Lightning Strikes

Commissioner: Lynx troubles serious

2008-12-01T08:56:42-05:00

Given that the Augusta Lynx of the ECHL uses so few players from the Lightning organization, the consequences here are not dire for Tampa Bay other than the inconvenience of what may happen. But it is worth noting that ECHL commissioner Brian McKenna said Monday morning that Augusta's owners have not secured financing to keep the team running in the long term. Lightning GM Brian Lawton had said Sunday he believed a deal was in place.

There are still talks with at least one investor to get financing, but McKenna said the situation is pretty dire.

"Whether the ownership group can carry on remains to be seen," he said.

If the worst case unfolds and the team disbands, players under contract to the Lynx would be declared free agents, McKenna said. Those players under contract to the Lightning such as goaltender Riku Helenius, defenseman Kevin Quick and center Chris Lawrence would simply be re-assigned.

McKenna said this week likely is crucial to what ultimately will happen with the 10-year-old franchise; perhaps it gets the financing, perhaps it is sold or simply goes out of business. McKenna said it is too early in the process to consider whether the league would step in and run the team.

"They've talked to various groups but haven't had any luck to date," McKenna said of the Lynx. "But I understand they are talking to at least one interested party."

Is the Lynx in trouble?

2008-11-30T18:03:29-05:00

Was the promotion of goalie Riku Helenius to AHL Norfolk tied to the financial trouble being felt by the ECHL Augusta Lynx?

Norfolk GM Mike Butters said Sunday, "His call-up had zero to do with what is going on in Augusta."

Butters said Helenius, one of Tampa Bay's top prospects, was called up for evaluation and to work with organizational goaltenders coach Cap Raeder.

Still, the situation with Tampa Bay's ECHL affiliate seems difficult. At a news conference on Saturday, GM Dan Troutman confirmed the team is having financial trouble but a report Saturday on the WJBF-TV web site was more dire, quoting owner Robert Burch as saying new investors to close a $300,000 budget gap to keep the team in Augusta had to be found within days.

There has been talk the league could step in and run the team in case of emergency. But no one from the team or league could be immediately reached. Lightning GM Brian Lawton said Sunday the Lynx did get the cash infusion needed, though that could not be confirmed.

"So now they are moving forward," he said. "But there's all sorts of emergency plans in place, and things like that from the league, so it's something we're monitoring very closely. We don't have a tremendous amount of players there, but we certainly want them to do well. Recently, we recalled Helenius. It wasn't because of that. But, really, we're down to very few players, so it won't have a major impact."

Lawton said the Lynx has indicated it has the money needed.

"That's what they tell us. We're not privy to their books, but there was a lot of speculation out there about it and the league has also reassured us there are plans and things, so it's something we're monitoring."

Lightning prospects on the Lynx roster include center Chris Lawrence and defenseman Kevin Quick.

"Interestingly, when things like this happen, it's amazing how many people contract you," Lawton said. "We've had numerous inquiries from other teams and other leagues. We're talking about a nominal number of players here, but everyone likes to have an affiliation with an NHL franchise. It just helps the business."

Long way down

2008-11-30T10:40:22-05:00

Snow is blanketing the Denver area again - stunner - as the Lightning prepares to disembark for the third and final game of a so-far frustrating road trip. The team outplayed Minnesota for large swathes of a 4-2 loss on Friday but appeared to sleepwalk through almost 50 minutes of a 4-3 defeat by the Avalanche last night. A power play goal by rookie Steven Stamkos - who has arguably been the Lightning's best player recently - highlighted a spirited last five minutes, but it was not enough to placate interim coach Rick Tocchet, who asserted - stone-faced - that the NHL is a results-oriented business and he needed to get some soon. He alluded to changes - whatever changes he can make within the roster structure - and that it is likely to get "miserable" around a team that has lost four straight.

Happy Thanksgiving. Pass the misery.

Ouch, babe

2008-11-29T21:07:36-05:00

Goaltenders absorb enough punishment from pucks fired in anger during games, so they don’t much appreciate a new welt imparted by a teammate in a morning skate. The Lightning’s Olaf Kolzig and Mike Smith each took hard shots high off their bodies in practice on Saturday at the Pepsi Center and their only consolation was to carp about it with each other.

Jeff Halpern had apparently fallen off Smith’s Christmas card list while Kolzig was muttering about Evgeny Artyukhin.

Mile High bullet points

2008-11-29T16:56:43-05:00

LW Gary Roberts has recovered from his upper body injury and will replace Evgeny Artyukhin in the lineup, manning the third line tonight against Colorado with Jussi Jokinen and Mark Recchi.

Olaf Kolzig will start in goal with Mike Smith working in Minnesota yesterday.

The Lightning reassigned defenseman Matt Smaby to Norfolk (American Hockey League) this morning. He was recalled on Nov. 27 and was a healthy on Friday at Minnesota. He had been recalled in case D Andrew Hutchinson was snagged by another team on recall waivers on Friday.

Jason Ward was reassigned to Norfolk after clearing recall waivers yesterday.

Most of the Lightning participated in an optional morning skate at the Pepsi Center, with Marty St. Louis, working hard on his play around the net.

Feel free to exhale: Hutchinson clears waivers

2008-11-28T13:16:14-05:00

D Andrew Hutchinson cleared recall waivers from Norfolk and is on the roster. He had to clear them because of the amount of his NHL salary.

The Lightning also recalled Matt Smaby yesterday with D Lukas Krajicek (knee) and Marek Malik (lower body) nursing injuries.

Steven Stamkos: first NHL brawl broadens his horizons

2008-11-28T12:59:26-05:00

Rookie C Steven Stamkos wasn’t spoiling for his first NHL fight, didn’t pick out the biggest and/or baddest bully in the schoolyard to make the point that he wouldn’t be pushed around. But he still seemed pleasantly contented two days after a hard check incited fisticuffs with the Rangers’ Nikolai Zherdev at the St. Pete Times Forum.
Stamkos, who had two notable tussles in juniors, said he inherited his edge from his father, Chris, and learned his moves from watching hockey his whole life.
“My dad, he was a pretty aggressive hockey player when he played,” grinned Stamkos, who is listed at 6-foot-1, 196 pounds. “He wasn’t the biggest guy, but he was known for being feisty. I guess with me being his son, I kind of carry on that trait a little bit.
“It’s a fun part, to be physical out there and the odd fight here and there. It’s about playing fearless hockey. You go out there and create offensive chances by being physical and you’re going to stick up for yourself when need be.”

Injuries and Downie, Smaby called up

2008-11-27T15:02:02-05:00

So it appears David Koci hit New York's Colton Orr so hard with a couple punches Wednesday night, he broke a hand and is out two to four weeks. Wing Matt Pettinger sprainedd a ligament in his right knee and is out for two to four weeks. Defenseman Marek Malik sustained a lower-body injury against New York and is questionable

The corresponding moves, with Koci and Pettinger presumed on injured reserve to clear roster space: right wing Steve Downie and defenseman Matt Smaby from AHL Norfolk were called up. Tampa Bay also put wing Jason Ward on recall waivers and Norfolk defenseman Andrew Hutchinson on regular waivers.

Now, I'm taking the rest of the day off.

Better to play angry

2008-11-27T01:40:11-05:00

Before we get into this, just a note. I will not be on the road trip that goes through Minnesota, Colorado and Philly. Brant James will be with the team while I take Thanksgiving off. You are in good hands.

Anyway, did you see how much better the Lightning played when it got PO'd? The hitting, the fighting the intensity around the net gave Tampa Bay the chance not only to stay with the Rangers on Wednesday but to outplay them for a significant amount of time.

Sure, they lost, 3-2 in a shootout, But that goes into a whole other range of problems. Will Tampa Bay ever win another shootout? Both the shooters and Mike Smith have to be better. Can i prevent opponents from getting into these minutes-long, offensive-zone possessions? But those are subjects for another day. For now, it's enough to know the Lightning plays better when it plays angry.

This goes beyond the fights. That is easy. That's a byproduct of playing angry. I'm, talking about someone like Evgeny Artyukhin, who threw around his 6-foot-5, 254-pound body and got under New York's skin. Witness Colton Orr jumping Artyukhin after a clean hit on Blair Betts. Tampa Bay should have had a four-minute power play but because a bewildering call by the referees, it got only two as an innocent Artyukhin was called for roughing.

But you see what happens when you stir things up a bit.

The adrenaline gets pumping, the focus is intensified and players start doing things like getting in front of the net, setting screens, going for tip-ins, hitting a little harder. Makes for an entertaining game. Makes for a better chance of victory.

We're not talking about fighting here, but playing gritty, going after pucks, hitting hard and getting to the net.

It is a difficult way to play. It takes will and conditioning. Perhaps it also takes a coach like Rick Tocchet, who was that kind of player in his day, to threaten his guys with a loss of playing time if they don't keep it up.

One thing is sure, the Lightning played with an edge against the Rangers. Isn't that what all players are looking for?

Tocchet issues a warning

2008-11-26T13:25:01-05:00

Lightning coach Rick Tocchet was adamant this morning that he wants to see better intensity and grit from his players, especially in the form of going to the net, or playing time will be lost and benchings may occur. Tocchet originally spoke about the power play and how he might start changing personnel, but later said his edict was for the entire team.

"This is for everybody," Tocchet said. "If the results aren't there, there has to be a time for the coach, I don't care who it is, you're not going to play. I don't know if we're at that time yet, but it's getting close. We're going to have to get a little bit of urgency. We thought we had taken some baby steps, but then Jersey happened."

"Jersey" was the awful 7-3 loss on Sunday in which Tampa Bay did not compete.

"Is Jersey a once a month thing that happens or is it something that we have problems and have to start getting rid of people?" Tocchet said.

Get rid of people?

"That's what it's going to come down to if we don't start to learn how to play and play grittier," Tocchet said.

"Here's the thing as a coach," he added. "My philosophy as a coach is, you give a guy a warning. You bring him in and let him out there again, let him try to make up for his mistake or lack of effort. The second time, you have to stick him in the stands and not play his as much. Probably the third or fourth time, it's time to get the guy out of here.

"I look at our team, I don't see guys in the room don't care, but I don't want all takers on this team. I want givers. So, if you're not going to give, it's going to be a little miserable around here, and that's how it's got to be. I don't know if we are at that point yet, but there has to be something that's flushed. If that stench is around here, you have to get rid of it. I'm not trying to be negative, but the time is now."

As for tonight's game with the Rangers, Tocchet said, "The light bulb better be on."

Other stuff: Mike Smith will start in goal after undergoing a minor procedure to cap off a nerve ending in his abdomen that was irritated from, Smith said, sports hernia surgery four years ago. The nerve, which was cut during that surgery, apparently was trying to grow back and was causing pain. Smith said the procedure was so minor and so near the skin, it will not cause any irritation when he moves. Said Tocchet, "He's ready to rock." ... Wing Matt Pettinger, who hurt his right knee during Tuesday's practice when he hit a rut in the ice, was walking stiff-legged today and Tocchet said will undergo an MRI. ... Defenseman Lukas Krajicek (left knee) will play tonight. ... Wing David Koci will play on a line with center Ryan Craig and Adam Hall. He said he has no plans to take two minor penalties in 10 seconds as he did Oct. 18 against the Wild. It also pretty much ensures Ryan Malone wil not have to fight Aaron Voros fora third time this season. ... Both center Chris Gratton (knee) and wing Gary Roberts (upper body) skated this morning but will not play. ... Associate coach Mike Sullivan will spend the game in the press box. "He didn't want to be a distraction," Tocchet said, adding Sullivan, hired Tuesday, has not even been part of a practice. "We'll get Sully jumping in with both feet tomorrow."