The airing of grievances; Tampa Bay Lightning at Colorado Avalanche preview
by John Fontana on Dec 23, 2011 4:01 PM EST
in '11-'12 game previews
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PrintWHERE: Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado
WHEN: 9 PM EST | | TICKETS: Check Availability
MEDIA:Sun Sports (cable), 970 WFLA (radio)
OPPONENT COVERAGE: Mile High Hockey
Seasons greetings to one and all! Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Yule tidings to you...
And happy Festivus... Lets not forget Festivus ("for the rest of us").
Yes, that's right, it's December 23rd. Festivus. The Festivus pole is up, and dinner has been ingested.
Now comes the Airing of Grievances (to be followed by the Feats of Strength and Festivus Miracles). And of course, right now, Lightning fans have a few grievances they desire to air - and have been airing, off and on, for the duration of the season.
If you go by the mainstream media article by Tom Jones at the St. Pete (soon to be Tampa Bay) Times, everything and anything with the Lightning is wrong right now. It's neatly packaged in a list of five things that need to be fixed, but basically it touches on everything sans coaching.
Oh, but it's not like people aren't blaming coaching. Bolts By the Bay has an article up touching on the subject - the fat that there are those out there in Bolts Nation that put the blame on Guy Boucher. We've already seen the national media (hello, Versus, you're a grievance all unto itself) attack the 1-3-1 system, and we've seen arguments that the bolts need to be more "head on" in their defensive style. But is Guy Boucher the problem? Hardly.
Our old friend, Nolan Whyte, makes a more thorough and thoughtful attempt to air a grievance that, once again, has followed the Bolts throughout the season. Goaltending. Goaltending, and the perchance for the Lightning organization to invest in a stopgap goalie of the moment and not a talent for the duration:
This team needs to stop bringing in characters that are clearly just temporary measures and pay the price to get a serious big game goalie. Yzerman inherited Mike Smith, but signed Ellis, Garon, and resigned an aging Roloson. He is clearly not trying to buy the best of the best.
Acquiring Roloson by trade with the Islanders was shrewd, but it's likely Roloson has now emptied his NHL tank.
Perhaps Yzerman is waiting for the prospects to gradually emerge and take over. Jaroslav Janus, Dustin Tokarski, maybe there is a real NHL contender hanging around. And maybe, many years from now, they'll be ready to carry this team to glory.
But by applying bandaids like Ellis, Roloson, and Garon instead of acquiring a stud via trade or free agency, you limit the meanwhile teams to also-ran status.
One of the major grievances the Lightning have - the team, the fans, alike - is everyone getting hurt right now. Fans were thrilled Wednesday night to see Martin St, Louis play (and contribute!)... But losing Ryan Shannon for 2-4 weeks in the process? Already playing without Matt Gilroy, Mattias Ohlund Nate Thompson? That's not a positive thought.
Thompson and Gilroy both participated in the morning skate at Pepsi Center today, but both had the red, no-contact jersey on. Perhaps they will be back for the post-Christmas bash at Times Palace against the Flyers on December 26th? Perhaps not.
JT Wyman finds his way into the lineup tonight, by way of the Ryan Shannon injury. Wyman has only played 3 NHL games in his career - with the Montreal Canadiens - but this is a bigger opportunity for him than at first glance. Wyman may be seen as simply AHL filler for an injured NHL player, but he's stepping into the role of an under-performing NHL player. Shannon's 7 points in 25 games does not make him irreplaceable, though some will argue about the raw deal that Shannon has had, being scratched in the musical-chairs-forward role.
There's no reason to think JT Wyman will prove to be the answer, but the kid's about to get his opportunity to find out what the question is.
Mathieu Garon will get the start in net for the Lightning, and the chance to redeem himself for the poor performance in San Jose on Wednesday night.
The Avalanche are looking for their eighth straight win at home. It's a feat, Mile High Hockey said in their preview, that no other Avalanche team has accomplished in their 15 years in Denver. Oh, the franchise has accomplished that feat (hello, Quebec Nordiques!) but not the Avs themselves.
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What would Tampa need for Ryan Malone? The Wild have 3 really good goalies, and Harding is about to go UFA, so there could be a trade possibility. I’m thinking if the Bolts could work out a deal where Harding gets an extension upon trade, it would help both squads. Just curious what else would be needed for a deal like this, as a 1-for-1 isn’t enough.
You know you're a Wild fan if Spam Whoopie Gerald-buns comes up in conversation
Regressing all the way back to high school hockey.
Also...
GO BOLTS!!!! CRUSH THE AVS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You know you're a Wild fan if Spam Whoopie Gerald-buns comes up in conversation
Regressing all the way back to high school hockey.
Hardings namne has come up often with discussion of
“answers” to lightning goalie issues. And while I personally would be willing to part with Malone, there are complications with that — first off, I’m in a minority here. Second off, his No-Move clause.
Typing is an adventure, and reading should be, too!
Raw Charge.
by John Fontana on Dec 23, 2011 6:26 PM EST up reply actions
The problem with Harding, IMO, is his injury history. He missed all of last season with a torn ACL/MCL and part of 2009-10 with a hip (I think) problem. Until he can get at least a full season under his belt, I wouldn’t put him at the top of the list. Not that he’s not good, but if he got hurt again? Oh hey, it’s Mathieu Garon!
R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Rakastan suuria Maalivahdit Skandinaviasta
That's hilarious
I was just coming over here to ask the same thing about Malone. I didn’t realize that Malone had a no-move clause. But he may be willing to drop it to go to a “playoff” team. We also have some D to throw into the mix. How do you guys feel about the lightning’s defense? We have an abundance of Defense and Goaltending. I have not been over to the site in a while, been focusing on the fine run of the Wild.
Lemme tell you, there are people here in Tampa who would be very interested in bringing Lundin back to town. The Lightning’s defense is tricky, though, in general. The system requires mobile defensemen more than hard hitters or stay-at-home guys.
Typing is an adventure, and reading should be, too!
Raw Charge.
by John Fontana on Dec 23, 2011 6:48 PM EST up reply actions
Apparently we're already on the same page
Malone and a 4th in exchange for Harding, Lundin, and a 2013 3rd? I don’t think the Wild would deal their 2012 3rd since they already lost their 2012 2nd round pick.
You know you're a Wild fan if Spam Whoopie Gerald-buns comes up in conversation
Regressing all the way back to high school hockey.
Done and done
Oh, wait… You mean WE can’t make trades? You need Chuck and Steve to do that? Son of a…
You guys work on putting a bug in Stevie Y’s ear. We’ll start on Fletcher.
by eamon17 on Dec 23, 2011 7:00 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Hey! Wait a minute!
Aren’t you both Wild fans? What are you doing making a deal with each other? :)
R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Rakastan suuria Maalivahdit Skandinaviasta
Jumped the gun trying to fit in the joke. My bad :)
What do you guys think of a deal like that? I think it would make sense for both parties. Though it does seem the Lightning are VERY bare in the cupboards (much like the Wild two years ago). Hopefully Stevie Y can figure out a way to help now while building for the future. Cause Vinny and Marty don’t have a whole lot of years left…
my first thought is also Malone
but the NMC makes it really tricky. but he’s the most tradable player as far as combination of actually being desired but not being a face of the franchise (see: VL4, MSL, Stammer)
If I cared more about my UNC side, I'd call myself "Tar Volon," and that'd be awesome.
Bolts, Canes, Preds (now in different conferences!). Canes mini-STH. Southern hockey solidarity
Rocky Top Talk
by Incipient_Senescence on Dec 23, 2011 8:00 PM EST up reply actions
Thats part of the problem
most of your pieces that could be part of a BIG trade are the “face of the franchise”. Do you guys have any top prospects coming up? It seems that the Lightning might be in a little trouble when Marty and Vinny decide to hang ’em up. Yzerman might to be able to figure out how to fill the cupboards, like Fletcher did in MN.
Connolly and Ashton are pretty good prospects
Conacher is having a great year too. All forwards though
If I cared more about my UNC side, I'd call myself "Tar Volon," and that'd be awesome.
Bolts, Canes, Preds (now in different conferences!). Canes mini-STH. Southern hockey solidarity
Rocky Top Talk
by Incipient_Senescence on Dec 23, 2011 9:03 PM EST up reply actions
Namestnikov cut from Russia WJC Team
That’s a shocker.
Following the Lightning from Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
Let's. Go. BOLTS!
by Rafael Amarante on Dec 23, 2011 6:16 PM EST reply actions
He was concealing an injury. That was why he was sent home.
Typing is an adventure, and reading should be, too!
Raw Charge.
by John Fontana on Dec 23, 2011 6:26 PM EST up reply actions
Humm. Chesnokov and BoltProspects didn’t report that.
In fact, Chesnokov reported that Russia’s coach said Namestnikov is a 1st or 2nd line player and he was sent home because they “had better players to fill those spots”.
But the injury makes more sense to me, Vladdy’s pretty good.
Kucherov and Nesterov made the team.
Following the Lightning from Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
Let's. Go. BOLTS!
by Rafael Amarante on Dec 23, 2011 7:00 PM EST up reply actions
Plenty of time left
Don’t panic, we have an 82 game schedule and it will all be worked out by Jan 1. We don’t have clowns running this organization. They are very aware of our weakness and will act acordingly. For me it is the Goaltending, Love to steal Montoya from the Isles, a couple of tweeks on “D” no more than 5 minute’s for Kubi and 9 for Clark. Also, give Wymann a shot. big body, good speed. On the PP Malone in front of the net. Purcel have a seat, don’t know if he’s playing injured or not, just not contributing. Give one of the kids a chance to see how bad he wants it
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