I hate being the front office bashing type. Normally, I like giving front offices the benefit of the doubt, and letting them show me why they are GM’s and I’m just some jamoke who writes for a website.  There are a couple things though, even with the much improved play of the Lightning that irked me at the time of the move, and are really irking me right now.

Trade of Matt Carle and a 3rd round pick to Philly for Steve Downie, Steve Eminger and a 4th round pick.

Matt Carle is tied for first in the league with 9 points amongst all defenseman, has a +6 plus minus and is a rock on the dangerous Philly blue line.

Steve Eminger plays for another team, and has a -2 and 0 points.

Steve Downie has 2 points through 9 games.

Remember, not only did we move Matt Carle, but Matt Carle was the player that we got for moving Dan Boyle, a player who is a frontliner for one of the best teams in the West.

Release of Vaclac Prospal and Signing of Alex Tanguay

Tanguay has been a non factor.  Besides his pass to Steven Stamkos the other night to give the youngster the goal instead of picking up some points himself, I could have been on the ice and produced as much.  Not only is he not producing any points for himself via goals, our best line had to get altered (Malone, Stammer, Marty) in order to put someone on the line with Vinny to give him some help.

Vaclac Prospal has 12 points and a +5 plus minus so far for the 2nd in the East Rangers. He’s on pace for a 100 point season.

Tanguay has 2 points, one of which was an assist on an empty net goal, and is on pace for a 31 point, 0 goal season and a -31 plus minus.  The fact that we are still paying some of Vinny’s salary, and Alex is a  minus player, leaves me with nothing more to say.

Carle and Prospal sure would like nice on a team that is going to surprise many people in the East this year.

Vinny, Wright, Prospal

Marty, Stammer, Malone

Halpern, Villieux, Miller

Hedman, Ohlunhd

Meszaros, Carle

Walker, Foster

That looks enticing!

***By the way, Barry Melrose, I know we’ve told you 10 million times on this website that you are a dumbass, but Stammer scored again tonight.  Ties him for 3rd in the league, our “40″ moniker for Steven Stamkos might have been a bit low.  Should we call him “50″?  I don’t care that ESPN doesn’t talk about hockey, because the few times that they do, they show your dumb ass.  Get a new suit, tighten up, or just get out.  Get out is preferable.