The process and the next chapter set to begin

by John Fontana on Sep 13, 2011 2:29 PM EDT in Tampa Bay Lightning Events

Everything you learned during the 2010-11 Tampa Bay Lightning campaign is in the books now. It's over. It happened. Revel in it and rejoice at the over-achievements and accomplishments made by a franchise reborn under new ownership, management, and coaching.

But that chapter is over. Turn the page, please.

Don't get lost in the fact that the Bolts team that you knew last season are not the same heroes that will be protagonists in the story of the 2011-12 NHL season. The players on the roster that will participate in Lightning training camp, when it gets underway on Friday, have largely remained the same (with some notable exceptions). But things are different.

Guy Boucher, in an excellent Q and A with Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Tribune, made it a point to bring the fact that the team starts over:

... But what we were at the end of the year is not what we are going to be at the beginning of this year. I think that's the common misconception that teams, organizations and fans usually have is that they think it just continues and it's an on-going process, which it's not. There is a break in between, there's a change of players, there's chemistry that is going to be a little different to start.

The bar has been raised for the organization as a whole over the past 18 months. The on-ice product raised the bar substantially from expectations of the recent past.

But the process of becoming, begins on Friday. And in that process, the team can only go as far as the desire, effort, and contributions by the players within the system.

Lightning Fan Confidence Poll

Last tallied on 09/17.

21|1:|0|100&chxt=x,y&chco=5098c7&chd=t:32

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I expect this year to start as well, if not better. The reason is at the very least our goaltending situation is no worse than last year. More than likely it will be better then last season.

Another positive is the majority of the players already know Coach B’s methodology and style—only the new acquisitions need adapt, whereas last year the whole team was learning on the fly.

"The Revolution will be complete when the language is perfect"
- Smith in Orwell's 1984

by MTBoltFan on Sep 13, 2011 2:45 PM EDT reply actions

Okay, so new season+new player+tweaks to the system=learning curve.

Someone needs to get on here and give me some confidence that the defense will “get it” this year.

R.I.P. Belak, Rypien, Boogaard, Lokomotiv.
Part Predator, part Lightning.

by CAustin on Sep 13, 2011 4:35 PM EDT reply actions

That is what preseason is for!!!

Got my box today and set up the day and time for my jersey pick up. I can’t wait!!!

Buc Nation: Where when you post your opinion, it will be deleted.

by bucnut1 on Sep 13, 2011 6:24 PM EDT reply actions

One thing that gets forgotten

is that the Lightning actually had a losing record after they acquired Roloson, and it wasn’t entirely his fault, save for a pretty bad slump in March.

They played well over their heads (23-16 with a wretched goal diff.) up until New Years. Lets hope quality goaltending will make such first half’s more sustainable and reasonable in 2011-12.

Now on Twitter @Carcillo_

http://twitter.com/#!/Carcillo_

by FloridaownsFSU on Sep 13, 2011 7:07 PM EDT reply actions