Posted by  sandy grumblatt, pinellas on 07/03  at  05:16 PM

THIS HAS TO BE THE BIGGEST DUMBEST IDEA IN LUGTHNING HISTORY. AND to the few Dan Haters the reason Dan did not play as well last year was because of the surgery on his wrist NOT 1 BUT 2! I would like to see anyone perform they jobs they way they did prior to that surgery. He worked thru a lot of pain and played even when he was hurting, you could see it in his face. I had no doubt thar this years DAN would be a healthier stronger and quicker Dan of the past year.

Posted by  chris, jensen beach on 07/03  at  05:04 PM

We’ll still be driving 4 hours one way but come on, DFB was -29 in 37 games and 4 goals last year. Brad got run out of town for less. Of course Brad was supposed to score and its a bonus with DFB but still -29 in 37 is still -29 in 37.
If anyone will give anything OK should take it, salary dump alone is worth it.
Did I mention a d-man with -29 in 37 games??

Posted by  Jordan G, Riverview, FL on 07/03  at  04:03 PM

I hate to seem rude…..but, Nabokov? Thats not even hypothetical lol. Thats ridiculous…....but, while we’re at it….lets get Joe Thornton too! ha ha

Posted by  Geografer, Spokane, WA on 07/03  at  03:59 PM

As long as we are playing hypotheticals - the only way I see this with San Jose is for Carle and/or Erhoff as well as for Nabakov. If you are going to screw up the D at least get us the guy that should have won the Vezina this year.

Posted by  Jordan G, Riverview, FL on 07/03  at  03:55 PM

Mitchell,
      Ottawa would never trade Volchenkov. He’s their best defensemen. And if they ever did, I would lose faith in my hometown team, and all of Ottawa would show up at Bryan Murray’s house with pitchforks and torches. So, don’t get your hopes up. If Ottawa gave up anyone it would be Meszaros and either a young d-man or Vermette…

Posted by  Ruthe Robertson, St Pete on 07/03  at  03:49 PM

Mike in Bangkok: I know Kolzig is not a defenseman. I should have put an “and” in between two unproven defensemen, Kolizg and Vrbata. I was referring to Koci and Niskala. Come on Mike, you said in one of your blogs that I was “astute” so you must be aware that I know my hockey. Shame on you.

Posted by  Mitchell Margo, tampa on 07/03  at  03:41 PM

i think that the only way they should trade Boyle is if the trade is something along the lines of this

TBL-Gives Boyle, Kuba, and Quellet

Ott-Gives Meszaros and Volchenkov

then maybe some draft picks are included but probably not any 1sts or 2nds.

Ottawa probably doesn’t even do that but if you can’t get 2 quality d-men then you don’t trade Boyle.

Posted by  Jordan G, Riverview, FL on 07/03  at  03:41 PM

Rumour has it that the Lightning like the San Jose package, which could include Carle and/or Erhoff (young defensemen), or Mclaren…....

Posted by  Adam, Sarasota, FL on 07/03  at  03:27 PM

For all of you people who keep saying boyle plays 25-30min how many times late in a game did his line give up game tying goals or game winning goals because his A** was dragging because he was tired and couldn’t clear the puck out of our zone.  The guy is in no way shape or form a top 5 defenceman in this league.  Trade him now while there is a hot market for him.

Posted by  wing fan, npr on 07/03  at  03:20 PM

I’ve read about a proposed deal where Boyle is shipped off to his home-town area Senators, for a top-4 D-man, and one of their up and coming wingers. It would also include some draft picks as well as trimming some payroll.
Face the facts, the team needs to shake it up a bit…even with Boyle back there, the D was lacking. Why not give it a change?

Posted by  Greg not from Thailand, HockeyBay USA on 07/03  at  03:18 PM

Mike from Bangkok- why are you such a Boyle hater anyway? He was an alternate for Team Canada in the last Winter Olympics before his breakout years and has worked his way up to where he is as an elite player in the NHL. He wasn’t anointed that like V4 or even Stamkos before they dropped their first puck. What’s your suggestion for how our D will be better w/out him? I am confident it won’t. Good luck with Kuba or Lukowich as your power play set up man.

Posted by  Geografer, Spokane, WA on 07/03  at  03:17 PM

Umm - Chara is in Boston and is their captain. I don’t see that as one of the options.
Besides - in somethings size doesn’t matter. I still remember watching Marty knock Chara down a couple of times. Still would rather have the puck moving abilities of Danny to Chara - you really can’t compare these two guys.

Posted by  Mike Joyce, Bangkok, Thailand on 07/03  at  03:15 PM

Ruthe,

I hate to burst your bubble, but Kolzig isn’t defenseman.  He’s a very well proven goalie.

As for MC, I will still spend the money to fly 10,000 miles one-way to see the Bolts play, with or without Boyle

Posted by  Justin, Tampa on 07/03  at  03:14 PM

Chara?

Posted by  hockeyWa,  on 07/03  at  03:01 PM

Then name those players….. Are you seriously evaluating a players ability by whether or not they play on a all-star team?

Posted by  Mike Joyce, Bangkok, Thailand on 07/03  at  02:45 PM

If Boyle is that great a defenseman, how come he can’t make the All Star game?  Or, why doesn’t he play for Team Canada?

It’s probably because there are that many out there better than he is defensively.

Posted by  Jordan G, Riverview, FL on 07/03  at  02:31 PM

TSN says that Boyle has asked for sufficient time to mull over his decision. They also say that San Jose is the frontrunner in the trade, and the Lightning’s first choice. I dont see who San Jose has that the Lightning could want. San Jose lacks defense, which is why they want Boyle, so it is unlikely that they would send defensemen in a trade….

Posted by  Phil A. Lalli, Tampa, Fl. on 07/03  at  02:20 PM

When you get down to brass tacks, this is just a business- no matter how emotionally involved we as fans are with a player or team.  If OK Hockey decides after spending $200 million to buy the team that they need to take another direction with the defense, then they must have thought this through, since they knew it would obviously be met with open hostility from the longtime fans.
I love Danny Boy, but he is a defensive zone liability and if we are going to truly compete this year, and years to come, we need one or two knock ‘em on their ##### type d-men to make our zone a scary place for opposing teams.

Posted by  Ken, Lakeland, FL on 07/03  at  02:16 PM

It would be a HUGE mistake to move Boyle… Forget about last year when he had the wrist problems, think about the 1st game he came back and went end to end AND scored… There’s ALOT of dead wood and stationary trees on the defence that they could dump AND not that many d-men like Boyle… OK, he’s not the second coming of ANY defencive d-man, but at least he can get it out of the zone to start the break… IF they move him (which I wouldn’t like to see) they better get ALOT for him and I would almost NEVER trade within the same conference.

Posted by  MC, Jacksonville, Florida on 07/03  at  02:13 PM

With all the comments issued by OK about Boyle, then this comes out, is smoke and mirrors that new (and first time) owners should never pull with a last place team.

See Stu Sternberg and the Rays for honesty and class.

Definitely bush league tactics…

Posted by  Rhonda, Clearwater on 07/03  at  02:12 PM

This team is a joke.  They sign a bunch of dregs to ridiculous contracts and then have to trade a key player to get under the cap?  Boyle should accept the trade and get out while he can.

Posted by  Bob, lakeland, fl on 07/03  at  01:41 PM

Why in the world! Stupid mamnagement gets us all excited and then do this! You cant get rid of our best puck moving defensemen

Posted by  kickedwards, michigan on 07/03  at  01:40 PM

Dan Boyle is one of the premier defesemen in the NHL. I had hopes for the new ownership until I read all this about Danny. Anyone remember the last episode of the Mary Tyler Moore show when they fired everyone except for Ted Baxter? Ring a bell, Feaster? They can’t sign Ollie the Goalie and let their best defenseman go! Say it ain’t so!!

Posted by  Geografer, Spokane, WA on 07/03  at  01:32 PM

Berliner - this is not just about Danny. This is about a brand new contract that he has not even played a single game under and was given a no-trade clause for. OK was very involved in this and signed off on the contract. You don’t do that to anyone. Also you have them pulling crap like this - “Bazos, who explained he got a call Tuesday from “Lightning management” that he said indicated, “It’s not their intention to move Dan. They’re going to try to work out whatever they need to work out in other ways.” You don’t do that while talking trade. LOW CLASS!

Posted by  Justin, Tampa on 07/03  at  01:28 PM

If they sign another forward then OK hockey has definately lost credibility.