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SEPTEMBER 11, 2009

Some thoughts, observations, comments on the Tampa Bay Lightning rookie camp

The four-day rookie camp at the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon wrapped up on Friday with a short scrimmage won by the White team, 2-1, over the Black. Defensemen Vladimir Mihalik and Victor Hedman scored for the White. Hedman's goal was particularly pretty as he went short-side high. Defenseman Mark Barberio scored for the Black.

A breakaway contest followed, won by center Chris Lawrence. A second competition was won (or lost, in fact) by Mihalik, who was the last player not to score. Lawrence got an orange to snack on for his victory. Mihalik got a lemon, which he obediently peeled and bit right into.

"It was very well-run," GM Brian Lawton said of the event. "There was real purpose to it." ... Read more

OCTOBER 06, 2009

So much for easing defenseman Victor Hedman into the Tampa Bay Lightning lineup

If the time on ice from the Tampa Bay Lightning's season opener is any indication, rookie defenseman Victor Hedman is not going to be eased into the North American game. Hedman, 18, the No. 2 overall pick of the June draft, played a game-high 26 minutes, 27 seconds against the Thrashers with five shots and an assist.

"We all make mistakes," said associate coach Rick Wilson, who handles the defense and pointed out some positional issues upon which Hedman can improve. "But in the bigger context of the game, he was well-poised." ... Read more

NOVEMBER 03, 2009

Does Tampa Bay Lightning captain Vinny Lecavalier have to work harder or just smarter?

That turned out to be the question of the morning after the Tampa Bay Lightning's morning skate at the Air Canada Centre: does captain Vinny Lecavalier need more passion in his game or does he just need to work smarter?

Whatever your answer, Lecavalier has to do something. He has one goal in his first 12 games, and while he's got 10 points, he is has zero his last two games and has been kind of invisible. His ice time was a season-low 16:06 in Monday's awful loss to the Flyers. ... Read more

NOVEMBER 06, 2009

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman has concussion, says hit from Neil was clean

Tampa Bay Lightning rookie defenseman Victor Hedman will not play in Saturday's game with the Canadiens because of a concussion sustained in Thursday's game with the Senators on a brutal hit by Ottawa's Chris Neil.

Hedman's next chance to play will be Thursday at home against the Wild, but coach Rick Tocchet said he could not say for sure if Hedman will be ready, and that the team will be very cautious. ... Read more

NOVEMBER 06, 2009

Poll: Was Chris Neil's hit clean?

Was hit clean?
Was Chris Neil's crushing hit on Victor Hedman Thursday clean?
Yes
No

... Read more
NOVEMBER 09, 2009

Unclear whether Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman will play versus the Wild

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman skated during Monday's practice and participated fully. But coach Rick Tocchet sounded a lot like he could hold Hedman out of Thursday's game with the Wild as a precaution. ... Read more

NOVEMBER 10, 2009

Tampa Bay Lightning star Steven Stamkos okay after fall; Hedman could play against Wild

Pretty eventful day at Tampa Bay Lightning practice on Tuesday. Star Steven Stamkos gave everybody a scare, including himself, when he got caught up in a stick during a drill and flew into the end boards. Coach Rick Tocchet made it sound as if rookie defenseman Victor Hedman could play Thursday against the Wild at the St. Pete Times Forum.

And if you missed the previous post, wing Drew Miller was put on waivers. We will know at noon Wednesday if he cleared.

But first to Stamkos, who broke in on goalie Mike Smith, got tangled up with Smith's stick, fell and rammed hard into the end boards. Stamkos stayed down for a bit but skated off the ice without help. He was not specific about the injury, but it appeared he jammed his left wrist. ... Read more

DECEMBER 13, 2009

Coach Rick Tocchet: Tampa Bay Lightning has to "stop the bleeding right now"

Interesting talk with Tampa Bay Lightning coach Rick Tocchet this morning. Spoke on a lot of subjects, but most interesting was how the team seems to be fragile in that it either can't answer when opponents turn up the intensity or "unravels" when something goes bad on the ice. ... Read more

DECEMBER 16, 2009

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman leaves practice with sore foot/ankle

Victor Hedman, the Tampa Bay Lightning's standout rookie defenseman, briefly left practice on Wednesday in Detroit after he was struck in the left foot or ankle by a shot from defenseman Kurtis Foster. It wasn't one of Foster's blazers, but he certainly is not the guy you want hitting you with a puck.

Hedman continued practicing but took any chance he could to keep weight off his left foot. He limped to the locker room after practice and limped through the arena hallway toward the team bus with his left shoe untied. ... Read more

DECEMBER 17, 2009

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (foot) a game-time decision

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman tried to skate this morning at Joe Louis Arena but was unable because of a bruised left foot sustained Wednesday when hit in practice by a shot from teammate Kurtis Foster.

Hedman said he will try to skate during warm-ups before tonight's game with the Red Wings and then decide if he can play. ... Read more

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