The Bolts
Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos is relaxed, free, and focused. (paywall) [The Athletic]
There’s something purdy down totally at Amalie Arena….
It’s baaaaaaack.#GoBolts pic.twitter.com/kElrfuic8V
— Eric Blankenship (@eblankenship) September 10, 2018
Heeey, wait a minute…
Rays up! Coburn, Miller, Girardi and Domingue at BP today ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/mpe6r9ZPBg
— Caley Chelios (@CaleyChelios) September 10, 2018
Geo’s scouting report on the new players:
Coburn – Left fielder. Adequate defense. Weak arm that forced him into left field. Bats at the bottom of the line up. .220/.300/.380 slash line…
Miller – Starting pitcher. Solid #3 guy. 3.75 ERA. 1.15 WHIP. Not bad.
Girardi – Relief pitcher. Throws a lot of junk balls. Not overly skilled, but gets opponents out through deception and hard work.
Domginue – Back-up catcher. Not a very good bat, but he’s a good pitch framer and brings value defensively.
Do you remember when Chris Kontos scored four goals in the Lightning’s inaugural game? Geo does! [Raw Charge]
There is a now infamous story of Esposito frantically running around the arena after Kontos’ third goal. The ushers had been instructed to throw anyone out that threw any objects on the ice. Not knowing the custom of a hat trick, they started doing just that when the hats began to fly. It wouldn’t take long though for the Tampa Bay area to start to catch on to the customs, traditions, and superstitions of hockey.
Our writers sure know how to create a stir! [Raw Charge]
Much has been made about the Maple Leafs acquisition of Tavares, but the Lightning forwards are still better.
What’s the overall stack of the Atlantic when it comes to prospects? Good question! (paywall) [ESPN]
The Organization
The score from yesterday’s game was a bit painful, but it’s hoped the players learn from it and take those lessons into the upcoming season.
#Bolts prospects coach Benoit Groulx on today’s 5-0 loss to Washington: “It’s a tough lesson to learn today, but it’s for us to use those two games to get better and learn and prepare better for what’s ahead of us.”
— Bryan Burns (@BBurnsNHL) September 10, 2018
Although the end score wasn’t idea, there were quite a few Syracuse Crunch rookies that impressed these past few days, including defenseman Erik Cernak, Matt Spencer, and Cal Foote. Oh, and that presence of Oleg Sosunov.
Most polished defense prospect this weekend for #TBLightning has been Erik Cernak. Strong, skates well, hits, poise w puck. Spencer has been pretty good too. Foote shown flashes. Sosunov struggles at times when game gets fast in tight. But he’s a presence.
— Joe Smith (@JoeSmithTB) September 10, 2018
The Crunch announced the continuation of two community-based initiatives to support local charities and nonprofit organizations yesterday.
The @DunkinCNY Munchkins Hosting Program and Goals For Charity are back for the 2018-19 season.
Both are community-based initiatives to support local charities and nonprofit organizations. https://t.co/rSMsLLyha2
— Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) September 10, 2018
Those local to the Syracuse area – don’t forget about the Crunch’s Blink Fitness Crunch Crew promotional team!
Audition for the @BlinkFitness Crunch Crew promotional team!
We’re looking for outgoing men and women with energetic personalities to be Crunch representatives during home games and at community events. This is a paid position.
Details & Registration: https://t.co/D4NN7T3Qzj pic.twitter.com/r4pNn39roQ
— Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) September 10, 2018
The Orlando Solar Bears, ECHL affiliate of the Lightning and the Crunch, added a player yesterday.
We’ve added former Senators draft pick Vincent Dunn to our training camp roster! https://t.co/toYK3ID08j
— Orlando Solar Bears (@OrlandoHockey) September 10, 2018
The Game
That trade yesterday between the Montreal Canadiens and the Vegas Golden Knights was…something.
So the Habs retain 10 percent on Pacioretty’s remaining salary for this season while Vegas retains 9.433962 percent (not kidding) on Tatar’s remaining three years. Which makes things basically a wash for this season but Montreal gets savings on two years after that on Tatar…
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) September 10, 2018
Yup…it was something.
Max Pacioretty signs a four-year extension with #VGK at a $7M AAV. Deal kicks in staring next year.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) September 10, 2018
Pacioretty year by year breakdown: $10.5 M, $7 M, $5.25 M, $5.25 M plus limited no-trade clause
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) September 10, 2018
The Boston Bruins have announced changes to their preseason roster. [Boston Bruins]
Forward David Krejci will be removed from the team’s O.R.G. NHL China Games roster and replaced by forward Colby Cave…the team has signed forwards Lee Stempniak and Daniel Winnik to professional tryout agreements.
Rasmus Dahlin of the Buffalo Sabres is clearly an intense individual.
Although he wasn’t playing in the @BuffaloSabres @penguins prospects game this afternoon at @HARBORCTR, #RasmusDahlin was watching, and watching and studying. pic.twitter.com/M8LpBHmSAo
— Robert Kirkham (@RobertKirkhamBN) September 10, 2018
The Edmonton Oilers contract discussions with Darnell Nurse seem to be stalled:
McKenzie: “By all accounts, Nurse’s contract negotiations are not going well at all. So we’ll have to wait and see on that.” #Oilers
— Chris Nichols (@NicholsOnHockey) September 10, 2018
Lexi Brown needs to never change, I think we can all agree on that.
Yes, we are all ready for JT to go back to work and leave us alone. https://t.co/19nAYNcuBS
— Lexi Brown (@lexilafleur) September 10, 2018
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…
The longest schedule in NHL history, 76 games for each of the 12 teams, opens on Friday Oct. 11 in Boston, Chicago and Oakland. Here is the entire slate of games: pic.twitter.com/jG5qYn6BJl
— 1968 Hockey Tweets (@1968NHLtweets) September 10, 2018
NHL to Seattle has added to their staff!
Happy to announce a new contributor to the site, welcome @emilyjomichele ! In her first piece, EJ tackles how teams leverage the Cap Space as a weapon.https://t.co/ujPohwUt9I
— NHLtoSeattle (@NHLtoSeattle) September 10, 2018
The San Antonio Rampage, AHL club of the St. Louis Blues, named Brian McCormack their new Director of Broadcasting. McCormack was the 2018 ECHL Broadcaster of the Year. [Idaho Steelheads]
We continue to honor Tracey’s coverage of ECHL Adirondack. Who else will suit up this season? She has the answer! [Thoughts Inside the Box]
Christina Haugan was the office manager for the Humboldt Broncos while her husband, Darcy Haugan, coached the team. Darcy was one of those killed in the bus crash on April 6th. Christina has made the hard decision to step away from the team and from hockey. [CBC]
“We’re glad that hockey’s moving on. It has to,” she says. “We want them to be successful. We wish them the best.”
The Broncos have decided against naming a captain this season, instead opting to honor the memory of Logan Schatz, who was the captain last season and died in that bus crash.
The @HumboldtBroncos are honouring Logan Schatz by not naming a captain for the upcoming season. #HumboldtStrong pic.twitter.com/0WNdXbrIUP
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) September 10, 2018
