Local (Lightning)
Salo, Filppula Look To Be Olympic Teammates Once More – Features
This feature from tampabaylightning.com talks about the relationship between Finnish players Sami Salo and newly acquired Valteri Filppula.
Blogger Roundtable: 2013-14 Regular Season Schedule – Features
The Boltosphere takes on the question of the new schedule.
Lindback or Bishop: Who’s the Goaltending Answer in Tampa Bay?
Josh Getzoff gives Ben Bishop the nod over Anders Lindback for some of the stupidest reasons imaginable: Bishop knows won’t be in the AHL and he saw more NHL shots last year than ever before. Neither of which make prediction any more accurate. There are several reasons that Bishop has the better chance to be the number one. These are not those reasons.
First in Florida: A look back at the EHL’s Jacksonville Rockets – Litter Box Cats
Our cross-state “rivals”/sister-blog have been very busy this offseason. Among the gems they’ve produced is this look at the early days of pro hockey in Florida…
Florida Hockey History: A look back at the Suncoast Suns – Litter Box Cats
…which partners with this piece. Lots of people don’t realize there’s been professional ice hockey in the South since the 1960s. (Nashville, my home town, hasn’t been without pro hockey in 50 years.)
National (NHL)
Dominic Moore happy to be coming back where he started — with the New York Rangers – NHL.com – NHL Insider
Former Lightning Dominic Moore talks about his life, his career, and going home again…
“Smashfest” a smashing success Video – NHL VideoCenter – Tampa Bay Lightning
…and he recently held his second ping-pong tournament for charity, attended by Martin St. Louis, among other NHLers.
Rankings: The top 30 starting goalies in the NHL – Yahoo! Sports Canada
Sam McCraig doesn’t think very highly of Ben Bishop. He’s also decided, apparently, that the Lightning’s starting goaltender is Ben Bishop.
No reason to believe NHL’s strong PED record is not legit – NYPOST.com
This one is a bit odd. Larry Brooks says confidence would be higher in the testing regimen if it had ever actually caught anyone, but, well, no one’s ever been caught so things must be okay.
Will Toronto be forced to trade Franson? | ProHockeyTalk
I’ve been seeing Cody Franson’s name on the twitter-wire a lot recently as speculation about whether or not he’s available for trade these days. As long as the cost isn’t too high, many Lighting bloggers seem to be in favor of acquiring him.
International (Europe & World)
Alex Edler suspended two additional games after kneeing Eric Staal at IIHF Worlds | Puck Daddy – Yahoo! Sports
The decision came down yesterday: He’ll be suspended for the first two games of the Sochi Olympics as a result of a knee-on-knee hit on TeamCanada’s Eric Staal in May’s World Championship.
KHL canceled the limit on playing time for foreign goalkeepers
via Google Translate, the KHL is ending restrictions on how many games foreign goalies can play. This is in contrast to the Canadian Hockey League’s newly instated import restrictions. Difference in perspective = difference in policy. The KHL is working to become a destination for foreign players in their bid to compete directly with the NHL.
Snub by Canada in 2010 has St. Louis focused on making 2014 Olympic team for Sochi – 2014 Olympics
It appears that my questions over whether Martin St. Louis would prioritize rest over the Olympics is answered in the negative. He’s more than ready to play.
Farm Report (Syracuse & The Minors)
Koekkoek’s Camp Invite Provides a Healthy Dose of Confidence for the Lightning Prospect – Features
And here’s a feature on Slater Koekkoek’s last minute invitation to Team Canada’s U20 camp in August. “For Koekkoek it’s a chance for redemption after being sidelined for better parts of half of the previous two seasons.”
Business (Business)
MacGregor: Former agent blames Canucks GM for Luongo drama – The Globe and Mail
Gilles Lupien was just replaced as Roberto Luongo’s agent. He understands, he says, but believes it didn’t have to be this way.
The Market (Numbers)
SDI v2.1 – Shut Down Index 2012-13 – Part 1 – Pension Plan Puppets
I’ve been bemoaning the fact that we don’t capture defense very well with our current stats. Steve Burtch of PenionPlanPuppets.com has been working on that and here are his current results. This article talks about the project and the predictive value of the stat he’s naming “Shut Down Index.”
SDI v2.1 – Shut Down Index 2012-13 – Part 2 – Pension Plan Puppets
And here are the results. Also his formula and links to the data (hooray!). This is a work in progress, I take it, but it’s very, very interesting.
Funnies
Lots of dancing hockey players this week. You’ve been warned.
Watch Pavel Datsyuk dance to ‘YMCA’ during youth hockey camp (Video) | Puck Daddy – Yahoo! Sports
I know I’m not supposed to love a Red Wing, but I do, I dooooo……
Dance-off: Jonathan Toews’ moonwalk vs. Patrick Kane’s ‘Kaner shuffle’ (Video) | Puck Daddy – Yahoo! Sports Canada
My eyes! My EYES! Oh god make it stop!
