Lightning Finally Strikes
It was a positive year for the Lightning for the first time in a long time.
After years of trying, but falling well short, the Tampa Bay Lightning finally reached the WCHL post-season this year.
And they picked a great year to do it, joining seven other teams in the Eastern Conference to reach 100 points, making it the toughest crowd of playoff teams in WCHL history.
"It was a proud moment for us," said Tampa Bay General Manager Mike Osterloh. "We worked hard at this, and everything sort of clicked this season."
A big part of that click was the play of netminder Jimmy Howard. The at times maligned goalie rallied to post a career year with the Lightning, and was a darkhorse contender for a Vezina Trophy nomination.
Jimmy Howard's play on the ice has been as hot as the women he's dated off of it.
"It was great to help the team win, and hopefully this is just the tip of the iceberg," said Howard.
While Tampa Bay didn't fare well in the playoffs, losing to the New York Rangers in five games in the opening round, Tampa Bay served notice they are the precipice of becoming another force in the East.
To do so though, they must not let this level of improvement go for waste. A solid core needs to be further augmented with support, and how Osterloh deals with that will be vital.
Some help on the wings would do wonders, and Tampa Bay must find a way to handle the volitile Dany Heatley situation. The veteran winger, who is also a veteran of trade demans, has issued yet another one, asking to be moved by the Lightning. Heatley's demand was made before the mid-way point of the season, yet Tampa Bay didn't let it become a distraction. Whether they can remained focused through next year is not a guarantee so expect Tampa Bay to move the sniper before the drop of the puck next year.
Dany Heatley can't wait to get out of Tampa Bay. He's also eager to get out of whatever team he gets traded to as well.
"I really don't like it here. Frankly I don't like it anywhere, but especially here. Tampa Bay sucks. Nothing but women in bikinis, 80-degree temperatures all the time, lots of sun and I play hockey for millions a season. This place stinks," said Heatley.
Flipping Heatley for a deal involving a winger is likely a key for the Lightning, who have little cap space to play with and have hardly even been seen on the free aget scene. This is in stark contrast from previous seasons.
"We don't think the answer lies in free agency. We'll see what can do to improve from within," said Osterloh.
Within includes the likes of forward Bobby Butler, defenseman Bobby Sanguinetti and netminder Anders Lindback.
Anders Lindback figures to be a key piece of the Lightning future.
"We think we can fill what we need from within, but we'll see what's out there as well and do what's best for the team," said Osterloh.
For the first time, that thought process worked last season. Will it work again?
It was a positive year for the Lightning for the first time in a long time.
After years of trying, but falling well short, the Tampa Bay Lightning finally reached the WCHL post-season this year.
And they picked a great year to do it, joining seven other teams in the Eastern Conference to reach 100 points, making it the toughest crowd of playoff teams in WCHL history.
"It was a proud moment for us," said Tampa Bay General Manager Mike Osterloh. "We worked hard at this, and everything sort of clicked this season."
A big part of that click was the play of netminder Jimmy Howard. The at times maligned goalie rallied to post a career year with the Lightning, and was a darkhorse contender for a Vezina Trophy nomination.
Jimmy Howard's play on the ice has been as hot as the women he's dated off of it.
"It was great to help the team win, and hopefully this is just the tip of the iceberg," said Howard.
While Tampa Bay didn't fare well in the playoffs, losing to the New York Rangers in five games in the opening round, Tampa Bay served notice they are the precipice of becoming another force in the East.
To do so though, they must not let this level of improvement go for waste. A solid core needs to be further augmented with support, and how Osterloh deals with that will be vital.
Some help on the wings would do wonders, and Tampa Bay must find a way to handle the volitile Dany Heatley situation. The veteran winger, who is also a veteran of trade demans, has issued yet another one, asking to be moved by the Lightning. Heatley's demand was made before the mid-way point of the season, yet Tampa Bay didn't let it become a distraction. Whether they can remained focused through next year is not a guarantee so expect Tampa Bay to move the sniper before the drop of the puck next year.
Dany Heatley can't wait to get out of Tampa Bay. He's also eager to get out of whatever team he gets traded to as well.
"I really don't like it here. Frankly I don't like it anywhere, but especially here. Tampa Bay sucks. Nothing but women in bikinis, 80-degree temperatures all the time, lots of sun and I play hockey for millions a season. This place stinks," said Heatley.
Flipping Heatley for a deal involving a winger is likely a key for the Lightning, who have little cap space to play with and have hardly even been seen on the free aget scene. This is in stark contrast from previous seasons.
"We don't think the answer lies in free agency. We'll see what can do to improve from within," said Osterloh.
Within includes the likes of forward Bobby Butler, defenseman Bobby Sanguinetti and netminder Anders Lindback.
Anders Lindback figures to be a key piece of the Lightning future.
"We think we can fill what we need from within, but we'll see what's out there as well and do what's best for the team," said Osterloh.
For the first time, that thought process worked last season. Will it work again?
