Posted by  Mike Joyce, Bangkok, Thailand on 07/08  at  08:44 PM

We now have veteran leadership on offense, and in goal.  We don’t have veteran leadership on defense, unless you consider Kuba a leader.  Let’s put the same effort into the defense that we have in offense and goal, then look for more and better ways to improve.

Posted by  patrick dotson, tampa,fl on 07/08  at  08:39 PM

im not saying goaltending was our only problem...just saying it was a big problem that needs to be addressed still in my opinion…

Posted by  Jayson, Orlando, FL on 07/08  at  12:12 PM

Oh and that trade quote isnt a “LB/OK original”. That quote has been around and insert player name here for I dont know how long.

Posted by  Jayson, Orlando, FL on 07/08  at  12:11 PM

Geografer-

What is so bad about having a couple of proven veteran presences on the team? Last I checked it turned out pretty well when we had Taylor and Andreychuk now didnt it?

Posted by  berlin, sarasota on 07/08  at  11:09 AM

Whats next rename the team and move them.

Posted by  Geografer, Spokane, WA on 07/08  at  10:31 AM

Please to explain how the signing for 40 year old Rechi and 42 year old Roberts fits into the younger, faster team the owners keep saying they want? One of the excuses for the Boyle/Lukowich trade was just this. So a 40 and 42 year old get us here how?? Apparently they are also questioning the leadership abilities of Vinny in all this as well. I just don’t get it.
Oh and please remember the Barrie quote “If Wayne Gretzky can be traded Dan Boyle can be traded” and just insert Vinny Lecavalier and/or Marty St. Louis in there for Danny’s name.

Posted by  victoria, tampa on 07/08  at  10:05 AM

hey Dustin, I ‘ve been saying that all along.Ramo is better than Smith. HEllo owners DEFENSE!!

Posted by  Dustin Keene, Tampa, FL on 07/08  at  05:46 AM

So the new owners finally understand what I see. Our young defense is pretty damn good, so stock up on forwards. Goal tending is NOT the problem, it was the way our defense played, under Melrose I feel that our defense will be much more physical and will attack the puck instead of playing go fish for it on the entry into our defensive zone. My only disagreement is that I think Ramo is better than Smitty(Mike Smith) right now which I’m sure no one agrees with me but Ramo played some amazing shut down games last year. Be prepared to be surprised Bolt fans.

Posted by  Bolts Rule !!, Largo on 07/08  at  01:53 AM

????

Posted by  Jayson, Orlando, FL on 07/08  at  12:24 AM

Klesla- They just traded for 2 dmen and gave away arguably their best offensive talent. They could use some top 6 wingers as well and have the ability to unload a dman to get them.

Meszaros- Ottawa has next to nothing after that top line. Sound familiar? They also have a bunch of defensemen but could stand a swap (We include Kuba). Meszaros has said he wants 4M per year and Ottawa hasnt budged yet, however Meszaros hasnt filed for arbitration yet either. Interesting dynamic there. Something must be going on.

There are others as well.

Now if you add any of these Dmen above. Think of it as would you rather have one of the above+ Recchi OR would you rather just have Jokinen and/or Ouellet. Ill take the former all day everyday.

Posted by  Jayson, Orlando, FL on 07/08  at  12:23 AM

This signing isnt a bad one if you look at it from the right point of view.

Its pretty obvious now that one or both of Ouellet and Jokinen is being shopped around. Add that to Ward and Kuba (the two remaining expendable assets) and the Lightning can put together a decent package for a top 4 dman.

Here are some thoughts on some Dmen that I think the Lightning might be targeting with some combo of the above players:

Bieksa- Vancouver needs top 6 wingers like no ones business. They are stockpiled on D talent current and future. This would make a lot of sense for both teams and I cant say I wouldnt like it a lot.

Posted by  Mike Joyce, Bangkok, Thailand on 07/07  at  11:50 PM

Patrick,

Last year, the Bolts had one line - at least up until Halpern got there.  The defense sucked and we had the worst goal tending in the league.  Goal wasn’t the only problem.

So far, the new owners have had a major makeover of the offense,so that it looks like we could have four real lines.  With the acquisition of Smith (potential talent) and Kolzig (proven talent) they have addressed all by defense.

Getting rid of Boyle and Lukawich immediately strengthened the defense.  Now, they have to add a proven defenseman (not a forward disguised as a defenseman).

Posted by  patrick dotson, tampa,fl on 07/07  at  11:36 PM

HOW BOUT WE CONCENTRATE ON OUR REAL PROBLEM..."GOALTENDING"....

Posted by  Mike Joyce, Bangkok, Thailand on 07/07  at  11:35 PM

When you say that Smith has potential, I immediately think of Darrel Royal (head football coach at Texas), who said that potential means that he ain’t done nothing yet.

So far, Smith is an unproven quantity.  That’s why they signed Kolzig.  I think that is a good move.  If Smith can’t cut the mustard, we have proven talent to fall back on.

As far as shopping, when you bundle Kuba, Jokinen and Ouellet, that should attract a first rate defenseman.

Posted by  Jo Maccini, Tampa, FL on 07/07  at  11:25 PM

Do they know that we still need some D-Men????  And what’s going on with goalie, Mike Smith?  Are they going to extend his contract?  They should as he has serious potential but will need some D-Men in front of him.  Maybe they really are shopping Smith since we haven’t heard anything about him..............

Posted by  Mike Joyce, Bangkok, Thailand on 07/07  at  10:51 PM

When they said they wanted veteran leadership, I don’t think anyone was thinking that they were looking for WWI vets.

It sure would feel better if they paid a bit more attention to the defense.  Kuba, Ouellet and Jokinen should be able to give us one stand up guy for defense.

Posted by  Greg, Tampa on 07/07  at  10:49 PM

Time to make room for either Kubina or Brian McCabe

Posted by  Steve,  on 07/07  at  10:35 PM

Hard to believe we missed out on Doug Weight, he would’ve been perfet to center Roberts and Recchi. I still think we’ll get a defenseman. Maybe they are making up for the veteran leadership we’ve lacked for the past few years all in one year? Seriously, I think we’ll be fine going into the season, I like the fact that the new owners care, and it’s premature to judge our roster until the season starts.

Posted by  Matt, tampa on 07/07  at  10:30 PM

Either Halpern’s injury will keep him out longer than 1st thought or Jokiken and Oulett are going bye bye. And I think we all need to be a bit more patient on the defense front. Packaging those two wings(and a draft pick) could easily bring back a top 4 d-man or at the least a veteran stay-at-home type and draft picks.

Posted by  Ruthe R., St Pete on 07/07  at  10:27 PM

OK, I have figured it out. They are going to trade 8 of our Lightning forwards for Chris Pronger or Dion Phaneuf!

Posted by  ambrosia95, Vero Beach on 07/07  at  10:24 PM

Can someone in the new ownership say DEFENSE???

Posted by  Cookie, Valrico, FL on 07/07  at  10:21 PM

Steve, thanks for the correction. That gives ownership another half million for more aging forwards!!! This team is going to give a whole new meaning to “Senior Leadership.”

Posted by  Goalman, Sarasota on 07/07  at  10:02 PM

Posted by Goalman, Sarasota on 07/07 at 08:39 PM

I don’t get the Recchi move either unless there is another deal in the works that is going to take a couple of our forwards. Recchi WAS a great player,but is now 40. Please tell me we picked up a solid d-man and dumped Kuba. We could also say goodbye to Gratton. Throw in Ouellet!

Posted by  Justin, Tampa on 07/07  at  09:53 PM

Loading up on veterans worked for detroit, don’t they get the president’s trophy every season?

Posted by  Steve,  on 07/07  at  09:44 PM

By the way Recchi’s deal is worth only 1.5 million max, if he hits his bonuses.