The Bolts
When can you buy single-game tickets to Tampa Bay Lightning games? August 11. [Tampa Bay Times]
This statement also goes for #NHLAllStar tickets, FYI! We will keep everyone updated as we get the info.
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) August 2, 2017
Geo delved into what it might take to be TBL’s third-line center. “If Vladislav Namestnikov ends up taking the first line left-wing spot, he would push Ondrej Palat, Alex Killorn, and newly acquired Chris Kunitz down the line up, with one of Killorn or Kunitz potentially moving to the right wing.” [Raw Charge]
Thank you @JTBrown23 for the awesome #TBLightning #XboxOne controller from @GamerModz I will treasure this always! #GoBolts #BoltsSocial pic.twitter.com/uYijmX0jUK
— ⚡️ Graham ⚡️ (@FunkyWhiteGuy) August 2, 2017
25 Greatest Scorers in Lightning History: #11. “Over six years in Tampa Bay, Malone played in 342 games and scored 92 goals. Thirty of those goals would come on the power play and 14 of them would be game-winners.” [Hockey Buzz]
The One and Done Lightning
#4: Kurtis Foster. “Prior to joining the Lightning, Foster’s career high in assists was 20 with the Minnesota Wild in 2006-07, and his career high in points was 28 with the Wild in 2005-06. He broke through both of those career highs with 34 assists and 42 points for the Lightning.” [Raw Charge]
#5: The last time the Toronto Maple Leafs had a first-overall pick, they took Wendel Clark. After a legendary, rockstar-like, tenure in Toronto, Clark joined the Tampa Bay Lightning for the 1998-99 season. “Clark was given a contract that paid him $14 million with a team option for the next season for another $14 million. Imagine that. Granted, this was a time before the salary cap was a thing. But that was still a lot of money to pay for a player that had only 19 points in 47 games the previous season.” [Raw Charge]
The Crunch/Prospects
War Memorial improvements make chance of new arena for Syracuse Crunch an even more distant dream. “The War Memorial is 66 years old and has been the most outdated building in the AHL for almost all of the Crunch’s 23 seasons of play. Many ongoing upgrades have been done — renovated locker rooms, new seats, new weight rooms, ribbon lighting, expanded ice surface — during that time.” [Syracuse.com]
Syracuse Crunch lease extension could be longer than originally expected. “In return for those much-needed upgrades, the Oncenter, which runs the War Memorial, originally wanted to extend the team’s existing lease by three seasons. But now the county is interested in a five-year extension, pushing the new commitment to 12 years.” [Syracuse.com]
An important PSA from Raw Charge’s Russian translator:
advice from a Russian: the correct pronunciation of Mikhail Sergachev’s last name is ser-gah-CHOFF. please. yes, I do know it’s crazy.
— captain ben sparrow (@forgotten_night) July 30, 2017
The WJSS continued yesterday.
Hart Flawless in 1st WJSS Outing. “In other WJSS action on Tuesday, Team USA White exploded for five goals in the first period on the way to crushing Team Canada Red by an 8-2 count. Casey Mittelstadt led the way with four points (two goals, two assists) for USA White.” [Hockey Buzz]
Howdy, Katchouk, & Raddysh in all in action for 🇨🇦 against 🇫🇮 in today’s #WJSS action ⬇️ https://t.co/meVVm9qFw5
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) August 2, 2017
Dube finds Raddysh. 2-1 Canada. pic.twitter.com/qQ6XBIZd1H
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) August 2, 2017
No Makar today vs Finland. Conor Timmins is paired with Josh Mahura to start. Expect him to get a lot of PK time pic.twitter.com/AUTcAYCIfs
— Mile High Hockey (@MileHighHockey) August 2, 2017
The Game
The New York Islanders and Calvin de Haan just barely avoided an arbitration decision, agreeing to a one-year contract wirth $3.3 million. “The 26-year-old also looks forward to playing more under coach Doug Weight, who led the Islanders to a 24-12-4 record after taking over from Jack Capuano in January.” [Light House Hockey]
Matt Duchene fuels rumors of moving on from Avalanche: “I burnt out in January,” said Duchene, who started the year by winning gold with Canada at the World Cup. “I think a lot of guys did. Nobody really knows how tough that situation was. We were out of it by mid-December. To play the rest of the year out, after playing big hockey at the start of the year with the World Cup, it was really hard.” [MHH]
Fan Rag Sports is doing their own Top 25 Under 25, and the person they’ve chosen for #24 is Jonathan Drouin. Agree? Disagree? “Drouin’s overall value was likely diminished in the eyes of the hockey world by what many would describe as a nightmare season two years ago. He was sent down to the AHL for a development stint by the Tampa Bay Lightning, who had drafted him third overall in 2013.” [FanRagSports]
The #NAHL @NA3HL @NAPHL announces that @VaughnHockey will continue as the official goaltending equipment partner https://t.co/0TAzaj8eUC pic.twitter.com/MIFDGdfarG
— NAHL (@NAHLHockey) August 2, 2017
