The fine folks over at The Athletic ran a poll among 19 agents about various topics around the sport and published their anonymous answers. Several of the questions revolved around how teams are run in general and what it is like to deal with certain general managers. The Lightning graded out pretty well.
Which is the best-run franchise in the league?
The Lightning were number one with eight votes while Florida and Vegas tied with five a piece.
“You have to look at Tampa with the way the owner’s very good at being hands-off,” one agent said. “(Owner Jeff Vinik) sat back, hired the best people and let them do their jobs.”
“Tampa is awesome,” echoed another. “Players want to be there. They’re buying houses there and spending post-career there.”
What is the best front office to deal with?
Tampa Bay tied with Minnesota with six votes.
“Julien’s pretty straightforward,” one agent said. “Very accessible, easy to deal with. Player-friendly.”
“They don’t mess around,” added another. “I like JB.”
Who is the best owner in the league?
Jeff Vinik ran away with this one with seven votes. No other owner had more than three.
“I think he’s done a wonderful job,” an agent said. “He walked in there and turned the franchise around. First-class all the way. I mean, just look at what the area around the rink used to be like compared to now. He’s got to be one of the best owners in sports.”
Another agent put it simply and enthusiastically: “My players say he’s the best owner ever.”
Added another, “That guy gets it. He got it from Day One. He’s done all the right things and hired the right people and stayed out of it, but also done all the things that he needed to do for the market.”
Despite some stumbles of late, it appears that the Lightning are still one of the most respected franchises not only in hockey, but in sports. With Mr. Vinik running the day-to-day operations for the near future despite selling his majority stake that shouldn’t change.
Having agents like your team’s general manager is kind of a double-edged sword. It’s great because they’re willing to deal with the GM, but you have to wonder if part of the reason they like him is because he tends to overpay for his players. That being said, it’s not surprising to hear the comments, because from what we know about JBB is that he’s a pretty straight shooter. Players know where they stand with him (with one noticeable recent example).
We’ll see how that pays off at the trade deadline.
Lightning News
Lightning swap AHL forwards with Nashville [Raw Charge]
Fare thee well, Jesse Ylonen. The Finn is on his way to Milwaukee while Anthony Angello joins the Crunch. It’s a bit of a homecoming for the big forward as he grew up in New York. Scott Thomas, who provides the photos for the Crunch players, even dug up a photo of a young Angello in his high-school days.
Lightning are hot. Trade Deadline is near. Best put on your seatbelt [Tampa Bay Times]
Other than not having a ton of picks or coveted prospects to offer, the Lightning are in a better place at this trade deadline in ones past. Mr. BriseBois has worked some magic before, can he find the right combination this year?
Lightning Block Party: Andrei Vasilevskiy [Tampa Bay Lightning]
The Bolts netminder joins the gang to chat about hockey and stuff.
Lightning assign Matt Tomkins to Syracuse [Tampa Bay Lightning]
It’s a good sign that Jonas Johansson is ready to return to back-up duty as the Lightning sent Matt Tomkins back to the Crunch. JoJo has been out of action since the end of January. It’s excellent timing as the Lightning have a back-to-back next week.
Hockey News
TRAAAAAAAADDDDDEEE [NHL.com]
The Lightning weren’t the only team to pull off an AHL trade as the Los Angeles Kings sent Tyler Madden to Minnesota in exchange for defenseman Joseph Cecconi. Both players will report to their respective AHL franchises.
Biggest Flaws for Nine Top Teams [ESPN]
The Lightning aren’t mentioned among these nine teams, but it does go to show that no one in the league is running away with the Stanley Cup this year. Even those teams higher in the standings than the Lightning have their flaws.
Why each team won’t – but should – make a trade deadline blockbuster [The Athletic]
While Sean McIndoe doesn’t have any suggestions as to who the Lightning should pick up, he does give a good reason why – the core is aging and three Cups are better than two.
