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Forum: Talk Lightning
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The trade of defenseman Dan Boyle to the San Jose Sharks, along with Brad Lukowich, is still pending upon league approval. Just got word back from Dan, who has to wait until things are finalized before he can speak. I have the feeling he’s going to have a lot to say about what has gone down, judging from his tone when talking to him on Thursday morning. Can’t imagine he’s happy, but we’ll have to wait until things get finalized.
In the meantime, looking at things from a hockey standpoint, what do you think of the deal? I do like Matt Carle, been a fan of his since he broke in at the end of the 2005-06 season with the Sharks. He has a lot of upside, especially from an offensive standpoint, even though he struggled through last season, mainly due to injury. And if Ty Wishart is indeed part of the package, he’s a pretty touted former No. 16 overall pick in 2006. At 6-foot-4, he’s got some good size and put up some good numbers with Prince George (where Vladimir Mihalik and Dana Tyrell played) before ending last season with Moose Jaw in junior and finishing out the year with Worcester in the American League.
And if they are getting a first and a fourth round pick, that gives the Lightning a pair of first round picks for next year to go with two second round picks (I believe the fourth round pick will transfer to Minnesota as part of the deal to acquire Brian Rolston’s rights, but I’ll have to confirm).
In the short term, this trade will set Tampa Bay back a bit as they now lack a veteran presence on the blue line, outside of Filip Kuba, although I think they will still try to address that before too long (as I mentioned before, they were in the running for Rob Blake before the price got too high). But in the long term, with a pair of first rounders and now adding another young defenseman, things down the road are starting to look a bit better in terms of a pipeline of players to either plug in a few years down the road or to use as assets for trade routes or such.
It also hurts to lose a quality player and person in Dan Boyle. As I stated last night, I don’t think this was handled the right way. Boyle is a terriffic player, a great play maker and a great presence in the locker room. Say what you will about his play last year, but I think he deserves a break for the injury he went through and by the time he came back, the season was all but lost anyway. Boyle is an elite player in this league, and you can judge that by the package the Sharks are sending to add him to their roster and the reported number of teams that were interested in him.
So, just from a pure hockey standpoint - personal feelings aside - how to you view the trade?
Posted by Byron, Los Angeles on 07/04 at 06:38 PM
Agreed, Dustin. Just like the Lynch thing. OK just flushed all the good will they bought last week right down the toilet. Clowns with no class. Good luck, Danny. It’s probably better for you anyway. We’re still stuck the OK and the Mullet.
B
Posted by Jordan G, Riverview, FL on 07/04 at 02:48 PM
I agree with Dan.
And, all this complaining about how its a bad trade is a little confusing to me, because, whenever I go to Lightning games, I always sit near a bunch of people who openly disliked the play of Boyle and Richards. Now, since both are gone, people seem to have reverted to the opposite, at least in Boyle’s case. Of course, Boyle was a big part of the team, but the team will be better off without him and his many turnovers. I wish him all the best, but he needs to get better defensively.
Posted by Angryminority, Brandon on 07/04 at 02:45 PM
With Melrose being such a personable, “Player’s Coach”, I would like to know what he thinks about how this trade was handled. I personaly think this is a bad trade. It is almost impossible to replace what Boyle brought to this team. Coming out of the zone he was “Tom Brady” and Lecavalier & St. Louis were “Randy Moss” (though I do hate the Patriots, I think the metaphor works.)All boyle needed was a speedy d-minded D-man as a line mate (a matured Ranger, perhaps?). Well at least he will be in a different conference.
Posted by Dan, Miami on 07/04 at 02:31 PM
Does anyone realize what this means...Two 1st and 2nd round picks which is great when there are good RFA d-men out there.I like Boyle hes an amazing player just like I liked Brad Richards. Trading Richards got the Lightning Malone, Roberts, Smith,Jokinen, and Halpern. They freed up enough cap room in that trade to sign all these guys. Now with all these picks they can sign like Jay Boumeester. And Carle and Boumeester would be an upgrade over just Boyle.
Posted by Michelle, Brooksville on 07/04 at 02:16 PM
Dustin - Soo agree with you!!!! They should rename the clause something like - Trade approval or waiving. It is certainly not a job security clause.
Oh yea - way to enjoy a holiday…
Posted by Dustin Keene, Tampa, FL on 07/04 at 02:12 PM
Going further into this and thinking more about it, what in the hell is the point of a No Trade Clause? It seems like oh well time for you to go, waive or we cut you. They seem absolutely useless. I understand it lets the player have a say of where he’s going but these dumb owners would have cut him if he said no to not signing off on his NTC.
Posted by Michelle, Brooksville on 07/04 at 02:09 PM
Terrible. New owners screwed this up. So much for what they did this past week.
Posted by Jax, Largo on 07/04 at 02:02 PM
So many times in the paper recently the owners have called Dan the best puck moving dman in the league.So how can they say that and turn around and trade him.Who do we have to now?Paul Ranger?I like Paul but will be ready for season start?He had the same surgery Vinny did a week after Vinny.So if Vinny may not be ready for the start of the season doesnt that make Paul questionable too.The team has a bunch of young dmen who need a vetern leader and with Dan and Brad gone that leaves Kuba.All I can say is I dont like him.If you think the defense was bad before its about to get worse.I know one things for sure Ill be flying to San Jose at some point. The biggest shame in all this is Dan wants to be here.Too bad the new owners dont want him.
Posted by Tampa Wineguy, Tampa on 07/04 at 01:54 PM
Not happy right now. Not seeing where the team got better, I think it is a setback. Having said that, all we have to base our thoughts on is the picture of a pressing defense last year that was not seasoned enough to play that style. We don’t know the defensive scheme that BM has in store. I do think the team will be better next year, and I’ll still be at every home game (except #1).
Posted by Ruthe Robertson, St Pete on 07/04 at 01:40 PM
It isn’t so much the trade (although I don’t agree with it) it’s the way it was handled. Boyle was given an ultimatum, waive the NTC or else! Well, Dan, you see what loyalty does for a player. And this took place because they overpaid for Malone and obtained Gary Roberts. (Do we really need Gary Roberts?) Well, at least now, we all know the owners (and new coach) say one thing in front of the microphones and do the opposite behind closed doors. But, hey, it’s Hollywood, what do we expect. Expect them to move the team in a couple years.
Posted by Steve, on 07/04 at 01:36 PM
Boyle will certainly be missed, I don’t think losing Lukowich will hurt much. To get a 1st and 4th round pick, Carle, and hopefully Wishart (who may be NHL ready this year) the trade sets us up better for the future both salary and prospect wise (both are much needed). Of course some of this will depend on how our scouting staff uses those picks, which makes me cringe, but I am happy we got Carle and Wishart (if we indeed did get him).
Posted by marosh, bratislava on 07/04 at 01:25 PM
if that trade help win games its ok if not, then I wiil always say how stupid was signing roberts,…
it looks like no space for tarno, darche a MCD,joki and oullet wtf you bastards from LA!
skurvenci pojebani!!!
Posted by Joe Corr, Winter Springs, FL on 07/04 at 01:25 PM
San Jose wins. The team who gets the best player wins the deal, and they got Boyle cheap. The Bolts would have gotten more at the trade deadline. Is Levavalier next?
Posted by hockeyWA, on 07/04 at 01:23 PM
All the excitement about this team is now GONE. Last season, I had half season tickets but ended up going to all but five home games. I think, this year, i will use that money to purchase a large screen tv and watch from home. What a joke.
Posted by dale, fl on 07/04 at 01:18 PM
Boyle has a heart, apparently OK Hockey replaced thier’s with a check book.
Here’s one of the best d-men in the NHL wearing his heart on his sleve, he loves the town, team, and I’m sure his team mates, rather then embracing him lets dump him. Happy employee’s are productive, those that show up for a paycheck (hired hands) well not so....
Good Luck Danny
Posted by John, Tampa on 07/04 at 01:10 PM
From a hockey perspective, this deal is based entirely on the future draft picks or how they are used. As it is, the deal is very sone-sided for San Jose. Two savvy,Stanley Cup D-men for a very good but still inexperienced kid in Carle and prospect. We cannot fully evalute this (as with most deals) until all of the blanks are filled in and a couple of years has passed. BUT I still have no faith in anything the OK guys say until they fully explain their duplicitous public statements of last week. An apology would be greatly appreciated to the fans.
Posted by Seth C, Georgia on 07/04 at 12:58 PM
I’m not sure you can look at this from a “pure hockey standpoint.” There’s more considerations to be made, not the least of which being the human side of assuring Boyle he was a valuable part of the franchise, then going back on that word in a matter of months.
On the ice, there’s really not any replacing him. Sure, you can plug in another puck-mover, but Boyle’s ability to see the ice and effortlessly navigate through a sea of defenders isn’t something you find every day.
Easy to lose in this is also the big loss of Lukowich, who was the most responsible player in the defensive zone for this team last year.
And both were the DJs, such as it were, for the team. Who’s going to keep the room rocking now?
Posted by Dustin Keene, Tampa, FL on 07/04 at 12:50 PM
I can’t comment on this anymore, this trade is taking me back to the same year the Bucs got rid of John Lynch. I don’t even want to think about this any more.
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Posted by Liz Morse, Clearwater on 07/04 at 09:49 PM
Personally I think Ok hockey is trying to remove all of the favorites of the last regime. Torts and Feaster loved Brad Richards and Dan Boyle. Oren had no intention of keeping Ritchie or Dan. This is awful. I feel bad for Danny. He always gave it his all and battled back from injury only to be dumped later???