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The Lightning defense - the 09-10 edition

Defenseman Matt Smaby avoided arbitration and signed a two-year deal worth $1.05 million ($500,000 for the first season, $550,000 the second) with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
 
For much of last season, Smaby helped anchor down a blue line that was decimated by injuries, waivers, and trades. And he wasn’t the only one. Last season’s defensive corps looked vastly different from the beginning of the season to the end. On opening night of the 2008-2009 season, the defense included:
 
Matt Carle, Jamie Heward, Andrej Meszaros, Vladimir Mihalik, Janne Niskala, Shane O’Brien, Paul Ranger.
 
For the last game of the season, the defense included:
 
Matt Lashoff, Josef Melichar, Vladimir Mihalik, Kevin Quick, Matt Smaby, Noah Welch.
 
By now, we all know the story of how that came to pass. And we have all painfully winced at the number of defensemen that were used last season – a grand total of 22. It might’ve been more, but Mike Lundin was stuck in the minors due to the fear of being taken by another team as he cleared waivers to come up to Tampa Bay.
 
At this time, the Lightning have on their official team roster nine defensemen:
 
Kurtis Foster, David Hale, Victor Hedman, Lukas Krajicek, Matt Lashoff, Andrej Meszaros, Mattias Ohlund, Paul Ranger, and Matt Walker.
 
Other defensemen not currently on their website roster are:
 
Mike Lundin, Vladimir Mihalik, Kevin Quick, Matt Smaby.
 
All but Hedman have played in the NHL. Some played because they deserved it, and others because their team was desperate due to a lack sufficient personnel, for whatever reason. Such is the way of team sports.
 
So the 64 million dollar question is, who will be playing with the Lightning on opening night of the 2009-2010 season? Some are obvious – such as Hedman, Meszaros, Ohlund, and Ranger – but others not as much. Who would you like to see fill in the last two starting positions on defense?

Poll
Which of these on-the-bubble D-men would you like to see make the team?
Matt Smaby
75 votes
David Hale
15 votes
Mike Lundin
42 votes
Vladmir Mihalik
15 votes
Matt Lashoff
50 votes
Kevin Quick
13 votes
Ty Wishart
22 votes

232 votes | Poll has closed

Comment 4 comments  |  0 recs  | 

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Our blueline

It looks good so far but i think there needs to be a trial and error because it’s all about chemistry and focus.

by vickiep4 on Jul 27, 2009 8:08 PM EDT reply actions  

matt lashoff played well towards the end.. He is a good PMD. He is big enough. I think he can be as good as grebeshkov

by SumOil on Jul 28, 2009 12:51 AM EDT reply actions  

Did you forget about Foster?

Don’t see him as an option in the poll. He should play if he’s recovered from that awful injury.

by OilW30 on Jul 29, 2009 7:04 PM EDT reply actions  

Foster's not an option on the poll...

…because he’s assumed to be in the top 7 — not on the bubble

The Raw Charge -- the Tampa Bay Lightning weblog at SB Nation.

by John Fontana on Jul 30, 2009 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions  

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