Posted by  Danny Lee, Lithia on 07/04  at  04:33 PM

Who cares about hockey anyway?!!  Right now there is a first place team in town and that is where everyone’s energy should be.....GO RAYS!!!  I don’t care about the NHL period.  The only sport to miss a year and nobody really cared.

Posted by  Bill Smith, Central FL on 07/04  at  03:44 PM

Un freakin believable. Hey Channelside Jack nuts, you realize the only way to win another Cup is from the net OUT.

Suspect goaltending, a very shaky defense even with Boyle. Sounds like we are geared towards scoring 400 goals and still missing the playoffs.

Melrose, grow a pair, and do something about the blue line. This flat out SUCKS.

Posted by  Adam, Sarasota, FL on 07/04  at  02:27 PM

What an outstanding trade!!!  This has been a long time coming and glad they got very good value in return.  A great young D player in Carle and a 1st rounder along with a 4th and a potential young D player, great move.  Good luck Boyle and BL go give up some easy goals for your new team.  Great job for the new owners!!!

Posted by  Jordan, Gainesville on 07/04  at  02:08 PM

If some of you really like Lukowich as player definitely didn’t watch him last year. He was always the slowest skater yet he would pinch and would be caught out of position all the time and to get his contract off the books is a godsend. While Dan Boyle is a great offensive defensemen Feaster gave him a ridiculous contract which would the OK guys probably didn’t really sign off on and was probably the final act of a lame duck GM since he really hasn’t factored into any of the decision since. So to get over 8.5 million of the books in two player and get two young D-men with upside plus a 1st and 4th pick is not a bad haul

Posted by  dale, fl on 07/04  at  02:04 PM

can’t do it by themselves

Posted by  dale, fl on 07/04  at  02:02 PM

OK Hockey NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!The only chance this team has at being better then last years is Steve Stamkos. Your filler players are just that, they won’t lead this team to the playoffs.

I’ll take Dan Boyle & Brad Richards over Ryan Malone & Radim Vabrata thank you.  You better hope that Stamkos isn’t a flop or dosen’t need a year or two to find his stride.

Vinny & Marty have big shoulders, however, they can do by themselves. Go Stamkos & Bolts.  OK I’m hoping for you, but I can see your going to have some growing pains.

Posted by  just an Olie fan, Boston on 07/04  at  01:39 PM

Matt Carle is the only real D man on a WEAK team. With Brad Lukowich gone dose that mean Olie will wear #37…

Posted by  Callie, plant city,fl on 07/04  at  01:37 PM

By the way Koules....all that money you wasted for the new banner for the front of the Forum...you do realize you’ll have to re-do those, right?

Posted by  Callie, plant city,fl on 07/04  at  01:35 PM

Ok...I was all excited about the season starting, but when I heard about the new owners getting rid of Boyle and Lukowich...I absolutely cried. And I never cry over things like that. But...the excitment for the new season is gone. I really thought the new owners where good for Tampa and I was beind them all the way, but now I think Koules will be standing alone. Thanks for nothing!

Posted by  John, Tampa on 07/04  at  01:32 PM

As aseason ticket holder, I sincerely wish Dan much success in the future and hope that he can make it back to the Stanley Cup Finals. I am also sincere in my deep disappointment with the OK guys. What ever goodwill they generated with their initial public statements have been negated with their lies to us last week that Boyler was going to be a big part of the Lightning. I cannot believe anything that comes out of their mouths anymore unless they publicly admit their mistake.

Posted by  Jordan G, Riverview, FL on 07/04  at  01:30 PM

Hockeybuzz says the unnamed prospect is Ty Wishart. Apparently he is a great prospect and an awesome defensemen. NHL ready in a year, maybe two.

Posted by  vickie, tampa on 07/04  at  01:23 PM

sorry bolts i am done. you are not gtting my money this season. The owners can go suck an egg for all i care. Go Pittsburgh!!!

Posted by  dronestate, Orlando, Fl on 07/04  at  12:50 PM

Hey Oren,

BAD MOVE YOU LOSER.

Sincerly,

Someone NOT going to any Lightning games this year.

PS.

SAW BLOWS

Posted by  Seth C, Georgia on 07/04  at  12:41 PM

Arguably the best puck moving defenseman in the league and our best defensive defenseman for Carle and a first round pick from an almost sure playoff team? Not to mention the locker room presence lost with Boyle and Lukowich. Absolutely HORRIBLE trade. Carle may develop into something special, but Danny already IS something special, and Lukowich is a solid commodity on the blue line that didn’t cost much. Suddenly, all the excitement for the season to start is gone, and I’ve got a really bad taste in my mouth about how this situation was handled.

Posted by  buck, Tampa on 07/04  at  12:38 PM

shale,
Last time I checked, that as been moved of the site. The townhall meeting scheduled for July 15th is for Season Ticket holders only. And thats coming from my ticket rep and the head of premium services. Now things may change, but right now its not open to all.

Posted by  Niki, Riverview, FL on 07/04  at  12:37 PM

My biggest issue is not with the decision to trade Dan Boyle, but the way in which it was done.  In corporate terms, he was told that he could either ‘resign’ from the team (giving him a ‘resume’ that would enable him to choose his future employer) or would be ‘fired’, meaning that he would have to go to any company good enough to offer him a job.  Where I come from (the UK), that would be known as ‘constructive dismissal’ and is illegal.  Good luck Dan and Luke - I hope the move works out well for you both.

Posted by  Geografer,  on 07/04  at  12:34 PM

Actually Kevin - what he said is that they loved him and they were not looking for any free agent d-men because they had one the best in the league. They also said they were planning on playing him 25 minutes a night and told his agent just Tuesday night that they were not going to trade him.

Let’s also hope that Matt has been throughly tested for the same genetic heart condition his brother has just been diagonosed with. God forbid he has it and doesn’t know it or that we find out about it after the trade.

Posted by  Jordan G, Riverview, FL on 07/04  at  12:30 PM

Im not sure how much money Bouwmeester would command, but if the Lightning want him, they would have to hurry and give him an offer sheet. Im surprised he hasnt gotten one already.

Posted by  shale, tampa on 07/04  at  12:24 PM

People don’t forget around here whom has helped win championships.  Whether it be the Bucs or the Bolts.  You just do not trade away key components of your championship seasons.  Especially if the guy (Boyle) stated the he could hardly hold the stick alot of the time he was playing. But, again like the Bucs.  New faces bring in new ideas on how they want to run the team.  Now, if the report that EE was stating is true is that they were in the running for Blake.  Then why not go and try to sign Boumeester???

Posted by  Jordan G, Riverview, FL on 07/04  at  12:23 PM

Dustin,
Its kinda funny that you mention Bouwmeester, because I believe he IS available. Rumour is that he wants out of a Panther jersey because Olli Jokinen is gone. He would be a great pick up…

Posted by  shale, tampa on 07/04  at  12:21 PM

guess a little bit of foreshadowing by EE in regards to not having Boyle on the new intro to the Lightning web-site.  If those whom are for or against what they have done with the Boyle trade.  Pass the word around, as I read there is a Town Hall style meeting on July 15.  That is all the details that is given on the website.  Town Hall style meeting to meet means that everyone is invited.  So, come out and be the Voices of Reason.  To me I think the OK group needs a little lesson in PR.  Wait til after the first week of FA to make any opinions about your current roster.  To me I believe that they put there feet in their own mouth by being over enthuisastic during the week of the presser.

Posted by  Rico Pallazzo!Rico Pallazzo!, worldwide on 07/04  at  12:17 PM

TampaFan-Boyle’s strength was simply not his blue line abilitites. Risky hyperbole here, but he was essentially the Ray Borque of this team, the player who quickly, efficiently and precisely moved the puck out of the zone to the waiting forwards. Becuase of him, Marty and others flourished by not having to drop back into the Bolt zone to get the puck. Forwards could maintain their advanced position beyond cnter ice. We just don’t have that tireless, perpetual point guard now. That will be sorely missed.

Posted by  Mike Creyton, New Tampa on 07/04  at  12:12 PM

Is it ok for a grown man to cry?  This is just devastating.  All the good will that was built up by the new ownership is shot in one week. Danny Boyle signed that contract last year, because he wanted to end his career here.  He loves Tampa and God knows we love him. I understand our farm system is bankrupt because Jay Feaster is an idiot. But, how about not giving away free draft picks for negotiating rights instead of dealing the best puck moving defensman in the NHL for one. Sad, Sad day in Hockey Bay USA! We will never forget you Danny. Thank you for everything.

Posted by  Dustin Keene, Tampa, FL on 07/04  at  12:07 PM

If we really could get Bouwmeester, all hard feelings will be erased quickly.

Posted by  buck, Tampa on 07/04  at  12:05 PM

Dustin, if you have been watchng hockey for a while, you should understand that this is a business and things change everyday. I hate to see Dan and Luke go, they are great players as well as a people but when these guys get in this business, they know that this is part of it. We will always be thankfull for what both did for the Lightning just as we are for the other players that have moved on. You should not take it out on the new owners, they are just trying to do whats best for the team. Thats there job not ours. Ours as fans is to stick behind them and the team in thick and thin.