Lightning Weekly: What's going on?

[Cross-Posted at Bolts Blog by RJ]




What’s going on? The new look Lightning look eerily similar to last season’s worst team in the NHL. With one week in the books, the Bolts are languishing in last place in the Southeast with a record of 0-2-3. Is it a matter of personnel, system, player familiarity or what?

First we should look at personnel. The Lightning went into the offseason with gaping holes in defense and a huge need for second line scoring. At the onset of free agency the Blots we very active, acquiring the likes of Roberts, Malone and Recchi. With the drafting of Center Steven Stamkos, the second line scoring, as well as some grit seemed to have been addressed. The Bolts also added top tier defenseman Andrej Meszaros and goalie Olaf Kolzig to the stable.

Problem is, that as the Bolts were busy adding new faces to the roster, they began mak-ing some questionable moves. One that has come under the greatest scrutiny is the trade of Dan Boyle to San Jose. This was what I believe to be the red herring in the new regime’s player philosophy. With the trade of Boyle for Matt Carle, they gave up a proven commodity for “potential”. If inexpensive potential is what they wanted, then they needed to look no further than their own Alex Picard. Inexpensive, he was picked up at the trade deadline from Philly last season. Potential, he came into the lineup like a man possessed. At the end of last season he played solid positional defense, threw the body around and never seemed out of energy. But alas, he too was traded away. The Lightning brass seem intent in putting their “stamp” on the team, period. In doing so, the Lightning defense has subjected its netminders to an average of 40 shots per game over the first four games. It squandered a 3-0 lead to Carolina. It has looked less like a defense with potential and more like a defense with problems.


But are the problems purely personnel related, or are they systematic. The “new look” Lightning have a completely different style on the ice. Barry Melrose has brought in an attacking style of play that asks his defensemen to step up into to the play when any opportunity to do so presents itself. Against the Islanders last night, this seemed to be the Bolts achilles heel. As defensemen pinched, the Islanders forced turnovers, took control of the puck and caught the defense out of position. The forwards were late ro-tating back to cover time and again, leading to multiple 2 on 1 breakaways, and ulti-mately Islander goals. As the new players get more acclimated with each other’s ten-dencies and Melrose figures out the best line parings, this is something that should work itself out over time. But how long will it actually take, and how long can the team go on like this before you have to start to worry?

I’m not ready to throw in the towel on the season yet. New Captain, Vinny Lecavalier, has picked up where he left off last season. He has 2 goals and 1 assist through 4 games. Marty St, Louis has 1 goal and 1 assist. If these guys keep on doing what they do, and the rest of the team finally “gels”, the ship could turn around in a hurry. But once again, we’re banking on the teams potential, hopefully we won’t end up bankrupt at the end of the season.

Open Thread: Panthers @ Canes

Season Series: 0-0-0

Previous Meetings


Player to Watch
Nathan Horton-- Will Nathan finally begin to play up to his immense talent level? Also to watch for: Peter Deboer's head coaching debut. --Beinfest4Prez

Why They Will Win
The Panthers are onto their 10th coach in 15 years. It's time for the Cats to start showing some consistency and winning ways again. No more of the 5 points short bullcrap. It's a new era and a new beginning with no Olli Chokinen (Did I say that? I meant what a Jokinen!) around to spew his selfishness and bring the rest of the team down with him in order to make a point.--Beinfest4Prez

How they Match Up


Highlights from their Previous Meeting


Previews
NHL.com

Panthers Season Preview

X-Posted at Panthers Daily Puck

The Florida Panthers enter tonight's game against the Carolina Hurricanes, coming off a resounding 6-0 win to finish off the preseason versus the New York Islanders. The Panthers finished the preseason 3-2-2 and with some surprises making the roster. Both Anthony Stewart and Michael Frolik had strong preseasons and have made the team. Shawn Matthias also made the team but was sent down to Rochester to make room for Radek Dvorak, David Booth, and Stephen Weiss coming off the IR. Shawn Matthias will be back on this team in short time.

Offense: The Panthers traded away captain Olli Jokinen this past summer, who could always be counted on to provide at least 30 goals worth of offense. Nathan Horton, Rusty Olesz, and Stephen Weiss need to step up their production in the absence of Olli. Cory Stillman should help provide some much needed leadership and expect him to play on a line with Nathan Horton. Of note, both Eric Staal and Erik Cole credit Cory Stillman with their development into complete players and dangerous scorers, perhaps Nathan Horton will be able to mature into the immense talent he possesses.

Defense: This is the most improved unit on the team. Jacques Martin stated he wanted to improve the defensive unit, and he has done that and then some. He added Keith Ballard, Nick Boynton, and Bryan McCabe to a defensive unit already led by superstar-in-the-making Jay Bouwmeester and tough defensemen Bryan Allen and Karlis Skrastins. It is so deep that because of Jassen Cullimore's superb preseason, Cory Murphy was waived and as soon as Jassen signs to an NHL contract, will be sent down to Rochester. Expect Jay Bouwmeester to have a tremendous year with the onus of the defense not on him all the time.

Goaltending: Expect Tomas Vokoun to be as solid as ever and for Craig Anderson to have a career year playing for a possible starting job. Easily the best unit on the Panthers.

Rookie of the year: Shawn Matthias will be the Panthers rookie of the year when he is called up later this October as I believe will happen.

Outbreak Player: I believe Stephen Weiss under his former junior head coach Deboer will finally have that breakthrough offensive year. He's already one of the best all around players on the team and his offensive talent is just bubbling at the surface.

Surprise of the year: Anthony Stewart. If he can keep up his newfound work ethic, the Panthers will see a tough as nails, power forward develop right in front of their eyes.

Playoffs? I won't say anything. I just hope we finally break through with an attacking style of play and a constricting and bruising defense.

Panthers Summer in Review

X-Posted at Panthers Daily Puck

After a long sabbatical, I have returned to the realm of the Panthers. I was finishing up school, in Europe, and starting a new school in a new city. Now that I am settled in, I will be able to write more frequently again for the blog.


Well, this summer has been quite the doozy. No more Jokinen, a new coach, Panthers sign Cory Stillman, Rusty Olesz and newly acquired D-Man Keith Ballard are locked in for another 6 years (both at very affordable prices for their upsides to boot!). The acquisition of Bryan McCabe is seemingly a head scratcher to many. The Panthers also picked up their goalie of the future in the draft (first round talent, which makes up for the lost first round draft pick).

The Jokinen Trade
I am a big fan of this trade, if for the simple fact, that Jokinen gets to move on and we as Panthers fans get to move on. Jokinen was a great scorer, no doubt, but there were too many murmurs of discontent among the players and sources around the league to not believe there is some truth to the long held belief that he was only in it to pick up the points. I am not here to judge him, though, that's for Yotes fans to do now.

The return for Jokinen: Ballard and Nick Boynton. Ballard is someone Cats fans will love to watch for years to come. He plays with his heart on his sleeve. Boynton also brings additional depth and toughness to a blue line that was severely lacking it until the arrival of Karlis Skrastins last year. I believe that Ballard and Boynton will be good pickups for this year. It is nice to see that this team does have a plan as evidenced by locking up the "core players" to long term deals, that could prove to be steals. We also have an elite goaltender in the back end. Champions in this sport are built from the back end.

Overall Rating for the trade: B

Peter DeBoer is the new coach

I really like this move. DeBoer comes to the team with high regards as well with a reputation for playing an up-tempo, exciting game. In the game as it is currently today, up-tempo styles are sorely needed, unless you are the New Jersey Devils, of course. I really think that allowing the team to be more free flowing will help exploit the talents of Booth, Horton, Weiss, and Olesz. With possibly Frolik, and definitely Matthias joining the team this year, I am eagerly looking forward to how this team will progress.

Jacques Martin gets high marks for this hire because he could've easily gotten someone who was a coach like him with a defense-first mentality; instead, he went outside the box and got a coach who rightly deserves a chance at the big game.

Overall Rating for the hire: B-, with the possibility of turning into an A if everything turns out well.

Cory "Panther Killer" Stillman now a Cat

Cory Stillman is now a member of the Cats. Many Panthers fans know him well because whether it was with the Lightning or the Canes, he always seemed to kill us. Erik Cole and Eric Staal attribute much of their development to his influence. With the murmurs that Jokinen was negatively influencing Horton, this could only be a good thing. I believe that Cory will be the Captain next season. His leadership and his consistency have won him high marks throughout his career. The length of the contract is a little iffy for his age, but he is very much into conditioning so I am not sure if that will matter as much with him.

Overall Rating for the signing: A

Panthers Trade for Bryan McCabe

This blockbuster deal set the hockey world on fire for most of August until it finally happened. McCabe is a talented defensemen whose ability on the PP will make up for losing Jokinen. However, the Panthers had to give up Mike van Ryn. Ryno was hugely popular both on the team and in the community. He will be sorely missed and hopefully, will return to the team someday in another capacity.

Look for McCabe to also help Cory Murphy develop more. I think that if Murphy can stay healthy, he can play up to the potential that we all saw in him in the preseason and at the beginning of the year.

If McCabe can provide what he can from the backline, it may convince JayBo to stick around with the team.

Overall rating for the trade: C, there is no guarantee that McCabe will be healthy again.

Panthers lock up Rusty Olesz and Keith Ballard

Jacques Martin has identified a core. He is acting on it and doing it before costs get too out of control. Both of these guys are hugely talented. In Peter DeBoer's uptempo game, perhaps we will finally see it capitalized for both of them.

Overall rating for the signing: B for now.

No contact extension for JayBo

The only true problem with this summer. I am happy that the Cats did not end up at Arby with Jay, thus signaling there is still hope. I understand Jay's position but he is one of the top defenseman in the game right now. The Panthers NEED to lock up JayBo to truly take the next step.

Overall rating for the nonmove: F, F, F. GET IT DONE.


I will return soon as the final roster develops throughout training camp. Go Cats!!

Alternate sweater designs leaked?

The guys over at Icethetics do an excellent job. They're the site formerly known as the NHL Tournament of Logos.

They'll be running a new tournament starting Monday about who has the best center ice logo. That's not the good stuff, though.

They've reported today that they've got an inside track on all 18 alternate sweaters.

Before anyone gets excited, their "Deep Throat" happens to be one of Eklund's lackeys, so it should all be taken with a grain or two of salt. This guy claims, though, that he's seen pictures of all 18 sweaters, and has given descriptions of them all. You can read the whole thing for yourself, but here are the ones that apply to the Southeast division:

Atlanta Thrashers
The club will introduce a dark red jersey with the word “THRASHERS” on the front, just above the player’s uniform number, which will appear on both sides of the design. A broad white stripe will adorn each arm of the jersey with a dark red number in the stripe. A broad white-and-dark blue stripe will run down the sides of the jersey.

Carolina Hurricanes
The Hurricanes will introduce a black third jersey, with red and white trim – different than their customary red home uniform with the black and white trim. Each arm will sport red and white angular stripes. The bottom of the jersey will feature a narrow white stripe and a thicker red one. In between, will be 10 white stars. The club’s red logo on the uniform front is placed within a white triangle, presumably to honor the famed Research Triangle that dominates the Raleigh-Durham area.

Tampa Bay Lightning
Also completely different. The Lightning will introduce a predominantly dark-blue alternate with the word "BOLTS" angling downward in white on the jersey front. A narrow white stripe is featured above a broad black stripe at the uniform base. Grey and white stripes are on each arm, and the latter half of the sleeve, to the tip, is black.

Some of these designs are pretty different from the rumors that have been circulating for months. They all sound really interesting, and I can't wait to see them. Obviously, this Eklund co-conspirator is a dubious source, but at least it's something to talk about.