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Monthly Archives
I can’t put into words what the past seven days have been for me. Actually, it’s been the past two-plus weeks, truth be told. I was quietly enjoying some time away with the wife’s family in Northwestern Ohio, monitoring things from afar. I watched the NHL Awards show, writing about Vinny Lecavalier’s King Clancy Trophy for his Humanitarian work. I finished off a nice Steven Stamkos feature (at least, I think it was a nice story, but I’m biased). Then I started to gear up for the NHL Entry draft in Ottawa. It was going to busy, for sure, with the ownership situation being approved (something I had to write on the way to Cleveland, including the reacquisition of Vinny Prospal) in order to catch a pre-dawn flight to Ottawa on Thursday morning. Little did I know, that was the calm before the storm.
Draft weekend was busy, with Stamkos going first overall. Day two of the draft was uneventful until the selection of David Carle with Tampa Bay’s last pick in the draft. The next morning, I got on a plane in Ottawa to return to Cleveland, where I was picked up at the airport and immediately started heading south toward Tampa. I conducted my first interview with new owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie by phone from the parking lot of a Fairfeld Inn in Wytheville, Virginia. The next day was a 13-hour-day in the car to get home by 10:45 p.m. on Monday, which means I missed the press conference where Koules and Barrie were introduced to the area.
On Tuesday, Barry Melrose was introduced as the new head coach. On Wednesday, word leaked of a pending $77 million contract extension about to be signed by Vinny Lecavalier. On Thursday, I tagged along for a brief while for Steven Stamkos’ first trip to Tampa. The next day, I caught up with Stamkos again and wrote a story, reading for a relaxing weekend before free agency began.
Midway through a day at Busch Gardens, I got word the team was about to announce a deal. Once I found out it was to acquire Ryan Malone and Gary Roberts, well, needless to say my day ended sooner than expected. On Sunday it was all about chasing down the negotiation process, especially after word of a seven-year, $31 million deal with Malone was reached. Later that Sunday night, it was Brian Rolston’s rights that were acquired. So the Monday before free agency began, it was all about tracking down how talks with Rolston were going while getting official word on the signings of Roberts and Malone.
Tuesday, otherwise known as hell day, was spent first tracking all the team’s signings (or non-signings in Rolston’s case) for the website, then trying to put it all together. Wednesday, as my wife and kids headed for an early movie, I was busy trying to figure out the team’s next move while getting word that Ryan Craig and Janne Niskala were signed to new contracts.
On Thursday, it was the Dan Boye stuff breaking and today was today.
And here’s the thing, it’s not over.
There is at least one more signing to do on defense (Jason Smith anybody?) and the grapevine is suggesting another forward will be dealt (Jokinen? Ouellet?) that will bring in another second round pick in next year’s draft.
And though I’ve been told the weekend will be quiet, I’ll believe it when I hear the silence!
In the meantime, to help me get through the next couple of weeks before I totally disappear to a remote place where no cell phone tower exists, can somebody please send me a keg of Keith’s? A pint of Rickards White? A bottle of Sam’s Summer Ale? Heck, I’d settle for a can of Cherry Coke Zero at this point 
Posted by WilliamL, Tampa on 07/07 at 03:14 PM
Lisa Marie. So what was the last place group of chracters we had last year then? Our Stanley Cup team had no history either, so. And who says they have no heart? The players they acquired are quality and we have MUCH more talent overall than a week ago. Chemistry will come with practice. Did last year’s team have chemistry? If so, it’s overrated.
Posted by Don in St. Pete, St. Petersburg on 07/07 at 02:34 PM
Classy=Last Place
Talent=Playoffs
Posted by Lisa Marie, Anna Maria Island, FL on 07/07 at 12:56 AM
Mr. Tracey? “This is a good team we have here...”? What are you smokin’, man? What team? We have some guys who skate, I’ll give you that, but a TEAM? No. No chemistry, no history and no heart. How can any of them seriously play free of anxiety when your owners, coaches and management are all in a big cicle-jerk deciding when to drop the bomb about moving the team or bullying players into leaving?
Posted by Mr. Blister-Wrister, on 07/06 at 01:55 AM
It is mgmt’s job to manipulate the players now. Even though they did a good job, it still doesn’t seem like the traditional classy way the Lightning organization usually handles itself and its people.
Hard to bargain in good faith with a guy who if asked about Boyle’s availability can dismiss it like it’s not even a serious question one day, then turn around, shop & ship him the next.
Posted by Mike Joyce, Bangkok, Thailand on 07/05 at 10:53 PM
It’s amazing that I voiced almost exactly the same thing you did on another of the blogs. When I hit the submit button, I looked up and saw that there was another response, which was yours.
Good thinking
Posted by BW Galle, Tampa on 07/05 at 10:52 PM
I love the new ownership’s handling of Boyle. THe signed him before th Bolts had to dump him at trade deadline and before he could go free agency on them.
They threw way to much cash at him and to long a contract, but then they got rid of all this and got potential good defensemen in return.
We will see how good Boyle is in SJ. He did not do anything for Panthers and SJ does not need a goal happy defensemen with the offfense they have.
The new ownership was brillant in manipulating Boyle!
Posted by BW Galle, Tampa on 07/05 at 10:50 PM
I love the new ownership’s handling of Boyle. THe signed him before th Bolts had to dump him at trade deadline and before he could go free agency on them.
They threw way to much cash at him and to long a contract, but then they got rid of all this and got potential good defensemen in return.
We will see how good Boyle is in SJ. He did not do anything for Panthers and SJ does not need a goal happy defensemen with the offfense they have.
The new ownership was brillant in manipulating Boyle!
Posted by Prof, Tampa on 07/05 at 09:10 PM
Yo, nice Keith’s reference. Did you drink alot of that in Halifax this past May? I sure as hell did… Keep up the good work, kid!!!
Posted by Mike Joyce, Bangkok, Thailand on 07/05 at 06:02 PM
Bill,
No one’s bad mouthing the players. It’s the ownership that everyone is upset about, and owners don’t participate in training camp or the season, for the most part. Who are you referring to about giving them a chance?
Posted by Bill Tracey, Sanford,Florida on 07/05 at 05:35 PM
Let’s give these guys a chance,god sakes its not December yet,its not even training camp and some people are griping...I kinda think how they handled the Dan Boyle situation,wasnt the greatest. People this is a great team we have...sure another great cornerstone from the 2004 Cup team is gone,but the past is gone,we just have to move forward..
Posted by scott huff, Atlanta, GA on 07/05 at 04:57 PM
Mishkin is unlistenable and unprofessional. He is bush league and a douchebag. Send him along with the next trade
Posted by Bolts Rule !!, Largo on 07/05 at 04:55 PM
So now we officially have the carle brothers as lightning players, I mean we drafted the younger in this draft, after he was diagnosed with a heart condition that pretty much eliminates him from playing, (less than 1% chance he will play) and OK has connections to the older brother in San Jose. Interesting, I wonder if OK has some knowledge about the younger brother that others dont know about especially since he is friends with both of them.
Posted by Lisa Marie Phillips, Anna Maria Island, FL on 07/05 at 03:50 PM
Dave Mishkin is a huge asset to the Lightning, and an incredible “color” guy. It would be just like ownership, at this point, to replace him. Anyone who doesn’t appreciate Mishy is a dope.
Posted by EJ, Tampa on 07/05 at 12:12 PM
Just curious, but maybe OK can throw in Dave Miskin in on one of these trades and we can get a professional radio PBP guy who can be passionate about our bolts without having kittens on air everytime the bolts score a goal. Save the yelling—screaming—for important goals!
Posted by Bill Smith, Central FL on 07/05 at 11:53 AM
Next thing we hear is Cory Cross is coming back to add “experience” on the blue line. I wonder if Rudy has been called yet?
Posted by Steve, Florida on 07/05 at 11:21 AM
A solid stay at home d-man and veteran leader like Jason Smith could be exactly what this team needs. Losing Boyle isn’t as big a hit as people are making it out to be. The team needed his puck moving ability and offense because they lacked the skill up front other than St. Louis and Lecavalier. Now, going into next season the team is very much front loaded and will be a different team. Boyle was at times a defensive liability. The Bolts need d-men who are d-men. They need to helpout their goaltenders on the back end, the offense will be more capable this year of handling the scoring themselves.
Posted by Byron, on 07/05 at 11:05 AM
Oh, and as for this “I want to be disrespected for $6mil some time.” Maybe if you losers dropped the remote and made a life long effort to be world-class at something other than envy you’d get paid too. When that happens I promise to be overjoyed for you too. We should all celebrate excellence and success wherever it’s found. And the proper treatment of people should not be proportional to their paycheck but neither should it be inversely proportional.
What a wasted opportunity to build additional goodwill through a difficult situation. Bad move OK.
B
Posted by Byron, Los Angeles on 07/05 at 11:04 AM
I just don’t get some of you guys. Boyle gave us everything he had, was a class act and great role model and you’re saying the appropriate reaction is “Oh well, it’s just business. We’re better now anyway.” The thing is both with this situation and john Lynch, it’s totally unnecessary. It take some extra effort and a only a little extra time to show people respect when you’re conducting business. How in the heck did Boyle’s work ethic ever even enter this conversation? What’s that about. In the end, the goodwill OK built last week has been diminished and the other players know will watch their backs in their next negotiations. These situations do have consequences down the road.
Posted by Joe Corr, Winter Springs, FL on 07/05 at 10:09 AM
Jason Smith is too slow. A warrier, but too slow. Last year he was exposed time and again playing for the Flyers. He needs to go back out West to a more defensive system.
Posted by Justin, Safety Harbor on 07/05 at 09:32 AM
Thanks for putting in the hours Erik, we don’t get to hear this sort of inside info watching television or even reading the newspaper (sorry, I know that’s your job and everything). I won’t judge yet what OK Hockey has done until mid-season.
Posted by Mike M, Gainesville on 07/05 at 07:55 AM
I liked Dan Boyle, too but I don’t think he was worth anywhere near what they gave him. He was offensive minded, to be sure, but face it, he was no Bobby Orr. And defensively? Well what can I say?
I am glad Luckowich is also gone, and now hopefully they will unload Kuba, too. That would leave some holes for some real defense men. Wishart could be great down the road.
Posted by Jeff, Palm Bay on 07/05 at 03:07 AM
Good taste on the beers....Mathieu Schneider anyone??? Could happen according to ESPN sources I heard. Time will tell.....EE turn the laptop to hibernate and cell phone OFFFF!!!!
Posted by Steve, on 07/05 at 12:44 AM
It’s unbelievable how many Lightning fans still don’t get it. Boyle did a great job here while in Torts system, but this trade really helps to set us up to continue moving forward. I wish him the best in SJ!
Posted by hockeyWA, on 07/05 at 12:29 AM
Erik,
Great idea about the “messages to boyle”. Can you set one up for Brad L. as well? Thanks
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Posted by Justin, Tampa on 07/07 at 04:10 PM
Wow Lisa Marie, I’ve been up to date with the rumors, but where did you find out about the team contemplating a move? Why would you move to a more difficult market and no fan base when it’s already here? Marketing costs money. LoL, I guess we can move to Kansas City, I heard they want their Scouts back. I understand your frustration, i’m sure you’ll swear by every move made when were in the play-offs next season.