Kukla's Korner Hockey

Category: Tampa-Bay-Lightning

Rumors from Florida: a Ducks/Panthers Trade?

by Alanah McGinley on 06/21/07 at 01:42 PM ET
Comments (0)

From Brian Biggane in the Palm Beach Post,

This weekend could go a long way toward determining the Panthers’ future, particularly in goal, where coach and GM Jacques Martin is expected to pursue a handful of options. One that hasn’t gotten on the radar as yet deserves mention.
Anaheim figures to be in excellent position to defend its first Stanley Cup next season, as long as it can retain its key players. But recent rumors have had Scott Niedermayer mulling retirement; if that happens, it would leave a significant hole in the Ducks’ defense.
Anaheim GM Brian Burke has likely asked Niedermayer for a decision by this weekend so he can address that potential need. And he may find a trading partner in Martin.

continued… (*Salei for Bryzgalov is considered…)

Filed in: NHL Talk, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Would Bolts Trade Richards For A High Pick

by Paul on 06/21/07 at 08:53 AM ET
Comments (0)

from Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun,

League sources say Tampa GM Jay Feaster might be willing to offer centre Brad Richards and his $7.8-million salary (all terms US) for each of the next four years to the Chicago Blackhawks, Philadelphia Flyers and Phoenix Coyotes.
Those teams hold the first three picks in the draft, to be held at Nationwide Arena.
The 27-year-old Richards is one of Tampa’s top forwards with 25 goals and 45 assists for 70 points in 82 games last season.
But he could be expendable after the Bolts acquired centre Chris Gratton from the Florida Panthers last week and Feaster needs to clear some salary to find a way to bring in a goaltender.

read on

Filed in: Tampa Bay Lightning, | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Gratton To The Bolts

by Paul on 06/13/07 at 09:30 PM ET
Comments (0)

from the Tampa Bay Lightning,

The Tampa Bay Lightning have acquired center Chris Gratton from the Florida Panthers in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2007 or 2008 NHL Entry Draft (Florida’s option), Executive Vice President and General Manager Jay Feaster announced.

more

Filed in: Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Lecavalier’s Future and Tampa’s Salary Cap

by Alanah McGinley on 06/02/07 at 06:45 PM ET
Comments (0)

From Eric Duhatschek at the Globe & Mail,

Lecavalier also addressed a question about the Lightning’s future plans and the speculation that one of the big three – him, Martin St. Louis or Brad Richards – might be traded for salary-cap reasons.
“This week, they announced they’re going to keep the budget the same, or maybe even bring it up,” said Lecavalier. “You never know in hockey what can happen, but from what I hear and from what meetings I’ve had at the end of the year, we’ll keep the same guys.”

more… *on Lecavalier winning the Maurice Richard Trophy

Filed in: Tampa Bay Lightning, | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Davidson Avoids Budget Cuts

by Paul on 05/25/07 at 02:32 PM ET
Comments (0)

from the St. Peterburg Times,

The Lightning general manager got word this week from owner Bill Davidson that payroll will not be cut, as was feared, and might even end up higher than last season’s $44-million.
In a perfect world, Feaster said, that would end speculation one of his high-priced stars - Vinny Lecavalier, Marty St. Louis, Brad Richards or Dan Boyle - will have to be traded.
“It should, ” Feaster said Thursday. “I hope it does. It’s one of the things Feaster and Davidson talked about. He likes those players. He recognizes we’re very close. He’s bullish on this team.”

more

For more talk on off-season movement, check out Spector and make sure to go back a few days too.

Filed in: Tampa Bay Lightning, | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Craig Ramsey Out In Tampa

by Paul on 05/24/07 at 02:11 PM ET
Comments (0)

via KMTR,

“Associate coach Craig Ramsay has been relieved of his coaching duties with the Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey Club,” executive vice president and general manager Jay Feaster said. “We thank Craig for his seven years of service to this franchise and for his hard work and dedication in helping us become Stanley Cup Champions.
“Head coach John Tortorella has begun the process of identifying and interviewing coaching candidates to serve as his top assistant. No timetable has been placed on filling the position.”

added 12:34pm, from Eric Duhatschek of the Globe and Mail,

In a curious and unusual move that means John Tortorella will be the Tampa Bay Lightning’s coach for the foreseeable future, the NHL team essentially fired long-time associate coach Craig Ramsay today. Officially, Ramsay was “relieved of his duties” by general manager Jay Feaster. This was an extraordinary development for a lot of reasons, beginning with the fact that Ramsay was one of the NHL’s highest-paid assistants (hence, the “associate” coach designation).

continued

Filed in: Tampa Bay Lightning, | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Will Bolts Owner Spend?

by Paul on 04/25/07 at 10:28 AM ET
Comments (0)

from the St. Peterburg Times,

“I concur we have a very good core here,” Feaster said. “It’s a core capable of winning a championship. So from that standpoint our window of opportunity is still open. That’s something we’d like to take advantage of.”
The question is, will Bill Davidson, owner of Lightning parent company Palace Sports & Entertainment, provide the money to acquire a No. 1 goaltender and a scoring wing, the biggest holes on a team eliminated Sunday from the first round of the playoffs for the second straight season?
Feaster said his preliminary budget for next season is $40-million. That is about $4-million less than this season and could be up to $9-million below the yet-to-be-set league salary cap.
Coaches and players said this is no time to pull back, though CEO Tom Wilson said Palace Sports will lose $9-million on its Tampa operation this fiscal year.

read on

Filed in: Tampa Bay Lightning, | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Sunday Wrap Up

by Paul on 04/23/07 at 10:31 AM ET
Comments (0)

The Hockey News comments on yesterday’s action…

•I’d imagine the Lightning’s loss will mean one of their big three (Richards, Martin St-Louis, Vincent Lecavalier) will be on the move this summer. Tampa GM Jay Feaster can’t go into the 2007-08 season so top-heavy in payroll and he needs to improve his defense.
•I don’t buy the theory that older teams tend to wear down during overtime or late in a series. The Red Wings looked young and strong throughout the overtime of Game 6, the seventh-plus period of hockey they played in about 33 hours. A younger Calgary team looked wasted at times. Durability is all about conditioning and drive, not age.

much more

Filed in: NHL Playoff Talk, Calgary Flames, Detroit Red Wings, New Jersey Devils, Tampa Bay Lightning, | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Outrageous Ice Time

by Paul on 04/22/07 at 06:05 PM ET
Comments (0)

Lecavalier:  26:44
Richards:  29:02
St. Louis:  31:35

Tampa Bay gave it all, but the Devils move on.

Eastern Conference Semi-Finals are set:
Sabres/Rangers
Devils/Senators

Filed in: NHL Playoff Talk, Tampa Bay Lightning, | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Unexpected Goals

by Paul on 04/22/07 at 10:37 AM ET
Comments (0)

from the St. Petersburg Times,

The Lightning all season has bemoaned its lack of balanced scoring, and no team during the regular season had more goals tied up in two players.
The issue has remained hot in the playoffs as Lecavalier, with five goals, and St. Louis, with three, combined for eight of Tampa Bay’s 12. It got more scrutiny after a 3-0 loss in Game 5 that upped Tampa Bay’s goalless streak to 97:34.
“Something big has to happen from someone you’re not expecting it from,” Tortorella said. “All teams need that if they’re going to progress.”

more

Filed in: NHL Playoff Talk, Tampa Bay Lightning, | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

« Previous       ‹ First  < 109 110 111 112 113 >  Last ›      Next »