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Big season coming for Tampa Bay Lightning and its relationship with AHL Norfolk
To say this is a big season in the relationship between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Norfolk Admirals, Tampa Bay's AHL affiliate, would be a bit of an understatement. The five-year deal between the clubs has an out clause for both sides after three seasons, and next season will be the third.
"Oh, sure," Admirals owner Ken Young said, "there will be evaluations on both sides."
The relationship is in no way contentious. Young said he has "no problem with the way (the Lightning) has been treating us." And he understands the troubles Tampa Bay has gone through, from an ownership squabble, to trying to overcome years of poor drafting, to last season's epidemic of injuries that forced the big club to raid Norfolk's roster for healthy bodies. Lightning GM Brian Lawton said Young has been "gracious."
But there are concerns of both sides of this equation. ... Read more
Competition on defense (maybe) and forward (likely) will define Tampa Bay Lightning training camp; and other tidbits
Looking over his team on two sheets of ice on Tuesday -- the rookie camp on one at the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon and the vets skating in pre-camp workouts to on the other -- Lightning GM Brian Lawton could say one thing about training camp that begins Sept. 12, there will be competition.
In fact, he said it already has started as far as the rookies are concerned.
"This is live fire, have at it," Lawton said he told his players.
But how much competition will there be, really? Lawton said there are two spots open on defense for the Lightning, but given the roster, it seems it's going to be very tough to crack the top eight, and Lawton has indicated he likely will keep eight defensemen on the roster. He also said up to five or six players will vie for the final spot on the top two lines already manned by Vinny Lecavalier, Steven Stamkos, Marty St. Louis, Ryan Malone and Alex Tanguay. That seems more likely to be the case, so let's take a look at that first. ... Read more
Lightning brass says it was disappointed in defenseman Matt Lashoff during training camp
Matt Lashoff was in a difficult spot, and the Lightning was in a tough spot, too, as to how to handle him this season.
Lashoff, 23, who did not come into camp in the top six, had to do everything he could to convince the team to keep him in the NHL. The Lightning, with a solid top six in place, figured Lashoff would not be served well sitting on the bench with an NHL club.
In the end, it sounded as if Lashoff made the Lightning's decision easy as the team sent him and Mike Lundin to AHL Norfolk. ... Read more
Tampa Bay Lightning GM Brian Lawton says he has "complete confidence" in his players
Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Brian Lawton came out for his players on Monday, one day after the Lightning fell 4-0 to the Blackhawks to extend a nine-game streak in which it has won only once while scoring just 13 goals.
"I have complete confidence in the group," Lawton said. "At some point everybody in that room recognizes and understands that this business, everything around it, is predicated on winning. But as far as my confidence level in the group, I have tremendous confidence in the guys there. They’ve just got to get the job done. They realize that. I’m not saying anything that they’re not aware of." ... Read more
Lawton: Report of Rangers contacting Tampa Bay about Lecavalier "completely false"
The Vinny Lecavalier trade rumors seemingly never end, and the latest report fittingly included the Rangers as the Lightning is headed to New York for a game Tuesday.
The Ottawa Sun reported Sunday, citing an unnamed league source, that Rangers GM Glen Sather contacted Tampa Bay GM Brian Lawton in an effort to spark trade talks for Lecavalier, the Lightning captain who has a no-trade clause.
That report, according to Lawton, is "completely false." Lawton laughed and said he hasn't even spoken to Sather in weeks. ... Read more
Should Tampa Bay Lightning GM Brian Lawton be "aggressive" at trade deadline?
Tampa Bay Lightning GM Brian Lawton said last week he wants to be "aggressive" at the March 3 trade deadline. He said prospective owner Jeff Vinik, who is already writing the payroll checks, has said he is not opposed to increasing payroll if the right deal comes along.
"I explained what we were doing as a management group and it didn't rankle Jeff," Lawton said. "We're looking to be aggressive. That's the way we've been preparing for the last month and a half as we see how the team is doing." ... Read more
Tampa Bay Lightning coach Rick Tocchet said he wasn't consulted about staff change
The most interesting aspect of the change to the Tampa Bay Lightning coaching staff is not so much that assistant coach Wes Walz was fired after he declined the head coaching job at AHL Norfolk, or that Norfolk coach Jim Johnson has been hired as a Lightning assistant, helping to push out Walz. It is that Lightning coach Rick Tocchet apparently was not consulted by GM Brian Lawton before the change was made. ... Read more
Former Tampa Bay Lightning assistant Wes Walz praises coach Rick Tocchet
Wes Walz, who was fired by the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday after deciding not to take the vacant head coaching job of AHL Norfolk, had warm words for his former Lightning staff mates, especially Lightning coach Rick Tocchet. Walz was offered the Admirals job after Norfolk coach Jim Johnson was elevated to Tampa Bay assistant, pushing Walz out. ... Read more
Norfolk owner Ken Young says he understands why Tampa Bay Lightning took his coach
The owner of the Tampa Bay Lightning's AHL affiliate in Norfolk feels his fans' pain after losing the coach that turned around the team's season. But Ken Young said that is part of being associated with an NHL team. ... Read more
Would you want the Tampa Bay Lightning to use its depth at goaltender as trade bait?
With the trade deadline in two days (3 p.m. Wednesday), the bigger question for the Lightning than what it can bring back in a deal, but what it can offer. With little organizational depth and with little willingness to trade draft picks that are needed to re-stock the minor league system, there are few options if GM Brian Lawton does not want to gut the big club. ... Read more
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