Lightning history and site archives
Why I Had a Mancrush on Nikolai Khabibulin
He was my go to goalie in NHL '96
October 7th, the birth of Lightning hockey
It was 23 years ago today that the Lightning and the NHL got underway in Tampa Bay.
Lightning 1st round rookies production compared
Rookie season production by 1st round draft picks in Lightning team history varies. Drouin's season sits near the top.
Drouin and #27 in Bolts history
In short: he doesn't compare to who has worn the sweater number (for stints or for their careers) in Tampa Bay - he's about to further prove it.
The original Tampacuse talent
The affiliation between Tampa Bay and Syracuse has only been around for three full seasons but Syracuse has (indirectly) produced for the Lightning since its inception.
Making it better with Marty
Just when can/will everyone - the fans, the club, and Marty - start to make it better?
The season after coming so-close
The next season, after not winning the Stanley Cup, has a tepid history with how far teams go the following year.
The Retirement of #26, Martin St. Louis
Don't get lost in how it ended in Tampa, Lightning fans, revel in the accomplishments achieved by the retiring forward.
Factoid to keep in mind with tonight
Last time TB lost three in a row was when they lost four in a row to Montreal last spring.
— Kyle Alexander (@kalexanderRC) June 15, 2015
That's 107 regular-season and postseason games combined. #108 will be tonight at United Center.
The Tampa Bay Lightning franchise has been in this position before
Last time @TBLightning trailed series 3-2 in Stanley Cup Final, on road, this happened. @SunSportsBolts http://t.co/CMYr3DzNev via @youtube
— Paul Kennedy (@PaulKennedyFOX) June 14, 2015
Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, down 3 games to 2 and playing the game on the road... Sure, it was 11 years ago, but still notable.
Lightning and Blackhawks share few connecitons
Connected at the moment by way of the Stanley Cup Finals in 2015, there aren't many prominent historic ties between the Bolts and the 'Hawks. There are a few of note, though.
The ripples from the Marty-for-Cally deal
Martin St. Louis' forcing his way out of Tampa will have a lasting impact on the team. That impact goes past the immediate and the ripples of the trade will continue through the organization for years.
Worst to first; Lightning jerseys ranked
In a guest post on Raw Charge, Hockey By Design remarks about 22 years of Tampa Bay Lightning jersey designs and ranks the sweaters from franchise history.
The attempted character assassination of Jeff Vinik by the THN's Ken Campbell
As "Tampa Live" details continue to emerge, now's as good a time as any to rub it in @THNKenCampbell's face. http://t.co/zaqW5a2516
— Kyle Alexander (@kalexanderRC) December 17, 2014
Nearing five years ago, Jeff Vinik and Gary Bettman had a litte palaver during the NHL's Winter Classic event at Fenway Park in Boston. This started the ball rolling toward the great feats and accomplishments and benchmarks we've seen the Tampa Bay Lightning reach under the guidance of Vinik's leadership. "Feats" were not the story that The Hockey News Ken Campbell was expecting. During the late winter and spring of 2010, Campbell's "sources" painted Vinik as a fly-by-night, bad for the league, whom prospect CEO's wouldn't go anywhere near; turning down the Tampa Sports and Entertainment job over and over again. Yeah, about that, Ken...I think you were wrong. Just maybe.
Where we were, where we are
The success of the Tampa Bay Lightning at current contrasts to where the club was in the organization's lone championship season.
Öhlund's contract continues to impact Lightning
Swedish defenseman Mattias Öhlund hasn't been on the ice with the Tampa Bay Lightning... or anyone else, for that matter... in almost three years, but in a post-salary cap NHL, he, or more accurately his contract, maintains a presence.
Pride and the Frozen Dome Classic
The Frozen Dome will deliver on a promise to Lightning prospects to give them a chance to play a home AHL game in front of an NHL-sized crowd right in their own city.
Why Bolts fans embrace the black
With the unveiling of the Bolts new alternate sweaters, Tampa Bay brings back the color that fans have long associated this franchise's identity with.
Lightning goalie development history
The Tampa Bay Lightning have never drafted and developed a true NHL goaltender, putting prospects Andrey Vasilevskiy and Kristers Gudlevskis in historical perspective.
Another career twist for defenseman Paul Ranger
The former Lightning defenseman leaves the NHL for Geneva of the Swiss league.
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A championship gaffe in media history
Lamenting the Bolts loss of the Stanley Cup, the Tampa Tribune thrust itself into one of the humorous quirks that are sometimes forgotten in pro sports history.
Thoughts on the end of an era in Tampa Bay
It hit me on Sunday that an era has ended in Tampa, and the path forward doesn't feel as certain as it once did.
What Bolt from the past would help the team today?
If you could pick one player from the LIghtning's storied history to fill a need on the team today, who would you choose? (Spoiler: nobody picked Rudy Poeschek.)
Of long-reads, generalizations, and NHL D-men
Though the article cited is much longer and more fact-filled than it's being given credit for, it's generalizations rubbed me the wrong way... Especially speaking down about Roman Hamrlik.
A reflection, a lament, a farewell
People invoke memories of winning the Stanley Cup, or the Rocket Richard trophy; the M-V-P line or Vinny's charitable work... I recollect the player who gave me hope in the Lightning franchise. My thoughts on parting ways with Vincent Lecavalier.
Adieu Vinny
Vincent Lecavalier made the Tampa Bay Lightning a better team as a player but he also made Tampa Bay a better place to live as a member of the community.
Why I didn't observe the "Staniversary"
The world moves on and while we cling to warm memories for comfort, we cannot be lost in them, or our expectations on the present diminishes.
Who would be on your crazy-owner wish list?
In the summer of 2008, crazy-awful Lightning owners went on a crazy bad player-grabbing spending spree, acquiring playoff standouts like Ryan Malone and Gary Roberts. If you were a crazy awful owner, what playoff standouts would be in your sights?
The ghosts of playoffs past
A big name player scratched from a elimination game being played in the tri-state area, with John Tortorella being the coach who made that decision? I've seen this before...
How to resurrect a hockey franchise in 402 days
More than four years ago, a chart by James Mirtle showed (through attendance) how the situation in Tampa was on a torrid decline. Four years later, we revisit that chart to reflect how things have been thriving.
Crunch (3) vs. Springfield (3) in conference Semis
Not so long ago, the Tampa Bay Lightning were affiliated with the Springfield AHL franchise. And things didn't go well. Likewise, the Columbus Blue Jackets - Springfield's current parent club - doesn't have the rosiest of reputations with Crunch fans
Three years ago on Raw Charge: Prospal vs. Tanguay
Three years ago, Lightning fans were debating why the Bolts would bother with Alex Tanguay over Vinny Prospal.