Forum: Talk Lightning

I’ve been perusing around the internet the past couple of hours - something I do quite often, although not much in the past couple of days, hence the lack of posting since Tuesday - but I see that reports of a possible third jersey for this season have been creeping up in reports.

Is this it?

I like the blue, and I’ve been told in the past that any possible third jersey would likely have that dominant blue, like that of the banner hanging from the rafter. I like the blue. I really like the blue. I’m not crazy about the use of the word Bolts. I don’t like using it in print. I do use it occasionally online in a blog post, but I don’t like referring to the team as Bolts. In some ways, I feel it’s a little hokey. But I like the blue. Have I mentioned that I like the blue?

I do remember a couple of summers back that some of these pictures of the team’s new jerseys were being leaked into cyberspace, and they ended up being a near exact match to the real new third jerseys when the came out. I have a feeling that this is pretty in line with what the new third jersey is going to look like. I’ve read some comments about putting a tie at the neck, and I have to agree, put one there. I love the ties at the top of the sweaters. Oren, make it happen!!!!!!

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Thought I would pass along a couple of notes to you guys, courtesy of the team.

First, new Norfolk head coach Darren Rumble and ESPN anchor Steve Levy will be guests of Rick Peckham and Chris Dingman tonight on Lightning Hockey Night, which airs on WDAE 620 tonight (Wednesday) from 7-8 p.m.

Also, the Tampa Bay Lightning insider gave some details of what took place at the prospect camp scrimmage yesterday, including how the two teams were broken up. Owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie squared off against each other behind the bench, Koules coaching one team while Barrie guided the second team.

Here is the link from the Insider recapping Tuesday.

This is how the teams have been split:

TEAM A

# NAME POS HT WT 2007-08 TEAM
37 Boyle, Daryl D 6’1 193 Brandon (WHL)/Norfolk (AHL)
21 Fadden, Mitch C 5’11 175 Lethbridge (WHL)
35 Helenius, Riku G 6’3 202 Seattle (WHL)
32 Jackson, Scott D 6’4 213 Seattle (WHL)
40 Jung, Torrie G 6’1 182 Kelowna (WHL)
49 Killorn, Alexander C 6’0 185 Deerfield Acadamy (MA-HS)
46 Leavold, Brady RW 5’10 194 Kelowna (WHL)
14 Lee, Derek C 5’9 154 Salmon Arm (BCHL)
55 Marshall, Matt C/RW 6’1 185 Noble & Greenough HS (MA-HS)
61 Procyshen, Taylor RW 5’8 165 Tri-Cities (WHL)
19 Quick, Kevin D 6’0 175 Norfolk (AHL)/Michigan (CCHA)
71 Rogers, Andy D 6’5 206 Norfolk (AHL)/Mississippi (ECHL)
91 Stamkos, Steven C 6’1 196 Sarnia (OHL)
36 Ward, Michael D 6’3 196 Lewiston (QMJHL)
56 Wright, James C 6’3 180 Vancouver (WHL)

TEAM B

# NAME POS HT WT 2007-08 TEAM
33 Aquino, Luciano LW 5’10 200 Ft. Wayne (IHL)
7 Barberio, Mark D 6’0 201 Moncton (QMJHL)
3 Barrie, Tyson D 5’9 180 Kelowna (WHL)
4 Courtnall, Justin LW 6’3 185 Victoria (BCHL)
16 De Coste, Kyle RW 6’1 178 Brampton (OHL)
30 Grieco, Anthony G 6’1 187 Mississauga (OHL)
24 Kaufman, Chris D 6’3 200 Bakersfield (ECHL)/Robert Morris U.
38 Lawrence, Chri RW 6’4 199 Norfolk (AHL)
2 Marsh, Tyson D 6’1 215 Columbia (ECHL)/Rockford (AHL)
39 Pighin, Evan RW 5’10 191 Chilliwack (WHL)
34 Szcezechura, Paul C 5’11 190 Norfolk (AHL)/Iowa (AHL)
17 Todd, Daine C 5’10 168 Medicine Hat (WHL)
74 Vlassopoulos, Andreas LW 5’11 180 Colorado College (WCHA)
77 Wishart, Ty D 6’5 203 Moose Jaw (WHL)/ Worcester (AHL)

Somebody has posted a You Tube video with a camera tracking Steven Stamkos around the ice. It’s a bit shaky, and I haven’t fully figured out how to embed these things on the blog, but you can see it below.

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Nothing came out from the team about this, but assistant medical trainer Jason Serbus took the job as head trainer for the Phoenix Coyotes last week. What a thrill it must be for Jason to work alongside Wayne Gretzky everyday!!!!

Serbus spent the past three seasons with Tampa Bay after joining the Lightning from the Pensacola Ice Pilots of the ECHL. Jason was very respected around the Lightning locker room during his time and was well liked by the players. Along with assistant equipment manager Rob Kennedy, Serbus developed the new holder for the gatorade bottle on the top of the nets around the league. While the new holders, made of the same type of material used on splints and allow goaltenders the ability to quickly remove and replace the water bottles, hadn’t been implemented around the entire league by the end of last season, they should be in place this season.

Here is the press release the Coyotes sent out on July 24:

Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney announced today that the Coyotes have hired Jason Serbus as the team’s new head athletic trainer.

Serbus, 33, joins the Coyotes after spending the last three seasons as the assistant athletic trainer for the Tampa Bay Lightning where he aided in all medical and training operations. Prior to his stint in Tampa Bay, Serbus spent four seasons with the Pensacola Ice Pilots of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL). While with Pensacola, Serbus had the honor of being selected as trainer for the Western Conference at the 2004 ECHL All-Star Game. In 2003 he was named the Florida Athletic Trainers’ Association Trainer of the Year for professional sports.

A native of Bird Island, Minnesota, Serbus has also worked with Eisbaren Berlin, a professional hockey team in Germany, as well as the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, the Central Texas Stampede of the Western Professional Hockey League and served as a staff and clinical athletic trainer at NovaCare Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine in Florida for four years. He has also been chosen to work with USA Hockey’s U-17 national team on four occasions and has experience in minor league baseball and arena football.

Serbus earned his Bachelor of Science – Biology/Pre-Medicine degree from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and a Master of Arts degree in Kinesiology/Physiology of Exercise from the University of Northern Colorado.

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Steven Stamkos is officially signed this afternoon during a press conference in Victoria, British Columbia, where the Lightning are holding a prospect camp. This doesn’t mean that Stamkos has made the team as he could still be sent back to juniors if he fails to make the team out of camp or is sent back before he plays 10 games next season. If he doesn’t make the team, or plays less than 10 NHL games, his contract would then kick in starting next season, although the 10 percent signing bonus is his to keep. Maximum yearly base is $875,000 with an additional $2.85 in potential bonuses available each year.

Here is the release from the team:

The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed center Steven Stamkos to a three-year, entry-level contract today, vice president of hockey operations Brian Lawton announced today at a press conference at Bear Mountain Resort in Victoria, British Columbia.  Stamkos is currently attending the Lightning’s prospect camp in Victoria.

“It is with great pleasure that we formally announce the signing of Steven today,” Lawton said. “It is obvious to all of our staff in a brief period of time that Steven is a very special young man with great potential.  His work ethic and eagerness to learn have been very impressive.  We believe with our veteran leadership that Tampa Bay is the perfect scenario for Steven to grow and mature as a player and person on and off the ice.”

Stamkos, a 6-foot-1, 196-pound native of Markham, Ontario, was rated as the consensus top overall pick in this year’s draft and was subsequently selected first overall by Tampa Bay.  Stamkos ranked second in the Ontario Hockey League last season with 58 goals and fifth in points with 197 in 61 games with the Sarnia Sting.  His nine game-winning goals were tied for second in the OHL, his 23 power-play goals were third and his five shorthanded goals ranked tied for fifth.  He scored 11 goals, including four in Game 4 of Sarnia’s first-round match-up with the Windsor Spitfires, in nine games during the 2008 OHL Playoffs.

The 18-year-old was named the OHL’s Player of the Month for February after recording 13 goals and 22 points in 13 games.  He was also recognized as the best stick-handler and as having the best shot in the OHL’s annual coaches poll.  The center was one of two players born in 1990 named to Canada’s 2008 World Junior Championship team.  He recorded a goal and six points in his first appearance at the tournament as Canada went on to capture the gold medal.

Stamkos played in 124 games during his two-season OHL career.  He recorded 100 goals and 197 points during his time with Sarnia, including 14 goals and 17 points in 13 career playoff games.  In 2006-07 he was the runner-up for the OHL’s Rookie of the Year award behind Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks.  He was also honored with the Bobby Smith Trophy as the OHL’s scholastic player of the year.  The award is given annually to the player who best combines high standards of play and academic excellence. 

Before joining the Sting, Stamkos recorded 105 goals and 197 points in 67 games with the Markham Waxers AAA midget team in 2005.  Sarnia drafted Stamkos first overall in the 2006 OHL Priority Draft. 

Stamkos was the third player in franchise history to be chosen first overall.  Tampa Bay took Roman Hamrlik with the first pick in 1992 and Vincent Lecavalier with the top pick in 1998.

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I know a lot of you guys have been asking about what in the world is going on with Evgeny Artyukhin. I too have noticed that his name does not appear on any active rosters for the team and with the whole mess involving players signing out of Russia or into the new KHL in Russia, I wondered if there was any kind of a hang up on his two-year contract.

I’ve spoken to at least two different people today who are not aware of any kind of a problem. I have been informed by one person that the contract has already been approved by the league. Another who is connected with the league said they were not aware of any kind of a problem with the deal. The best explanation I have been given is that it has been handed off from the league to the player’s association before it receives final approval. I’m waiting to hear back from somebody involved with the player’s association to verify this information. But it sounds like there is no kind of situation such as those involving Alexander Radulov, Viktor Tikhanov or Nikita Filatov, who, along with a couple other contracts, are under investigation by the IIHF as to whether there are any violations in regards to the verbal agreement between the KHL and NHL not to raid the other league of players already under contract.

If this changes, I’ll let you know.

Also, since some may ask this if I don’t answer it, the contract for Vinny Lecavalier is still being reviewed, which is why he might show up as “unsigned’’ on a couple of websites. A source informed me that he believes the league has already approved the contract and that the NHLPA is reviewing the language in the contract to make sure it is all legitimate. I’m also waiting to hear back from somebody at the player’s association on this matter, but if there are any red flags, I’ll be sure to dig into it a little deeper.

UPDATE 6:05 P.M.

Just wanted to pass along that I heard back from the NHLPA and there is no issue with either contract, Artyukhin or Lecavalier. Artyukhin’s name won’t be listed on the NHLPA website until he appears on the NHL team website. So, it doesn’t appear that there are any kind of issues with the contract for either player. Hope that clears things up!!

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Remember back in February, when the Montreal Canadiens were in town for a game and had spent a couple of nights in town? Then the night of the rookie dinner, two of the teams’ players landed in the Orient Road jail?

Well, both players involved - forward Tom Kostopolous and defenseman Ryan O’Byrne - are no longer on the hook for charges of interfering with police (Kostopolous) or theft of a woman’s purse (O’Byrne). Charges on Kostopolous were dropped less than a month after his arrest while word of the charges against O’Byrne being dropped came out today.

Hillsborough County state attorney Pam Bondi said the charges were dropped after O’Byrne read a written apology to the victim in court and agreed to do community service in Canada, which he continues to demonstrate.

Here is the story from the Canadian Press

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Sorry for the delay in letting you know how my vacation went, but sometimes it’s so much work once you get back from vacation, it takes a whole day just to get everything unpacked on get the house back in order. That’s the real reason it took me so long to get the Stamkos information up onto the blog, so Ken, feel free to put up any information you might find. After all, that’s what this site is supposed to be, a home for you - the readers and fans of the Lightning - to gather in an information world to not only read what information I might have, but to share that which I may not.

Now, this information I have, I’m sure you don’t have - my summer vacation.

As many of you know, me and my wife have four children and aside from the weekend trips we often take over to the land of the Mouse, we haven’t had a true family vacation where we head somewhere and act like tourists. So after our plans to see Washington D.C. for a couple days at the end of June were scuttled as part of the collateral damage from the new ownership taking part, I promised to make it up to everybody. And thanks to a tip from a friend, I was directed to the mountain areas of North Carolina. I’ve always been a closet fan of mountain areas - we honeymooned in Gatlinburg - but haven’t spent a ton of time far above sea level. Now I know why I like the mountains - the area is beautiful.

We stayed up on Beech Mountain at a condo resort - and at $80 a night for a 2-bedroom, 2-bath accomodations, we couldn’t beat the price - where the elevation is 5,505 feet, the tallest town East of the Rockies. Nighttime temperatures in the 50s, daytime temperatures in the 70s - a welcome relief from the summer heat of Florida for sure. And though we were scheduled to stay five nights, we extended it a day for a six-night stay.

The drive up the mountain was certainly a change of pace for our van. With all the flat areas of Florida, winding up 5,000 feet was different for me, as well. Good thing we arrived before sunset or it would have been a real challenge since the speedometer topped out around 20 mph on the trek up!!!!

Beech Mountain is near Grandfather Mountain, where myself and three older kids - aged 11, 9 and 6 - made our way across a mile-high suspension bridge while pushing through winds that were gusting in the range of 40-50 mph. My wife, who walked across the bridge with her father about 20 years ago when it was less sturdy, made it about 10 steps across before heading back to solid ground with our youngest. The view on the rock sitting on the other side of the bridge was breathtaking, to be sure. I ran into a former U.S. Army Ranger who took a picture for me with my boys said he’s even been intimidated by the wind gusts on the bridge at times that have made him think twice about taking the bridge across the opening.

Grandfather Mountain is also home to a few brown/black bears, a wounded American Eagle along with some other critters in a viewing area. The kids got a kick out of feeding the bears.

We also went to an area called Blowing Rock home of The Blowing Rock, where the legend of the up-blowing wind had an Indian warrior jumped off the rock to help fight a battle only to return to his maiden by riding the wind back up to the top of the rock. We didn’t see even a leaf fly back up the side of the mountain, let alone an Indian warrior, but the views were nice.

Gem mining is a big attraction in the area, so we traveled to Emerald Village and bought a bucket of dirt and rocks. Sure, there were a few gems inside - my nine-year old found a ruby (unpolished, of course) and there were plenty of small pieces of quartz, emerald and plenty of onyx - but we didn’t strike it rich. We couldn’t even find a piece of pyrite (that’s fools gold in case you weren’t aware) to give the illusion of striking it rich. So we trekked across the street to tour what was once a very lucrative working mine that was used from the 1930s until the 1950s for the Bon Ami company. There’s still plenty of original equipment hanging around the mine, which is sealed up, of course!!!!

Following the gem mining, we made our way over to Asheville to take in a minor league baseball game where the Class A (South Atlantic League) Tourists play and were ending a home stand with a game against the Lakewood Blue Claws. Normally, I might have left the game somewhat early, but Rockies prospect Bruce Billings was tossing a gem (pun intended!!!!). After allowing a walk in the first inning, he didn’t allow a baserunner through eight innings and carried a no-hitter into the ninth. With one out, Billings committed an error to allow the second baserunner of the game. He was no bothered by the error, and retired the next two hitters, although the last hitter sent a scare through the crowd with a long fly ball to left field.

I tried to impress upon my wife the rare feat that we had just witnessed, but she was indifferent. I, however, was thrilled to have seen a no-hitter live, no matter what level it was at. I made sure to take plenty of pictures, especially of the scoreboard. To make the visit just as memorable, my three-year old was called down to the Asheville dugout where he was handed a baseball. He held it in his lap the entire ride back to Beech Mountain and it was the first thing he asked for when he woke up Thursday morning. You can read the recap of the game here

No trip to the North Carolina High Country would be complete without a visit to one of the areas many rivers. And while whitewater rafting was out of the picture, we instead opted for a canoe trip down the New River. My kids have never been on a canoe trip, so I figured it would be fun - and it was. The highlight - other than both myself and my wife getting stuck on rocks in the river with the water level no higher than four feet - came when I attempted to push our canoe - my 11-year-old and 6-year-old were in my canoe - off a rock. My oar slipped and with all of us leaning to the same side of the boat, we tipped over. And while there were a couple of brief moments of panic as we tipped over, it turned out to be quite humorous. That is until I realized that the ziploc bag I had my phone, wallet and keys “protected’’ in was actually opened and fell out of the backpack I handed over to my oldest son. I didn’t realize my cell phone had fallen out and was sitting at the bottom of the river. It was there long enough to short out the keyboard, so while the screen will come up, none of the buttons work. Needless to say, the powers that be aren’t thrilled with my misuse of company property So if anybody has tried to call my cell phone or text me a message and haven’t received any reply, that’s why. Hopefully I’ll have a new phone soon!!!!!

We spent the next two days taking as many pictures as we could - from the Linville Caverns, the Mast General Store (open since 1883) to the Christmas tree farms that litter the area. On the way home we stopped off the see the World’s Largest Chest of Drawers (yes, it’s real) in High Point, North Carolina, that stands about 53 feet high and has a pair of socks hanging out. Cheesy, but the kids got a kick out of it, and that’s all that matters. We were even foolish enough to stop off at South of the Border and play a free round of speed mini-golf buzzing through about 10 holes in less than 15 minutes. Again, a hokey place, but the kids thought it was one of the greatest places they’ve ever seen. No, we don’t shelter them that much, they do get exposed to quite a bit but I guess the bright neon lights blinded their judgement

Now, we’re back and the number of days of summer vacation are quickly dwindling down before school stars again. My wife heads back to work on August 8 while the kids head back on August 18. That can only mean one thing, the start of hockey training camp can only be right around the corner. And that’s what I’m really here for - to keep you up to date on anything and everything Lightning.

In the meantime, I hope you enjoyed a recap of my summer vacation.

In the coming days, I’m think of doing some kind of a countdown of sorts, but I haven’t determined what I want to do. That’s where you guys come in, first do you want something that’s related to the league as a whole, like ranking the moves each of the 30 teams have made? Or do you like the idea of a Lightning-related countdown, such as top moments to look forward to this season? Or ranking the moves the team has made since the end of June? Give me your suggestions and I’ll work on something.

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I didn’t post this earlier since my thunder was stolen by Ken
Yes, Steven Stamkos will speak on Tuesday about his brand-spanking new contract that guarantees he will make $2.625 million in base salary the next three years. The base salary of $875,000 is the maximum allowed under the collective bargaining agreement. The bonuses for each season are capped out at $2.85 million.
The bonuses are divided into two categories, Type A and Type B
The A bonuses include: finishing among top six on team in ice time; reaching minimum 20 goals, minimum 35 assists, minimum 60 points, averaging .73 points per game, finishing among top three on team in plus/minus among forwards, being named to the All-Rookie team, being named to the All-Star game and being named All-Star game MVP. The maximum bonus for each category is $212,500
The B clauses include finishing in top five voting for Hart or Selke Trophy and top five in the Rocket Richard trophy (goals scored)
Top three in Lady Byng voting
Top three in Calder Trophy
Named first or second team all-star
Winning the Conn Smythe Trophy
There are also bonuses allowed for finishing in the top 10 in goals, assists, points or points per game. There is also a bonus for number of games played, but I haven’t been able to figure out how that all factors into the equation. I hope to have an answer for all this and break it down by Tuesday night.

A press conference has been called for 5 p.m. in Victoria, British Columbia, where Stamkos is participating in a team prospect camp. Stamkos, by the way, skipped a training camp for Team Canada this week in preparation for the World Junior championships that are set to take place in Ottawa beginning the day after Christmas. Not sure if there’s a chance Stamkos could still play in the tournament, although I’m sure Hockey Canada will ask the Lightning about this as the tournament draws closer.

Two other Lightning prospects are participating in camp with Team Canada - 2007 second-round pick Dana Tyrell, who attended the camp last year but was not selected, and goaltender Dustin Tokarski, who was drafted in the fifth round in the 2008 draft. Tokarski backstopped Spokane to a Memorial Cup championship earlier this year.

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Happy Monday!!!! Sorry for the lack of reports on this blog over the past week, but I took a much-needed vacation to the mountains of North Carolina for a week and I made a promise that I wasn’t going to do anything work related, so I didn’t. I know there was some news made last week that I’m sure that many of you are already aware of, including a new affiliate agreement with the Augusta Lynx in the East Coast Hockey League. In addition, I know that Mike Butters (who ran the Helena Big Horns junior team owned by Oren Koules) was named general manager in Norfolk while Darren Rumble was named the Admirals’ head coach. And of course, the prospect camp gets underway today in Victoria, British Columbia, the home of Len Barrie’s resort Bear Mountain.

I also received an email last week in reference to Ron Campbell cleaning out his office last week. I spoke to somebody at the town hall meeting on July 15 who mentioned that Oren Koules was going to be moving into Campbell’s office. And while Campbell would not be retained as team president, he would remain for the time being in a consultant role. Campbell has done a tremendous job not only for the team, but for the Tampa community since he came down in 1999 after Palace Sports and Entertainment purchased the team. Campbell has been at the forefront of bringing such events as the Women’s Final Four, the ACC Men’s Basketball tournament, NCAA regional basketball and the 2012 Frozen Four to the St. Pete Times Forum. I don’t think Campbell gets the credit he deserves for the job he has done in making Tampa a major stop for some major sporting events, not to mention a ton of music acts into the building to make it one of the busiest venues in North America.

I’ll be back later to give you guys a news update on something that is expected to happen tomorrow. I’ll also give you a run down of what I did on my vacation, including one tipped over canoe and the experience of a !!!!!

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The New York Islanders have called the Lightning seeking permission to speak to former Lightning coach John Tortorella about their vacant head coaching position. Here’s the is the details:

TAMPA - Former Lightning coach John Tortorella could be in line to take over the vacant head coaching position with the New York Islanders.

The Islanders have contacted Tampa Bay seeking permission to speak to Tortorella, The Tribune has learned. The Lightning have granted the Islanders their request to talk to Tortorella.

Tortorella was fired by the Lightning on June 3 after seven seasons as head coach, including helping guide Tampa Bay to a Stanley Cup championship in 2004. He has one more year remaining on his contract that will reportedly pay him $1.3 million this year. Because Tortorella has a year remaining on his deal, teams must have permission from the Lightning to discuss any opening. It is believed Tortorella was also contacted by the San Jose Sharks, which hired former Detroit assistant Todd McLellan on June 11.

New York fired Ted Nolan on Monday citing what Islanders general manager Garth Snow characterized as “philosophical differences’’ after two years on the job. Snow has reportedly already interviewed former Columbus head coach and current Islanders assistant Gerard Gallant. Former Atlanta and Colorado coach Bob Hartley is also believed to be on Snow’s list.

The Islanders have also requested permission to speak to Mike Sullivan, an assistant with Tortorella last year who also has one year left on his contract, although it was unclear whether it was for a head coaching position or an assistant’s job. Sullivan served as head coach of the Boston Bruins for two seasons before he was replaced after the 2005-06 season and has already spoken to Los Angeles, Atlanta and Philadelphia.

Tampa Bay’s other assistant coach from last season, goaltending coach Jeff Reese, is also believed to be close to joining the Toronto Maple Leafs. Reese, who also has one year remaining on his contract, has spent the past six seasons with the Lightning.

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The Lightning were given an incorrect time by the league on their second game against the New York Rangers in Prague on Oct. 5. The correct confirmed time the game will be played is at 12 p.m. Eastern time at O2 Arena in downtown Prague, Czech Republic.
The game on Oct. 4 will also be at 12 p.m. EST

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More news out of the Lightning:

The Tampa Bay Lightning have hired former NHL goaltender Mike Vernon as special assistant to the vice president of hockey operations today, owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie announced.  Vernon’s duties will be to assist in hockey-related matters and to provide guidance to the team’s goaltenders.

“The Tampa Bay Lightning are thrilled to add a former Stanley Cup Champion to our staff,” vice president of hockey operations Brian Lawton said.  “Mike’s past experience and knowledge will be a true benefit to the organization and it will be critical to us as we continue to make changes within the team to improve it.”

Vernon, a five-time NHL All-Star who retired in 2002 after a stellar 17-season NHL career with Calgary, Detroit, San Jose and Florida, captured the Stanley Cup with the Flames in 1989 and again with Detroit in 1997.  He was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1997 after posting a 16-4 record and 1.76 goals-against average in the playoffs for the Red Wings.

A native of Calgary, Vernon, 45, holds Flames goaltending records for games played (526), wins (262), minutes played (29,649), playoff games (81), playoff minutes (4,773) and playoff wins (43). While with the Red Wings he shared the William Jennings Trophy with Chris Osgood in 1996 after the pair combined for the NHL’s lowest goals-against average.

Vernon was drafted 56th overall by the Flames in 1981 and played three seasons for the Calgary Wranglers of the Western Hockey League. He was added to the roster of the Portland Winter Hawks in the 1983 Memorial Cup Series and his performance helped Portland become the first team from outside Canada to win the Cup. He was awarded the Hap Emms Memorial Trophy as the outstanding goaltender for the series.

After turning professional, he spent most of the next three seasons in the minors before being promoted in January, 1986. That season he helped the Flames to the Stanley Cup Finals before falling to the Montreal Canadiens. He remained in Calgary until 1994, when he was traded to the Red Wings. After eight more seasons divided between Detroit, San Jose, Florida and Calgary again, he announced his retirement on September 13, 2002.

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OK (that just stands out everytime you see it now for reasons other than the obvious, doesn’t it?) I’ve had a chance to take a closer look at the schedule and examine some of the highlights (or lowlights, as it may be).

Other than the obvious long trip across the pond to face the Rangers in Prague - Tampa Bay will have some other extended stays away from home, especially in October where a five-game homestand awaits the Lightning upon their arrival back on North American soil starting with the Oct. 11 home opener against Carolina that concluces on Oct. 25 with the return of Dan Boyle to Tampa with the San Jose Sharks - that game should be a guaranteed sell out.

The first of three lenghty road trips begins on Nov. 5 as the first of five consecutive road games gets underway in New Jersey and continues down the Eastern seaboard to the New York Rangers, Philadelphia, Washington and conclues in Florida on Nov. 12.

For the second consecutive year the Lightning will be away from home on Thanksgiving Day as they will travel to Minnesota for an afternoon matinee the next day in Minnesota.

New Year’s Eve once again will be spent away from home - last year it was in Toronto - for a New Year’s Day game in Washington. Three days later, lenghty road trip No. 3 (No. 2 comes in December) begins a five-game road trip that takes the team out West. And somebody has a sense of humor in the league office as after a Jan. 9 game in Anaheim there are three days before they play Barry Melrose’s old team, the L.A. Kings. Think of the stories that will be written in those days leading up to that game!!!! And you think ESPN will be all over that or not?

The end of the season won’t be too kind as 13 of the final 22 games and six of the last nine games will take place on the road, including a Western Canada swing at the end of February. The season finale will take place in Atlanta for the third consecutive year.

Mark these other dates on your calendar:

Oct. 25 - Dan Boyle’s return (as previously noted)
Nov. 13 - Defending champion Detroit (with the newly signed Marian Hossa) comes to town, always a big draw.
Jan. 19 - Seems almost an afterthought at this point, but Brad Richards and the Dallas Stars (including superpest Sean Avery) come to town
Jan. 30 - Super Bowl weekend kicks off with a visit from the Philadelphia Flyers
Feb. 7 through Feb. 19 - A five-game homestand kicks off, the longest consecutive stretch of home games of the season (there is one that’s disrupted by the All-Star break)
March 3 - Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin and the Pittsburgh Penguins make the first of two Tampa appearances in the final six weeks of the season.

All right, who’s making the road trips and buying me a Canadian ginger ale

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Here is the full season schedule for the Lightning, with the season starting with a pair of weekend games in Prague, Czech Republic, against the New York Rangers:

2008-09 TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING SCHEDULE

DATE DAY OPPONENT TIME
*OCT. 4 (Sat) NY RANGERS 12 p.m.
*OCT. 5 (Sun) @ NY Rangers 2:30 p.m.
OCT. 11 (Sat) CAROLINA 7:30 p.m.
OCT. 16 (Thu) NY ISLANDERS 7:30 p.m.
OCT. 18 (Sat) MINNESOTA 7:30 p.m.
OCT. 21 (Tue) ATLANTA 7:30 p.m.
OCT. 25 (Sat) SAN JOSE 7:30 p.m.
OCT. 28 (Tue) @ Toronto 7:30 p.m.
OCT. 30 (Thu) @ Buffalo 7 p.m.
NOV. 1 (Sat) OTTAWA 7:30 p.m.
NOV. 5 (Wed) @ New Jersey 7 p.m.
NOV. 6 (Thu) @ NY Rangers 7 p.m.
NOV. 8 (Sat) @ Philadelphia 7 p.m.
NOV. 10 (Mon) @ Washington 7 p.m.
NOV. 12 (Wed) @ Florida 7:30 p.m.
NOV. 13 (Thu) DETROIT 7:30 p.m.
NOV. 16 (Sun) @ Carolina 7 p.m.
NOV. 18 (Tue) FLORIDA 7:30 p.m.
NOV. 21 (Fri) NASHVILLE 7:30 p.m.
NOV. 23 (Sun) NEW JERSEY 5 p.m.
NOV. 26 (Wed) NY RANGERS 7:30 p.m.
NOV. 28 (Fri) @ Minnesota 2 p.m.
NOV. 29 (Sat) @ Colorado 9 p.m.
DEC. 2 (Tue) @ Philadelphia 7 p.m.
DEC. 4 (Thu) BOSTON 7:30 p.m.
DEC. 6 (Sat) BUFFALO 7:30 p.m.
DEC. 8 (Mon) @ Boston 7 p.m.
DEC. 10 (Wed) @ Buffalo 7 p.m.
DEC. 11 (Thu) @ Montreal 7:30 p.m.
DEC. 13 (Sat) @ Ottawa 7 p.m.
DEC. 18 (Thu) COLORADO 7:30 p.m.
DEC. 20 (Sat) @ Atlanta 7 p.m.
DEC. 23 (Tue) @ Pittsburgh 7:30 p.m.
DEC. 26 (Fri) @ Florida 7:30 p.m.
DEC. 27 (Sat) FLORIDA 7:30 p.m.
DEC. 30 (Tue) MONTREAL 7:30 p.m.
JAN. 1 (Thu) @ Washington 7 p.m.
JAN. 3 (Sat) CAROLINA 7:30 p.m.
JAN. 4 (Sun) @ Atlanta 5 p.m.
JAN. 8 (Thu) @ Phoenix 9 p.m.
JAN. 9 (Fri) @ Anaheim 10 p.m.

All Times Eastern and subject to change

DATE DAY OPPONENT TIME
JAN. 12 (Mon) @ Los Angeles 10:30 p.m.
JAN. 13 (Tue) @ San Jose 10:30 p.m.
JAN. 15 (Thu) PHILADELPHIA 7:30 p.m.
JAN. 17 (Sat) FLORIDA 7:30 p.m.
JAN. 19 (Mon) DALLAS 7:30 p.m.
JAN. 21 (Wed) BUFFALO 7:30 p.m.
JAN. 27 (Tue) MONTREAL 7:30 p.m.
JAN. 29 (Thu) @ Carolina 7 p.m.
JAN. 30 (Fri) PHILADELPHIA 7:30 p.m.
FEB. 3 (Tue) @ NY Islanders 7 p.m.
FEB. 4 (Wed) @ Pittsburgh 7:30 p.m. 
FEB. 7 (Sat) NY ISLANDERS 7:30 p.m.
FEB. 10 (Tue) ATLANTA 7:30 p.m.
FEB. 12 (Thu) TORONTO 7:30 p.m. 
FEB. 14 (Sat) WASHINGTON 7:30 p.m.
FEB. 17 (Tue) CHICAGO 7:30 p.m.
FEB. 19 (Thu) NEW JERSEY 7:30 p.m.
FEB. 20 (Fri) @ Carolina 7 p.m.
FEB. 22 (Sun) BOSTON 5 p.m.
FEB. 24 (Tue) @ Edmonton 9 p.m.
FEB. 27 (Fri) @ Vancouver 10 p.m.
MAR. 1 (Sun) @ Calgary 8 p.m.
MAR. 3 (Tue) PITTSBURGH 7:30 p.m.
MAR. 6 (Fri) ST. LOUIS 7:30 p.m.
MAR. 7 (Sat) CAROLINA 7:30 p.m.
MAR. 11 (Wed) @ Ottawa 7:30 p.m.
MAR. 12 (Thu) @ Toronto 7:30 p.m.
MAR. 14 (Sat) @ Florida 7 p.m.
MAR. 17 (Tue) TORONTO 7:30 p.m.
MAR. 19 (Thu) WASHINGTON 7:30 p.m.
MAR. 21 (Sat) ATLANTA 7:30 p.m.
MAR. 24 (Tue) COLUMBUS 7:30 p.m.
MAR. 26 (Thu) @ Montreal 7:30 p.m.
MAR. 27 (Fri) @ Washington 7 p.m.
MAR. 29 (Sun) OTTAWA 6 p.m.
MAR. 31 (Tue) @ Boston 7 p.m.
APRIL 3 (Fri) @ New Jersey 7 p.m.
APRIL 4 (Sat) @ NY Islanders 7 p.m.
APRIL 7 (Tue) PITTSBURGH 7:30 p.m.
APRIL 9 (Thu) WASHINGTON 7:30 p.m.
APRIL 11 (Sat) @ Atlanta 7 p.m.

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Just got official word on the Lightning home opener and that date is indeed Oct. 11, but the opponent is Carolina, not Pittsburgh as I had heard before. Just proves you can’t be sure until you’re sure.

Also, Tampa Bay’s extra three games against non-conference opponents - in otherwords, they will play a home-and-home against the following Western Conference opponents:

San Jose (assures that Dan Boyle will visit Tampa next season)
Minnesota
Colorado

The remainder of the schedule will be released on Thursday around noon time.

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