Bolts ink forwards Alexandre Picard and Ryan Shannon; roster set?
by John Fontana on Jul 7, 2011 7:34 PM EDT
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In some early evening news, the Tampa Bay Lightning have added right wing Ryan Shannon, who played last season with the Ottawa Senators, and left wing Alexandre Picard, who had been playing in the AHL. Both players signed one-year contracts, with Picard's contract being two-way.
Shannon is a Boston College alumni, and hails from Connecticut. He's played mostly 3rd line minutes with the Ottawa Senators last season, and his 27 points compares directly to that of departed wing Sean Bergenheim's 29. Does that mean that Shannon will replace Bergenheim on the 3rd line? Remains to be seen. Everything is up in the air and will all be sorted out during training camp.
Shannon does compare, in minutes played, to Bergenheim too. He averaged 12:55 of ice time per-game with the Sens. Tom Pyatt, who was signed by the Bolts yesterday, only averaged 1 minutes of ice time for the Habs.
One other note about Shannon - he plans to donate his brain to science after he dies.
A choice quote form GM Steve Yzerman and a profile video on Shannon is below the jump.
Damian Cristodero at the St. Pete Times has a an article up on the Shannon signing, and GM Steve Yzerman (Jedi Master) has declared that the team is pretty much set with the roster:
"If something unforeseen came along then we will re-evaluate," Yzerman said. "If there is a good player and we can afford to sign him we certainly will explore it. But for now, we have a player (Shannon) who fits into what we’re trying to do and the way we play. So, let's not let this one pass by."
Before anyone says it, it goes without saying that Steven Stamkos and Teddy Purcell need to be signed. And it will happen. But you may see Yzerman's confidence and scratch your head. The Bolts need a top-six wing, though! They've only been adding bit players!
Do they really need to sign someone, though? Or acquire someone?
Pyatt is a bottom line forward, as I brought up above the jump. Shannon is a bottom six forward as well. Doesn't that give the opportunity for someone on the 4th line to be moved up into the top six? Perhaps, a "textbook" forward in Guy Boucher's system, who had already taken shifts on the wing of Vincent Lecavalier?
It would not exactly be a bad thing for Nate Thompson to be considered an answer in the top-six mix: A responsible forward that is willing to do it all, and capable of feeding the scoring wings.
Sound like a stretch? Well, if Shannon, Pyatt, Blair Jones, Mattias Ritola and perhaps Carter Ashton will all be vying for roster spots in September - where do you expect them to be pitted? I'd sooner expect them all to compete for the bottom-six, than for top-line minutes.
Just food for thought... The solution for the top-six is already in the system, and likely played full-time in Tampa last season.
Profile on Ryan Shannon:
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For personal reasons, I hope not
I personally hope for a trade to free up the defensive corps enough to sign Lundin.
If not, life will go on, and I’ll be okay.
"[The Lightning] are uncanny. When they want to get a goal, it's like they just snap their fingers or hit a button. They just dial it up. You can see it. It's like they flip a switch. When they are down, it's just like they think, 'we know we are going to score.' I don't know what it is, it leaves [the opposition] flabbergasted." - Mike Knuble, 3 May 2011
by MTBoltFan on Jul 7, 2011 7:43 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
what about
#STAMMERGEDDON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Don't look now, but there's one too many people in this room and I think it's you." Groucho Marx
In Prust We Trust
"Kovalev would work with Tortorella like a kitty would work in a microwave.
A lot of smoke and desperate clawing at the door. It wouldn’t work. It would just be a big, hot mess." -Dig Deep
Follow me @8kpower
Apparently JM thinks it's a nonissue
lol
But seriously, as I said in the other thread, these signings are in the same vein as last year’s: under-the-radar and low risk. JM knows what he’s doing, and I expect this year to be as good as last year.
you're not defending him are you?
are you his mom?
by toppleprone on Jun 7, 2011 9:43 PM EDT
by SnipeShot on Jul 7, 2011 9:24 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
+1
Don’t tell that to John Romano. He was helping the hysteria along in the St. Pete Times, talking about hwo BIG the losses were! OH NOES!
Typing is an adventure, and reading should be, too!
Raw Charge.
STAMMERGEDDONSTAMMERGEDDON
@DigDeepNYR
"I like a man who grins when he fights." -Sir Winston Churchill
"It's just pain." -Brandon Prust | "In Prust we Trust."
STAMMERGEDDON
you're not defending him are you?
are you his mom?
by toppleprone on Jun 7, 2011 9:43 PM EDT
I loved Picard when he was here
I was really upset when we got rid of him. Very nice
Different. But it’s REAL odd. This guy has the same name, comes from the same province, played in the same Junior Hockey League, started his career in the same year…
Typing is an adventure, and reading should be, too!
Raw Charge.
So odd EA Sports put this Picard on the Lightning roster in NHL 09 instead of the defenseman.
By the way, Picard (the defenseman) just signed with Pittsburgh a few days ago.
Following the Lightning all the way from Brasil!
by Rafael Amarante on Jul 7, 2011 10:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Not the same Alexandre Picard.
Sign lady must die.
Follow me on Twitter @Josh_Frank
by EminenceFront on Jul 7, 2011 9:42 PM EDT up reply actions
I’d think the Alaskan Assassin and Downie would switch in and out of the top six, no? I thought Downie acquitted himself quite well with Marty and Stammer last year. And it’s not like he can recreate the playoff magic with Bergenheim anymore anyway.
my thoughts as well
if they can fill Gagne’s shoes (less impressive considering that Gagne wasn’t often at full strength), then our top six should be fine. Just have to replace a couple of third-liners (Downie moving up and Bergie moving on). And that’s what these signings do.
Heel for school, Vol for life!
Go Bolts! Out West, go Preds! Southern hockey solidarity!
by Incipient_Senescence on Jul 7, 2011 11:20 PM EDT up reply actions
I think you will like Shannon
He’s not a big guy, but he works hard. We’re going to miss him in Ottawa.
Seems like a class act
Was real professional on twitter, and while he thanked Ottawa he seemed excited to come here. I can see why you guys would miss him; he seems like a glue guy that any team would like to have
you're not defending him are you?
are you his mom?
by toppleprone on Jun 7, 2011 9:43 PM EDT
Good that Cap'n Yzerman made it so
Signing a guy like Picard will prove to be a worthwhile enterprise.
Shawn Camp earned my dog several beatings back in 2007
by wtbudlight on Aug 30, 2010 5:54 PM PDT
Just for the record
Shannon @ 625k >> Bergenheim @ 2.75M > Joel Ward @ 3M
Following the Lightning all the way from Brasil!
Love the Shannon signing
He brings breakaway speed and the understated ability to play the point on the PP. I think Boucher will go with one of the speedsters ( Stamkos, St. Louis, Shannon and Tyrell ) on each line. With a couple of new defensemen better at the transition game this should balance our speed and lines to the best of their ability with our salary structure. On occasion where Boucher has the last change he could throw 3 of the speedsters on the ice at once to create a mismatch with a slower defensive pairing on for the opposition.
Don in St Pete
Good stuff
Another 2 good signings from the JM… seems like the team may have a bit of input also, on the past few guys. Definitely like Shannon’s profile… training with Marty is always a huge plus in so many ways!! “Cheap labor, hire me”..Like the sound of that as well, pretty rare nowadays. …Funny Detroit signed a guy earlier in the week who is also 5’8.
Well, I think Nate, Bergie Purcell, etc. set the bar now, as to what the right player, in the right system, can accomplish when given the chance and continue to flourish. Only thing I’m even slightly worried about is Downie being so worn out every night from having to protect everyone. We all know down here that size isn’t the only factor and that as long as you got some muscle, you can win those battles. Hopefully it won’t be an issue, again though.. training with Marty is a fantastic start.
Welcome to Tampa Bay boys!!
So... if that was just the beginning? Can't friggin' wait to see what's next!! A HUGE Thank You to Mr. Vinik, Steve Yzerman, Guy Boucher & the whole damn Lightning team/organization!! 100% Continued support and respect.
by Let's JOE WINGS-BOLTS on Jul 8, 2011 12:58 PM EDT reply actions
Yeah, didn’t like it neither.
On the other hand, great opportunity for Tokarski. He is now Norfolk’s starter by defeault.
Following the Lightning all the way from Brasil!
by Rafael Amarante on Jul 8, 2011 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Better, perhaps, but not as ready to play in the NHL.
Win or lose, I'm proud of these guys.
Raw Charge, an SBN Tampa Bay Lightning community. Follow me on Twitter: @dagmar27.
by Cassie McClellan on Jul 11, 2011 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Very this.
Typing is an adventure, and reading should be, too!
Raw Charge.
by John Fontana on Jul 13, 2011 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions
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