Kukla's Korner Hockey
Entries with the tag: martin st. louis
Forget The Martin St. Louis Trade Talk
by Paul on 03/29/13 at 11:58 AM ET
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from Pierre LeBrun of ESPN,
"Marty St. Louis is not going to be traded," Steve Yzerman told ESPN.com Friday. "He remains one of the best players in the league and an extremely important player to our team, both on and off the ice. We are a team in transition, we just made a coaching change, Marty is one of the leaders of the team, he is not going anywhere."
From the beginning, the St. Louis trade rumors never made a whole lot of sense. He’s got two more years on his deal. So, it’s not like he’s a pending UFA who would top the rental market like Jarome Iginla did before being moved this week.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Tampa Bay Lightning, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: martin+st.+louis
Trade Martin St. Louis?
by Paul on 03/17/13 at 10:09 AM ET
Comments (1)
from Damian Cristodero of the Tampa Bay Times,
So this is pure speculation and makes sense only if St. Louis, with a no-move clause in his contract, determines leaving gives him the best chance to again play for a winner before he retires.
Consider these circumstances:
When St. Louis in July 2010 signed a four-year, $22.5 million contract extension, he did so with the notion the organization, under new ownership and management, would move in a positive direction. But after the team reached the Eastern Conference final in 2010-11, it was out of the playoffs in 2011-12 and appears this season it will fall short again.
St. Louis, 37, might look at a team clearly in transition — it is trying to develop Anders Lindback as a No. 1 goaltender and has eight players on its current roster who played last season or have played this season in the AHL — and wonder how much longer he can wait.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Tampa Bay Lightning, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: martin+st.+louis
Afternoon Line Part 2
by Paul on 11/21/12 at 05:45 PM ET
Comments (21)
"Well, it's disappointing. I feel they're trying to bully us and trying to draw a line in the sand pretty much. It's tough. We want to be negotiating. We came their way again and nothing. They just keep telling us keep coming. They're staying where they are, so you end up negotiating with yourself, and that's definitely something we don't want to do."
"I don't know where we go from here. It's very frustrating."
-Martin St. Louis via Damian Cristodero of Lightning Stikes.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Tampa Bay Lightning, NHL Talk, NHLPA, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: martin+st.+louis
Marty St. Louis On The CBA And Playing In Europe
by Paul on 08/27/12 at 06:20 PM ET
Comments (2)
from Damian Cristodero of the Tampa Bay Times,
The problem, St. Louis said, is the current CBA, which cut player salaries 24 percent after the 2004-05 lockout, "was (the owners') deal. And now that deal is not good anymore, so it's hard. It's hard to negotiate like that."
St. Louis stressed the union is "very strong, together, more than last time, no doubt about that."
He also said, "I believe in deadlines and I think a lot is going to happen in the next month. Hopefully we get a deal done."
If not, St. Louis said he expects to be playing in Europe by mid October: "If it gets to October it usually means (a lockout) will go longer, so mid October is a fair assessment where I'm not going somewhere for two weeks. ... You have to be patient before you go to Europe, but it's definitely an option guys will look into."
a bit more
Filed in: NHL Teams, Tampa Bay Lightning, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: martin+st.+louis
Martin St. Louis Practices Today
by Paul on 12/21/11 at 12:38 AM ET
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from Erik Erlendsson of Bolts Report,
Less than two weeks after being struck near his left eye with a puck, Lightning right wing Marty St. Louis has returned to practice with the team.
St. Louis traveled with the team to San Jose Tuesday morning and joined his teammates on the ice for practice at HP Pavillion in preparation for Wednesday’s game against the San Jose Sharks. St. Louis was wearing a full metal cage to cover his face as he went through drills. No determination has yet been made whether he will be able to play on Wednesday against San Jose or Friday in Denver against the Colorado Avalanche.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Tampa Bay Lightning, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: martin+st.+louis
St. Louis Suffers Facial And Nasal Fractures
by Paul on 12/08/11 at 09:54 PM ET
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TAMPA BAY – Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Martin St. Louis will not play tonight’s game at the New York Rangers and he is out indefinitely after suffering facial and nasal fractures at the team’s morning skate today at Madison Square Garden. St. Louis was struck in the face by a puck shot by a teammate during a practice drill.
St. Louis will return to Tampa Bay immediately and will undergo further medical examination by Lightning team physicians when swelling subsides in and around his left eye. A more detailed determination on his return to the lineup will be made at that time.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Tampa Bay Lightning, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: martin+st.+louis
St. Louis TakenTo Hospital After Taking Puck To the Face This Morning
by Paul on 12/08/11 at 04:27 PM ET
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from Eric Erlendsson of Bolts Report,
Tampa Bay Lightning forward Marty St. Louis is expected to miss tonight’s game against the New York Rangers after taking a puck to his left eye Thursday morning.
St. Louis was to appear in his 500th consecutive regular season game. He has not missed a game, regular or playoffs, since November of 2005 when he sat out two games with a broken finger.
On Thursday during the team’s morning skate at Madison Square Garden, the team was working on a drill in the corner when an errant puck off a backhand from Dominic Moore struck St. Louis near his left eye. St. Louis immediately dropped to the ice with blood pouring out the area above his eye. He needed help getting off the ice and at one point stumbled on his way back to the bench area.
After being looked at by team medical trainers, Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman said St. Louis was taken to NYU Medical Center for further evaluation.
“He’s got some swelling and that’s all I know right now,” Yzerman said.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Tampa Bay Lightning, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: martin+st.+louis
Afternoon Line
by Paul on 12/06/11 at 07:29 PM ET
Comments (2)
“This season has been hard. I feel like the past two or three years, the amount of scoring chances that we generate with nothing to show for it is at a three-year high, I would say. That could weight in a lot on your mind and make you think about things. You just have to be honest with your game and your assessment of your game. I feel we deserve better as a team.”
-Martin St. Louis of the Tampa Bay Lightning. More on the Lightning from Damian Cristodero of Lightning Strikes.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Tampa Bay Lightning, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: martin+st.+louis
Right on the Wing
by Ian Gooding on 08/31/11 at 11:00 AM ET
Comments (4)
We’ll kick off our look at the top forwards in fantasy with a listing of the top options at the right wing position.
Filed in: Fantasy Hockey and Gaming, thegoods13, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: alexander+semin,
corey+perry,
fantasy+hockey,
jarome+iginla,
jeff+carter,
martin+st.+louis,
patrick+kane,
rick+nash,
right+wing
Video- Martin St. Louis With The Shootout Winner - Or Was It?
by Paul on 03/10/11 at 01:51 AM ET
Comments (21)
Rule 24 Penalty Shot/Shootout Goal- The spin-o-rama type move where the player completes a 360° turn as he approaches the goal, shall be permitted as this involves continuous motion.
Some say motion stopped and remember, there is no rule that states puck must be moving forward.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks, Tampa Bay Lightning, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: martin+st.+louis
Trophy Talk: Southeast-Style
by Jon Jordan on 02/10/11 at 04:40 PM ET
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We’ve said it several times this season – that the Southleast is no more. With 308 combined points in the standings, Tampa Bay, Washington, Carolina, Atlanta and Florida comprise the Eastern Conference’s top division by that standard. Only the Pacific Division (321 points) has had more success as a group this season in the entire league. There’s even a fighting chance that four Southeast Division clubs could make the playoffs.
Suffice it to say, anyone still knocking the hockey played down here in this corner of the continent can be officially discredited. Clearly, anyone in that category hasn’t been paying attention this season.
Beyond team accolades, when the book is closed on the 2010-11 season, the Southeast Division has a legitimate chance for representation in almost every major year-end individual award. Some have sturdier ground to stand on than others in that respect but several individuals from Southeast clubs look to at least be in the conversation for some hardware in Vegas in late June.
Since premature awards speculation has started to heat up at a few other media outlets – always fun to keep tabs on ESPN’s Trophy Tracker but no Tampa Bay love in the Adams race, really? – here’s a list of potential trophy candidates from the Southeast Division, in no particular order.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Atlanta Thrashers, Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Washington Capitals, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: craig+ramsay,
daniel+sedin,
dustin+byfuglien,
eric+staal,
guy+boucher,
henrik+sedin,
jeff+skinner,
john+carlson,
logan+couture,
martin+st.+louis,
nhl+awards,
ryan+kesler,
steven+stamkos,
tobias+enstrom
Goalies Thomas, Ward Square Off in Fastest Skater + Quotes from the Red Carpet
by Jon Jordan on 01/29/11 at 10:31 PM ET
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I thought I was totally joking when I asked a couple of All-Star goalies how they would feel about a goaltender’s fastest skater competition. But last night’s first overall pick in the NHL’s inaugural All-Star Fantasy Draft, Carolina’s Cam Ward, let the cat out of the bag that tonight, my little joke would indeed become a reality as part of this year’s SuperSkills.
“Rumor is that I’m going to be doing that tonight,” Ward said. “I hope my legs don’t turn to jelly and I don’t bite it into the corner or anything like that.”
His opponent?
“I think I’m going up against Tim Thomas.”
Boston and Carolina fans have since endured some heart palpitations, I’m sure.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Boston Bruins, Carolina Hurricanes, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, Phoenix Coyotes, Tampa Bay Lightning, NHL Talk, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: cam+ward,
eric+staal,
henrik+lundqvist,
keith+yandle,
martin+st.+louis,
nhl+all-star+game,
p.k.+subban,
steven+stamkos,
superskills,
tim+thomas
Fantasy Draft a Reminder That All-Star Weekend’s All About Fun
by Jon Jordan on 01/29/11 at 02:33 PM ET
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The intent of altering the format for the NHL All-Star Game was to generate more interest in a mid-season exhibition that most would agree had become a bit blasé. With the rosters of Team Lidstrom and Team Staal now filled via last night’s Fantasy Draft and the SuperSkills competition on tap for tonight, whether or not the game itself will have any added spice remains to be seen but, so far as that added interest goes, the vibe here in Raleigh and the pageantry surrounding the selection process itself both suggest the achievement of just that.
The All-Star Game and its surrounding events should be about fun – for the fans, first and foremost, but also for the players involved and the captains and alternates for both sides as well as the draftees played things up effectively and had a good time throughout the process, which was evident in the broadcast.
“It looked good on TV, right?” Tampa Bay Lightning forward Martin St. Louis asked after the event and his question was met with immediate assent. That was the point, of course, and St. Louis and his All-Star contingents got it, doing the event well by playing things up to the best of their ability.
Filed in: NHL Teams, NHL Talk, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: all-star+fantasy+draft,
eric+staal,
martin+st.+louis,
nhl+all-star+weekend,
steven+stamkos,
superskills
Update from Raleigh: All Eyes on the Draft
by Jon Jordan on 01/28/11 at 07:25 PM ET
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Funny… In chatting with several casual hockey fan friends and family of mine about being in Raleigh here for ASG weekend, a mention of “The Draft” as part of the festivities has led to a pause in each case and a question along the lines of, “Wait, what? They’re having the draft at the All-Star game now?”
Of course, they don’t know any better - that it’s juuust a “fantasy” draft for an exhibition game.
We do, but if we didn’t, judging from walking around Fan Fest at the Raleigh Convention Center today, where the draft will be held, this silly little pick ‘em event is being taken pretty seriously.
Granted, Nicklas Lidstrom and Eric Staal aren’t exactly holed up in “war rooms” or anything but the league and its broadcast partners are certainly planning on putting on a first-class show. The set for the draft is aces (and enormous!) and the commentators and analysts from TSN and Versus were intently rehearsing each and every “pick”, with Darren Dreger playing Staal and Matthew Barnaby assuming the role of Lidstrom.
Filed in: NHL Teams, NHL Media, Hockey Related Stories, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: cam+ward,
eric+staal,
gary+bettman,
martin+st.+louis,
nhl+all-star+game,
nicklas+lidstrom,
steven+stamkos
Bolts at the Break: Couldn’t Ask for Much More
by Jon Jordan on 01/26/11 at 01:08 PM ET
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With the pre-All-Star break portion of their schedule now officially complete after last night’s 2-0 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Tampa Bay Lightning sit comfortably atop the Southeast Division, second overall in the Eastern Conference and can rest, save for All-Stars Martin St. Louis and Steven Stamkos, with five days before a meeting with the East-leading Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday.
51 games in the books, 31 to play – before the second season, that is, which is now nothing short of extremely likely for Tampa Bay. (Playoff hockey, folks! And – gasp – something to get excited about!)
Actually, there’s been plenty of excitement surrounding the Lightning all season already.
There are, of course, the 31 wins – second only to Philadelphia (33) and matched only by Pittsburgh in all the National Hockey League.
There’s the 16-4-2 home record and the fact that all but one of the Lightning’s hockey games in February will be played at the St. Pete Times Forum, with ten tilts remaining on the lengthy 12-game homestand.
There are individual performances to consider, namely St. Louis and Stamkos, near the top of the league in goals, assists and points all season long and the latter now in position for “Rocket” Richard and Art Ross honors with Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby on the shelf.
Filed in: | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: dwayne+roloson,
guy+boucher,
martin+st.+louis,
simon+gagne,
simon+gagne,
steve+yzerman,
steven+stamkos,
victor+hedman,
vincent+lecavalier
Southeast Crown a Realistic Goal for Tampa Bay - Beyond That?
by Jon Jordan on 01/12/11 at 12:37 PM ET
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The question was posed recently in the St. Pete Times and Paul recently brought it to the attention of the KK faithful as well, soliciting some interesting responses but, with first place in the Southeast Division on the line again tonight, with the Washington Capitals (and their identical 55-point total) in town for the first time this season, it deserves some revisiting:
Could the Tampa Bay Lightning truly be a contender for the Stanley Cup this season?
Well, yeah… I suppose anything is possible.
But since the original question was actually, “Is it premature to call the Tampa Bay Lightning a Stanley Cup contender?” then, well…
Yeah. It is.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Tampa Bay Lightning, Washington Capitals, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: alex+ovechkin,
martin+st.+louis,
steve+yzerman,
steven+stamkos
St. Louis Still A Star
by Paul on 01/12/11 at 12:32 PM ET
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from Gary Shelton of the St. Petersburg Times,
Yes, Steven Stamkos is the team’s star, and yes, Vinny Lecavalier still has dazzling skills. After all these years, however, St. Louis is still St. Louis, and if the Lightning is going to make a run at the postseason, he figures to be a very important part of it.
If your memory is good enough to remember playoff runs in Tampa Bay, you would not expect anything less.
These are good times for St. Louis, 35 years old going on 25.
The franchise has turned around, and the games matter again, and life at home is terrific. After three years when the Lightning went nowhere, St. Louis is an essential player on a team with possibilities.
He can still go, you know. There is a smattering of gray in his hair, but St. Louis’ skates still have gears that most players’ do not. He has 53 points (18 goals, 35 assists) in 43 games, which is another way of saying his stick still has stories to tell.
Filed in: | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: martin+st.+louis
The Bolts Beat, 1/10/11: Tampa’s Up & Down Week, M-A Bergeron, Slightly Whacky All-Star Picks & More
by Jon Jordan on 01/11/11 at 12:58 AM ET
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In tonight’s episode of The Bolts Beat, the gang reviews a roller coaster week for the Tampa Bay Lightning and analyzes what the addition of defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron might eventually mean for the club.
And, in a nod to the NHL’s unique way of fielding two all-star teams this year, Jon, Mark and Mike create some rules as well in selecting their very own squads.
All that, plus the usual shenanigans after the jump…
Filed in: NHL Teams, Tampa Bay Lightning, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: all-star+game,
dan+ellis,
dwayne+roloson,
martin+st.+louis,
mike+smith,
steven+stamkos,
vincent+lecavalier
Past the Quarter Poll: Southeast Division Team Ratings from JJ
by Jon Jordan on 12/08/10 at 03:54 PM ET
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We’re past the quarter pole, so maybe this is a bit late but it still seems like a good time to me to hand out some assessments to all five Southeast Division clubs. Besides, what’s this quarter pole anyway? Divide the NHL season in equal fours and the resting #StamkosMath calculator tells me that we’d have to stop things at the ten-minute mark of each team’s 21st game of the year to truly be one quarter of the way through. And that just seems troubling.
We’ll go with JJ Ratings rather than the standard report cards because one, everyone else seems to do the report card thing and two, handing out school-type grades gives me terrible nightmares. (Trust me.) Instead, each club’s JJ Rating will reflect their performance on a scale of one to ten (and, since I’ve become a big fan of complicating things, we’ll allow for partial points as well).
Here we are, anywhere from 26-29 games into the 2010-11 slate for the Southeast squads – as good a time as any (maybe just because I say so) to see where we are versus where we thought we’d be, as well as where we might be headed.
We’ll tackle this alphabetically (Ooh… Suspense!)
Filed in: | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: alex+ovechkin,
david+booth,
dustin+byfuglien,
eric+staal,
jeff+skinner,
martin+st.+louis,
mike+green,
ondrej+pavelec,
steven+stamkos,
tomas+vokoun
The Bolts Beat, 11/29/10: Lightning Week in Review, #StamkosMath Jinx? and… Lord of the Flies???
by Jon Jordan on 11/29/10 at 11:41 PM ET
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In this week’s episode, the gang looks back at four games for the Lightning last week and previews three upcoming matchups and questions whether or not the recent Stamkos 50-in-50 talk was a bit premature.
Also, Mike wards off a horrendous head cold, Mark welcomes back the Whale and Jon keeps one foot firmly planted in (his) reality.
Finally, against all odds, The Bolts Beat crew prevails over deadly, swarming, killer flies. (No, really.)
Have a listen…
Filed in: NHL Teams, Tampa Bay Lightning, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: martin+st.+louis,
simon+gagne,
simon+gagne,
steve+downie,
steven+stamkos,
vincent+lecavalier
Washed Up in Washington: 6-0 Beating Shows Bolts Have a Long Way to Go
by Jon Jordan on 11/27/10 at 02:23 PM ET
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Past the so-called “quarter pole”, 23 games into the 2010-11 season, the Tampa Bay Lightning are undoubtedly in pretty good shape. At 13-8-2 for 28 points, they rank second in the Southeast Division and fifth in the Eastern Conference and appear, at this early stage of the season, to have the makings of a team that can qualify for postseason play and, potentially, make some waves.
But, after last night’s 6-0 pasting at the hands of the division stalwart Washington Capitals, they also, undoubtedly, still have a long way to go before they can stake a legitimate claim to being an upper echelon team like their foes of a night ago.
Really, the Bolts are right where we’d thought they’d be from the start – second in the division and good enough, as they were in their first meeting with the Caps two weeks ago (a 6-3 loss), to hang with the class of the division for a time and give them somewhat of a push. But, last night, they weren’t even close, proving that, though they do have a formidable 1-2 punch in Steven Stamkos and Martin St. Louis to rival Alexes Ovechkin and Semin for the offensive Washington dynamo, they don’t have the firepower through and through – from up front and on the back end – to keep up with the Joneses (or the Backstroms, the Greens and so on and so forth).
Filed in: NHL Teams, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Washington Capitals, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: alex+ovechkin,
alex+semin,
martin+st.+louis,
mike+smith,
semyon+varlamov,
steven+stamkos
Hammer Time
by Jon Jordan on 11/24/10 at 12:09 PM ET
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I only have a few minutes this morning, with a houseful already in town for Thanksgiving and the pressing need of locating some genie-style parachute pants in time for tonight’s game, what with M.C. Hammer in town for a postgame concert and all. (Rumor has it, if things go well for the Lightning, their very own “Hammer”, one Steven Stamkos, could join the genius behind “U Can’t Touch This”, “2 Legit 2 Quit” and “Here Comes the Hammer” on stage. Hope he’s been practicing that trademark Hammer shuffle…)
Anyway, I simply wanted to point out that, prior to their recent three-game road sweep of the Islanders, Philadelphia and Buffalo, I had noted that the Lightning were actually two points behind their record through 17 games last season and that they’d need to win two of three just to match that club’s pace at the indicative “quarter pole” of the twenty-game mark. Of course, they managed a perfect road trip and added a win over Boston on Monday night to run their win streak to four and to pull them within four points of division-leading Washington.
So forget that last year stuff, as all seems well, presently, in Lightningland…
Filed in: NHL Teams, New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: dan+ellis,
martin+st.+louis,
mc+hammer,
mike+smith,
steven+stamkos
Lightning Hit Long Island Amid Latest Turmoil for the Islanders
by Jon Jordan on 11/17/10 at 01:17 PM ET
Comments (2)
There are several higher-profile games on tonight’s NHL docket but the Tampa Bay Lightning’s visit to Long Island has my undivided attention this evening (and would still, even were I not tasked with Bolts coverage, nor had I no stifled sentimental attachment to the Isles).
Both clubs have struggled of late, although that doesn’t even begin to tell the tale of the hapless Islanders, 0-9-1 in their last ten and now under the command of a new head coach in Jack Capuano, who was handed the position on an interim basis after Isles’ brass made Scott Gordon the fall guy for their woeful start.
If a team in turmoil is always a dangerous one, what does that say for these Islanders? One would think they’d play some seriously desperate hockey tonight. That said, they’re still the Islanders and whether the players quit on Gordon (as True Hockey’s Andy Strickland reports in his latest installment of Rink Rats), or Gordon truly was the problem or owner Charles Wang and Garth Snow simply ignored the fact that, aside from a few talented youngsters, without injured key pieces Kyle Okposo and Mark Streit, chances for this team’s success were slim from day one, nothing seems to work for this franchise and there are no guarantees.
Filed in: NHL Teams, New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: dwayne+roloson,
jack+capuano,
john+tavares,
martin+st.+louis,
matt+moulson,
rick+dipietro,
scott+gordon,
steven+stamkos
JJ’s Three Cheers: 10/28/10
by Jon Jordan on 10/28/10 at 10:50 AM ET
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Time again to a tip a few back, honoring the best of the best from last night’s NHL action:
***Cheers to Tampa Bay’s Martin St. Louis, whose highlight reel third period goal broke a 3-3 tie in Tampa and led the Lightning to a win over Pittsburgh by a final of 5-3. St. Louis also added an empty netter late to seal things and I’m fast becoming more and more convinced that the heart of the Bolts just keeps getting better all the time.
Filed in: NHL Teams, San Jose Sharks, Tampa Bay Lightning, Washington Capitals, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: joe+thornton,
martin+st.+louis,
michal+neuvirth,
semyon+varlamov
Various Paths to Tampa Bay’s Early Success
by Jon Jordan on 10/28/10 at 01:49 AM ET
Comments (5)
It’s been said, time and again, that the truly great teams can beat their opponent on any given night with any particular style of play. While this year’s Tampa Bay Lightning shouldn’t be too quick to anoint themselves the NHL’s next great club - after nine games, that would just be silly - the results have been impressive to this point and wins are coming in a variety of ways.
Tonight’s triumph over visiting Pittsburgh was of the comeback sort, with the Lightning rebounding from a pair of first period shorthanded tallies by the Penguins, an early goaltending change with Dan Ellis replacing Mike Smith after three goals allowed on seven shots and a 3-1 deficit overall. While no team wants to get in the habit of having to battle back like that and, surely, it can drive a coach crazy, that the Lightning have already proven capable of doing so gives them immeasurable confidence and should pay dividends down the road.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Atlanta Thrashers, Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers, Montreal Canadiens, Nashville Predators, New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Tampa Bay Lightning, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: dan+ellis,
dana+tyrell,
guy+boucher,
martin+st.+louis,
mike+smith,
steven+stamkos,
vincent+lecavalier
The Bolts Beat, 10/19/10: Lightning on the Road and a Look Ahead, Plus NHL Officiating Issues & More
by Jon Jordan on 10/19/10 at 01:15 PM ET
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In the latest episode of The Bolts Beat, the boys discuss the Tampa Bay Lightning’s first road swing of the season and preview the week ahead for the Bolts, Jon’s “What the Hell Was That?” segment brings up an interesting debate on replay, major penalties and the like, Mike defends referees (a sure sign of the apocalypse) and much more.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Atlanta Thrashers, Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers, Montreal Canadiens, Nashville Predators, New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Tampa Bay Lightning, Washington Capitals, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: adam+hall,
andrei+kostitsyn,
blake+comeau,
brad+richards,
brett+clark,
dan+ellis,
dana+tyrell,
dominic+moore,
guy+boucher,
headshots,
instant+replay,
josh+bailey,
kris+letang,
martin+st.+louis,
mattias+ritola,
michael+vernace,
mike+smith,
nate+thompson,
pavel+kubina,
randy+jones,
ryan+malone,
sean+bergenheim,
simon+gagne,
simon+gagne,
steve+downie,
steve+yzerman,
steven+stamkos,
t.j.+brodie,
victor+hedman,
vincent+lecavalier
Once Hot, the Lightning/Panthers “Rivalry” Needs a Serious Spark
by Jon Jordan on 10/16/10 at 05:39 PM ET
Comments (3)
The Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning share a home state, divisional alignment and the perks of leaving their home rinks to 80 degree-plus temperatures on the regular.
Their tenure as National Hockey League member franchises is nearly identical as well, with Tampa entering the league for the 1992-93 season and Florida one year later.
But you won’t find much evidence of a rivalry when speaking to current players from these clubs and, from members of the organizations of years gone by, what once sounded like legitimate hostilities have either fizzled into forced assertions or a longing for the good ol’ days.
It can’t hold a candle to the long-standing, emotionally charged levels of Calgary/Edmonton, Boston/Montreal or Colorado/Detroit.
It’s not likely to ever split households, a la Islanders/Rangers or Canadiens/Maple Leafs.
And, though both teams have had their share of supreme talents over the years, the odds of a superstar-driven rivalry, as in Ovechkin-Crosby/Capitals-Penguins, between the Lightning and Panthers are poor.
But there has to be something there still, right?
Filed in: NHL Teams, Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers, Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, Pittsburgh Penguins, Tampa Bay Lightning, Washington Capitals, | KK Hockey | Permalink
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phil+esposito,
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The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Lightning at Canadiens, 10/13/10
by Jon Jordan on 10/14/10 at 12:39 PM ET
Comments (2)
Death, taxes and JJ’s The Good, the Bad and the Ugly…
The alternative to the standard game recap became a staple of my Tampa Bay Lightning coverage last season and it was only a matter of time before it made its season debut here.
Sure, the title of the regular feature has now been copied by a second-rate Bolts blog as of this morning but the content can’t hold a candle to the original and, hell, you’re here with me and they’re, well… They’re sleeping, I’m sure, on Pacific Time and what not… (Lightning coverage from California? Now that’s insight!)
Filed in: NHL Teams, Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, Florida Panthers, Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers, St. Louis Blues, Tampa Bay Lightning, Washington Capitals, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: alex+ovechkin,
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brett+clark,
carey+price,
dan+ellis,
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guy+boucher,
jaroslav+halak,
martin+st.+louis,
matt+smaby,
maxim+lapierre,
michael+vernace,
mike+green,
mike+lundin,
mike+smith,
nicklas+backstrom,
nino+niederreiter,
randy+jones,
ryan+malone,
simon+gagne,
simon+gagne,
steve+downie,
steven+stamkos,
teddy+purcell,
tomas+plekanec,
victor+hedman,
vincent+lecavalier
Turnaround in Tampa Starts at the Top
by Jon Jordan on 09/20/10 at 10:10 PM ET
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Before a single tweak to the roster, the Tampa Bay Lightning were already poised for improvement in 2010-11. With the tumultuous era of previous ownership already behind them when the sale of the team to Jeff Vinik was completed late last season, gone in an instant were any and all off-ice concerns and the circus went back to being an annual visitor to the St. Pete Times Forum rather than a permanent resident. With the appointment of Steve Yzerman as general manager, credibility returned to the franchise and new head coach Guy Boucher was widely regarded as the hottest commodity on the off-season coaching market.
Without a solitary player move, hockey life in Tampa was good again.
But far be it from Yzerman to rest on the comfort that fans surely feel by him simply not being one of those other guys. The addition of former Flyers forward Simon Gagne headlines a list of shrewd off-season maneuvers for the rookie GM and the revamped roster could very well translate to the sort of on-ice success that will make Lightning followers quickly forgot about three non-playoff seasons gone by.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Anaheim Ducks, Atlanta Thrashers, Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers, Los Angeles Kings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, San Jose Sharks, Tampa Bay Lightning, Washington Capitals, | KK Hockey | Permalink
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carter+ashton,
cedrick+desjardins,
chris+durno,
dan+ellis,
dana+tyrell,
dominic+moore,
dustin+tokarski,
eric+perrin,
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james+wright,
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jeff+vinik,
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kevin+quick,
khl,
kurtis+foster,
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mark+barberio,
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matt+walker,
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ryan+craig,
ryan+malone,
sean+bergenheim,
sidney+crosby,
simon+gagne,
simon+gagne,
stephane+veilleux,
steve+downie,
steve+yzerman,
teddy+purcell,
training+camp,
traverse+city+prospects+tournament,
ty+wishart,
victor+hedman,
vincent+lecavalier,
vladimir+mihalik,
zenon+konopka
The Bolts Beat, 09/13/10
by Jon Jordan on 09/13/10 at 11:21 PM ET
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In the latest episode of The Bolts Beat, JJ and co-host Mike Corcoran discuss Dan Ellis’ recent Twitter troubles and the many (over?)reactions thereof, look ahead to training camp opening this weekend, Tampabaylightning.com contributor, Mark Pukalo, stops by again to discuss some intriguing position battles ahead for the Lightning and the boys have a little extra time to discuss the NFL’s opening weekend.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Tampa Bay Lightning, | KK Hockey | Permalink
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nate+thompson,
nhl+training+camp,
niklas+persson,
paul+szczechura,
pavel+kubina,
randy+jones,
ryan+malone,
steve+downie,
steve+yzerman,
steven+stamkos,
teddy+purcell,
victor+hedman,
vincent+lecavalier
Yzerman’s Moves Have Lightning Poised for Marked Improvement
by Jon Jordan on 08/26/10 at 11:51 PM ET
Comments (9)
In these early days of the Steve Yzerman era here in Tampa, the consensus opinion on his re-molding of the Lightning roster has been overwhelmingly positive.
He promised a methodical approach and got to work in just that fashion almost immediately, adding here, subtracting there and strengthening the overall product all the while.
Few onlookers, if any, have been unimpressed.
But what has been done under Yzerman to this point, until on-ice results can be considered, that is, has to be labeled with the age-old, “on paper” caveat.
Essentially, Yzerman has shed some dead wood, plugged a few holes, added much-needed depth in key areas and maybe, just maybe, found the spark to reignite his club’s captain’s once-dynamic career. And before we forget, he’s given the hottest young coaching commodity in the hockey world the task of leading these fortified troops to success.
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mike+lundin,
mike+smith,
nate+thompson,
niklas+persson,
pavel+kubina,
randy+jones,
ryan+malone,
sean+bergenheim,
simon+gagne,
simon+gagne,
steve+downie,
steve+yzerman,
steven+stamkos,
teddy+purcell,
victor+hedman,
vincent+lecavalier
Southeast Division Statistical Previews by Position: Forwards
by Jon Jordan on 08/09/10 at 12:12 AM ET
Comments (15)
As the new season approaches, I’ll be making an effort to preview the Southeast Division in a slow and steady, comprehensive manner. To kick things off, I thought I’d take a look back at last year’s individual player statistics, updated to reflect this summer’s off-season transactions. (In other words, for example, we’ll group Dustin Byfuglien’s 2009-10 statistics with Chicago alongside his new Atlanta Thrashers teammates and their performances from last year.)
In short, we’ll look at last year’s stats with this year’s rosters, both by division as a whole and by individual teams, broken down by position… Because a look to the recent past can often be a good indicator of what’s to come. (Often… Not always. See: Cheechoo, Jonathan.) And, besides, I don’t know that you’ll find a list like this in too many places (at least I hope you won’t… Cause that would mean I spent too much time on all of this!)
To get things started, we’ll start tonight with the forwards.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Atlanta Thrashers, Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Washington Capitals, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: alexander+ovechkin,
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brooks+laich,
bryan+little,
chad+larose,
chris+higgins,
chris+thorburn,
cory+stillman,
david+booth,
david+steckel,
dominic+moore,
dustin+byfuglien,
eric+fehr,
eric+staal,
erik+cole,
evander+kane,
jason+chimera,
jim+slater,
jussi+jokinen,
marc+pouliot,
martin+st.+louis,
marty+reasoner,
matt+bradley,
michael+frolik,
mike+knuble,
nate+thompson,
nicklas+backstrom,
niclas+bergfors,
nikolai+antropov,
patrick+dwyer,
radek+dvorak,
rich+peverley,
rostislav+olesz,
ryan+malone,
sergei+samsonov,
simon+gagne,
simon+gagne,
stephen+weiss,
steve+bernier,
steve+downie,
steve+reinprecht,
steven+stamkos,
teddy+purcell,
tom+kostopolous,
tomas+fleischmann,
tuomo+ruutu,
vincent+lecavalier,
zach+boychuk
Lightning Extend St. Louis
by Paul on 07/01/10 at 03:02 PM ET
Comments (1)
via Tampa Bay Lightning tweet,
Word is the Lightning have signed Martin St. Louis to a 4-year contract extension. Keeping him in a Bolts jersey for the next 5 seasons.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Tampa Bay Lightning, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: martin+st.+louis
Yzerman Wants To Extend The Contract Of Martin St. Louis
by Paul on 06/16/10 at 05:44 PM ET
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from Damian Cristodero of Lightning Strikes,
Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman put into motion a process which he hopes will end with a contract extension for star wing Marty St. Louis. Yzerman said he spoke on Wednesday to St. Louis’ agent and hopes a deal that “makes sense” for both sides can be worked out.
“He’s a first-class guy and he deserves to be treated with the utmost respect, and I’ll do that,” Yzerman said. “Where it ends up, we’ll see. They want to make a deal that makes sense for them, and I have to make a deal that makes sense for us. We have some time to get it done, but it definitely is a priority for me.”
Filed in: NHL Teams, Tampa Bay Lightning, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: martin+st.+louis
Morning Line
by Paul on 04/14/10 at 01:42 PM ET
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“I want to be on a winning team. It’s three years of this and (we’re going) back to square one, so I want to be on a winning team. That’s the biggest thing. I’m not getting any younger. We’ll see how it all shakes out this summer.”
-Martin St. Louis of the Tampa Bay Lightning. More from Damian Cristodero of the St. Petersburg Times.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Tampa Bay Lightning, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: martin+st.+louis
Martin St. Louis Still Productive
by Paul on 10/13/09 at 09:50 AM ET
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from John Romano of the St. Petersburg Times,
His story will always be told the same way. It has to be. You just don’t rise up from out of nowhere to become a Hart Trophy winner on a Stanley Cup champion team. And so, yes, the legend of Marty St. Louis was settled long ago.
But do you know what’s crazy? In some ways, the later years are just as remarkable as the early days. All this time later, St. Louis is back to defying the odds just as he did as an undrafted free agent more than a decade ago.
Look at the NHL’s top 20 or so scoring leaders this morning. You will see Alex Ovechkin, aged 24. And Dany Heatley, aged 28. You will see 23-year-old Evgeni Malkin and 21-year-old Nicklas Backstrom. And in the middle of the bunch is St. Louis, in all of his 34-year-old glory.
It is not a fluke, and it is not likely to change anytime soon. A year ago, he was the oldest player among the NHL’s top 20 scorers, and it’s a pretty good bet he will not budge in 2009-10.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Tampa Bay Lightning, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: martin+st.+louis
Rangers Could Use St. Louis
by Paul on 04/30/09 at 10:21 AM ET
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from Larry Brooks of the NY Post,
In the wake of a playoff series during which John Tortorella discovered he had no go-to guys he believed he could go to, take it to the bank that the coach’s first postseason order of business will be to work with GM Glen Sather to find the way to get Martin St. Louis out of Tampa Bay.
Understand that St. Louis, regarded as the heart and soul of the Lightning’s 2004 Stanley Cup championship team, is one of Tortorella’s favorite players ever. Understand that St. Louis has a no-trade clause that he would all but certainly waive to join the coach, for theirs is a mutual admiration society.
Understand, too, that St. Louis, even at the age of 34 he’ll reach in June, is the big-play difference-maker whose absence was bemoaned by Tortorella following Game 7. Gutsy, too.
Filed in: NHL Teams, New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: martin+st.+louis
Marty St. Louis A Plus Player During A Bad Year
by Paul on 03/14/09 at 08:59 AM ET
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from Damian Cristodero of the St. Petersburg Times,
“I try to be a complete player on both sides of the red line,” said St. Louis, who has 67 points, with 25 goals, and is plus-6.
Besides, he added, “Offense comes from good defensive positioning.”
Plus-minus is a tricky statistic in that it depends so much on one’s teammates and situations that can be out of one’s control.
In short, a plus is awarded for being on the ice when a player’s team scores. A minus is assessed for being on the ice when the opposition scores. So in a season in which Tampa Bay has been outscored 175-224, a differential of minus-49, being plus-6 is pretty extraordinary.
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Tags: martin+st.+louis
St. Louis in Trade Rumors
by Alanah McGinley on 03/02/09 at 10:11 PM ET
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From Damien Cox at The Spin:
Suddenly, it appears that Marty St. Louis, rather than Vinny Lecavalier, may be the Tampa Bay Lightning star that could be on the move.
Multiple teams are calling Lightning GM Brian Lawton about St. Louis’ availability even though the veteran forward has a no-trade clause in his contract. One of the most interested clubs may be the New York Rangers, particularly since St. Louis’ former coach, John Tortorella, is now behind the New York bench.
St. Louis would become the No. 1 forward available before Wednesday’s NHL trade deadline if the Lightning were to ask him to waive his no-trade status. Not only is he still an elite and productive forward, the 33-year-old has Stanley Cup championship experience and will be heading into the final two years of a contract next season that will pay him a very affordable $4 million in salary.
Filed in: NHL Teams, New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: martin+st.+louis
