My poor Tampa Bay Lightning

[gxc999 7]

AGGGHH! We just lost another game after leading 3-1! We were so desperate we put Holmqvist back in net, he allowed the game winner in overtime, through the 5 hole (as per the status quo). Since we're playing musical goalies now, who's up next? Darren Pang? I hear Bobby "The Chief" Taylor might get a shot. Let's see if we can resurrect the career of Dan Cloutier. Call CuJo now!

[Fury of One 6]

I'd like to see Darren Puppa come out of retirement.

[TBLfan 25]

Realistically the starter should be Denis. Everyone has had a fair shot this season but the guy the team is paying 3+ Mill a year. It's ridiculous.

[camhockey16 5]

one a side note - lecavalier had a sweet goal on emery in their last game - but they blew yet another lead...

[Leafsrok 0]

Toterella oughta read this thread: http://www.modsquadhockey.com/forums/index...showtopic=36699

[gxc999 7]

Realistically the starter should be Denis. Everyone has had a fair shot this season but the guy the team is paying 3+ Mill a year. It's ridiculous.

We tried Denis last year and his numbers were flat out ugly. He may be an ok starter for someone else. We also really need to bolster our defense corps. The goalie can't take all the blame.

[TBLfan 25]

Last year is last year. He never really got a fair shot and the whole time he was starting Tortorella was laying into the "goaltending" when it was clearly a defensive issue.

[supahdon 0]

there is no way any team is going to want Richards with the kind of salary he has.

Was having a discussion on another board on how attractive Richards might be. I think the closest thing to a consensus is that several teams (namely LA) have the cap space and motivation to take him. But the next question is whether they have the assets that Tampa would want.

My argument to why Richards' contract isn't too bad is that any team taking him on at this point is essentially inheriting a 3 year deal for 7.8 million per. Compare that to the 7 years, 7.35 caphit/year that the New York Rangers gave Scott Gomez. I'd much rather have Richards' deal in comparison.

A team like the Kings have struck out in the past few offseasons in free agency. So trading for Richards would lock them out of any big fish this offseason but any big fish would require a huge multiyear offer also. Richards' deal would come off the books as guys like Kopitar and Jack Johnson would need pay increases.

Although from a Tampa perspective, I don't know what you'd want in return for Richards. Not sure if they'd be happy just to dump Richards' salary and start from scratch. If there's anything the last 5+ years have taught me, it's that me and Tampa GM Jay Feaster don't often think alike.

As for Tampa's current struggles, Dan Boyle's freak injury and inconsistent goaltending are the easily apparent causes. The main one however I'd attribute to their terrible drafting since 1999.

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/teams/dr000055.html

Drafting your own talent is the best source of cheap and effective players. And Tampa has simply struck out on a ton of picks. It's one of those things where bad drafting won't necessarily affect you today, but five years down the road you'll suddenly start hurting.

[gxc999 7]

You really make an excellent point, our drafts have been entirely useless with perhaps the exception of Paul Ranger and Blair Jones. I see so many names on that list that we gave a half season in the minors and then gave up on. It really makes no sense at all to me. BTW, did anyone else notice that we drafted but let go of Fredrik Norrena, and it looks like he's going to be a real star in the future.

[cbj05 0]

BTW, did anyone else notice that we drafted but let go of Fredrik Norrena, and it looks like he's going to be a real star in the future.

Not on the Jackets he's not. Don't get me wrong, he's a great goalie (posted the first winning record in franchise history last year) but Pascal Leclaire is the #1 guy if healthy, and Steve Mason should be ready in a year or two. And add that to the fact that he's 34 already, he's just a very solid backup, maybe a 1B goaltender.

That Modin + Norrena for Denis trade was terrible for you guys. And we almost dumped Doug Mclean on you guys too! :P

[gxc999 7]

You made my point for me, he'd be our franchise goalie if we had him. While we have NO goaltending, the Jackets have two number ones. BTW, we did just win a game for the first time in 2+ weeks. We actually put up 4 goals on Lundquist. Ramo took the win, I think it's really time we make a trade while we still can.

[gxc999 7]

It's a post-Christmas miracle!! Back to back shutouts for the Lightning!!!

I honestly thought there was a better chance of George W. Bush declaring spanish the official language of these United States.

[killthepoodle 0]

Yeah, two games without third period breakdowns....interesting!

I heard on 620 today that Denis has a .88 SP and is something like 1-6 since being sent down to Norfolk.......

[TBLfan 25]

That's not Denis' fault, that's because Norfolk sucks.

[gxc999 7]

Our whole system is busted up, farm team, pro etc. I really think we need to eat some crow and trade one of our stars for a couple of good draft picks, especially since it's supposed to be a very strong class. Basically, we can pay a little now or pay a lot later. I know which I'd prefer...

I think we could pull of Richards to LA for Jack Johnson and a 1st and 2nd round draft pick. Maybe we could lure Carey Price out of Montreal, yeah, I wish.

Edit: I think I've come up with a potential trade, but it would be close on the Cap. Vinny for Price, and Plekanec. Then trade Richie for picks and prospects. We'd have a ton of young talent and free cap space.

[TBLfan 25]

Actually, I think our coaching is the issue. The team needs another scoring winger for Richie and some line consistency. The defense is pretty damn good most of the time. Once the forwards start turning the puck over the D starts having some issues.

Lundin, Ranger and Obie are all going to be damn good. Smaby is also a talented player. If the cards are played right the team could be a contender for the big pot.

Norfolk is a lost cause right now, I hope Denis gets the hell out of there and gets to some place where he can show off his talent, IE away from Tort and to a team with some kind of defense.

[supahdon 0]

I think we could pull of Richards to LA for Jack Johnson and a 1st and 2nd round draft pick.

I wouldn't hold my breath on that one. Richards is a nice player, but his 7.8 mil cap hit really diminishes his value. You'd be hard pressed to get equal value talentwise coming back. At this point of their franchise, LA has no reason to trade Jack Johnson or their first round pick.

[TBLfan 25]

Richards is nothing without a scoring winger. If he has a scoring winger he is worth that kind of money. He's not a guy that scores a lot but he will make it easy for others to score. Modin and Richards made eachother as good as they were.

Richards also mans the point on the PP very well.

[gxc999 7]

Richards is nothing without a scoring winger. If he has a scoring winger he is worth that kind of money. He's not a guy that scores a lot but he will make it easy for others to score. Modin and Richards made eachother as good as they were.

Richards also mans the point on the PP very well.

Exactly right. I can see Richie playing in LA w Camalleri and Frolov, once they're healthy, and turning that into a super nasty line... I don't think under 8 mil a year for 3 years is really that big a deal anymore. It's manageable for atleast a half dozen teams. We need to admit that we need to clear up cap space, rumor is that we're also looking to trade Danny Boyle, who's going to be a U.F.A. and making upwards of $6 mill. Ditto for Prospal, who'll be looking for $4-5 mill or so. Holmer isn't the right long-term solution til Ramo is ready. We need a guy who can be a top ten goalie for 2 or 3 years, another defenseman and another forward.

[TBLfan 25]

Boyle will be cheap so I dont see why the team wouldn't sign him. Prospal should have learned his money for chasing money, by now he should know he's nothing without Lecavalier.

The team actually has plenty of cap room right NOW. Don't forget that Davidson put a self-imposed cap that was like 4 million under the cap last year. So the team is like 7 million under the cap or something like that. BUT Lecavalier needs to be resigned.

[supahdon 0]

I don't think under 8 mil a year for 3 years is really that big a deal anymore. It's manageable for at least a half dozen teams.

It's manageable, but nobody's going to give up a bluechip guy like Jack Johnson for Richards. If teams have 8 million to spend, they'd probably wave it at a free agent first before giving up assets to inherit a big contract.

[gxc999 7]

Yeh, if a team is in good shape now and wants 1 more guy to make a run with, Richards would totally fit the bill. Somehow, we have to trade atleast one of the big 5, the two vinnies, brad, marty and danny. The two players I least want to see us lose are LeCav and Boyle, but oh well.

[TBLfan 25]

Think about the young guys. Lundin, Obrien, Ranger... These guys are going to be really good.

Lecavalier needs someone with speed and he plays soo well with Marty. Ramo will be pretty damn good in a few years. Tarnasky and Karlsson are very solid.

Really, the Bolts are a coaching change away from being really good. The team has some nice, well rounded guys. The team can definitely be improved. Afanasenkov needs to come back(fast, great puckhandler and is defensively responsible) he's a steal because he hits more posts than net. A better defensive defenseman that Lukawich, not a knock on him but with these young guys the better the talent they play with the better they will get, faster.

Marty, Lecavalier, Prospal - need I say more?

Affy, Richards, scoring winger - Richards has speed and someone to put the puck in the net. Gratton could do this.

With the other two lines being balanced with maybe a tarnasky, karlsson, roy line possibly thrown in there. You're looking at a team that is extremely hard to beat as long as they are motivated and consistent.

Denis/Ramo would have been fine but Denis will be going elseware and the team needs a goalie. If the sale goes through the team might be something next year.

My biggest issues with Tortorella are:

1) He doesn't know how to treat goaltenders.

2) Inconsistent lines.

3) Putting the star players out there too long too early in the game.

4) Lack of motivating the team. I think the team is really missing Capt Dave in the locker room.

5) Taking bad timeouts.

[gxc999 7]

I agree, Torts isn't a great coach. He's maybe average. But the cap is a HUGE problem for us. Boyle and Prospal are both going to be U.F.A.'s and we will not get to sign either of them if we want to keep Lecavalier (not without funny math), who has 1 contract year left. Whether we like it or not, 2 of those guys are gone, even the St. Pete Times column pointed it out. We can decide to trade now and get something in return or lose them without compensation. If I had to pick two to trade, the first would be Richie and the second would be Marty in order to get young, speedy wingers full of potential and a short term goalie upgrade.

[gxc999 7]

Well, our road win streak finally ended tonight. Holmqvist has been playing well in goal as of late, but it just can't last. I think its about time we pull the trigger on a deal. Richie has been looking sharp lately, I think his trade value is pretty high right now. Boyle's been great since his return too. Still, we're practically dead last in the conference, with no realistic shot at a playoff run. Note to Jay Feaster- strike while the iron is hot...