Posted by  Mike Moulton, Gainesville on 02/27  at  12:13 PM

I agree with S.Lew.  Tortorella’s system tends to be tough on goalies.  As long as the defensemen are small, get caught up ice and rarely hit anyone except after they have coughed up the puck, any goalie will not look good.

Posted by  Randall Buschmann, Panama City, Florida on 02/27  at  12:22 AM

I’m going to miss Brad Richards so much. This moves a ton of salary of the books for the Lightning and I imagine this summer they’ll be after a new number two centerman to replace Richards, because they can’t do that within the organization at this time.

I’m going to reserve final judgement on this for a little while, let it sink in. I wish Richards could have brought in more but with the new ownership wanting to get rid of his contract, that wasn’t possible.

Posted by  Greg M, Tampa, FL on 02/26  at  07:09 PM

Hey Eric, so what do you think of the current state of the Lightning - the future appears bright in net with Smith and Ramo and the future looks bright on defense with Boyle, Ranger, O’Brien, and Lundin - Luckowich and Janiak don’t appear to fit in with the Lightning’s long term plans - any chance Smaby, Picard and/or Mihalik get called up this season and do you think Kuba will get moved in the offseason. Also, how do you see the new forward lines shaking out after Vinny and Marty the talent gets pretty thin.

Posted by  vince, tampa on 02/26  at  06:28 PM

bye bye havlac,dont let the door or your lost scoring chances hit you on the way out…

Posted by  Joe Corr, Winter Springs, FL on 02/26  at  05:49 PM

This is starting to look like a salary dump.  Plus 4 mil on Richards, plus 1.3 on Prospal, and plus 700K on Hlavac.  You can talk about a splash in the free agent market this summer, but who will be left? And who will want to come here?

Posted by  Billy Charlebois, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan on 02/26  at  05:39 PM

"As long as I am the General Manager, John Tortorella will be the coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning”
Jay Feaster

I’ll bet he’d like to retract that statement right about now. Doesn’t really matter..they’re both gonna be gone soon enough.  And if they don’t, watch #4 end up in Montreal or NY. Remember, they were the one’s who took the “C” off of #4’s sweater. 

They’re not a class Organization anymore...as evidenced by Andrychuk’s dismissal....Ramsey’s being let go...player’s getting thrown under the bus to cover up the Coach’s incompetence and outdated coaching style...the list goes on.

I’ve been a fan since the Thunderdome days....I’m done..I won’t buy another ticket.

Posted by  Greg M, Tampa, FL on 02/26  at  05:12 PM

I don’t have a problem with the lightning trading Richards and I’m even a homer from PEI - but I am disappointed with the haul Feaster got for him, Smith might become a solid goalie but I don’t know that he’s a better prospect than Ramo and for Jokinen and Halpern they are just spare parts low end 2nd liners or 3rd liners - seems like Feaster could have acquired a 1st round in addition to the other parts he probably never bothered to ask or at least make Dallas take Denis instead of Homer.  Oh, and after seeing what Atlanta got for Hossa I’m surprise the Bolts weren’t able to get more for Prospal.  Did Feaster even try to move Gratton or Kuba - those were the 2 guys I wanted to see traded.

Posted by  TroyB,  on 02/26  at  04:54 PM

Brad Richards has been removed from Lightning Web Site home page in the “big 3” banner and Boyle is up…

They move fast....

Best of luck Richy and thanks!

Posted by  S. Lew, Tampa on 02/26  at  03:54 PM

Maybe at some point Torts will realize that allowing the D to pinch up too far doesn’t work!  Poor Mike Smith, it says he’s hot right now.  Let’s see after a game or two of constant 2 on 1s how hot he is.

Posted by  Kane Miller, New Smyrna Beach, FL on 02/26  at  03:45 PM

Good trade for Brad and the Lightning.  Brad is a good player, but has been hampered by inconsistent linemates, and the pressure of making huge contract money.  Best of luck to him in Dallas, I’m sure he’ll do well in their system, and I’ll be rooting for him.

Glad to see Smith coming in to Tampa; his past numbers look very good.

Hate to see Prospal go, but at least we got a defenseman for him - something we dearly need.

Now, can we please fire Feaster, before the rest of Dudley’s team is gone too, and we’re stuck with Jay’s handiwork?

Posted by  Andy D, Tampa on 02/26  at  03:26 PM

How is it that we end up with Mike Smith when Cristobal Huet is availabe for a second round pick???  This seems to have the potential of another colossal blunder.  We’ll see…

Posted by  Boltman,  on 02/26  at  02:55 PM

Mike Smith will be a #1 goalie, Jussi Jokinen is a good winger and Jeff Halpern is a good 3rd line center. Great trade to the Bolts. Many Dallas Stars players would have rather traded Marty Turco than Mike Smith. All Mike Smith needs is an opportunity and he will make the most of it. On the surface it is sad to loose Brad Richards but this is not a bad trade and will work out for the Lightning in the long run.  Holmqvist just either didn’t want to stay past his one year deal or just couldn’t hack it as a #1 goalie. He won’t be the #1 in Dallas.

Posted by  Luch Simmonds, Tampa on 02/26  at  02:20 PM

Check out the Dallas Stars website ... If looks it’s done!!!

Posted by  Gary Meleski, Sebring, Florida on 02/26  at  01:32 PM

Taking a while to digest that. Just looking at the stats of all those players, on the surface it seems like a pretty good deal. Let’s see.

Posted by  Jason Harlow, Springfield, MO on 02/26  at  01:15 PM

Eric…

Any word why Tampa didn’t send Richards to Montreal in exchange for Huet? He seems to be more of a #1 goalie than Mike Smith in my opinion.

Posted by  NorthBeach Scott, Brookhaven (Atlanta) GA on 02/26  at  12:54 PM

Per the THN, Richards to Dallas Stars for G-Mike Smith, C-Jussi Jokinen, and TBD.
Go Bolts for next season

Posted by  Mike Connell, Jacksonville on 02/26  at  12:54 PM

TSN is reporting Brad and Homer are going to Dallas for Smith, Halpern, and Jokinen…

Posted by  Patty, Tampa on 02/26  at  12:39 PM

I agree with you Eddie. Right now we are not negotiating from a position of strength.  Every other team out there thinks we are desparate, and as such are giving us low-ball offers.  Get Richie some NHL-caliber wingers and he’ll be right back to his old level of play.  Oren: you should keep Richie, make more of those disgusting “Saw” movies and spend to the cap.

Posted by  Marsha, Gainesville on 02/26  at  12:20 PM

Erik, did you hear anything about this French Canadian report, which is posted on BoltsBlog?

http://www.boltsblog.net/

Supposedly Richards’ agent has given an interview with “ckac” and will make an announcement at 1pm. Sound legit to you?

Posted by  Jay, Jax on 02/26  at  11:57 AM

I agree with Eddie White. Rather not have the Bolts yet again give another goalie a “try” about being #1. If you’re going to trade a guy like Brad freaking Richards for a goalie, make it for a PROVEN #1. And Halpern is a 3rd line center at best making 2 million a season.
Just don’t waste it to make a trade. If need be wait until Draft day.

Posted by  Eddie White, Edgewater, FL on 02/26  at  11:36 AM

Due to the reality of financial contraints, somebody probably has to be dealt. But, the time to deal is NOT now, but in the summer when there will be more teams willing to give up something of value in return,such as some forwards willing to go to the net,or defensemen who don’t appear to be afraid of contracting some communicable disease from incoming forwards.Do we need another backup goaltender(e.g. Marc Denis)who appeared decent when toiling under a more defensive system and not subjected to a myriad of 2 on 1s and uncontested shots from the slot? Yes,you have to trade,but do so from a position of strength, and don’t just give away a premier player,even if he has had a subpar year and become the fan’s scapegoat.

Posted by  Tracey, Florida on 02/26  at  11:30 AM

I love how quick everyone is to bad mouth Richie and jump on the bandwagon to get him traded.  Yes, he is underperforming this year but that is usually what happens when your two linemates are AHL caliber!  In his 7 seasons with the Lightning he has produced more points then Vinny in 4 of those seasons.  Only after Richie won the Conn Smythe did Vinny live up to his potential and his 108 point season.  Vinny was supposed to be the second coming of Wayne Gretzky but no one has thrown him under the bus for not performing!  We need to trade Fat Feaster to Columbus for Freddie Modin back and watch the second line come back to life!

Posted by  Mike Joyce, Bangkok, Thailand on 02/26  at  11:16 AM

The biggest need that the Bolts have had for the past three seasons is to get a goalie who is reliable.  To get a really good goalie, they will have to pay some big bucks (remember what it took to get Nik?).  If they are going to pay for a goalie, then they can’t keep all of the Fab 4 AND a goalie.  If they did that, there would be no secondary scoring at all.  Since they made the decision to keep Boyle, someone else has to go, and it won’t be Vinny.  Either Brad or Marty will have to go.  Take your choice.

Posted by  JOE WHITNEY, TAMPA on 02/26  at  10:46 AM

Eric, What are the chances they DON’T trade Richards? I mean, who can they get that is better? I’m not saying there are not better players, I’m saying what team is willing to give up one of those better players? I fail to see how trading away your best players makes you a better team.

Joe
Tampa

Posted by  Mike Moulton, Gainesville on 02/26  at  10:45 AM

EE I agree Brad is not a “horse spit” player, he is juts not worth the money the bolts were paying him. To be fair the deal was made before the salary cap kicked in I thought. I also unfortunatley do not agree that Boyle is the second coming that Fester and Tortorella think he is.