I just got back in town from a month long business trip, so I apologize for the lack of posts lately.  My brother and I will be ramping up the content significantly though as we start to get closer to the NHL season…Now enough of my whining about work.
We put up a post a few weeks ago about some of the things that new GM Steve Yzerman had done at the onset of Free Agency (Meszaros, Kubina, Dan Ellis, Martin St Louis).  We were a fan of everyone of those moves.  Phase 2 of Free Agency (after week 1 through [...]

One of the toughest players to ever put on a sweater died today in Windsor, Ontario. Bob Probert was one of the players that made me truly love hockey as a little kid. I could appreciate its toughness when watching a guy like Probert.
I once saw Enrico Ciccone in a restaurant the day after fighting Probert, and recognized him immediately not because I knew Enrico’s face, but because I saw the highlight on Sportcenter of the fight, and just realized Enrico’s face had to be in bad shape. It was!
There are not [...]

In my head, there were a few goals to start this FA period for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
1.  Lock up Steven Stamkos to a long term deal
2.  Resign Martin St Louis to a 3-4 year deal
3.  Move one money contract from the roster, preferably Andrej Meszaros
Stevie Y accomplished both 2 and 3 on the first day of FA.    For starters, he locked up Marty to a 4 year 22.5 million dollar deal.
“Today is a great day for the Lightning organization,” Yzerman said. “Marty means so much to this franchise, both on and off the ice. His hard work [...]

When the drafted started to unfold the other night, and the Bolts pick was up, I was sure that we were going to take either Cam Fowler or Brandon Gormley.  I was actually leaning towards Gormley myself, and thought he would have been a great pick for our steadily improving blueline.
Steve Yzerman surprised just about everyone (including all the Bolts beat writers) and took winger Brett Connolly.  We actually needed a top line young winger more than a Dman, but I just didn’t think the Bolts would take the chance on Connolly with his injury history.
Connolly is only the 2nd [...]

Steve Yzerman’s first task as the GM of the Tampa Bay Lightning was to bring in a coach that he felt could guide the team through another rebuilding season, and stick it out for the long haul.  Instead of going through the retread stack of NHL coaches which is the norm for most NHL teams, Yzerman went with youth.
He hired Guy Boucher from the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the AHL where in his first season, he won the Memorial Cup.  Boucher will become the youngest coach in the NHL at 38 years old.
From someone who has always been frustrated by the [...]

After waffling back and forth on  his interest in the Tampa Bay Lightning GM position, it appears as though Steve Yzerman will be named the Tampa Bay Lightnings’ General Manager today at a press conference scheduled for 3pm.
“This did not take us by surprise because for years Stevie has said one day he would like to be a general manager in the NHL,” Red Wings Senior Vice President Jim Devellano told the Detroit News. “It was something he wanted to do, but it had to be the right opportunity for him and his family.
“It was a tough decision for Steve, [...]

This has nothing to do with the Lightning, but more to do with my insane level of hatred that I have for Sidney Crosby.
While rooting for the Canadiens is normally akin to sticking my head into a pile of dog throw up, I have to say, I was rooting for the Halak’s to beat the Penguins bad, not just last night but all series.  Why would I root for the gross Habs (even though by doing so, I was forced to stab myself in the eyes each night with an old fork), because I hate Sidney Crosby that much.
Everything about [...]

Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch reportedly recently attempted some re-shuffling of his front office in order to keep highly sought after Hall of Famer Steve Yzerman with the Detroit Red Wings.  He supposedly approached GM Ken Holland about becoming team president in order for Steve Yzerman to apparently assume the role of GM.
“I’m the general manager, I don’t have any interest in becoming president,” Holland said. “I’m a general manager, that’s what I was hired to do.”
Ouch.  Not exactly what you want to hear if your a Motor City fan hoping to keep one of your all time greats in [...]