I didn’t get much of a response from you guys in my first go-round with this request, so I’m going to give the topic it’s own thread and let your voice be heard on what you want to read here as we drudge our way through the dog days of August.

Maybe this got lost in the recap I gave everybody on how I spent my summer vacation as the question was posed at the bottom of the thread. But I’m looking to do some sort of a countdown to help fill the days in the coming couple of weeks as we all start to get geared up for the start of training camp, and I want to voice of the voter, so to speak, to offer their input.

The only response I received on the other topic was counting down the top 10 free agent/trade acquisitions Tampa Bay made over the first week or so of free agency. Normally, that wouldn’t even be an option, but there were so many new players added, there probably is enough for a top 15 or 20, and I’m only exaggerating a smidgen.

Other options include counting down the top free agent acquisitions from around the league, maybe this could be a Top 15. Maybe the top 10 all-time Lightning acquisitions - not drafted players - who came to the organization via trade or free agency. Perhaps, as Bolts Prospects did last summer, the top 10 worst players in franchise history. How about setting up the top 10 teams heading into the start of the season, maybe splitting it up by conference.

The bottom line here is I want to hear about what you want to read. I’m happy to offer my limited services to whatever the voices - no, not the ones in my head - speak. In many ways this is your spot to come for news and opinions and I’ll serve up plenty of opinions. Right now, I’ll opine on what you want, but you have to let me know. Speak loudly enough and I’ll start something on Monday, if not, you might make me angry . . . and you won’t like me very much when I’m angry.

On a personal note, and waaaaaay off topic, we had a milestone moment here in the Erlendsson household on Sunday. As many of you may know - and if you don’t you need to be more of a loyal reader - we have four boys running around the house. And for nearly the past 12 years we have had a crib in the house. I’ve set it up a total of three times - the first time my parents bought it for us in 1996, when we temporarily moved into my uncle’s house after we sold our first house and again when we moved into our current house in 2000. On Monday, I broke it down for the final time under our ownership. It has served us well and survived four kids, including two who liked to climb into and one who liked to climb out of it. Our youngest graduated to a real bed on Sunday night and I’m happy to report that for both nights, he slept well and didn’t try to climb out at bed time (which is normally pretty late during the summer months). The first morning he even cried out for somebody to get him out of bed in the morning. Of course, that only last one time as he was pretty much out on his own Tuesday morning.

With school starting on the 18th, it’s time to start getting them into school night bed-time routines, but that can wait for next week. And this year, the morning hours will actually be quiet (relatively speaking) as we will have all four kids into a school this year. The oldest starts middle school, the two middle ones are still in elementary school while the three-year old will begin three-days-a-week in preschool at the same preschool all three other boys have attended. So if you try to call me after 9:30 a.m. during school days and I don’t answer the phone, I’m probably just basking in the sweet sound of silence!!!

ADD-ON

I meant to throw this quick hitter out there about the next round of Lighting Hockey Night, since, you know, they are gracious enough to have me on the show from time-to-time, although this week is not one of them:

Lightning Hockey Night, the Tampa Bay Lightning weekly radio show, will be on the air Wednesday night on AM 620 WDAE from 7-8 p.m. The show will feature hosts Rick Peckham, the Lightning’s television play-by-play announcer, and former Lightning captain Dave Andreychuk. Dave captained the Lightning to their first Stanley Cup victory in 2003-04.

Joining the program at 7:15 p.m. will be Lightning No. 1 draft pick Steven Stamkos. Steven recently signed a three-year contract with Tampa Bay and will talk with Rick and Dave about how it feels to have his first NHL contract. He will also talk about the Lightning prospect camp he attended last week in Victoria, British Columbia, as well as how he’s gearing up for the main Lightning training camp in September.

Also calling in to the program will be ESPN.com writer Scott Burnside at 7:30 p.m. Scott writes about all things NHL for ESPN.com and will be on the show to discuss the league’s active summer happenings, with trades, free agency and front office personnel changes. Be sure to tune in, because Scott also has a surprise for Lightning fans. (I think this might have something to do with a trip that Scott might be taking this fall, but I’m not sure)