MVN - Most Valuable Network

Ward Re-Signs With Bolts, Pleases Feaster and Tortorella

After a season of wondering where he belonged, Jason Ward finally found a home. He went from New York (Rangers) to LA and then to Tampa before he was able to settle down with a team that valued his services.

He will be remaining with the Bolts for an additional 2 seasons. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Jason Ward was a trade-deadline acquisition that pretty much flew under the radar screen and didn’t receive a lot of attention,” Tampa Bay general manager Jay Feaster said. “However, his impact on our hockey team was tremendous. He demonstrated his versatility by playing incredibly well on our third line, and then showed that he could fit right in on the second line.

“His size, grit and speed make him very effective in our forechecking system and he is a solid addition to our locker room. We made re-signing Jason a top priority, and this is a great way to start the offseason for our hockey club.” (PA Sports Ticker)
Information from the PA Sports Ticker and Yahoo.com were used in this article.

Early Exit

Before we get into hockey, I’d first like to apologize for not writing anything for over two months. I suffered some head truama and a concussion during a hockey practice and was unable to do much. I have now been cleared to participate in my previous activities, but it would seem that I came back a little too late. Thanks for being patient!

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Now on to more important matters…Hockey!

Unfortunately, the Tampa Bay Lightning decided to take a nap during their final three games of the post season and all the New Jersey Devils to skate away with the series, winning it 4 games to 2.

The Lightning, while able to rob a win from New Jersey in New Jersey, only mustered one win out of three attempts on home ice, an issue that continued through the post season and one of the major factors that they’re out golfing, instead of advancing to Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

To say that the Bolts were destined to win it all this season would be foolish, but losing to New Jersey in the first round wasn’t exactly the plan either. While they played hard in Games 1,2 and 3, they failed to show the same urgency in Games 4,5 and 6, costing them the series.

If urgency didn’t kill the Lightning, then it was their turnovers and their defense, or rather the defense they were lacking. The Tampa Bay Lightning had no production from their defense (aside from Filip Kuba). Dan Boyle only supplied one point through those six games, and his play on the defensive side of the puck was less than impressive, mediocre might even be a stretch. Even Lightning Captain Tim Taylor was guilty of a bad turnover, which lead to the series winning goal.

One factor that wasn’t a problem, a surprise to many, was goaltending for the Lightning. Sure, they didn’t have Brodeur between the pipes, but only one team can. Johan Holmqvist was shakey in Game 1, but came back with stellar performances in 4 of the final 5 games of the series. He was the only bright spot in the Lightning’s 4-3 OT loss in Game 4, an goaltending effort that was wasted on a lack-luster team.

Moving on to the offseason…

People are talking of splitting up the Big Three. Before we jump into that, let’s break down each players role on the team. (I would supply salary numbers, but I don’t have them at the moment)

Vincent Lecavalier - 52G 56A = 108PTS - Vinny is the man in Tampa. He can score, set up goals, kill a penalty, score on the power play, score short handed and lead the team all at once. He’s their future, their past and their present. He cannot go anywhere if Tampa desires to have success.

Martin St. Louis - 43G 59A = 102PTS - Think of Vinny, only in a smaller package and a bit older. Martin St. Louis may be small, standing at only 5′9″ (that has to be with skates on) but he is a hard worker and has a great work ethic, again, he is necessary in Tampa and his No-Trade Clause keeps him here for his entire contract.

Brad Richards - 25G 45A = 70PTS - Brad is a much more defensive player. Yes, he gets paid the big money, but he is not a goal scorer. Unfortunately, the Lightning need cap space, and Richards is the only big salary guy they can afford to part with. Both Mary and Vinny can kill penalties and set people up, and they produce more points. I’m not ragging on Brad, but the Lightning need the money, and it’s not just gunna grow on a tree.

What the Lightning need…

Whether Johan Holmqvist is the starting goalie next year or not, they need another goalie to support him. Here is my suggestion:

Martin Gerber - G - Ottawa - He is a solid goaltender, good as both a back up and a starter. He will come relatively cheap due to his mediocre season this past year, which will be good for the Lightning, as you will see why as I progress further into this.

They also need a big guy who is willing to get in front of the net. Here is my suggestion on who can fill that void:

Chris Neil - RW - Ottawa - He isn’t a small guy, standin at 6′1″ 209lbs, and his numbers aren’t disappointing. He would be great to put on the line with Lecavalier and St. Louis when Prospal isn’t producing, so that Vinny and Marty can cycle all they want and Neil can create some havok in the crease.

My proposed deal for those two would be Richards + Goalie Prospect for Gerber, Neil and some picks. Ottawa would bite on that, to add some depth to their offense and the Lightning would be halfway done with what they’re looking for.

Another way you could go, would to be to try to send Richards out to Minnesota for Backstrom, Fernandez or Harding to fill in for goaltending, and Keith Carney, a veteran, stay-at-home defensemen to give some veteran leadership to an unruly Tampa defense. The Wild would definitely bite on this. They are desperate for scoring depth beyond Gaborik, Demitra and Rolston. Richards would be a great set up guy, and his defensive abilities would fit right into Jaques Lemaire’s coaching style.

Feel free to leave your comments on your trade ideas, so what free agents you would go after. Keep in mind, the Bolts don’t have a ton of cap space, and have fun with it!

Miracle Workers?

There are many factors that have gone into the Tampa Bay Lightning’s success, but there is one factor that has remained the same all throughout the season for them, and that is them remaining healthy. With only a few injuries to players near the beginning of the regular season, the Bolts have remained one of the healthiest clubs in the NHL this season.

Despite injuries to Captain Tim Taylor (neck, back), Rob DiMaio (concussion) and a few other minor injuries, the main corp of the team has been there for them all season. Consistency is important in hockey, and there is nothing more important to have consistency in than remaining healthy.

Lecavalier, St. Louis, Richards, Boyle, Denis, Holmqvist. All these players have been able to remain healthy so far this season, giving them an advantage of their opponents. They have had the blessing of having their big guns in every game this season, guaranteeing them a chance to win night in and night out.

The only fear about this blessing, is that injuries may come eventually, just like they usually do. Unfortunately, there isn’t enough time in the season for someone to receive a major injury and not miss the playoffs. Many other teams have gone through their injury woes, giving them a healthy corp heading into post-season play. The Lightning are holding on, hoping that what goes around, comes around. An injury to any key player on the Bolts regular roster would be devastating, most likely taking said player out of the playoffs for at least the first round.

It seems that when it comes to injuries, the Lightning have the magic touch.

Battle In Alberta

After a devastating loss in British Columbia to the red-hot Vancouver Canucks, the Bolts were able to pull their game together and win 4 points in a two game road trip through Alberta, Canada. The Lightning’s first game in Alberta was most definitely the lesser of two evils, with Edmonton carrying a very depleted corp. Though the Lightning didn’t win by as wide a margin as most think they should have, they were able to come out with two points in the standings, with a 3-1 win.

Marc Denis took the net in Edmonton, when struggling Johan Holmqvist was benched after two consecutive losses, making 29 saves on 30 shots. Ladislav Smid was the only Oiler to be able to get a puck behind Denis, scoring his second ever NHL goal. On the other spectrum, Vaclav Prospal continued to be effective for the Tampa Bay Lightning, netting the first goal for the Lightning and the assist on the eventual game winner, earning the first star of the game.

After a rewarding win in Edmonton, the Lightning headed on to Calgary to take on the Flames, an absolute rock at home with one of the best home records in the league. These two teams may be in separate conferences, but they have history between them, a season no one on either side will ever forget: The 2004 Playoffs.

Calgary and Tampa met in that magical season, with Calgary eventually falling short, leading to Tampa’s first and only Stanley Cup victory. This game was the first time the two teams have met since Game 7 in 2004, when Tampa was celebrating their victory. To say this game was important to the two teams, their fans and their city, would be an understatement. The people in Calgary haven’t forgotten what they had lost, and the people in Tampa are still relishing their victory.

Despite Calgary leading the game in the 3rd period, Vincent Lecavalier was able to tie it up with his 46th of the season, a league best in goals for this season, sending the game to OT, where Dan Boyle netted the game winner, sending the Calgarians home with only one point, and without suitable revenge.

The rivalry between the two teams isn’t over yet, with Calgary going to Tampa next season, as well as Edmonton. Though, the game will not have as much importance as it did last time they met in 2004, the two teams are sure to show up and play their best.

SCORING SUMMARY (VS. EDMONTON)

1st PERIOD

-NO SCORING-

2nd PERIOD

TB: V. PROSPAL (B. RICHARDS, D. BOYLE) 10:49 PP

TB: V. LECAVALIER (V. PROSPAL, M. ST. LOUIS) 13:30 EV

3rd PERIOD

EDM: L. SMID (R. TORRES, J. LUPUL) 17:25 EV

TB: V. LECAVALIER (M. ST. LOUIS, D. JANIK) 19:21 EV-EN

FINAL - TB: 3 EDM: 1

–TB VAN–

SOG 25 30

PP 1/2 0/2

PK 2/2 1/2

FO% 60% 40%

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SCORING SUMMARY (VS. CALGARY)

1st PERIOD

TB: N. TARNASKY (T. TAYLOR, J. WARD) 18:21 EV

2nd PERIOD

CGY: J. FRIESEN (R. WARRENER, A. ZYUZIN) 13:56 EV

3rd PERIOD

CGY: C. CONROY (A. ZYUZIN, A. TANGUAY) 4:28 EV

TB: V. LECAVALIER (N. TARNASKY, R. FEDOTENKO) 6:35 EV

OT PERIOD

TB: D. BOYLE (V. LECAVALIER, M. ST. LOUIS) 2:59 PP

FINAL - TB: 3 CGY: 2

–TB CGY–

SOG 30 27

PP 1/4 0/4

PK 4/4 3/4

FO% 45% 55%