Por (Justin) on July 01, 2008 (Suggest removal)

ok, enough with the offense. Kolzig and Smith need help too.

Por (Brittany) on July 01, 2008 (Suggest removal)

Erik, any news on the Arty deal? I know that was supposed to be done today (of course with everything else going on, and the time difference between here and Russia, who knows?) I just wanted to see if everything was still pointing to that deal getting done.

Por (Geografer) on July 01, 2008 (Suggest removal)

Apparently the goal this year is just to put up 10 goals a game, beat (literally) the other team to bits and win by one goal since the d is non-existant at this point. All I can think is that we are going to be seeing a lot of the current 3rd and 4th line guys as trade bait for either d or picks.

Por (berlin) on July 01, 2008 (Suggest removal)

Amen Justin we need D. After all we did have some offense last year, too much change can be a bad thing.

Por (Justin) on July 01, 2008 (Suggest removal)

I know we’ll hold on to Boyle, and I expect Ranger’s play to excel this season since he will be playing healthy.

Por (Greg) on July 01, 2008 (Suggest removal)

Oh, and everyone that says we need to add to the defense doesn’t follow the team to well - between Boyle, Ranger, Kuba, Lundin, Smaby, Picard, O’Brien, and Mihalik we are pretty set on defense the problem last year was a combination of Tort’s system and none of the forwards helping out on D.  But what do I know I’m Canadian - what do we know about hockey?

Por (LightningRod) on July 01, 2008 (Suggest removal)

I never thought I would say this; but enough with the offense guys. Now 1 D-man.
The fans will not recognize this team come October.

Por (Jordan Gault) on July 01, 2008 (Suggest removal)

I agree with Greg. But, I also think that Tampa could use another defenceman, a more defensive defenceman, if you understand my meaning. I also think that the new owners are trying heavily to almost completely replace last years team. I wonder how many players from last years team will actually be on the roster this year. (not including the main guys, Vinny, Marty etc…they will always be on the team…)

Por (Mat G) on July 01, 2008 (Suggest removal)

Agreed. Torts system sucked and hung the goalies out to dry. How many odd man rushes did we have against us last year? Must’ve been a record.

Por (Justin) on July 01, 2008 (Suggest removal)

Greg, me too! Happy Canada Day!

Por (berlin) on July 01, 2008 (Suggest removal)

Set on defense you sure your watching? How many times did we see the puck stuck in our own end due to either poor clearing attempts or turning the puck back into our own end. These are basics.And what about all of the odd man rushes.

Por (dale) on July 01, 2008 (Suggest removal)

A strong goalie, some hard working forwards backchecking and the group of lads we have can do the job.  I wish Kuba was a little meaner, Lundin a little bigger (I really like that kid) O’brien just needs to reeled in a little bit, Picard looks like a keeper, Ranger can skate and play d, he just neeeds to stop making them awfull passes, and Boyler…...sorry brad, you gotta go.

Por (Geografer) on July 01, 2008 (Suggest removal)

You know how the joke a couple of seasons ago was that wherever Stillman was was who would win the cup? Well I guess we better watch out because Stiller apparently still favors the Southeast Division having just signed with Florida. Guess we get to see him a bunch again this year!
Oh, and Chicago just signed Huet - gotta wonder what that means for Habby!! You don’t pay Habby $6.75 million to back up. You trade him or buy him out.

Por (Geografer) on July 01, 2008 (Suggest removal)

You especially don’t pay that for a backup when you are paying Huet $5.625 million a year on average for the next four years.

Por (berlin) on July 01, 2008 (Suggest removal)

Don’t get me wrong Greg I do like Boyle, Ranger and Picard.Also Lundin has potential but I just think thats about it.We need more.

Por (Justin) on July 01, 2008 (Suggest removal)

There is alot of factors that hurt our defense last season, there is no denying that. Boyle out for almost half the season and probably didn’t return at 100% not too mention that chance meeting with Olli Jokinen’s skate, Boyle will be better this season. Ranger, I couldn’t stand him at times, other times loved him, but come the close of the season we find out he had the same shoulder injury Vinny got (or they were just making an excuse.), so expect his game to improve too. Let’s face it, Injuries and a played out system got the best of us, so many games were lost by just a goal. We weren’t a horrible team just unlucky.

Por (Mat G) on July 01, 2008 (Suggest removal)

Rather have Cullimore back than Kuba. Someone that hits rather than a spectator.

Por (Mat G) on July 01, 2008 (Suggest removal)

Gratton? Like to keep him but he didn’t seem to be the same player this time around…

Por (b) on July 01, 2008 (Suggest removal)

boooo!

Por (Greg) on July 01, 2008 (Suggest removal)

All I’m saying is that the obviously improved offense will allow Kuba, O’Brien, Ranger all to play more of a stay at home defenseman role - the d-fense was asked to take a lot of chances last year and thus got burned - but with more fire power up front everyone dman except Boyle will just park it in the defensive zone.

Happy Canada Day to you to Justin what part of the Great White North are you from?

Por (Geografer) on July 01, 2008 (Suggest removal)

I’m with Mat - Cully would be an improvement over Kuba. Sign him trade Kuba.

Por (berlin) on July 01, 2008 (Suggest removal)

Hope we hang onto Tarnasty and Oulette or I’ll be pissed!

Por (Justin) on July 01, 2008 (Suggest removal)

Sarnia, Ontario. Used to live by Dino. I’ve been a fan of the Lightning since they were announced so you can only imagine how excited I was when we got Stamkos.

Por (Mitchell Margo) on July 01, 2008 (Suggest removal)

i really like this signing, for 600,000 dollars, i think this is a depth steal. Many people really like this guy and with good playing time he could score some, but i expect him to be a roster fill in if some people get injured.
and Kolzig is a 1 year, 1.5 million deal with bonuses.
Please pick up Orpik or Cullimore.

Por (Greg) on July 01, 2008 (Suggest removal)

ah, I’m a good ole boy from PEI - actually played against Richards as a kid - things obviously worked out a little bit better for him - oh, and my brother tried unsuccessfully to put the moves on his smoking hot little sister - anyway tampa wasn’t big enough for two islanders so B-rad had to go.