Ahhh... the feel of the frigid climate inside the St. Pete Times Forum. It's been three months since we've seen our boys out on the ice at the Forum. After a week of the "Young Guns" at the Forum for Prospect Camp, hockey season finally feels like it's looming on the horizon. Now that the 2009/2010 regular season schedule has finally been released, opening night at home on the 8th seems too far away.

On the topic of "Young Guns" and Prospect Camp, I did manage to make my way out to Tampa on Saturday for the main festivities. Practice in the morning was quite interesting; Mihalik and Wishart are definitely two prospects with personalities. Both bulked up a bit during the off season, to the point where Ty doesn't disappear when he turns sideways anymore. The prospects showed potential out there, and it was just plain nice to get back into the swing of hockey if nothing else.

The scrimmage game was fun as well, and was followed by a short skills competition. The hard shot challenge was bootched up by shotty work with the speed guy, but the shootout was enjoyable to watch, even if there weren't any Ovie like moves out there.

After the skills competition, all the prospects grouped up in trios at tables along the concourse for autographs. If you weren't hoping to get first round pick Hedman's autograph, it was quite easy to get through the lines and talk to the guys.

Well, not too much else from me today, my friends. I can't wait for training camp to roll around, though. And if I finally manage to get to one of the Beyond the Blue Line sessions before I head out of town for the fall, I'll make sure to drop a line to let you know how it is if you haven't found the time to make it over yourself. =)

Labels: Prospect Camp, Ty Wishart, Victor Hedman, Vladimir Mihalik

Well, the Times reports that Tocchet and Lawton met on Thursday to go over the believed three year coaching contract. Nothing has been signed and sealed yet, though. Now, don't get me wrong, I like Coach Tocchet. After the disaster that was Melrose, Tocchet was definitely a breath of fresh air in Tampa Bay. And after Torts's rough and rumble coaching style, Tocchet's style was a nice change of pace as well. The players actually began listening to and respecting the coach of the team again, something that's probably a good thing to have if you want to win hockey games. I think Tocchet did a pretty darn good job with the roster he was given and with all the midseason injuries that the team had to deal with. Considering that we were still hanging in there at the end of the season [even though we weren't winning] with an AHL defense and an ECHL goalie, I think he ought to get a pack on the back for what he accomplished in the partial season he was here.

Wether he deserves a three year contract is what I'm not sold on quite yet. I definitely think that the Lightning should resign Tocchet for next year; he definitely deserves that much. And I'd wish the ownership would get something done soon, to go ahead and end one of the guessing games of the off season. I'd like to see what Coach could do with a blue line repleshed with NHL players next season and how the team would develop with a steady coach and a steady roster for a full season. If Coach does well, which I think he would, then a think a multi-year deal should be discussed at the end of next season. Now, I'm not saying that Tocchet has to take the team to the Stanley Cup finals, or even to the playoffs per se. But it would be nice to see if he can turn the potential in the players into a contender, at least, and not a team that's a bottom feeder for the entire season, with fans that are happy that we finished the season in front of the Islanders [and only the Islanders].

Since it looks like a multi-year contract or bust, I'm going to go ahead and say we might as well sign Coach to the three year contract. These talks of the contract have been circulating for quite some time now, so I sure hope they get a pen to paper soon.

I also hope that Coach Sully stays on as the assistant coach for the Bolts. Rumor has it that he might pack his bags and go join Torts in New York with the Rangers, which I think would be a bummer. I think Sully and Tocchet's coaching styles match up much better than Sully matched up with Torts's. I wound love to see Coach Sullivan back behind the bench for the Bolts once again next season.

And speaking of New York, rumors of Torts and the Rangers having an interest in Marty St. Louis have been swirling around recently. I have a hard time seeing Marty being traded away during the off season. Then again, stranger things have happened, and they've happened recently, so I wouldn't put it pass the team if the Rangers offered a sweet enough deal. I love the work that Marty did with Stammers this season, and I really do think that MSL has been such a great leader for this team. Which a team as young as ours, a great veteran leader like Marty is a great assest to have in the locker room. I love VL4 and I'm glad they made him captain this season, but I would have to say that Marty is by far a greater leadership voice in the locker room.

So what develops, we'll find out later as it gets closer to training camp and next season. For now, I'm going to not bog myself down with rumors and spend my summer with fast cars and freedom [and perhaps even work on my tan a little in the Florida summer].

Until next time!

Labels: Marty St. Louis

I feel like a little kid walking down the hallway. As I pass, my school mates lean closer to one another, their heads bent, their voices low. They gaze right at me and speak quickly, lowly. I can't hear what they're saying, but I know what it's about. I wonder if that how Vinny Lecavalier feels, if you replace the whispering with loud, screaming voices and a couple of big news crew cameras.

Throughout his career, the media [particularly of the Montreal variety] has hinted that the Lightning will trade him away. And throughout his career, he's stayed here in Tampa Bay. And after we signed him to his ridiculous [and by ridiculous, I mean ridiculously awesome] new contract that almost guarantees that he will be a Bolt until he retires, I thought the rumors would die down.

But alas, we fans are being tested by the media once again. Lecavalier's no trade clause doesn't kick in until July, and people have to have something to bait around during the off season. Congratulations, Captain, you fit the bill once again.

I like the stance that Vinny's taken on the issue: no comment. And he shouldn't have to. He should get to spend the off season reflecting on the crappy season we've had while his wrist surgery that he finally got is healing. He should get to spend some time in that nice house of his with his wicked car, and maybe a little time helping out All Childrens Hospital and his Foundation.

I'm going to address it, and I'm going to make it quick. Truth be told, I'm about as sick as he is of these trade rumors. So here's my two cents, and that's all you're going to get from me on the topic.

Brad Richards and Dan Boyle were beloved characters here in Tampa Bay, and they were both whisked away in the past two seasons. Brad Richards was asked to waive his no trade clause and went to Dallas, and we got Mike Smith in return. At the time, the shock of the trade was enough to stun me and make me rather disappointed. But I eventually got over it, and Mike Smith's use as a goalie was highly needed here. So the trade turned out to our benefit. At the same trade deadline that the Richie deal was made at, Dan Boyle was signed to a nice new contract, which turned out to be the downfall during the off season. Management needed to clear out some salary cap space, and Boyle got the short end of that stick. The new owners did not treat the situation well at all [by treating Boyle that they would send him down to the minors and he wouldn't play if he didn't wave his no trade clause], and many Lightning fans [including myself] were more than a little upset.

Lawton has come out to the press and said it flat out: Vinny is never getting traded. I'd like to think that they've learned from their mistakes like with the Richards and Boyle trades. Lecavalier is in a category all on his own when you look at him from the viewpoint of the fans in Tampa Bay. For most of us, Vinny is the face of this organization. We remember him back when he was a somewhat awkward, pimply little teenager. A move that would see VL4 anywhere but in Tampa would create mass riots in the streets, with a mob closing in on the Forum with pitchforks to burn the place to the ground.

Add to the situation the fact that a lot of fans are still *grumble grumble* over the new management, and I just don't see a trade in the works. The fans that haven't already bailed on the new ownership would definitely pack their bags and head out of the Forum if they suddenly announced that never trading Vinny meant that he would be gone in the first season that his contract would cover. With the pressures that the ownership is already facing, things would start to look really ugly, really fast for them. And they know that. They are not immune to the shtick that fans throw around about them.

Some fans of other teams don't understand why we're so attached to Vinny Lecavalier as a player in Tampa Bay. They look at his stats and they look at the holes in our team that they think a trade could fix. But they don't understand the emotional ties attached with Lecavalier for the fans. Vinny is a symbol of this team. He's the face of the franchise, and he will remain that way until he retires. He's been here through the thick and the thin, longer than any other player on the team. He's a promise than things can go back to the way their were during the Lightning's improbable push in the playoffs and the Stanley Cup win.

And his involvement with the Tampa Bay community only adds to that. He's put so much back into this community since he came to Tampa Bay. His work with his Foundation and with All Childrens Hospital is amazing. Point and case, Vinny is a part of this community; not just a player. And even the thought of him playing in the NHL anywhere by here in Tampa Bay seems absurd.

Labels: Vinny Lecavalier