Raw Charge - The static cling that brings Tampa Bay Lightning fans together

25 - 21 - 11

Streak: Won 3

Tampa Bay Lightning Roster

	#	Pos.
Brandon Bochenski	27	RW
Steve Downie	9	RW
Todd Fedoruk	17	LW
Kurtis Foster	6	D
David Hale	21	D
Jeff Halpern	11	C
Victor Hedman	77	D
Zenon Konopka	28	C
Vincent Lecavalier	4	C
Mike Lundin	39	D
Ryan Malone	12	LW
Andrej Meszaros	14	D
Antero Niittymaki	30	G
Mattias Ohlund	5	D
Matt Smaby	32	D
Mike Smith	41	G
Martin St. Louis	26	RW
Steven Stamkos	91	C
Alex Tanguay	13	LW
Nate Thompson	44	C
Stephane Veilleux	19	LW
Matt Walker	8	D

Mark Parrish on waivers; to be signed by Tampa Bay

by John Fontana on Feb 8, 2010 1:42 PM EST in The Minors Comment 2 comments

Mark Parrish of the Norfolk Admirals, photographed at Scope on Nov. 10, 2009. (Steve Earley | The Virginian-Pilot) Via media.hamptonroads.com

View full size photo »

Mark Parrish, veteran right wing in the NHL, has been biding his time in the AHL, waiting for his next opportunity in the big leagues. He, like so many other NHL veterans, was the odd-man-out with the last club he was attached to (Vancouver) after the NHL preseason and was left wondering when and where they would play next in the league, if at all.

Parrish was signed by Lightning GM Brian Lawton (Parrish's former agent) on a try-out basis to the Norfolk Admirals - not officially with Tampa Bay but through the Lightning organization none-the-less. It was to get playing minutes again, and it was to show he still had the fire and the desire to play the game.

And now? Parrish has been waived, not for release or demotion, but likely to pave the way for his ultimate signing by the Lightning.

He still may be claimed by any club looking for help, but he may become a very valuable addition to the Lightning for it's playoff push. All without having to acquire a player of his talent and experience via trade.

We'll know for sure on Tuesday if he clears waivers or not, and what the ultimate actions will be by the club afterward - assign him to Norfolk officially or call him up to replace Brandon Bochenski or someone else on the Lightning roster?

2 comments | 0 recs | Share

SB Nation's official Super Bowl Game Thread

For game-thread brethren that want to talk the Super Bowl ...

A more Tampa Bay-based game thread can be found at Buc'Em

1 day ago John Fontana 0 comments 0 recs

What they're saying about Jeffrey Vinik and Lightning ownership

by John Fontana on Feb 7, 2010 4:02 PM EST in Media Comment 6 comments

Here's a collection of quotes from sources around the net and in the press regarding the Lightning sale to Jeff Vinik. Most fo the common reactiosn that were found were mostly about the departure of OK Hockey, and less so about the private man that is Jeffrey Vinik.

If you have otehr thoughts, or have other sources of note, feel free to post them in the comments

Vinik was rather adamant in what he wants to accomplish here, and it's easy to sit behind a computer and tell you to take him at his word when he ultimately will be judged by his actions. But his words are all we have to go by now, and as far as first impressions go, you have to like what he is saying.

-- Erik Erlendsson, Tampa Tribune

So now the pre-judgment of Vinik begins, with noted Lightning booster (/snark) Ken Campbell of The Hockey News saying that "by all accounts, Vinik is not a hockey guy" before Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Tribune shot back with "he is a big hockey fan, contrary to earlier reports. Thinking this is good news for fans."

Time will tell ... but give him time. The Lightning are right on the playoff bubble, but there's a long road ahead to mending what the previous owners broke. Meanwhile, here's Vinik:

-- Greg Wyshynski, Puck Daddy

As for the Lightning under Vinik, we don't know, not for sure anyway. Look, I just found out it was Vinik, not Vinick. The jury is still out. Heck, the jurors haven't even sat down.

What we know is that the Unknown is better than the Known, and one Known is that Koules and Barrie were going to have trouble meeting payroll.

-- Martin Fennelly, Tampa Tribune

Will Jeff Vinik be any better? Only time will tell, but it's difficult to think how it could be worse than Koules/Barrie. The biggest issue in the Koules/Barrie regime (outside of that whole money issue) is that the two owners wanted to also be coaches and GMs, like they were involved in some sort fantasy league.

-- Mike Chen, From The Rink

Vinik may not know anything about hockey, and that may be a good thing. Unlike OK Hockey who professed to be hockey fans and ended up pissing away the team, if Vinik has no interest in hockey I could care less. As long as Vinik hires the right people who knows how to run a hockey club, what we will see as an end product on the ice will be a good product. Unlike OK Hockey who took the reigns over the team, I doubt Vinik will make any hockey related decision and that really is the way to go.

-- Sha-Sha Toth, The Hockey Bay Blog

In total seriousness, just do what you just told us you were going to do. Create a winning environment that players want to be apart of, and fans can enjoy.

-- Don't Trade Vinny

6 comments | 0 recs | Share

Have a very "Super" Sunday on SB Nation

by John Fontana on Feb 7, 2010 7:15 AM EST in Football Comment 0 comments

Yeah, yeah, different sport, but no one can deny the event that is the Super Bowl and the effect it has on the sports landscape in the US. That being said, as the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints prepare to do battle in Miami, we'd like to highlight a few places around the SB Nation network and ongoing coverage of Super Bowl XLIV.

The SB Nation front page has running updates from Miami with sideshow attractions and other highlights leading up to the big game.

Canal Street Chronicles is giving you the view from the French Quarter... OK, not the French Quarter as so much the perspective of the New Orlean Saints. Don't forget to check out predictions from Saints faithful.

Of course, if you are a fan of horseshoes, quarterbacks named "Manning"and the storied franchise that is the Colts, heading over to Blue Stampede is a must. Make sure to check out their two-part interview with football guru Peter King.

Of course, there's more coverage of all things NFL on the SBNation NFL hub including coverage of the new Hall of Fame class that includes legends Emmitt Smith, John Randle and Jerry Rice.

Of course, if you'd rather do the Hockey thing... No worries. We'll still be here when this is over. I promise.

0 comments | 0 recs | Share

Calgary Flames at Tampa Bay Lightning game thread

by John Fontana on Feb 6, 2010 6:30 PM EST in Game Threads Comment 403 comments

Versus

Full game coverage on SB Nation

(yes, I noticed the title typo -- JPF)

403 comments | 0 recs | Share

Lightning seek to extinguish revamped Flames (preview) [UPDATED]

by John Fontana on Feb 6, 2010 12:19 PM EST in Game previews Comment 4 comments

More photos » Tony Gutierrez - AP

Browse more photos »

WHERE: St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, Florida
WHEN: 7 PM EST
MEDIA: CW 44 (TV), 620 WDAE (radio)
OPPONENT COVERAGE: Matchsticks and Gasoline, Calgary Puck (message board)

While the ownership transition becomes the major story surrounding the Lightning, there is still hockey to be played and a playoff race to compete in. The next pair of games on this homestand are against Western Conference foes... Foes who are jockeying for playoff position themselves.

In fact, while the Vancouver Canucks (~~Monday~~ Tuesday night's opponent, Hat Tip to Sha-Sha for the correction) are flying high on the backs of the Sedin twins and Roberto Luongo in goal, the Calgary Flames are underachieving. After a hot start, the Flames have cooled significantly, culminating in this week's trades of Ollie Jokinen and Dion Phaneuf to the New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs respectively. They'd been floundering in January (4-8-3 for the month) but have found new life since the deals this past week.

Can the Lightning further solidify their playoff footing tonight? Or will they slip back at the ahnds of an always-formidable western Conference foe?

Continue reading this post »

4 comments | 0 recs | Share

Brendan Burke, son of Leafs GM Brian Burke, killed

We at Raw Charge would like to express heartfelt condolences to Brian Burke and his family after his son, Brendan, was killed ln a car accident night in Indiana.

2 days ago John Fontana 0 comments 0 recs

Jeffrey Vinik Takes Charge

by John Fontana on Feb 5, 2010 12:18 PM EST in Business of Hockey Comment 8 comments

Jeffrey Vinik is in agreement to buy the Tampa Bay Lightning (photo provide by Tampa Bay Lightning)

View full size photo »

"Buying the Lightning and joining the Tampa Bay community is a dream come true. I've been an avid hockey fan my whole life andI pledge to our fans that I will work my hardest to build the Lightning into a world class organization both on and off the ice. I hope to bring a high level of excitement and intensity back to Lightning hockey, with a goal of having the team consistently compete for the Stanley Cup. I have a passion for the game and will do my best to restore a winning culture at the St. Pete Times Forum that all of our fans and partners can be proud of."

-- Jeffrey Vinik

Jeffrey Vinik is formally in agreement to purchase the Tampa Bay Lightning franchise from OK Hockey Group, a press release from the team announced.

Vinik is also establishing Tampa Bay Sports and Entertainment. There was no further information presented besides the name. If it's simply the formal moniker for Lightning ownership, so be it...

But the question for Lightning fans right now is, where do we go from here?

I'm not talking about the on-ice product but the overall franchise in general. The immediate questions are not line-combos and player signings and transactions, but the direction of operations of one of the top venues in the world (St. Pete Times Forum), operations of the front office and event staff, all the logistical stuff that most do not take into account.

Continue reading this post »

8 comments | 0 recs | Share

Explore Full Archive Next Page

Search

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recent FanPosts

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

FanShots

Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.

by John Fontana 2 months ago 0 comments | 0 recs

Off Topic: Tampa Bay's World Cup bid site

by John Fontana 2 months ago 0 comments | 0 recs

+ New FanShot All FanShots >

Southeast Standings

	GP	W	L	OTL	PT
Washington Japers' Rink	59	41	12	6	88
Tampa Bay Raw Charge	57	25	21	11	61
Atlanta Bird Watchers Anonymous	57	25	24	8	58
Florida Litter Box Cats	58	24	25	9	57
Carolina Canes Country	58	21	30	7	49