

As for the goalie situation, I think Smitty will be fine, but at this point in his career, his durability has to be questioned. A veteran netminder needs to be procured to step in and spell him so he doesn't play 10-12 games in a row. And this needs to be done without sacrificing our younger goalie assets.

Can all this be accomplished and start coming together? Who knows, but it'll be fun finding out! Keep it up Lawton. Go Bolts!

[Lightning Rod]

Casper
At least now, the draft and recent moves the team has made do provide for the potential to develop a solid team. That said, the proof in the pudding is likely to be between now and the 1st real game this year. We shall see.

[Boltflasher]

Upon reviewing the overall free agent frenzy thus far, one Brian Lawton deserves a tremendous round of applause for what has transpired thus far. Nearly all teams have simply replaced one overpaid free agent superstar with another. Only the Lightning and, perhaps, the Kings, have used the free agent market to significantly upgrade their teams. Several teams have significantly changed their teams, e.g. Toronto, Montreal, Chicago, but have not significantly improved them...they are different but not necessarily better. For all the hoopla and press surrounding the more highly paid and loud of mouth GMs around the league, its your Lightning GM that has done the far superior job thus far. Yes, its not over yet, but these are my early observations...

[ajax]

Time will tell...depth is a serious handicap, but I give credit to Cowboys as they were left with nothing....I have no doubt that the team that laces em up on opening night will be far better than the team that we had in 2007-08...I knew from day one that those guys weren't making the playoffs and ownership wasn't spending a nickel to help the roster.....time will tell....injuries will tell.....Smith is the huge question mark.....but I, as of this morning feel that our roster will be a very decent hockey team barring huge injuries again...

[Casper]

Rod, your points are all excellent and right on point. Player potential is a dicey term when an organization (ours) fails to build top to bottom quality and integrity from within. Not swayed by the giddiness of the past week, I would swap the Brians in a heartbeat---Bradley to the front office and Lawton can be Chris Dingman’s lackey (THEN I’d fire he and wife to set the world right again).

We added new toys from the free agent vending machine. That doesn’t make us a quality organization or begin to fix the ills at Norfolk (Darren Rumble and Alan May? YGTBSM!!), enabling us to sustain a strong drive at the NHL level. We draft badly---they don’t develop; we draft well---how will they develop?

You know what SSDD means, right? Well, with the plastic people in our owners box, who conduct themselves as though they follow some maudlin and superfluous script, we have SSDY. Same *Stuff*, Different Year.

No word on Adam Oates; no word on a defense coach to compliment Rick Tocchet or even give him a fair chance at coaching this rag-tag bunch of onionheads into one cohesive unit; no sniff of a mention of a developmental ECHL club to work in concert with the Admirals---to get talented kids ready to play HERE, PRONTO; and status quo with our leaders and mentors in Norfolk.

Just add more flashy pieces to placate the fans and scratch heads when the turnstiles don’t whirr.

My thesis was:
There shouldn't be any more trade conjecture over stagnated talent.

SSDY

YGTBSM!

But, Go Bolts!

[Lightning Rod]

There are many who are making good points about the young D-men the team has; and their past performance.

My thoughts are these. How do you fairly judge what these young d-men can really do and what they can become, under prism of looking back at their performance in an obviously incomplete/unstable defense and system? Being thrown into that fire is not how good or even adequate 5 to 7 spot young d-men are developed; and maybe 1 in 20 at most will rise to their potential, no more than that. I believe that looking back at the majority of these young d-men, through the skewed prism of the last few years, is neither smart or fair to the team's future or them. This team's history proves that; and the continuation of sacrificing the future, for short term potential gains, has to stop.

How many times has the Lightning drafted a good prospect, thrown him in the fire to early; and then traded him to a team that allowed him to become a better player? I can name more than a few, both on offense and defense.

A good stable defense is a must to win games; and, also, allows the evaluation and development of young d-men of and to their potential. The good teams do it year after year. It now appears that the Lightning have made some really good moves in that direction.

So at this point, the real issue to me is the team going to repeat the past, with these young d-men they have; or are they committed to the future, by really allowing this very large core of young d-men to develop. Having a stable of this many young d-men is a luxury that the team may never have again. Why not take the time to see what potential they really have, under a good solid system, not the craziness of the past?

[Casper]

Good to read you again Chic. May your doctor have to take a second job while waiting to see you again. You-know-whom keeps the cattle prod just high enough to keep me well. (Wink, wink)

I think we stay cool and keep our options open for a net minder. Put out notice that there’s an opening in The Bay. Unemployed goalies should get into even better shape and the employed ones that lose the race for #1 on their current club might be heartened for a second chance, here.
The ‘oh sh**’ pre-season pseudo pressure might toughen some young thin skins along the way before the remedy arrives. That’ll ensure a sound season developing into a big timer. We’d all like to have McKenna’s head on Ramo’s body/talent.

Now that our coachless defense seems to be going in the right direction, can Ramo tear up his KHL indentureship and return pronto?

Go Bolts!

[hyjyljyj]

"I think Ranger still has a lot of potential. I think we start seeing the risky passes and questionable decisions from him when he's forced to do too much. The last two seasons he's averaged 24-25 minutes a game. That's almost the same amount of time Listrom and Gonchar played - too much for a young guy like Ranger. If he plays a true #3 or #4 role and minutes, I think he'll start to flourish again."

Best. Paul Ranger. Post. Ever.

On Boyle - A great offensive player,...but you have to take care of your own end first, esp. a Dman. I'm no worshiper of the plus-minus stat but when it's at the very bottom of the league why the amnesia? Like Richards his +/- made him a serious defensive liability, which seems easy to forget amid the hurt feelings resulting from the classless, tasteless methods of the Blokheads

IMO there's no time for marveling at the GM doing his job when we have _ABSOLUTE ZERO_ CERTAINTY OR CONFIDENCE IN NET, THE MOST CRUCIAL POSITION ON THE ICE

[Hockey Chic]

Morning Peeps,

It is nice to see some of our regulars back and commenting. Casper hope all is well with you and that you are 110 % better.

I got the all clear from my ortho yesterday with the addition of I may see you in a year for a knee cap replacement. Whatever. If he can get me in there again he will be lucky.

I am so stoked about the addition of the D with walker, ohlund and hedman. If mez comes out blazzing, paulie stays healthy and picks up his play we will be looking great.

I am with you all in that we need a great defensive minded coach and we have a system in place as OK told us in our meeting with him.

I think we have a much better chance than last year.

I have to tell you the first thing I thought of was healthy V4, Stammer feeling even more confident with MSL rested and ready to roll and we are definitely in much better position.

MSL had to be doing back flips when he heard the additional D being added. Hopefully this year they will not be throwing him around like a rag doll any longer.

Not sure about the goalie back up situation and it does seem every year we are talking about the same thing. Always need a great #1 and a good back up in the NHl to be in contention for sure. Here is hoping Smitty is ready to roll.

Anyone going to Ice Fest on 07/11/09? I will be there for the event and then headed to ISF to watch my buddies in the playoffs. Team Bud did not make it this time maybe next season.

Looking forward to seeing everyone at SPTF once again.
Go Bolts!!!!

[Steve-O]

When you talk of Ranger you have to remember that he was asked to be our top line guy last year and is not ready for that. He played well with Boyle as a mentor. Perhaps all of the youngsters will step up with Ohlund and Walker to lead the way.

I keep hearing people talk about tweeking type trades before we are even complete. We can not trade away top 6 guys on our offense or defense until we fill the remaining holes. Trading a Prospal, Ranger or yes Halpern to fill a hole at goalie or forward just creates another hole. $$$ is tight. Any trades to fill the last two spots, goalie and top 6 forward, likely need to come from a package of prospects, picks or bottom two forward lines or extra D-men. Competition at camp should tell us who is expendable. We are not likely to see any contracts bigger than $1-1.5 coming back for anyone as Hedman & Smaby still need to be signed

[hyjyljyj]

"Go to that website and try to buy a [Victor] Hedman jersey."

So they've announced his number already?

[Casper]

Oh okay, given the choice between two head cases I'd take Bryz every time.

[Casper]

I’m not giving up on Paul as much as I am giving in, to his stagnation with our non-system. The poor guy's been here the longest of our D and through the worst of it; from the down side of Ramsey to today.

I also don’t think we’d be giving him away either. The potential is still there, we have other puzzle pieces to take his place while he could be key toward bringing in Smitty’s eventual replacement.

I’m starting to feel less comfy with the future of Mike Smith. One more caved in crease and its all over for him. That salts it----HE’S the backup and we need a horse in there. Who gets a shot behind our still coachless defense? Harding? Niittymaki?
Please dear god don’t bring the head case Manny Fernandez down here!

I mention Bryzgalov ($4.5M) because we should have had him 2 years ago for pretzels and now the Coyotes are one desperate mob. If they had a couple of young shooters plus Ranger they could peddle off Jovo-Cop to save $$$ and fill more holes.

We sure could do for another Russian goalie acquired from Phoenix.

Go Bolts!

[Patrick]

I think Ranger still has a lot of potential. I think we start seeing the risky passes and questionable decisions from him when he's forced to do too much. The last two seasons he's averaged 24-25 minutes a game. That's almost the same amount of time Listrom and Gonchar played - too much for a young guy like Ranger. If he plays a true #3 or #4 role and minutes, I think he'll start to flourish again.

[Don in St. Pete]

Casper, Good points on Ranger. I think his upside keeps you from giving him away though. He had 8 goals in 44 games before injuring his shoulder in 07-08'. On the other hand he's had the other shoulder done now, and based upon his performance last year you could surmise that his development has been curtailed or halted. At what point do you give up on a guy with such high potential?

[Randy C]

Casper,

I feel your pain about Murphy. My thought is that His age is keeping us from signing him. Still more moves to come, to early to call IMO.

Sure would like to hear about a new D coach though. Lawton has got to have cauliflower ear from all the phone calls!

[Randy C]

Don,

I am part way there with you. With the improvement in our D we should see the forwards play follow. Tyrell, Szczchura and Downie are ready to have breakout seasons. Arty and Craig have a lot to prove this season or not make the club. Who knows, maybe our 2nd first round pick will provide some punch? I really think with a real camp and a system in place the Bolts will sneak up on some people.

[Casper]

I can’t let everybody pile on Jim because he/I prefer Corey Murphy over Lukas Krajicek on our defense. I almost prefer him over #54! Murphy might be a good 7 hole guy but I think we assume great risk with Paul Ranger.

Forget the rehab for a moment and recall how often he cruises in and out of focus out there. I think he could benefit from a fresh start with a serious system and splendid coaching not found in these parts (Minn, Dallas, St. Louis, Nashville, etc.)

Therefore, he makes and excellent trading chip to bring in what? We have many young ‘n fast defenders now with an Ace to point the way----even by remote control because we have NO DEFENSE COACH YET!!!!

So, we trade Ranger as part of a package with other Admiral offensive talent (Bochenski, Konopka, Segal, etc.) to get a goal man. Pick one from the under 5 mil shelf please.
(He---llo Bryzgalov…No more fooling around with dented melons, the last goalie we got from Phoenix did alright here.)

The hole left by Ranger’s departure could easily be filled by a Corey Murphy. Seriously though, I hope Mike Lundin sticks; he isn’t a Sasquatch either, but as he gains experience he’s going to become even more cagey. I like that.

If all that seems dumb, try peddling the chronic underachieving Krajicek at $1.5M.

Its all good for us wannabe GM’s. Let’s please try to think outside the box before piling on, okay?

P.

Go Bolts!

[Don in St. Pete]

I agree Randy, and in most senses we are more complete and ready to roll than a lot of teams. It will be nice to see Smaby signed as well as Lashoff, Lundin and Karsums. Depth for a Lightning squad what a novelty. We still need to accumulate forward depth in the system. Feaster and crew left the cupboard near bare for forwards to the incoming owners. We finally have some defensive depth and goaltenders in the pipeline. Please contiue to bring us someforwards to restock those ranks.

[Randy C]

Don,

A week ago most here thought we were going to dump Vinny and spend no money in free agency. They have a plan that so far has netted us some good players. As much as we speculate, there is no way to guess. They have earned some trust, lets see what they do next. Take some time to feel good about OK hockey, it is quite new to most here.

[Doug]

That goes both ways Brian. Let the coach, coach.

[Don in St. Pete]

I'd get in line for the 200 free Hedman t-shirst at the development camp. I'm glad to see that Hutchings will be attending, I love his attitude that he feels he has something to prove. I can see a little better drafting angle already, and Lawton has done outstanding thus far. With a few big holes to plug his grade is incomplete but I will say he's been on the ball so far.

[dawrights]

Good work Lawton...so far. Not sure will fit best as backup to Smitty but , at least so far, I'm willing to let Lawton pick. "Let the GM be the GM. Let the players play. Let the owners own." and let the games begin.

GO BOLTS
by the way Kipp "goodhedman" 69 is okay at NHL.com
Steve-O , not sure who he plays for,LA maybe?

[Mike in Bangkok]

Between the draft and signings, at least to date, Lawton has done a very creditable job. It's beginning to look like the mistakes of last year may have originated with ownership and not the GM. Keep up the good work. There's still more to do.

[gus georgiou]

Yea Jim, let me throw in my two cents. Feaster is the one who oversaw the draft the last 5 years and we can see what great promising young players we have coming up because of our great drafts he was in charge of. I am equally impressed how he stood in Torts corner when the new ownership took over. Instead of being a man of principle and standing behind his coach, he said nothing so he would still be in good graces with new owners. The only trade that came out alright was the Richards deal. I would give him a "D" for his work as a GM the time he was here and it would be nice of you to give Lawton 2 years before you crucify him!!

[McGz]

It's amazing what happens when the GM is allowed to so his job, isn't it?

[Steve-O]

Kipp I imagine that if Hedman was an NHL player you could purchase his jersey. He was drafted but has no contract yet or #. Patience Grasshopper! Jim- I believe the point on Lawton is that the owners were all up in his business last year and made the dumb moves. Pin the Boyle deal on Barrie. We know you wanted Murphy to stay and you don't approve, most of us liked him. But he would be our 7th D-man at best. It ain't gonna happen. Boyle ain't coming back either. Movin on.

[Goalman]

Hey Jim!Give us a break! Cory Murphy did a nice job while with us, but being the size he is, he is a luxury we can't afford. In other words,he handles the point well but isn't able to clear anyone over 150 lbs. from the crease.
Oh, and by the way, isn't N.J. the place that can't sell out a brand new stadium,with a team that is a perennial playoff participant?
Maybe you could hire Cory to replace Madden .

[Don in St. Pete]

Jim, FYI, Feaster is also the one who kept Craig and let Perrin walk, traded Modin and Norrena for Mark Denis and drafted Svitov and Alexeev. If that's the worst thing Lawton does this year we have reason to be thankful.

[Boltflasher]

Agree with Lawton's comments for any management position. You have to have the authority manage otherwise you can't do your job but get the blame...

[Jim - NJ]

Kipp- lol
Lawton: great job on keeping krajicek and dropping Murphy. Great idea. Were u the same one who tried dumping Malone too? I see y the owners wanted to step in now. At least Feaster knew talent when he saw it and kept Boyle.

[Kipp]

http://shop.nhl.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3172399&cp=3176736&clickid=body_bestsell_img

^Go to that website and try to buy a Victory Hedman jersey. Apparently "Hedman" is deemed inappropriate to have on a hockey jersey by nhl.com...sorry Victor, no NHL for you