The best of Raw Charge 2014

January

• Catching up with anthem singer Vanessa Rodriguez
  Home game regulars knew Vanessa last season by way of her incredible voice which led fans at home games in singing the national anthems. Clark gave everyone an opportunity to know her a bit better in this feature/interview.
• The Hedman effect, a with-or-without-you analysis
  The weight of Victor Hedman The Lightning lineup is looked at by Clare; how does the club play with or without him?
• Keep it simple stupid and fix the NHL Point system
  With the talk of adding a 3-on-3 overtime period and more and more attempts to stop the “epidemic” of the shootout, the general problem of the loser point is ignored, like usual.

February

• You can’t compare a win in Sochi to the cultural event of Lake Placid
  When the United States beat the Russian Federation during the Olympics in a head-to-head contest (and via the shootout), invocations and comparisons to the US Men’s Olympic Ice Hockey team victory over the Soviet Union in Lake Placid in 1980 were made. But the games didn’t compare in the slightest.
• “Five Reasons we Love Hockey” series
  During the 2014 Winter Olympics (and occasionally after it) the Raw Charge staff wrote five personal aspects of the game of ice hockey and the NHL that that endears them to the game. You’ll find links to each writer’s submission here.
• Kristers Gudlevskis and the magic Olympic moment
  The Lightning goaltending prospect caught the spotlight by stymieing and frustrating Team Canada during their game against the Latvian national team at Sochi.
• O, Captain! My Captain! St. Louis reportedly asked for a trade
  Kyle did what had to be done and into words what left fans in disbelief: Marty wanted out of Tampa.
• It’d be better if Martin St. Louis owned up to his trade request or put it to rest
  Invoking the wrath of Don Michael Corleone as well as the fact it’s the nature of the business, John asks Marty St. Louis to fess up instead of stringing the hockey world and the fans along.

March

• Don’t dwell on the loss of Martin St. Louis; drive to win without him
  In the immediate aftermath of Marty’s trade to the New York Rangers, Cassie sought to snap fans out of the shock.
• Things change; thoughts on the end of an era for the Tampa Bay Lightning
  With the departure of St. Louis from the Lightning, the door closed a
• United States sled hockey team goes for the gold at the Paralympics
  A month after the Olympics in Sochi, the Paralympics were played there and David brought attention to the marquee hockey game – and a local talent that would be highlighted in the game.

April

• Let the healing begin, Lightning fans
  A season of triumphs and tragedies came to an end with a first-round bouncing from the 2014 NHL playoffs. Clark tries to console the fans (who have been at each other’s throats).
• The Black Aces that weren’t – Part one
  The Black Aces that weren’t – Part two
  Alex gives a rundown on some of the players from Syracuse and elsewhere in the Lightning system that would have possibly joined the club during a playoff run.

May

• Ryan Callahan: The case for the Tampa Bay Lightning to re-sign him
  Ryan Callahan: Making the case for the Tampa Bay Lightning to let him walk
  The major pressing matter leading towards the 2014 NHL free agent season was whether or not the Bolts should bring back the veteran right wing who they acquired in March. Brett Frieman and Kyle Alexander take time to present different aspects of Cally’s game and reasoning to keep him and let him test free agency.
• A sign the sports card market is dead
  A big name player gets traded to a major market and his rookie card is just as worthless as it was before. Welcome to the current state of card collecting.

June

• The Sweater Series (or Notable Numbers)
  Nolan Whyte, Clark and John ran a series of articles over the month of June about some players who wore the jersey numbers 1 through 30.
• How might state income taxes affect Ryan Callahan’s salary demands?
  This is still a pertinent article regarding free agents and how taxation can (and can’t) make a big difference where they sign and for how much they sign for.
• Igniting fans at Lightning games by way of the Sticks of Fire Supporters Group
  David’s feature article on a force that calls section 306 and 307 home at Bolts games.
• Martin St. Louis: An open letter begging you to shut the hell up already and play hockey
  In essence, Marty was making it worse for Bolts fans with his comments and such after being traded. It had to be said, and Kyle had to say it from the position of someone who didn’t take the trade request personally.
• I don’t question your loyalty, Martin St. Louis, I question how this all played out
  In response to Marty giving a put-it-to-rest interview with the Tampa Bay Times Tom Jones, John puts it very personal in addressing St. Louis’ exit from Tampa.
• PSA: In most cases, the NHL draft is not for immediate returns
  A weak rationale to justify a Lightning mock-draft pick gets a scorching rebuke.

July

• The Brad Richards trade lingering resonance
  Assets on an NHL roster can sometimes be tied back to trades from years prior, moves they weren’t directly involved in. The Richards trade has lingering asset movement in the Lightning system.
• Jonathan Drouin and the problem of depth
  The issue wasn’t quite easy to spot in 2013-14; the number of players ready for the NHL in front of highly touted draft pick Jonathan Drouin. A year later, Kyle addresses the issue and what affect it could ahve on Drouin making the club.
• When Dallas Eakins Comes Marching Home
  LeBron James went back to Cleveland, The Hockey News suggested Stamkos “come home” to Toronto… And a storm ensued. OK, fine. Tampa Bay can call back a native son too!
• Brett Connolly, Richard Panik and the looming fight on the right wing
  Foreshadowing the glut of depth and the odd-man-out situation that was coming for the Lightning, John put focus on the right side and two key talents in make0or-break moments with the club.

August

• The Lightning’s less than successful record developing goalies
  With two highly touted young prospects in the AHL (Andrei Vasilevskiy and Kristers Gudlevskis) and another looming among the college ranks (Adam Wilcox), Clare’s historical retrospective of the club’s inability to home-grow a netminder seemed appropriate.
• A beginner’s guide to surviving without Extra Skater
  Advanced stats online took a hit over the summer as the NHL started hiring away experts left and right for team roles.

September

• A conversation with former GM and current Executive Director of Community Hockey Development Jay Feaster
  Clark sat down and spoke at length with Feaster on his new job, his ouster in 2008 (and seeing things crumble down) as well as anecdotes of former head coach John Tortorella.
• How hockey as helped me
  Cassie put out a personal piece that was inspired by a viral meme on Twitter – hockey’s personal effect on people’s lives. Here’s how it’s helped her.
• Why Tampa Bay Lightning fans embrace the black
  The primary color that dominated team history returned in the Bolts new 3^rd jerseys this season. Here’s an attempt to explain why it mattered.
• The Tampa Bay Lightning as the “Green Bay Packers of the NHL”, understanding Jeff Vinik’s ambition
  Taking a comment from the 2014 Lightning fan fest, John gives the limelight it was due and tries to explain it – it’s not just about a world class and historic sports team.

October

• The changing faces of a good Tampa Bay Lightning team
  Richard Panik being waived and claimed by Toronto inspired Cassie to speak of the shifting players on Steve Yzerman’s assembled Lightning team.
• Anne Schleper’s day with the Lightning needs to be just a beginning
  The gender barrier and the sport of hockey has been fading, and those boundaries being crossed are just the start, or should be.
• The chicken, the egg, and Brett Connolly
  A lot of focus was put on the right wing early and his productivity. Kyle speaks about expectations and player usage.
• Victor Hedman has been elite for two years, you’re just finally noticing it
  It’s true.
• Name that tune; individual goal songs for Tampa Bay Lightning players
  Inspired by an op-ed column by Erik Erlendsson at the Tampa Tribune, just what are some of the songs fans would associate with individual Lightning team members? The content is in the comments.

November

• Young talent provides Bolts with triple threat line
  “Triplets” is how they’re termed in local press and among coaching. We at Raw Charge call Tyler Johnson, Nikita Kucherov and Ondrej Palat the TKO Trio, and for good reason.
• A New 4th Line: Jon Cooper’s careful forward usage yields valuable production at the bottom of the lineup
  Kyle takes a look at the productivity and the effectiveness of those who are playing fourth line time in Tampa, with Brendan Morrow and Brian Boyle usually among them.
• The NHL dangles the carrot and then kicks the can down the road regarding Tampa Bay hosting marquee events
  Gary Bettman visits Tampa! Gary Bettman lauds what he sees! Gary Bettman puts off the idea of Amalie Arena hosting anything any time soon.
• The Syracuse Crunch make hockey history today with the Frozen Dome
  The game between the Crunch and the Utica Comets set an American indoor ice hockey attendance record, breaking one set by the Lightning in 1996. Alexandra speaks of her personal connection with Carrier Dome and the excitement surrounding the record-breaking event.
• In case you forgot: A brief primer on Mattias Öhlund and his somewhat ongoing relationship with the Tampa Bay Lightning
  Some people crack jokes about him, some people are truly lost on what happened to defenseman Mattias Ohlund. Clark refreshes your memories.
• The cold November rain; thoughts on Martin St. Louis’ return to Tampa Bay — On November 26^th, a tarnished hero returned to Tampa as a member of the New York Rangers. His legacy with the club shouldn’t be how things ended but what he accomplished here.

December

• Comparing two Tampa Bay Lightning teams separated by 11 years
  With the Lightning’s early season success and strides, John invokes the eventual champion Tampa Bay Lightning team of 2003-04 and how they were faring at a comparable point.
• The Tampa Bay Lightning have a special teams problem
  Kyle gives a thorough analysis of the Bolts power play and penalty kill and it’s failings.
• Jeff Vinik’s Channel District plans aren’t with the Tampa Bay Rays in mind
  The Lightning owner got his hands on much land in downtown Tampa, but fan and media speculation about a baseball stadium seemed to skip over stated facts in the media – the development was with the city in mind, not the Tampa Bay Rays.
• Syracuse Crunc update: Breaking down the winning streak
  With the Lightning’s AHL affiliate’s end to a 10-game winning streak (which had spannedfrom November to late December), Alex broke down the numbers over those games; who contributed and how.

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